Rust-Written 3AM Ransomware: A Sneak Peek into a New Malware Family

A new ransomware family called 3AM has emerged in the wild after it was detected in a single incident in which an unidentified affiliate deployed the strain following an unsuccessful attempt to deliver LockBit attributed to Bitwise Spider or Syrphid in the target network. "3AM is written in Rust...

Microsoft Warns of New Phishing Campaign Targeting Corporations via Teams Messages

Microsoft is warning of a new phishing campaign undertaken by an initial access broker that involves using Teams messages as lures to infiltrate corporate networks. The tech giant's Threat Intelligence team is tracking the cluster under the name Storm-0324, which is also known by the monikers TA5...

RedLine/Vidar Abuses EV Certificates, Shifts to Ransomware

In this blog, we investigate how threat actors used information-stealing malware with EV code signing certificates and later delivered ransomware payloads to its victims via the same delivery method...

Malware distributor Storm-0324 facilitates ransomware access

The threat actor that Microsoft tracks as Storm-0324 is a financially motivated group known to gain initial access using email-based initial infection vectors and then hand off access to compromised networks to other threat actors. These handoffs frequently lead to ransomware deployment. Beginnin...

Malware distributor Storm-0324 facilitates ransomware access

The threat actor that Microsoft tracks as Storm-0324 is a financially motivated group known to gain initial access using email-based initial infection vectors and then hand off access to compromised networks to other threat actors. These handoffs frequently lead to ransomware deployment. Beginnin...

Ransomware review: September 2023

This article is based on research by Marcelo Rivero, Malwarebytes' ransomware specialist, who monitors information published by ransomware gangs on their Dark Web sites. In this report, "known attacks" are those where the victim did not pay a ransom. This provides the best overall picture of...

Akira Ransomware Exploits Cisco Zero-Day Vulnerability

Threat Level Vulnerability Report For a detailed threat advisory, download the pdf file here Summary The zero-day vulnerability, identified as CVE-2023-20269, is a concerning security issue that impacts the remote access VPN feature of Cisco ASA Adaptive Security Appliance and FTD Firepower Threa...

Major cyberattack leaves MGM Resorts reeling

A major incident impacting MGM Resorts has caused computer shutdowns all over the US. The systems most impacted are tied to casinos and hotel computer systems. According to the AP, locations caught by this shutdown range from New York and Ohio to Michigan and Mississippi. At this point Id link to...

From Caribbean shores to your devices: analyzing Cuba ransomware

Introduction Knowledge is our best weapon in the fight against cybercrime. An understanding of how various gangs operate and what tools they use helps build competent defenses and investigate incidents. This report takes a close look at the history of the Cuba group, and their attack tactics,...

The main causes of ransomware reinfection

A few months ago, we wrote about a ransomware reinfection incident. Ransomware reinfection arguably could be even worse than being a first time victim. Unfortunately it happens more often than you may think. Research shows that in 2022, more than a third 38% of surveyed organizations fell victim ...

A week in security (September 4 - September 10)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs: Supply chain related security risks, and how to protect against them Password-stealing Chrome extension smuggled on to Web Store Smart chastity device exposes sensitive user data X wants your biometric data Mac users targeted in new malvertising campaign delivering...

US and UK Mount Aggressive Crackdown on Trickbot and Conti Ransomware Gangs

Authorities have sanctioned 11 alleged members of the cybercriminal groups, while the US Justice Department unsealed three federal indictments against nine people accused of being members...

FreeWorld Ransomware Targets MSSQL Servers Facing Siege

Threat Level Attack Report For a detailed threat advisory, download the pdf file here Summary Adversaries are capitalizing on inadequately protected Microsoft SQL MS SQL servers in an operation known as DBJAMMER, deploying both Cobalt Strike and a ransomware strain named FreeWorld, which appears ...

FreeWorld ransomware attacks MSSQL—get your databases off the internet

When we think of ransomware and brute force password guessing attacks, we normally think of RDP, but recent research from Securonix reminds us that anything secured with a password and exposed to the internet is of interest to cybercriminals. Microsoft's Remote Desktop Protocol has been a favouri...

A history of ransomware: How did it get this far?

Today's ransomware is the scourge of many organizations. But where did it start? If we define ransomware as malware that encrypts files to extort the owner of the system, then the first malware that could be classified as ransomware is the 1989 AIDS Trojan. However, while it encrypted filenames a...

QakBot's Endgame: The Final Move Before the Takedown

QakBot's Endgame: The Final Move Before the Takedown By Daksh Kapur, Nico Paulo Yturriaga and Alfred Alvarado · September 06, 2023 Figure 1 Attribution at the bottom Qakbot, known under aliases like QBot, QuakBot, and Pinkslipbot, represents an intricately advanced malware strain that has...

CVE-2023-20269

A vulnerability in the remote access VPN feature of Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance ASA Software and Cisco Firepower Threat Defense FTD Software could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to conduct a brute force attack in an attempt to identify valid username and password combinations or ...

PT-2023-8563

Name of the Vulnerable Software and Affected Versions Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance ASA Software and Cisco Firepower Threat Defense FTD Software affected versions not specified Description A vulnerability exists in the remote access VPN feature of Cisco ASA and FTD Software that could allow a...

QakBot's Endgame: The Final Move Before the Takedown

QakBot's Endgame: The Final Move Before the Takedown By Daksh Kapur, Nico Paulo Yturriaga and Alfred Alvarado · September 06, 2023 Figure 1 Attribution at the bottom Qakbot, known under aliases like QBot, QuakBot, and Pinkslipbot, represents an intricately advanced malware strain that has...

New BLISTER Malware Update Fuelling Stealthy Network Infiltration

An updated version of a malware loader known as BLISTER is being used as part of SocGholish infection chains to distribute an open-source command-and-control C2 framework called Mythic. "New BLISTER update includes keying feature that allows for precise targeting of victim networks and lowers...