PLUGGYAPE backdoor targets Ukrainian defense forces via Signal and WhatsApp lures
Malware Activity
Summary
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CERT-UA disclosed PLUGGYAPE attacks targeting Ukrainian defense forces between October and December 2025, showing an active backdoor operation with real operational risk. The malware was delivered through Signal and WhatsApp charity lures that led targets to password-protected archives and a PyInstaller executable. PLUGGYAPE can execute arbitrary code and now uses WebSocket and MQTT communications, improving operator resilience and making takedown efforts harder.
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Timeline
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14.01.2026 07:48 2 articles · 6mo ago
CERT-UA discloses PLUGGYAPE attacks on Ukrainian defense forces
Initial DisclosureCERT-UA disclosed PLUGGYAPE activity targeting Ukrainian defense forces, attributing it with medium confidence to Void Blizzard, also known as Laundry Bear or UAC-0190. The campaign used Signal and WhatsApp charity lures to deliver password-protected archives containing a PyInstaller-built executable, and the backdoor can communicate with operators over WebSocket or MQTT and execute arbitrary code on compromised hosts.
Show sources
- PLUGGYAPE Malware Uses Signal and WhatsApp to Target Ukrainian Defense Forces — thehackernews.com — 14.01.2026 07:48
- PLUGGYAPE Malware Uses Signal and WhatsApp to Target Ukrainian Defense Forces — thehackernews.com — 14.01.2026 07:48