A week in security (July 31 - August 6)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs: The end looms for Meta's behavioural advertising in Europe Microsoft Teams used in phishing campaign to bypass multi-factor authentication Film companies lose battle to unmask Reddit users FAQ: How does Malwarebytes ransomware rollback work? How to protect your...

The end looms for Meta's behavioural advertising in Europe

The EU is going toe to toe with Meta once more, with the social network giant conceding defeat yet again. After having taken Meta to task for various privacy violations and data breaches, Meta is now having to provide European users with a way to opt out of behavioural advertising. The threat of...

Microsoft Teams used in phishing campaign to bypass multi-factor authentication

Attackers believed to have ties to Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service SVR are using Microsoft Teams chats as credential theft phishing lures. Microsoft Threat Intelligence has posted details about the perceived attacks targeted at fewer than 40 unique global organizations. The targeted...

Film companies lose battle to unmask Reddit users

An interesting case marking the limits of what data big business can expect to dig up has concluded its day or to be more accurate, many days in court. Ars Technica reports that film companies have lost their battle to make social site Reddit identify anonymous users discussing piracy. No fewer...

FAQ: How does Malwarebytes ransomware rollback work?

As the old cybersecurity saying goes: "Its not if, but when." Everyone and their grandma have repeated this foreboding maxim about the nature of ransomware attacks, but sadly, that doesn't make it any less true. Time and again were reminded that ransomware can slip past even the best defenses...

How to protect your child's identity

As we have mentioned before, identity theft is a serious problem, especially when it affects children. Identity thieves love preying on minors, simply because it usually takes longer before the theft is noticed. A persons identity represents a certain value. If it is stolen and abused, it can cau...

Hey, are you REALLY ready to go on vacation? (No, you aren't)

Are you ready for a challenge? A real challenge? Do you laugh in the face of shark cages, scoff at the Marathon des Sables, and waft a dismissive finger in the direction of the Everest ascent? Are you ready to conquer the impossible? If so, then you might be ready for the ultimate challenge--taki...

Global ransomware attacks at an all-time high, shows latest 2023 State of Ransomware report

Ransomware attacks have shown no signs of slowing down in 2023. A new report from the Malwarebytes Threat Intelligence team shows 1,900 total ransomware attacks within just four countries--the US, Germany, France, and the UK--in one year. The findings, compiled together in the 2023 State of...

Phishing campaigns are using AMP URLs to avoid detection

Researchers have found a new phishing tactic which uses Google Accelerated Mobile Pages AMP to make URLs look trustworthy. The tactic is designed to slip past both software and users on the lookout for strange and untrustworthy domain names. AMP is an open-source HTML framework designed to make w...

Minecraft fans beware: Players and servers at risk from BleedingPipe vulnerability

Minecraft players interested in modding are potentially at risk of compromise. A Remote Code Execution RCE vulnerability in certain Minecraft mods allows for malicious commands on both servers and clients. The vulnerability, named BleedingPipe, allows attackers to take over a targeted server...

Ivanti patches second zero-day vulnerability being used in attacks

Ivanti has issued a patch to address a second critical zero-day vulnerability that is under active attack. The vulnerability is said to be used in combination with the first vulnerability we discussed some days ago. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency CISA has added the new...

Public companies must now disclose breaches within 4 days

Public organisations in the US impacted by a cyberattack will now have to disclose it within four days…with some caveats attached. On Wednesday, new rules were approved by the US Securities and Exchange Commission SEC. These rules mean that publicly traded companies will need to reveal said attac...

Meta subsidiaries must pay $14m over misleading data collection disclosure

Meta has run into yet another bout of court related issues--two subsidiaries have been ordered to pay $14 million regarding undisclosed data collection. The Australian case, which has rumbled on for the best part of two and a half years, has focused on claims related to a now discontinued Virtual...

Supply chain attacks disrupt emergency services communications

A supply chain attack rendered two ambulance trusts incapable of accessing electronic patient records in the UK. The two services, which operate in a region of 12 million people, were not targeted directly. Instead, the attack was aimed at a third-party technology provider used by both the South...

Compromised Barracuda appliances equipped with persistent backdoors by attackers

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency CISA has published three malware analysis reports based on malware variants associated with the exploitation of a known vulnerability in Barracuda ESG appliances. The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures CVE database lists publicly disclosed...

A week in security (July 24 - July 30)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs: Zimbra issues awaited patch for actively exploited vulnerability Patch now! Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile Authentication vulnerability used in the wild 60,000 Androids have stalkerware-type app Spyhide installed Ransomware groups claim responsibility for...

Zimbra issues awaited patch for actively exploited vulnerability

Two weeks ago, we urged readers to apply a workaround for an actively exploited vulnerability in Zimbra Collaboration Suite ZCS email servers. Zimbra has released ZCS 10.0.2 that fixes two security issues, including the known bug that could lead to exposure of internal JSP and XML files. Zimbra i...

