Threats Tagged 'aws'

Multiple npm packages across @tanstack, @mistralai, @uipath, @squawk, and safe-action namespaces were compromised in a worm-like attack affecting over 50 packages. The malicious code executes during installation, downloading the Bun runtime and running a payload that harvests GitHub credentials and cloud secrets. The attack specifically targets AWS environments by querying the IMDS and attempting privilege escalation through STS and SSM endpoints across multiple regions. Stolen credentials are automatically used to publish additional malicious package versions across different maintainer accounts, creating a self-propagating infection chain. The attack patterns mirror previous Shai-Hulud compromises, using a drop-and-execute technique and command-and-control infrastructure at git-tanstack.com, a domain designed to mimic legitimate tanstack.com traffic. Organizations should rotate GitHub credentials, audit AWS credentials, and check for suspicious activity.

Between June 16 and 19, 2026, a sophisticated adversary-in-the-middle phishing campaign targeted AWS console users through three domains registered within 48 hours and hosted on Cloudflare. The campaign impersonated AWS login pages and captured credentials along with real-time multi-factor authentication codes through email, SMS, and authenticator apps. Phishing emails were delivered through legitimate platforms like SendGrid and Nimbu to bypass spam filters. The kit employed JavaScript-based credential harvesting with victim validation through encrypted URL parameters, preventing sandbox analysis. Targets were primarily US-based software engineers and engineering leadership, suggesting a curated target list rather than mass phishing. The same kit was linked to concurrent SendGrid impersonation campaigns and previous cryptocurrency wallet targeting since July 2025. The small sample of fewer than 50 targeted email addresses indicates highly selective targeting of technical personnel with AWS access.

MediumCampaignUnited States#sendgrid#mfa bypass#aws

An AWS environment was targeted in a sophisticated attack, with the threat actor gaining administrative privileges in under 10 minutes. The operation showed signs of leveraging large language models for automation and decision-making. Initial access was obtained through credentials found in public S3 buckets, followed by rapid privilege escalation via Lambda function code injection. The attacker moved laterally across 19 AWS principals, abused Amazon Bedrock for LLMjacking, and launched GPU instances for potential model training. The attack involved extensive reconnaissance, data exfiltration, and attempts to establish persistence. Notable techniques included IP rotation, role chaining, and the use of AI-generated code.

MediumCampaignGermanyUnited KingdomFrance+3#gpu abuse#privilege escalation#llmjacking

The Shai-hulud 2.0 campaign is an advanced malware operation targeting cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) and developer ecosystems by stealing credentials and secrets. It automates backdooring of NPM packages maintained by victims, enabling rapid supply chain propagation. The malware abuses GitHub Actions workflows for command-and-control and secret exfiltration, leveraging cloud secret management services and destructive failsafes to maintain stealth and persistence. This campaign threatens the confidentiality and integrity of cloud and developer environments, potentially impacting thousands of downstream users. It requires no known exploits in the wild but uses sophisticated tactics to evade detection. European organizations relying heavily on cloud services and open-source development are at risk, especially those with significant use of NPM packages and GitHub repositories. The threat severity is assessed as high due to the broad impact on supply chains and credential theft without requiring user interaction. Immediate mitigation includes securing cloud credentials, auditing GitHub workflows, and monitoring supply chain dependencies for unauthorized changes.

MediumMalwareGermanyFranceNetherlands+5#azure#github#credential theft

A large-scale attack infrastructure dubbed TruffleNet has been identified, built around the open-source tool TruffleHog. This infrastructure is used to systematically test compromised credentials and perform reconnaissance across AWS environments. The campaign involves over 800 unique hosts across 57 distinct Class C networks, characterized by consistent configurations and the use of Portainer. Alongside TruffleNet, adversaries are exploiting Amazon Simple Email Service (SES) to facilitate Business Email Compromise (BEC) campaigns. The attackers create email identities using compromised WordPress sites and conduct aggressive cloud reconnaissance. This activity highlights the evolving tactics of threat actors in exploiting cloud infrastructure at scale, combining credential theft, reconnaissance automation, and SES abuse to conduct high-volume fraud with minimal detection.

MediumMalwareGermanyUnited KingdomFrance+7#identity compromise#trufflehog#credential abuse

Over the past few weeks, Rapid7 has observed increased activity of a new threat group attacking AWS cloud environments with the goal of data exfiltration and subsequent extortion of the victim. This threat group refers to itself as ‘Crimson Collective’ and has recently announced that it is behind an attack on Red Hat, wherein it claims to have stolen private repositories from Red Hat’s GitLab.

MediumCampaignGermanyNetherlandsUnited Kingdom+2#crimson collective#amazon web services#aws

An AWS access key compromise led to a sophisticated SES abuse campaign in May 2025. The attacker exploited the stolen key to bypass SES restrictions, verify new sender identities, and conduct a large-scale phishing operation. They used multi-regional PutAccountDetails requests to escape the SES sandbox, a novel technique in SES abuse. The campaign involved creating multiple email identities using attacker-owned and legitimate domains with weak DMARC protections. The subsequent phishing campaign targeted various organizations, using tax-related lures to steal credentials. This incident highlights the importance of monitoring cloud service usage, especially for services like SES that can be exploited for monetization.

MediumCampaignUnited KingdomGermanyFrance+3#cloud security#aws#sandbox escape

Skeleton Spider, also known as FIN6, is a financially motivated cybercrime group that has evolved from POS breaches to broader enterprise threats. They employ social engineering tactics, posing as job seekers on platforms like LinkedIn to deliver phishing messages. Their preferred payload is more_eggs, a JavaScript-based backdoor. The group uses trusted cloud services like AWS to host malicious infrastructure, evading detection. Their phishing emails impersonate job applicants, with domains mimicking real names. FIN6 employs sophisticated filtering techniques to ensure malware delivery only to intended targets. The more_eggs malware, developed by Venom Spider, allows for command execution and credential theft. Defense strategies include cautious handling of resume links, blocking execution of suspicious files, and implementing EDR policies.

MediumMalwareUnited KingdomGermanyFrance+5#more_eggs#resume lures#skeleton spider