The medtech giant has been working on restoring systems affected by the cyberattack conducted by the Handala hackers. The post Iranian Hackers Likely Used Malware-Stolen Credentials in Stryker Breach appeared first on SecurityWeek .
The intelligence details indicators of compromise for the Coruna iOS iPhone web malware exploitation kit. It provides MD5, SHA-1, and SHA-256 hashes for detected JavaScript payloads. The analysis lists numerous active domains serving the malware, including specific URLs delivering client-side exploits. The campaign involves a wide network of malicious domains and URLs targeting iOS devices. The extensive list of compromised and malicious infrastructure demonstrates the scale of this exploitation kit's operations, highlighting the ongoing threat to iPhone users through web-based attacks.
A China-nexus threat actor targeted countries in the Persian Gulf region using a multi-stage attack chain to deploy a PlugX backdoor variant. The campaign exploited the renewed Middle East conflict, using an Arabic-language document lure depicting missile attacks. The attack utilized a ZIP archive containing a malicious Windows shortcut file, which downloaded a CHM file leading to the deployment of PlugX. The malware employed various obfuscation techniques, including control flow flattening and mixed boolean arithmetic. The PlugX variant supported HTTPS for command-and-control communication and DNS-over-HTTPS for domain resolution. Based on the tools and tactics used, the activity is attributed to a China-nexus actor, possibly linked to Mustang Panda.
Pro-Iranian hackers are targeting sites in the Middle East and starting to stretch into the United States during the war, raising the risk of American defense contractors, power stations and water plants. The post Iran-Linked Hackers Take Aim at US and Other Targets, Raising Risk of Cyberattacks During War appeared first on SecurityWeek .
Evidence indicates that the attackers leveraged existing endpoint management software rather than malware to wipe devices. The post Iran-Linked Hacker Attack on Stryker Disrupted Manufacturing and Shipping appeared first on SecurityWeek .
Key Findings Introduction Handala Hack, also tracked by Check Point Research as Void Manticore, is an Iranian threat actor that is known for multiple destructive wiping attacks combined with “hack and leak” operations. The threat actor operates several online personas, with the most prominent among them being Homeland Justice, maintained from mid-2022 specifically for multiple attacks […] The post “Handala Hack” – Unveiling Group’s Modus Operandi appeared first on Check Point Research .
Stryker was targeted by the Handala group, which claims to have wiped more than 200,000 of the company’s devices. The post MedTech Giant Stryker Crippled by Iran-Linked Hacker Attack appeared first on SecurityWeek .
The ongoing conflict involving Iran has led to increased cyber espionage activities targeting Middle Eastern governments. Multiple state-sponsored threat actors, including those from China, Belarus, Pakistan, and Hamas, have been observed conducting campaigns using the conflict as a lure. These actors are employing various tactics such as credential phishing, malware delivery, and compromised accounts to target government and diplomatic organizations. The campaigns often use war-themed content to engage targets and gather intelligence on the conflict's trajectory and geopolitical implications. Iranian threat actors continue their traditional espionage efforts alongside disruptive campaigns in support of war efforts. This heightened activity reflects both opportunistic use of topical lures and shifts in intelligence collection priorities for various state-aligned groups.
The ongoing Middle East crisis has given rise to opportunistic online fraudulent activities. Two main strands have been observed: confirmed government-impersonation fraud and suspicious evacuation-themed websites. Fraudsters are exploiting the confusion and urgency surrounding the crisis to launch phishing campaigns and create deceptive websites. A notable example includes an email impersonating UAE authorities, urging recipients to complete a mandatory emergency registration form. Additionally, several newly registered websites offering evacuation services from Dubai and the Gulf region have emerged, displaying characteristics commonly associated with scams. These sites use crisis-related domain names, employ urgent messaging, lack verifiable operator details, and often request unconventional payment methods. The situation highlights the need for increased vigilance and proactive monitoring of emerging digital threats during geopolitical crises.
Iranian intelligence services are increasingly engaging with the cyber crime ecosystem, leveraging criminal tools, services, and operational models to support state objectives. This trend is particularly evident among actors linked to the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS), such as Void Manticore and MuddyWater. These actors are not merely imitating criminal behavior but actively associating with the cyber criminal ecosystem, using its infrastructure, malware, and affiliate-style relationships. This approach enhances their operational capabilities, complicates attribution, and contributes to confusion around Iranian threat activity. Examples include the use of ransomware branding, commercial infostealers, and overlaps with criminal malware clusters. This shift from imitation to active engagement with cyber crime offers both improved deniability and expanded technical capabilities for Iranian actors.
