Hancitor, also known as Chanitor or Tordal, is a well-known malware downloader primarily distributed via malicious email campaigns that leverage macro-enabled Office documents. The recent OSINT report indicates that Hancitor is active again, now employing a new macro variant to infect victims. Typically, Hancitor campaigns involve sending phishing emails with attached Word documents containing malicious macros. When a user enables macros, the embedded code executes and downloads additional payloads, often ransomware or banking trojans. The new macro variant suggests an evolution in the malware's delivery mechanism, potentially designed to evade detection by updated security tools or to bypass macro-blocking policies. Although no specific indicators of compromise (IoCs) or affected versions are provided, the mention of a new macro variant implies that attackers are continuing to refine their social engineering and technical tactics. The threat level is noted as low, and no known exploits in the wild are reported at this time, which may indicate limited current impact or early-stage activity. However, the presence of active campaigns using macro-based infection vectors remains a persistent risk, especially for organizations with users who may enable macros without sufficient awareness or controls. The lack of detailed technical indicators limits the ability to perform deep forensic analysis, but the threat aligns with a common attack pattern leveraging Office macros to deliver malware payloads.

For European organizations, the resurgence of Hancitor with a new macro variant poses a risk primarily through phishing campaigns targeting employees. Successful infections can lead to the deployment of secondary malware, including ransomware or credential stealers, which can compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability of critical systems. Given the widespread use of Microsoft Office in Europe, especially in sectors such as finance, government, and manufacturing, the potential for disruption is significant if users are tricked into enabling macros. The impact may include data breaches, operational downtime, financial losses, and reputational damage. Although the current severity is low and no widespread exploitation is reported, the evolving nature of the macro payload suggests that attackers may attempt to bypass existing security controls, increasing the risk over time. European organizations with less mature email security and endpoint protection may be more vulnerable. Additionally, the threat could be leveraged in targeted campaigns against high-value entities, amplifying the potential impact.

To mitigate the risk posed by Hancitor's new macro variant, European organizations should implement a multi-layered defense strategy. First, enforce strict Group Policy settings to disable macros by default in Microsoft Office applications, allowing macros only from trusted, digitally signed sources. Second, enhance email filtering to block or quarantine emails with suspicious attachments or macro-enabled documents, using advanced threat protection solutions that analyze attachments for malicious behavior. Third, conduct regular user awareness training focused on the dangers of enabling macros and recognizing phishing attempts. Fourth, deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of identifying macro execution and subsequent payload downloads. Fifth, maintain up-to-date antivirus and antimalware signatures and heuristics to detect known Hancitor variants. Finally, implement network segmentation and least privilege principles to limit lateral movement if an infection occurs. Organizations should also monitor threat intelligence feeds for updated IoCs related to Hancitor to enable timely detection and response.