The Aggah malspam campaign is a low-severity threat involving the distribution of malicious spam emails that employ a diverse set of attack techniques to compromise targeted systems. The campaign leverages multiple MITRE ATT&CK techniques, including execution via scheduled tasks (T1053), command-line interface usage (T1059), scripting (T1064), PowerShell execution (T1086), API-based execution (T1106), and mshta (T1170). Persistence mechanisms include registry run keys and startup folder manipulation (T1060). The campaign also uses process injection (T1055) to evade detection and maintain stealth. To obfuscate its activities, it employs deobfuscation and decoding of files or information (T1140). Credential theft is facilitated through credentials stored in files (T1081), and input capture (T1056) and screen capture (T1113) techniques are used for espionage or data exfiltration. Communication may occur over uncommonly used ports (T1065), potentially bypassing standard network monitoring. The campaign is characterized by its diversification of tools and techniques, making detection and mitigation more challenging. Although no known exploits in the wild are reported, the campaign's use of multiple attack vectors and persistence methods indicates a sophisticated approach to compromise and maintain access to victim systems. The threat level is assessed as low, with a certainty of 50%, indicating moderate confidence in the intelligence. The campaign was first reported in October 2019 by CIRCL and is cataloged under the MISP galaxy with multiple MITRE ATT&CK patterns.

For European organizations, the Aggah malspam campaign poses a risk primarily through initial phishing or malspam vectors that could lead to system compromise, credential theft, and espionage. The use of PowerShell, scripting, and process injection techniques can allow attackers to bypass traditional antivirus and endpoint detection systems, potentially leading to unauthorized access and data exfiltration. The campaign's ability to capture input and screen data threatens confidentiality, especially for organizations handling sensitive or regulated data. Persistence mechanisms increase the difficulty of eradication once a system is compromised. Although the campaign is rated low severity, the diversity of tools and tactics means that even organizations with mature security postures could be targeted, particularly if user awareness or endpoint protections are insufficient. The impact could be more pronounced in sectors with high-value intellectual property or sensitive personal data, such as finance, healthcare, and government institutions across Europe.

European organizations should implement targeted mitigations beyond generic advice: 1) Enhance email filtering and phishing detection capabilities to reduce malspam delivery. 2) Deploy advanced endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting script-based attacks, PowerShell misuse, and process injection techniques. 3) Enforce strict application whitelisting and restrict execution of mshta and unauthorized scripts. 4) Monitor and audit scheduled tasks, registry run keys, and startup folders for unauthorized changes indicative of persistence mechanisms. 5) Implement credential hygiene practices, including regular credential audits and use of multifactor authentication to mitigate credential theft risks. 6) Network monitoring should include detection of traffic on uncommon ports and anomalous API usage. 7) Conduct regular user training focused on recognizing malspam and phishing attempts. 8) Employ data loss prevention (DLP) tools to detect and block unauthorized input and screen capture activities. 9) Maintain up-to-date threat intelligence feeds to identify emerging variants of the Aggah campaign and adapt defenses accordingly.