KRVTZ IDS alerts from January 14, 2026, report automated network reconnaissance and brute force attempts targeting Postfix mail servers. Multiple IP addresses were identified attempting SASL authentication brute forcing, with these attempts detected and blocked. One IP was also flagged for spam activity blocked via DNSBL. These activities represent the reconnaissance phase of attacks, aiming to discover valid credentials or vulnerable configurations. No specific vulnerabilities or exploits are associated, and no patches are available or needed. The threat is low severity due to the lack of successful compromises and absence of denial-of-service indicators. However, persistent brute forcing could lead to credential compromise if defenses are weak. The threat primarily affects European organizations running Postfix servers, with countries like Germany, France, and the UK most likely impacted. Effective monitoring, strong authentication policies, and dynamic IP blocking are critical to mitigating this threat.
A new Magecart network has been uncovered, targeting major payment networks including American Express, Diners Club, Discover, and Mastercard. The campaign, active since January 2022, uses web-skimming techniques to steal credit card information from online shoppers. The attackers inject malicious JavaScript code into compromised e-commerce websites, creating fake payment forms that capture and exfiltrate sensitive data. The skimmer employs sophisticated obfuscation techniques and mimics legitimate payment processes to avoid detection. Victims are unaware of the theft, as the malware allows the real transaction to proceed after capturing the data. The campaign demonstrates advanced knowledge of e-commerce platforms and continues to pose a significant threat to online retailers and consumers worldwide.
AI will assist companies in finding their external attack surface, but it will also assist bad actors in locating and attacking the weak points. The post Cyber Insights 2026: External Attack Surface Management appeared first on SecurityWeek .
This analysis examines a multi-stage Windows malware campaign called SHADOW#REACTOR. The infection chain uses obfuscated VBS, PowerShell downloaders, and text-based payloads to deliver a Remcos RAT backdoor. Key features include fragmented text staging, .NET Reactor protection, reflective loading, and MSBuild abuse as a living-off-the-land binary. The campaign leverages complex obfuscation and in-memory execution to evade detection while establishing persistent remote access. Defensive recommendations focus on script execution monitoring, LOLBin abuse detection, and enhanced PowerShell logging to counter the sophisticated evasion techniques employed.
The 44-year-old individual planted remote access malware on a logistics firm’s systems, with help from employees. The post Dutch Port Hacker Sentenced to Prison appeared first on SecurityWeek .
Hackers stole complete customer information, including contact details, national identity numbers, and payment details. The post Spanish Energy Company Endesa Hacked appeared first on SecurityWeek .
Threat actors exploited Cloudflare's free-tier infrastructure and Python environments to deploy AsyncRAT, demonstrating advanced evasion techniques. The attack begins with phishing emails containing Dropbox links to malicious files. It uses legitimate Python downloads and sophisticated code injection targeting explorer.exe. The campaign ensures persistence through multiple vectors, including startup folder scripts and WebDAV mounting. It abuses trusted infrastructure like Cloudflare to mask activities and evade detection. The attackers employ social engineering tactics, such as displaying legitimate PDF documents, to reduce suspicion. This campaign highlights the trend of abusing cloud services for malware delivery and execution, emphasizing the need for multi-layered security approaches.
In 2025, AI did not revolutionize cyber attacks as predicted. Instead, adversaries used AI to accelerate traditional tradecraft, focusing on speed and accessibility rather than new offensive capabilities. The article examines several case studies showcasing AI-generated scripts for credential theft and browser exploitation. These attacks, while faster and more accessible to less-skilled operators, still rely on familiar techniques detectable by basic security measures. The outlook for 2026 suggests continued AI-driven commoditization of tradecraft, with more templated attacks and improved phishing attempts. However, fundamental security practices remain effective against these evolving threats.
For the latest discoveries in cyber research for the week of 12th January, please download our Threat Intelligence Bulletin. TOP ATTACKS AND BREACHES Manage My Health, New Zealand’s largest patient portal, has acknowledged a cyberattack occurred on December 2025, that potentially exposed data of nearly 110K users. An alleged attacker, dubbed Kazu, claimed responsibility and […] The post 12th January – Threat Intelligence Report appeared first on Check Point Research .
UH officials refused to provide key information, including which cancer research project had been affected or how much UH paid the hackers to regain access to files. The post Hackers Accessed University of Hawaii Cancer Center Patient Data; They Weren’t Immediately Notified appeared first on SecurityWeek .
Gulshan Management Services has informed authorities about a recent data breach resulting from a ransomware attack. The post 377,000 Impacted by Data Breach at Texas Gas Station Firm appeared first on SecurityWeek .
CNCERT and Microstep Online jointly detected a cyberattack campaign launched by the "Black Cat" criminal gang. This gang uses search engine SEO (Search Engine Optimization) techniques to push meticulously crafted phishing websites to the top of search engine keyword results. After visiting these high-ranking phishing pages, users are lured by carefully designed download pages, attempting to download software installation packages bundled with malicious programs. Once installed, the program implants a backdoor Trojan without the user's knowledge, leading to the theft of sensitive data from their host computer by attackers.
The PHALT#BLYX campaign targets the hospitality sector using sophisticated social engineering and advanced techniques. It begins with a phishing email mimicking a Booking.com reservation cancellation, leading victims to a fake website. Users are tricked into executing malicious PowerShell commands through a fake BSOD and click-fix social engineering tactic. The malware leverages MSBuild.exe to bypass defenses and deploys a customized DCRat payload. It establishes persistence, disables Windows Defender, and uses process hollowing to inject into legitimate processes. The campaign shows evolution from earlier, simpler methods and demonstrates a deep understanding of modern endpoint protection. Attribution points to Russian-speaking threat actors, given the presence of Cyrillic debug strings and the use of DCRat, a popular tool in Russian underground forums.
Reverse engineers must have a good understanding of the environment where malware are executed (read: the operating system). In a previous diary, I talked about malicious code that could be executed when loading a DLL[1]. Today, I'll show you how a malware can hide suspicious information related to created processes.
CVE-2026-20974 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Samsung Mobile devices due to improper input validation related to network restrictions. This flaw allows a physical attacker to bypass the Carrier Relock feature, which is intended to restrict device use to specific carriers. The vulnerability requires physical access but no authentication or user interaction, and it does not impact confidentiality or availability directly but compromises device integrity. There are no known exploits in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. European organizations using Samsung Mobile devices could face risks of unauthorized carrier unlocking, potentially leading to unauthorized network access or device misuse. Mitigation involves monitoring for firmware updates from Samsung and restricting physical access to devices. Countries with high Samsung device penetration and significant mobile carrier infrastructure, such as Germany, France, the UK, Italy, and Spain, are most likely to be affected. Given the medium CVSS score of 5.2, the threat is moderate but should be addressed proactively to prevent exploitation.
