Redefining IABs: Impacts of compartmentalization on threat tracking and modeling

Cisco Talos has observed a growing trend of attack kill chains being split into two stages -- initial compromise and subsequent exploitation -- executed by separate threat actors. This compartmentalization increases the complexity and difficulty of performing threat modeling and actor profiling...

Initial Access Brokers Target Brazil Execs via NF-e Spam and Legit RMM Trials

Cybersecurity researchers are warning of a new campaign that's targeting Portuguese-speaking users in Brazil with trial versions of commercial remote monitoring and management RMM software since January 2025. "The spam message uses the Brazilian electronic invoice system, NF-e, as a lure to entic...

Spam campaign targeting Brazil abuses Remote Monitoring and Management tools

Cisco Talos identified a spam campaign targeting Brazilian users with commercial remote monitoring and management RMM tools since at least January 2025. Talos observed the use of PDQ Connect and N-able remote access tools in this campaign. The spam message uses the Brazilian electronic invoice...

ToyMaker Uses LAGTOY to Sell Access to CACTUS Ransomware Gangs for Double Extortion

Cybersecurity researchers have detailed the activities of an initial access broker IAB dubbed ToyMaker that has been observed handing over access to double extortion ransomware gangs like CACTUS. The IAB has been assessed with medium confidence to be a financially motivated threat actor, scanning...

Introducing ToyMaker, an initial access broker working in cahoots with double extortion gangs

In 2023, Cisco Talos discovered an extensive compromise in a critical infrastructure enterprise consisting of a combination of threat actors. From initial access to double extortion, these actors slowly and steadily compromised a multitude of hosts in the network using a combination of various...

Initial Access Brokers Shift Tactics, Selling More for Less

What are IABs? Initial Access Brokers IABs specialize in gaining unauthorized entry into computer systems and networks, then selling that access to other cybercriminals. This division of labor allows IABs to concentrate on their core expertise: exploiting vulnerabilities through methods like soci...

Researchers Uncover ~200 Unique C2 Domains Linked to Raspberry Robin Access Broker

A new investigation has unearthed nearly 200 unique command-and-control C2 domains associated with a malware called Raspberry Robin. "Raspberry Robin also known as Roshtyak or Storm-0856 is a complex and evolving threat actor that provides initial access broker IAB services to numerous criminal...

Microsoft Uncovers Sandworm Subgroup's Global Cyber Attacks Spanning 15+ Countries

A subgroup within the infamous Russian state-sponsored hacking group known as Sandworm has been attributed to a multi-year initial access operation dubbed BadPilot that stretched across the globe. "This subgroup has conducted globally diverse compromises of Internet-facing infrastructure to enabl...

Changing the tide: Reflections on threat data from 2024

"Enough Ripples, And You Change The Tide. For The Future Is Never Truly Set." X-Men: Days of Future Past In January, I dedicated some time to examine threat data from 2024, comparing it with the previous years to identify anomalies, spikes, and changes. As anticipated, the number of Common...

CVE-2024-53704

An Improper Authentication vulnerability in the SSLVPN authentication mechanism allows a remote attacker to bypass authentication. Recent assessments: remmons-r7 at January 28, 2025 3:26pm UTC reported: On January 7, 2025, SonicWall announced an authentication bypass affecting SonicOS, the...

Analysis of Cyber Anarchy Squad attacks targeting Russian and Belarusian organizations

About C.A.S C.A.S Cyber Anarchy Squad is a hacktivist group that has been attacking organizations in Russia and Belarus since 2022. Besides data theft, its goal is to inflict maximum damage, including reputational. To this end, the group's attacks exploit vulnerabilities in publicly available...

Investigating a SharePoint Compromise: IR Tales from the Field

Executive summary Rapid7’s Incident Response team recently investigated a Microsoft Exchange service account with domain administrator privileges. Our investigation uncovered an attacker who accessed a server without authorization and moved laterally across the network, compromising the entire...

Hacktivist Group Twelve Targets Russian Entities with Destructive Cyber Attacks

A hacktivist group known as Twelve has been observed using an arsenal of publicly available tools to conduct destructive cyber attacks against Russian targets. "Rather than demand a ransom for decrypting data, Twelve prefers to encrypt victims' data and then destroy their infrastructure with a...

Researchers Uncover Flaws in Windows Smart App Control and SmartScreen

Cybersecurity researchers have uncovered design weaknesses in Microsoft's Windows Smart App Control and SmartScreen that could enable threat actors to gain initial access to target environments without raising any warnings. Smart App Control SAC is a cloud-powered security feature introduced by...

Cyber Threat Intelligence: Illuminating the Deep, Dark Cybercriminal Underground

Learn about critical threats that can impact your organization and the bad actors behind them from Cybersixgill's threat experts. Each story shines a light on underground activities, the threat actors involved, and why you should care, along with what you can do to mitigate risk. The deep and dar...

New HardBit Ransomware 4.0 Uses Passphrase Protection to Evade Detection

Cybersecurity researchers have shed light on a new version of a ransomware strain called HardBit that comes packaged with new obfuscation techniques to deter analysis efforts. "Unlike previous versions, HardBit Ransomware group enhanced the version 4.0 with passphrase protection," Cybereason...

Info Stealing Campaign Uses DLL Sideloading Through Legitimate Cisco Webex’s Binaries for Initial Execution and Defense Evasion

Info Stealing Campaign Uses DLL Sideloading Through Legitimate Cisco Webex’s Binaries for Initial Execution and Defense Evasion By Ale Houspanossian · June 17, 2024 Case Summary It was a quiet Monday morning in March 2024 when the EDR researchers with our Trellix Advanced Research Center identifi...

Microsoft Warns of Surge in Cyber Attacks Targeting Internet-Exposed OT Devices

Microsoft has emphasized the need for securing internet-exposed operational technology OT devices following a spate of cyber attacks targeting such environments since late 2023. "These repeated attacks against OT devices emphasize the crucial need to improve the security posture of OT devices and...

PT-2024-12934 · Undefined · Undefined

OSINT CTI Qlik Sense Users - Adversary Tactics: - Initial Access: CVE-2023-412662, CVE-2023-412653 - RMMs: ManageEngine UEMS, Zoho Assist, DWAgent - Lateral Mov: RDP & PuTTY Link8 - Exfil: WizTree & Rclone - Impact: Cactus Ransomware https://t.co/gt0dhuFniS...

PT-2024-12933 · Undefined · Undefined

OSINT CTI Qlik Sense Users - Adversary Tactics: - Initial Access: CVE-2023-412662, CVE-2023-412653 - RMMs: ManageEngine UEMS, Zoho Assist, DWAgent - Lateral Mov: RDP & PuTTY Link8 - Exfil: WizTree & Rclone - Impact: Cactus Ransomware https://t.co/gt0dhuFniS...