This article discusses the rising threat of ClickFix, a social engineering technique used by threat actors to trick victims into executing malicious commands under the guise of quick fixes for computer issues. The technique has been observed in campaigns distributing various malware, including NetSupport RAT, Latrodectus, and Lumma Stealer. ClickFix lures often use clipboard hijacking and can bypass standard detection controls. The article provides case studies of recent campaigns, hunting tips for detecting ClickFix infections, and recommendations for proactive defense measures. It emphasizes the importance of user education and implementing robust security controls to mitigate this evolving threat.
Infostealers-as-a-Service Push Identity Hacks to Record Highs, Report
Source: https://hackread.com/infostealers-as-a-service-identity-hacks-record-highs/
Hackers abuse leaked Shellter red team tool to deploy infostealers
Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-abuse-leaked-shellter-red-team-tool-to-deploy-infostealers/
The S2 Group’s intelligence team has identified through adversary tracking a new phishing campaign by Snake Keylogger, a Russian origin stealer programmed in .NET, targeting various types of victims, such as companies, governments or individuals. The campaign has been identified as using spearphishing emails offering oil products.
An investigation into domains associated with the LummaC2 infostealing-malware campaign revealed a broader network of nearly 500 domains with highly malicious risk scores. These domains share similar registration patterns, including the use of Eastern European names and the inbox[.]eu email domain. The domains predominantly advertise technical education courses, but are likely lures for malware delivery. Four domains were identified as LummaC2 login panels. The campaign's infrastructure uses specific TLDs, naming conventions, and a Hong Kong address linked to OFAC-sanctioned entities. Security teams are advised to monitor for similar domain patterns, scrutinize suspicious training sites, and educate users about the risks.
This analysis examines the distribution trends of Infostealer malware in May 2025. It highlights the use of SEO poisoning to distribute malware disguised as cracks and keygens. LummaC2, Vidar, StealC, Rhadamanthys, and Amadey were the main Infostealers observed. Distribution methods included posts on legitimate websites, forums, and Q&A pages. Malware was primarily distributed in EXE format (95.4%), with a decrease in DLL-SideLoading (4.6%). Notable trends include the emergence of BAT script malware, use of the Wormhole file-sharing service for distribution, and the use of Unicode characters in compression passwords to bypass security measures. The report provides insights into distribution volumes, methods, and disguises based on data collected and analyzed by advanced security systems.
A multistage malware campaign targeting Minecraft users has been discovered, distributed through the Stargazers Ghost Network on GitHub. The malware impersonates popular Minecraft mods and cheats, using a Java-based downloader that evades detection. The infection chain includes multiple stages: a Java loader, a Java stealer, and a .NET stealer. The malware steals gaming credentials, browser data, cryptocurrency wallets, and other sensitive information. The campaign, likely of Russian origin, exploits the popularity of Minecraft mods to spread malware, highlighting the risks in gaming communities. Over 1500 potential infections have been recorded based on Pastebin hits.
The article describes a surge in ClickFix campaigns using GHOSTPULSE to deploy Remote Access Trojans and data-stealing malware. It analyzes a multi-stage attack that begins with ClickFix social engineering, deploys GHOSTPULSE loader, and ultimately delivers ARECHCLIENT2, a potent remote access trojan and infostealer. The campaign exploits user psychology, bypasses traditional defenses, and has seen increased activity in 2025. The analysis covers the infection chain, technical details of GHOSTPULSE and ARECHCLIENT2, and the associated infrastructure. The attack targets a wide range of sensitive user data and system information, including cryptocurrency wallets, browser data, and system details.
This investigation uncovered a large-scale campaign involving backdoored GitHub repositories targeting game cheaters and inexperienced cybercriminals. The threat actor, possibly linked to a Distribution-as-a-Service operation, uses multiple types of backdoors and a convoluted infection chain leading to RATs and infostealers. The campaign involves automated commits, obfuscation techniques, and complex payloads. Researchers found over 100 malicious repositories with distinct contributor roles, suggesting an automated framework. The eventual payload includes AsyncRAT, Remcos, and Lumma Stealer. The threat actor uses Telegram for notifications and various paste sites for hosting malicious code. This case highlights the complexity of modern cyber threats and the importance of cautious approaches to open-source repositories.
A novel Rust-based infostealer called EDDIESTEALER has been discovered, distributed through fake CAPTCHA campaigns. The malware uses deceptive verification pages to trick users into executing a malicious PowerShell script, which deploys the infostealer. EDDIESTEALER targets sensitive data including credentials, browser information, and cryptocurrency wallet details. It communicates with a command and control server to receive tasks and exfiltrate data. The malware employs string obfuscation, API obfuscation, and other evasion techniques. It specifically targets various crypto wallets, browsers, password managers, FTP clients, and messaging applications. The use of Rust in its development reflects a growing trend among threat actors seeking enhanced stealth and resilience against traditional analysis methods.
