The reported security threat involves fake scan campaigns conducted between May 5 and May 7, 2016, which utilized malicious DOCM files to distribute the Dridex malware. Dridex is a well-known banking Trojan primarily designed to steal banking credentials and other sensitive financial information by injecting malicious code into web browsers. The campaigns masqueraded as legitimate scan notifications, tricking users into opening the DOCM attachments, which are Microsoft Word macro-enabled documents. Once opened and macros enabled, the embedded malicious code would execute, leading to the infection of the host system with Dridex. Although the exact technical details and exploitation vectors are limited in the provided information, the use of DOCM files indicates reliance on social engineering to bypass security controls and user interaction to trigger the infection. The threat level is indicated as moderate (3), with a low overall severity rating and no known exploits in the wild at the time of reporting. The lack of affected versions and patch links suggests this is not a vulnerability in software but rather a malware campaign leveraging social engineering and macro-enabled documents to propagate.

For European organizations, the impact of Dridex infections can be significant, especially for financial institutions, enterprises handling sensitive financial transactions, and organizations with employees who may be targeted by phishing campaigns. Successful infections can lead to credential theft, unauthorized financial transactions, data breaches, and potential financial losses. The use of fake scan notifications increases the likelihood of user interaction, which can bypass technical controls if users are not adequately trained. Additionally, infected systems may serve as footholds for further lateral movement within networks, increasing the risk of broader compromise. While the campaign is dated and rated low severity, organizations with insufficient email filtering, outdated endpoint protections, or lacking user awareness training remain vulnerable to similar tactics.

To mitigate threats like this Dridex campaign, European organizations should implement multi-layered defenses beyond generic advice: 1) Enforce strict email filtering policies that block or quarantine emails with DOCM attachments or other macro-enabled documents from unknown or untrusted sources. 2) Configure Microsoft Office settings to disable macros by default and only allow macros from trusted, signed sources. 3) Conduct targeted user awareness training focusing on recognizing phishing attempts, especially those involving fake scan notifications or unexpected attachments. 4) Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting macro-based malware execution and anomalous process behaviors associated with Dridex. 5) Implement network segmentation and least privilege principles to limit lateral movement if an infection occurs. 6) Regularly update and patch all systems and security solutions to reduce exposure to other vulnerabilities that malware might exploit. 7) Monitor network traffic for indicators of compromise related to Dridex command and control communications, even though no specific indicators were provided here.