Key Points Iran-linked actors are increasingly engaging with the cyber crime ecosystem. Their activity suggests a growing reliance on criminal tools, services, and operational models in support of state objectives. Iranian actors have long used cyber crime and hacktivism as cover for destructive activity, but the trend now suggests direct engagement with the criminal ecosystem. […] The post Iranian MOIS Actors & the Cyber Crime Connection appeared first on Check Point Research .
For the latest discoveries in cyber research for the week of 9th March, please download our Threat Intelligence Bulletin. TOP ATTACKS AND BREACHES AkzoNobel, a Netherlands-based global paint manufacturer, has confirmed a cyberattack affecting one of its United States sites. The company said the intrusion was contained, while the Anubis ransomware group claimed it stole […] The post 9th March – Threat Intelligence Report appeared first on Check Point Research .
An intrusion attributed to MuddyWater, an Iranian-linked APT, was identified in a customer environment. The attack involved initial access through RDP, establishing an SSH tunnel, and deploying malware via DLL side-loading. The threat actor used FMAPP.exe, a legitimate Fortemedia Inc.application, to load a malicious FMAPP.dll for C2 communications. The timeline of activities revealed typos in commands, suggesting manual typing by the attacker. The intrusion included reconnaissance efforts, attempts to verify tunnel functionality, and issues with initial C2 communication. The attack targeted an Israeli company, aligning with known MuddyWater tactics.
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has triggered a surge in cybercriminal activity. Over 8,000 newly registered domains with conflict-related keywords have been identified, many of which may be weaponized in future campaigns. Multiple cases of malicious activity have been observed, including targeted attacks using conflict-themed lures, deployment of the LOTUSLITE backdoor, fake news blogs leading to StealC malware, phishing sites impersonating government portals, donation scams, fraudulent storefronts, and meme-coin pump-and-dump schemes. Threat actors are leveraging various techniques such as DLL sideloading, shellcode execution, and social engineering to compromise victims. The campaigns demonstrate the opportunistic nature of cybercriminals in exploiting geopolitical events for malicious purposes.
The analysis examines Iranian state-aligned threat actors and their infrastructure patterns during heightened geopolitical tensions. It focuses on mapping network infrastructure, ASN patterns, TLS fingerprints, and hosting clusters associated with various Iranian APT groups. The report highlights the importance of proactive infrastructure monitoring to detect and disrupt potential cyber operations. Key findings include the identification of previously unreported hosts, domains, and servers linked to Iranian operations, as well as insights into the tactics used by groups like MuddyWater and Dark Scepter. The article emphasizes the value of infrastructure intelligence in early threat detection and provides recommendations for organizations to monitor and defend against these threats.
Key Findings Introduction As highlighted in the Cyber Security Report 2026, cyber operations have increasingly become an additional tool in interstate conflicts, used both to support military operations and to enable ongoing battle damage assessment (BDA). During the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran in June 2025, the compromise of cameras was likely used to support […] The post Interplay between Iranian Targeting of IP Cameras and Physical Warfare in the Middle East appeared first on Check Point Research .
Two AWS data centers in the United Arab Emirates were “directly struck” and another facility in Bahrain was also damaged after a drone landed nearby. The post Iranian Strikes on Amazon Data Centers Highlight Industry’s Vulnerability to Physical Disasters appeared first on SecurityWeek .
The cybersecurity industry is monitoring the landscape and says many of the big claims made by hacktivist groups remain unverified. The post Iran Cyber Front: Hacktivist Activity Rises, but State-Sponsored Attacks Stay Low appeared first on SecurityWeek .
A suspected Iran-nexus threat actor, dubbed Dust Specter, targeted Iraqi government officials in January 2026. The campaign involved impersonating Iraq's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and using compromised government infrastructure to host malicious payloads. Two attack chains were identified, utilizing previously undocumented malware including SPLITDROP, TWINTASK, TWINTALK, and GHOSTFORM. The malware employed creative evasion techniques, leveraged generative AI for development, and used file-based polling mechanisms for command execution. The campaign also incorporated ClickFix-style attacks and social engineering lures. Attribution to an Iran-nexus group is based on code similarities, victimology, and overlapping tactics with known Iranian APT groups.
For the latest discoveries in cyber research for the week of 2nd March, please download our Threat Intelligence Bulletin. TOP ATTACKS AND BREACHES Wynn Resorts, a United States-based casino and hotel operator, has confirmed that employee data was accessed following an extortion threat linked to ShinyHunters. The company said operations were not disrupted. Reports indicate […] The post 2nd March – Threat Intelligence Report appeared first on Check Point Research .
