Rapid7 Labs has uncovered a sophisticated campaign attributed to the Chinese APT group Lotus Blossom, involving a new custom backdoor named Chrysalis. The attack compromised Notepad++ infrastructure to deliver the backdoor. Analysis revealed multiple custom loaders, including one using Microsoft Warbird for obfuscation. The Chrysalis backdoor has extensive capabilities for information gathering, file operations, and remote command execution. Additional artifacts found include Cobalt Strike beacons and Metasploit payloads. The campaign shows Lotus Blossom evolving its tactics, mixing custom and off-the-shelf tools with advanced obfuscation techniques to evade detection.
A hacker published malicious versions of four established VS Code extensions to distribute a GlassWorm malware loader. The post Open VSX Publisher Account Hijacked in Fresh GlassWorm Attack appeared first on SecurityWeek .
Poland’s CERT has published a report on the recent attack, providing new details on targeted ICS and attribution. The post Default ICS Credentials Exploited in Destructive Attack on Polish Energy Facilities appeared first on SecurityWeek .
MicroWorld Technologies, the maker of eScan antivirus, experienced a supply-chain compromise where malicious updates were pushed through the legitimate eScan updater. This multi-stage malware establishes persistence on infected systems, enables remote access for attackers, and blocks automatic security mechanisms. Although no known exploits are currently observed in the wild, the threat poses a medium severity risk due to its potential impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. European organizations using eScan antivirus are at risk, especially those in countries with higher adoption of this product. The attack leverages trusted update channels, making detection and prevention more challenging. Mitigation requires immediate verification of update integrity, network monitoring for unusual remote access, and enhanced endpoint detection capabilities. Countries with significant use of eScan and strategic sectors reliant on this antivirus are more likely to be targeted. The threat underscores the critical risk of supply-chain attacks in cybersecurity defenses.
The next major Windows Server and Windows releases will have the deprecated authentication protocol disabled by default. The post Microsoft Moves Closer to Disabling NTLM appeared first on SecurityWeek .
The likely state-sponsored threat actor had access to the hosting provider for months and targeted only certain Notepad++ customers. The post Notepad++ Supply Chain Hack Conducted by China via Hosting Provider appeared first on SecurityWeek .
Hackers compromised a MicroWorld Technologies update server and fed a malicious file to eScan customers. The post eScan Antivirus Delivers Malware in Supply Chain Attack appeared first on SecurityWeek .
ESET researchers provide technical details on a recent data destruction incident affecting a Polish energy company. They identified new data-wiping malware named DynoWiper, attributed to the Russia-aligned threat group Sandworm with medium confidence. The tactics, techniques, and procedures observed during the DynoWiper incident resemble those seen earlier in an incident involving the ZOV wiper in Ukraine. Sandworm has a history of destructive cyberattacks, targeting various entities including energy providers. The DynoWiper samples focus on the IT environment, with no observed functionality targeting OT industrial components. The attackers deployed additional tools and attempted to use a SOCKS5 proxy. The incident represents a rare case of a Russia-aligned threat actor deploying destructive malware against an energy company in Poland.
Two Biden-era memorandums have been revoked, but some of the resources they provide can still be used by government organizations. The post White House Scraps ‘Burdensome’ Software Security Rules appeared first on SecurityWeek .
A sophisticated multi-stage malware campaign employs living-off-the-land techniques and in-memory payload delivery to evade security controls. The infection chain begins with a hidden batch file that executes an embedded PowerShell loader, which then injects Donut-generated shellcode into legitimate Windows processes. The final payload is a heavily obfuscated .NET framework implementing advanced anti-analysis techniques, credential harvesting, surveillance capabilities, and remote system control. Data exfiltration occurs via Discord webhooks and Telegram bots. The malware, identified as Pulsar RAT, features live chat functionality and background payload deployment, demonstrating a modern, high-evasion Windows malware operation designed for long-term access and large-scale data theft.
Sandworm/Electrum hackers targeted communication and control systems at 30 sites. The post ICS Devices Bricked Following Russia-Linked Intrusion Into Polish Power Grid appeared first on SecurityWeek .
The LABYRINTH CHOLLIMA threat group has split into three distinct adversaries: GOLDEN CHOLLIMA, PRESSURE CHOLLIMA, and core LABYRINTH CHOLLIMA. Each subgroup has specialized malware, objectives, and tradecraft. GOLDEN CHOLLIMA and PRESSURE CHOLLIMA focus on cryptocurrency entities, while core LABYRINTH CHOLLIMA continues espionage operations targeting industrial, logistics, and defense companies. Despite operating independently, these groups share tools and infrastructure, indicating coordinated resource allocation within North Korea's cyber ecosystem. The evolution stems from the KorDLL malware framework, which spawned several malware families. Recent operations demonstrate cloud-focused tradecraft and the use of zero-day vulnerabilities to deliver malware.
A multi-domain traffic distribution system (TDS) operation was discovered, centered around the domain toxicsnake-wifes.com. The infrastructure serves as a commodity cybercrime TDS farm, routing victims to phishing, scams, or malware payloads. The operation uses a first-stage JavaScript loader, followed by a second-stage that attempts to fetch upstream payloads. The cluster shares common WHOIS, DNS, and hosting patterns, indicative of bulletproof VPS usage. Multiple burner domains with similar tradecraft were identified, suggesting an organized operator cluster. The infrastructure employs obfuscation, dynamic remote injection, and disposable registration techniques. While the main payload was unreachable during analysis, historical evidence suggests the delivery of malicious content.
IClickFix is a malicious framework that compromises WordPress sites to distribute malware using the ClickFix social engineering tactic. Active since December 2024, it has infected over 3,800 WordPress sites globally. The framework injects malicious JavaScript into compromised sites, leading users through a fake CAPTCHA challenge that tricks them into executing malicious code. This ultimately installs NetSupport RAT, granting attackers full control of infected systems. The campaign has evolved over time, adding traffic distribution systems and refining its lures. While initially distributing Emmenhtal Loader and XFiles Stealer, it now primarily delivers NetSupport RAT. The widespread nature of the attacks suggests opportunistic exploitation rather than targeted campaigns.
MicroWorld Technologies has confirmed that one of its update servers was breached and used to distribute a malicious update to some customers in the early hours of January 2026, reports BleepingComputer.
A supply chain attack targeted the eScan antivirus software, distributing malware through the update server. The attack, detected on January 20, involved a malicious Reload.exe file that initiated a multi-stage infection chain. This malware prevented further antivirus updates, ensured persistence through scheduled tasks, and communicated with control servers to download additional payloads. Attackers gained unauthorized access to a regional update server, deploying a malicious file with a fake digital signature.eScan developers quickly isolated the affected infrastructure and reset access credentials. Users are advised to check for infection signs, use a provided removal utility, and block known malware control server addresses. Kaspersky's security solutions successfully detect the malware used in this attack.
An exposed open directory on a command and control server revealed a complete deployment of the BYOB (Build Your Own Botnet) framework. The multi-stage infection chain targets Windows, Linux, and macOS platforms, implementing seven persistence mechanisms. The malware includes extensive post-exploitation capabilities such as keylogging, packet capture, and email harvesting. Analysis uncovered a modular design with encrypted C2 communications and infrastructure reuse across multiple regions. Two nodes also hosted XMRig cryptocurrency miners, indicating additional monetization efforts. The campaign has been operational for approximately 10 months, demonstrating geographic and provider diversification in its infrastructure.