How Apple fixed what Microsoft hasn't, with Thomas Reed: Lock and Code S04E16

Earlier this month, a group of hackers was spotted using a set of malicious tools--that originally gained popularity with online video game cheaters--to hide their Windows-based malware from being detected. Sounds unique, right? Frustratingly, it isn't, as the specific security loophole that was...

Patch now! Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile Authentication vulnerability used in the wild

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency CISA added one new vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog affecting Ivanti Endpoint Manager Mobile, based on evidence of active exploitation. All Federal Civilian Executive Branch FCEB agencies must remediate this...

60,000 Androids have stalkerware-type app Spyhide installed

Stalkerware-type app Spyhide is coded so badly that its possible to gain access to the back-end databases and retrieve data about everyone that has the app on their device. And it's not a small number. Hacktivist maia arson crimew told TechCrunch she'd found 60,000 compromised Android devices,...

Ransomware groups claim responsibility for double-attack on Yamaha

Music giant Yamahas Canadian division has experienced a compromise on two different fronts, both related to ransomware. In an attack which has worrying echoes of the recent Estee Lauder attack, multiple attackers have claimed to breach the organisation. Yamaha Canada Music had the following to sa...

Update now! Apple fixes several serious vulnerabilities

Apple has released security updates for several products to address several serious vulnerabilities including some actively exploited zero-days. Updates are available for these products: Safari 16.6 | macOS Big Sur and macOS Monterey ---|--- iOS 16.6 and iPadOS 16.6 | iPhone 8 and later, iPad Pro...

How to set up computer security for your parents

Last Sunday July 23, 2023 was National Parents Day. And maybe you are wondering how you can repay your parents for turning you into the person you are today. And we have an idea that shouldn't cost you much more than some of your time. Help them to shore up their cybersecurity, if they need it. I...

Tampa General Hospital half thwarts ransomware attack, but still loses patient data

The Tampa General Hospital TGH has promised to reach out to individuals whose information has been stolen by a ransomware group. In a cybersecurity notice, TGH said it noticed unusual activity on its computer systems on May 31, 2023. "Fortunately, TGHs monitoring systems and experienced technolog...

A week in security (July 17 - 23)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs: CISA: You've got two weeks to patch Citrix NetScaler vulnerability CVE-2023-3519 Estee Lauder targeted by Cl0p and BlackCat ransomware groups Google fixes "Bad.Build" Cloud Build flaw, researchers say it's not enough Accidental VirusTotal upload is a valuable...

CISA: You've got two weeks to patch Citrix NetScaler vulnerability CVE-2023-3519

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency CISA has added a critical unauthenticated remote code execution RCE vulnerability in Citrix NetScaler ADC and Citrix NetScaler Gateway to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, based on evidence of active exploitation. This means that...

Estée Lauder targeted by Cl0p and BlackCat ransomware groups

Estee Lauder is currently at the heart of a compromise storm, revealing a major security issue via a Security Exchange Commission SEC filing on Tuesday. Although no detailed explanation of what has taken place is given, there is confirmation that an attack allowed access to some systems and...

Google fixes "Bad.Build" Cloud Build flaw, researchers say it's not enough

Researchers at Orca Security have found a design flaw in the Google Cloud Build service. Attackers would have been able to gain Privilege Escalation resulting in unauthorized access to code repositories in Googles Artifact Registry. The researchers dubbed the vulnerability Bad.Build and say it...

Accidental VirusTotal upload is a valuable reminder to double check what you share

A document accidentally uploaded to Googles VirusTotal service has resulted in the potential exposure of defence and intelligence agency names and email addresses. The service, used to scan files for signs of potential malicious activity, is used by security professionals and folks just intereste...

Amazon in-van delivery driver footage makes its way online

Footage from technology used to monitor Amazon delivery drivers is leaking onto the internet. AI-enabled equipment which keeps an eye on the drivers speed, location, and other activities is part of the growing trend of workplace surveillance. In theory where drivers are concerned it could flag a...

Docker Hub images found to expose secrets and private keys

Numerous Docker images shared on Docker Hub are exposing sensitive data, according to a study conducted by researchers at the German university RWTH Aachen. Needless to say, this poses a significant security risk. In traditional software development, programmers code an application in one computi...

Plane sailing for ticket scammers: How to keep your flight plans safe

You may be getting ready to jump on a plane and head off for a few days or weeks of rest and relaxation. So the last thing you need before flying is a technology related horror show. Sadly, scammers are aware of families getting ready to hit the skies, and have tailored their threats accordingly...

Microsoft validation error allowed state actor to access user email of government agencies and others

Microsoft is getting criticized for the way in which it handled a serious security incident that allowed a suspected Chinese espionage group to access user email from approximately 25 organizations, including government agencies and related consumer accounts in the public cloud. The attacks were...

