AkdoorTea backdoor delivered through Windows batch-script ZIP chain
Malware Activity
Summary
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The newly documented AkdoorTea backdoor is being delivered through a Windows batch script, expanding the malware toolkit used against targeted developers. The delivery chain pulls nvidiaRelease.zip and runs a Visual Basic Script inside it, which then launches BeaverTail and AkdoorTea payloads. The broader operation targets developers across Windows, Linux, and macOS, especially those tied to crypto and Web3 projects. That staged delivery and remote-access capability increase the risk of follow-on control and theft.
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Timeline
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25.09.2025 16:14 2 articles · 8mo ago
ESET attributes AkdoorTea to Contagious Interview
Initial DisclosureESET said North Korea-linked actors associated with Contagious Interview were using the previously undocumented backdoor AkdoorTea alongside TsunamiKit and Tropidoor, and that the activity was aimed at software developers on Windows, Linux, and macOS, especially those involved in cryptocurrency and Web3 projects. ESET also noted that NVIDIA-themed driver-update lures had been used in ClickFix-style video-assessment workflows to propagate AkdoorTea.
Show sources
- North Korean Hackers Use New AkdoorTea Backdoor to Target Global Crypto Developers — thehackernews.com — 25.09.2025 16:14
- North Korean Hackers Use New AkdoorTea Backdoor to Target Global Crypto Developers — thehackernews.com — 25.09.2025 16:14