A hacking group with alleged ties to Vietnam has been exploiting social media ads promoting AI video generators to distribute malware since mid-2024. The campaign, discovered by Mandiant, uses fake websites mimicking legitimate AI tools to deploy payloads including Python-based infostealers and backdoors. The group, tracked as UNC6032, has reached millions of users through Facebook and LinkedIn ads, primarily targeting EU countries and the US. The malware distributed includes STARKVEIL, XWORM, FROSTRIFT, and GRIMPULL, designed for information theft and capable of downloading additional plugins. The attackers employ a multi-payload mechanism for resilience against detection. Users are advised to exercise caution when engaging with AI tools and verify website legitimacy.
Chihuahua Infostealer is a sophisticated .NET-based malware discovered in April 2025, targeting browser credentials and cryptocurrency wallet data. It employs multi-stage delivery through obfuscated PowerShell scripts, often using trusted platforms like Google Drive for initial distribution. The malware establishes persistence via scheduled tasks, performs hardware fingerprinting, and extensively harvests data from various browsers and crypto wallet extensions. It uses encryption for data exfiltration and employs cleanup routines to evade detection. The malware's origin is unclear, but Russian influences are suggested by embedded transliterated rap lyrics. Its advanced evasion techniques and targeted data theft capabilities make it a significant threat to personal and financial information.
A new malicious campaign has been discovered targeting the Python Package Index (PyPI) by exploiting the Pickle file format in machine learning models. Three malicious packages posing as an Alibaba AI Labs SDK were detected, containing infostealer payloads hidden inside PyTorch models. The packages exfiltrate information about infected machines and .gitconfig file contents. This attack demonstrates the evolving threat landscape in AI and machine learning, particularly in the software supply chain. The campaign likely targeted developers in China and highlights the need for improved security measures and tools to detect malicious functionality in ML models.
ESET collaborated with Microsoft and other partners in a global operation to disrupt Lumma Stealer, a prominent malware-as-a-service infostealer. ESET's contribution involved analyzing tens of thousands of malware samples to extract key data like C&C servers and affiliate identifiers. The operation targeted Lumma Stealer's infrastructure, aiming to render its exfiltration network nonoperational. Lumma Stealer had been actively developed and maintained by its operators, with regular updates to its code and network infrastructure. It employed various anti-analysis techniques and targeted a wide range of data, including credentials from browsers, cryptocurrency wallets, and other applications.
The infostealer Danabot has been disrupted in a multinational law enforcement operation. ESET has been tracking Danabot since 2018, contributing to the effort by providing technical analyses and identifying C&C servers. Danabot operates as a malware-as-a-service, offering various features like data theft, keylogging, and remote control. It has been used to distribute additional malware, including ransomware. The malware's authors promote their toolset through underground forums, providing affiliates with an administration panel, backconnect tool, and proxy server application. Distribution methods have included email spam, other malware, and misuse of Google Ads. Danabot employs a proprietary encrypted communication protocol and offers multiple build options for affiliates.
DanaBot, a versatile and persistent threat since 2018, has evolved from a banking trojan to a multi-purpose malware platform. It maintained an average of 150 active C2 servers daily, with 1,000 daily victims across 40+ countries. The malware's stealth and multi-tiered architecture contributed to its success. Operated likely from Russia, DanaBot's infrastructure includes Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 C2 servers. The botnet's size peaked during high-profile events, with Mexico and the US among the most impacted countries. Despite its longevity, only 25% of its C2 servers had detectable malicious signatures. Operation Endgame II, a collaborative effort between security firms and law enforcement, dealt a significant blow to DanaBot's operations.
Threat actors are exploiting user fatigue with anti-spam mechanisms through a technique called ClickFix. This method involves compromising websites and embedding fraudulent CAPTCHA images, which, when solved by unsuspecting users, lead to the execution of malicious code. The attack chain typically includes PowerShell commands and the use of legitimate Windows tools to download and execute additional payloads. Common malware delivered through this technique includes Lumma Stealer, NetSupport RAT, and SectopRAT. The success of ClickFix relies heavily on social engineering and user interaction, making user education and awareness crucial in mitigating these attacks. Recommendations include training users to recognize suspicious requests, restricting PowerShell execution, and deploying advanced EDR solutions.
PupkinStealer is a newly identified .NET-based information-stealing malware that extracts sensitive data like web browser passwords and app session tokens, exfiltrating it via Telegram. It targets Chromium-based browsers, Telegram, and Discord, focusing on credential theft and session hijacking. The malware performs minimal system discovery, collects files from the desktop, and captures a screenshot. It packages stolen data into a ZIP archive and sends it to the attacker through Telegram's Bot API. PupkinStealer doesn't employ persistence mechanisms, relying on quick execution and low-profile behavior. Its primary evasion technique is leveraging legitimate Telegram infrastructure for communication.
