Threats Tagged 'applescript'

MacSync Stealer is a macOS information stealer and remote-access stager delivered through ClickFix social engineering and malvertising campaigns. Operating under a malware-as-a-service model, it employs sophisticated evasion techniques including process daemonization, single-byte XOR obfuscation, and in-memory AppleScript execution to bypass Apple Gatekeeper, XProtect, and EDR solutions. The malware exfiltrates credentials, browser data, cryptocurrency wallets, and SSH keys through fault-tolerant 10MB chunked uploads to command-and-control infrastructure. MacSync targets professionals in software engineering, cryptocurrency, fintech, and corporate environments across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific regions, with campaigns impersonating legitimate services like Google Meet, Claude AI, Docker, and TradingView to trick victims into executing malicious Terminal commands.

MediumMalwareUnited StatesAustraliaBritish Indian Ocean Territory+7#credential theft#obfuscation#applescript

This macOS malware campaign uses social engineering via fake CAPTCHA pages to trick users into running malicious AppleScript commands. It deploys a persistent backdoor that leverages EtherHiding by storing command-and-control (C2) addresses in Polygon blockchain smart contracts, complicating detection. The malware maintains persistence through LaunchAgents and delivers multiple payloads including the AMOS stealer, which targets cryptocurrency wallets, browser credentials, and macOS Keychain data, as well as the XMRig cryptominer for ongoing revenue. The campaign employs advanced evasion techniques such as character-ID obfuscation and abuse of legitimate macOS utilities. Blockchain transaction analysis reveals the full history of C2 infrastructure rotation and funding, aiding defenders despite the malware's memory-resident nature.

On April 23, 2026, Field Effect MDR identified AMOS Stealer malware delivered through a novel technique exploiting Cursor AI agent sessions running Claude Code. The attack employed social engineering to manipulate operators into prompting the AI agent to download and execute malicious AppleScript loaders. The heavily obfuscated scripts performed sandbox evasion checks, collected sensitive data including credentials, SSH keys, browser data, and cryptocurrency wallets, then exfiltrated compressed archives to remote servers within two minutes. The malware prompted users for local account credentials through fake macOS system dialogs, subsequently using elevated permissions to install persistent implants masquerading as legitimate system services. This delivery mechanism makes detection challenging as malicious commands blend with typical agentic coding behavior, representing an evolution in AMOS Stealer tactics beyond traditional SEO poisoning methods.

A sophisticated ClickFix campaign targets both Windows and macOS users through fake CAPTCHA pages that trick victims into executing malicious commands. The macOS variant deploys an AppleScript-based infostealer that harvests sensitive data including keychain databases, credentials, and session cookies from 12 browsers, over 200 browser extensions, and 16 cryptocurrency wallets. The malware employs a persistent, non-closable dialog box mimicking legitimate system prompts to force victims into providing their system password. Stolen session cookies enable attackers to bypass multi-factor authentication by hijacking active sessions. The campaign uses client-side JavaScript to filter victims by user-agent, directing desktop users to OS-specific payloads while ignoring mobile devices. Latest macOS updates include native terminal security warnings designed to alert users against pasting potentially malicious commands.

Microsoft Threat Intelligence uncovered a macOS-focused cyber campaign by North Korean threat actor Sapphire Sleet utilizing social engineering to compromise systems. The attack chain begins with a malicious AppleScript file disguised as a Zoom SDK update, which executes cascading payloads through curl-to-osascript chains. The campaign deploys multiple backdoors including com.apple.cli, services, icloudz, and com.google.chromes.updaters for persistence and command execution. Credential harvesting occurs through fake system dialogs that mimic legitimate macOS password prompts. The threat actor bypasses Transparency, Consent, and Control protections by directly manipulating the TCC database, enabling extensive data exfiltration targeting cryptocurrency wallets, browser credentials, Telegram sessions, SSH keys, and Apple Notes. Operations focus on cryptocurrency, finance, and blockchain organizations with the primary objective of stealing digital assets.

Jamf Threat Labs discovered a ClickFix-style macOS attack that abuses the applescript:// URL scheme to launch Script Editor and deliver an Atomic Stealer infostealer payload — bypassing Terminal entirely.

A deceptive website impersonating CleanMyMac tricks users into installing SHub Stealer, a sophisticated macOS malware. The malware steals sensitive data, including passwords, browser data, cryptocurrency wallets, and Telegram sessions. It can also modify wallet apps to steal recovery phrases. The attack begins with users pasting a command into Terminal, which downloads and executes a malicious script. The malware performs extensive data collection from various browsers and wallet applications, and installs persistent backdoors in certain crypto wallet apps. SHub Stealer is part of a growing family of AppleScript-based macOS infostealers, demonstrating increasing sophistication in targeting Mac users.

MediumMalwareUnited StatesCanadaUnited Kingdom+7#browser data theft#clickfix#applescript

An active infostealer campaign is targeting macOS and Windows users across various sectors. The threat actors are using SEO poisoning to direct victims to fake GitHub repositories impersonating legitimate tools like PagerDuty. The campaign involves over 20 malicious repositories active since September 2025. The attack flow begins with a Google search, leading to a fraudulent GitHub repository, then to a GitHub Pages site with a deceptive command. This command deploys the MacSync stealer in three stages: a loader, a dropper, and the final payload. MacSync aggressively harvests credentials from browsers, cloud services, and cryptocurrency wallets. The campaign's scale includes 39 identified malicious repositories, with 24 still active as of January 2026. Evasion tactics include using 'readme-only' repositories and distributed identities.

MediumMalwareGermanyFranceUnited Kingdom+5#infostealer#github#macos

A new variant of the XCSSET malware, designed to infect Xcode projects, has been identified with key changes in browser targeting, clipboard hijacking, and persistence mechanisms. This variant employs sophisticated encryption and obfuscation techniques, uses run-only compiled AppleScripts for stealthy execution, and expands its data exfiltration capabilities to include Firefox browser data. It also adds another persistence mechanism through LaunchDaemon entries. The malware features a submodule for monitoring the clipboard and substituting wallet addresses. The infection chain consists of four stages, with modifications to the boot function and introduction of new modules. Changes include additional checks for Firefox browser, modified logic for Telegram existence check, and new info-stealer modules targeting Firefox data.

MediumCampaignGermanyFranceUnited Kingdom+7#browser targeting#xcode#persistence

A sophisticated phishing campaign targeting macOS users employs a technique called Clickfix, which tricks victims into running terminal commands that execute malicious AppleScript. This script steals sensitive data including browser profiles, crypto wallets, and personal files. The attackers use fake security prompts and CAPTCHA pages on domains like cryptoinfo-news.com to appear legitimate. The stolen data is exfiltrated to command and control servers, some of which run on unusual ports. The campaign's infrastructure spans multiple regions, with several C2 servers hosted in Russia. The analysis uncovered over 50 related servers with similar configurations, suggesting a financially motivated and globally distributed operation.

MediumMalwareGermanyFranceUnited Kingdom+4#cryptowallet#macos#phishing