FakeSG enters the 'FakeUpdates' arena to deliver NetSupport RAT

Over 5 years ago, we began tracking a new campaign that we called FakeUpdates also known as SocGholish that used compromised websites to trick users into running a fake browser update. Instead, victims would end up infecting their computers with the NetSupport RAT, allowing threat actors to gain...

Act now! In-the-wild Zimbra vulnerability needs a workaround

Security experts are warning Zimbra users that a vulnerability for which there is no patch is being actively exploited in the wild. In a security update about the vulnerability, the company offered a temporary workaround which users can apply while waiting for a patch to be created. Zimbra is an...

Spy vs. spy: Exploring the LetMeSpy hack, with maia arson crimew

The language of a data breach, no matter what company gets hit, is largely the same. There's the stolen data--be it email addresses, credit card numbers, or even medical records. There are the users--unsuspecting, everyday people who, through no fault of their own, mistakenly put their trust into...

A week in security (July 10 - 16)

Last week on Malwarebytes Labs: Tax preparation firms shared sensitive information with Meta Ransomware making big money through "big game hunting" Malwarebytes stops 100% of Advanced Threats in latest AV-Test assessment From Malvertising to Ransomware: A ThreatDown webinar recap Ransomware revie...

Tax preparation firms shared sensitive information with Meta

A group of seven US senators has sent a letter to the heads of the IRS, the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission and the IRS watchdog, revealing that they have found evidence that reveals "a shocking breach of taxpayer privacy by tax prep companies and by Big Tech firms." According...

Ransomware making big money through "big game hunting"

Ransomware generates big money for the groups behind it, with new research confirming some of the scale of the problem. Chainalysis, a blockchain research firm, looked at data from monitored cryptocurrency wallets, concluding that around $449 million has been taken from victims in the last six...

Malwarebytes stops 100% of Advanced Threats in latest AV-Test assessment

AV-TEST, a leading independent tester of cybersecurity solutions, has just given Malwarebytes two Advanced awards for the ability of our consumer and business products to protect against the latest attack techniques. Lets take a deeper dive into the test and the results. Advanced Threat Protectio...

From Malvertising to Ransomware: A ThreatDown webinar recap

Our recent webinar From Malvertising to Ransomware highlight the clear connection between malvertising--the practice of embedding malicious code within legitimate online advertisements--and the epidemic of ransomware attacks affecting businesses globally. Presented by Mark Stockley, security...

Ransomware review: July 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...

Zero-day deploys remote code execution vulnerability via Word documents

An unpatched zero-day vulnerability is currently being abused in the wild, targeting those with an interest in Ukraine. Microsoft reports that CVE-2023-36884 is tied to reports of: …a series of remote code execution vulnerabilities impacting Windows and Office products. Microsoft is aware of...

How to secure your business before going on vacation

For many, the summer months should be a time of peace: Maybe taking some vacation, maybe strolling across warm, soft sands as sapphire waves lap up against your feet, maybe even spending time with family that you like. But for determined cybercriminals, these periods of near-universal rest and...

Update now! Microsoft patches a whopping 130 vulnerabilities

Its that time of the month again. For the July 2023 Patch Tuesday, Microsoft has issued security updates for 130 vulnerabilities. Nine of the vulnerabilities are rated as critical and four of them are known to be actively exploited. The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency CISA has...

Proposed Massachusetts law to ban sale of your mobile location data

Cellular location phone data may be banned from sale in the state of Massachusetts, under a proposed law set to ruffle some data broker feathers. The selling of location data has long been a point of contention for privacy experts. As with so much bulk user data, claims of anonymity from the...

Criminals target businesses with malicious extension for Meta's Ads Manager and accidentally leak stolen accounts

Like all social media platforms, Facebook constantly has to deal with fake accounts, scams and malware. We have written about scams targeting consumers that redirect to fake Microsoft alert pages, but there are also threats targeting businesses that use Facebook to promote their products and...

[Updated] Apple issues Rapid Security Response for zero-day vulnerability

Apple has issued an update for a vulnerability which it says may have been actively exploited. In the security content for Safari 16.5.2 we can learn that the vulnerability was found in the WebKit component which is Apples web rendering engine. In other words, WebKit is the browser engine that...

"TootRoot" Mastodon vulnerabilities fixed: Admins, patch now!

One of Twitters big rivals, Mastodon, recently finished fixing four issues which in the worst case allowed for the creation of files on the instances server. Mastodon, whose main selling point is lots of separate communities living on different servers yet still able to communicate, was notified ...

Threatening rogue finance apps removed from the Apple Store

Multiple apps have been removed from the App Store in India after a large helping of unethical behaviour was aimed at their users. TechCrunch reports that "Pocket Kash, White Kash, Golden Kash, and OK Rupee" among others were taken down after getting close to the top 20 finance app listing spots...