Qilin, also known as Agenda, is a Russian-speaking ransomware-as-a-service operation active since 2022 and highly prolific by 2025 with over 1,000 victims. It uses a flexible platform enabling affiliates to customize attacks targeting local files, network shares, and virtual machine infrastructure, including ESXi hosts. Initial access is commonly gained via phishing, stolen credentials, vulnerable internet-facing systems, and remote management tools. The group employs a double-extortion model, encrypting data and threatening to publish stolen information on their blog and WikiLeaksV2 platform. Notable incidents include the 2024 Synnovis attack impacting UK healthcare services. Qilin is linked to other threat groups and has spawned derivative operations, some maintaining affiliate status while operating independent leak sites.
CVE-2026-0257 is an authentication bypass vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks PAN-OS affecting GlobalProtect portal and gateway components. Exploitation allows unauthorized attackers to establish VPN connections without valid credentials. Ransomware groups such as Spikey Scorpius (Qilin), Tarnished Scorpius (Inc), and Settra actively exploit this flaw to gain initial network access. Post-exploitation activities include bypassing multi-factor authentication, internal reconnaissance, lateral movement via RDP and SMB, credential harvesting, and ransomware deployment. Attackers also pivot to virtualization infrastructure by accessing vCenter management appliances, disabling ESXi hypervisor security controls, and performing offline credential dumping from domain controller virtual disks. Multiple industries have been impacted. Patch status is not yet confirmed—check the vendor advisory for current remediation guidance.
Mistic is a stealthy backdoor malware linked to the Woodgnat initial access broker, active since April 2026. It uses sideloading of legitimate Microsoft files to execute payloads in memory without disk writes, enhancing stealth. Mistic includes typical backdoor functions and a self-delete kill switch. It has been observed deployed alongside ModeloRAT, another tool associated with Woodgnat. Targeting is opportunistic across sectors such as insurance, education, IT, and professional services. Woodgnat sells persistent remote access to ransomware affiliates involved with multiple ransomware families. The threat leverages social engineering lures delivered via compromised WordPress sites.
Fox Tempest is a financially motivated threat actor operating a malware-signing-as-a-service (MSaaS) business used by cybercriminals to distribute malicious code, including ransomware. The actor abuses Microsoft Artifact Signing to generate fraudulent code-signing certificates, allowing malware to evade security controls. Fox Tempest created over a thousand certificates and established hundreds of Azure tenants to support operations. Microsoft revoked over one thousand certificates and disrupted the service in May 2026 through the Digital Crimes Unit. The operation enabled ransomware deployment including Rhysida by threat actors like Vanilla Tempest, and distributed malware families including Oyster, Lumma Stealer, and Vidar. The MSaaS was available through signspace[.]cloud, charging between $5000-$9000 USD. Attacks impacted healthcare, education, government, and financial services sectors globally.
The Gentlemen is an active ransomware and extortion operation that emerged publicly in the second half of 2025, rapidly escalating into a high-volume threat actor. The group appears to be a continuation or reorganization of prior ransomware affiliate activity, with reported connections to the Qilin ecosystem and the Russian-speaking actor 'hastalamuerte.' This growth likely reflects existing ransomware experience, affiliate relationships, and access to established resources. Underground sources indicate attempts to sell data allegedly connected to The Gentlemen ransomware activity, though the available information lacks sufficient victim-specific or technical details to confirm authenticity. The operation utilizes SystemBC for command and control communications and deploys ransomware variants targeting both Windows and Linux systems.
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.
The ransomware group Qilin has been highly active in 2025, publishing over 40 victim cases per month on its leak site. Manufacturing, professional services, and wholesale trade are the most affected sectors. Attackers likely originate from Eastern Europe or Russian-speaking regions. They use tools like Cyberduck for data exfiltration and leverage notepad.exe and mspaint.exe to view sensitive information. The attack flow includes initial VPN access, reconnaissance, credential theft, lateral movement, and ransomware deployment. Two encryptors are often used: one spread via PsExec and another targeting network shares. The ransomware encrypts files, deletes backups, and leaves ransom notes. Persistence is achieved through scheduled tasks and registry modifications.
Qilin ransomware is used for domain-wide encryption, and a ransom is then demanded for the decryption keys and/or to prevent the publication of the stolen data. Qilin affiliates are recruited from cybercrime forums to use the Qilin RaaS platform, which handles payload generation, the publication of stolen data, and ransom negotiations.
This intelligence report analyzes a sophisticated tool designed to disable endpoint security solutions, particularly EDR systems, on infected systems. The tool, known as AVKiller, has been observed in multiple ransomware attacks since 2022. It is heavily protected, targets various security vendors, and uses a driver with a compromised certificate to terminate processes and services. The report details the tool's characteristics, its connection to ransomware attacks, and provides examples of its use in specific ransomware families. Notably, the report highlights evidence of tool sharing and technical knowledge transfer among competing ransomware groups, suggesting a more complex ecosystem than previously thought.
This analysis examines a recent incident involving Qilin ransomware, highlighting the evolving tactics of cybercriminals to evade Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) systems. The attackers utilized a previously unknown driver, TPwSav.sys, to disable EDR measures through a technique known as bring-your-own-vulnerable-driver (BYOVD). The report details the entire attack chain, from initial compromise using stolen credentials to the final attempt at deploying ransomware. It emphasizes how rapid isolation of impacted systems and a layered security approach thwarted the attackers. The analysis also provides background on Qilin ransomware, its operation as a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS), and its targeting patterns. The technical breakdown includes an examination of the EDR bypass technique and the customized version of the EDRSandblast tool used in the attack.
This intelligence report emphasizes the importance of understanding one's own environment and personal weaknesses in cybersecurity. It stresses the need for repeatable processes to maintain knowledge of one's environment and advocates for continuous learning to fill skill gaps. The report also highlights recent vulnerability disclosures by Cisco Talos across various software, including catdoc, Parallel, NVIDIA, and High-Logic FontCreator. It underscores the significance of promptly applying patches and remaining vigilant against potential exploits. Additionally, the report touches on recent cyber incidents affecting the NHS, United Natural Foods, and vulnerabilities in Google accounts and SinoTrack GPS devices.
