Threats Tagged 't1027.005'

Settra is a ransomware variant first observed in June 2026 that targets organizations through VPNs or compromised credentials. Two incidents were investigated in July and September 2026, affecting the consumer services, retail, and manufacturing sectors. Attackers deployed MeshAgent RMM for persistence, naming ransomware executables after victim domain names. The malicious activity included file encryption with .locked or .locked_wip extensions, deployment of RESTORE_FILES.txt ransom notes, clearing Windows event logs, and disabling Windows recovery options using reagentc and diskpart utilities. One incident featured Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) tactics using gdrv.sys. A notable operational security failure occurred when attackers misspelled the Windows Defender Event Log path, preventing its deletion. Both attacks followed remarkably similar operational patterns, with MeshAgent installations pointing to different C2 IP addresses (45.13.122[.]7 and 193.5.65[.]114), and malicious workstation WIN...

A sophisticated smishing and phishing operation active since the second half of 2025 has impersonated over 267 brands across 72 countries, with particular concentration in Latin America. The campaign generated 4,389 phishing domain instances, with Mexico accounting for 1,851 cases. Telecommunications is the most targeted sector with 1,754 instances, followed by financial services and consumer rewards programs. The operation employs fake Cloudflare error pages as decoys, revealing malicious content only to victims matching specific geofencing and mobile device criteria. Data exfiltration occurs through encrypted WebSocket channels using binary encoded payloads. Approximately 30% of infrastructure is hosted on Tencent Cloud and Alibaba US servers, fronted by Cloudflare to mask hosting IPs. The attack chain progresses from SMS lures through progressive credential harvesting, ultimately capturing complete credit card details including CVV codes.

MediumCampaignAustraliaChileColombia+3#brand impersonation#credit card theft#smishing

This analysis explores the ecosystem of EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) killers, tools used by ransomware attackers to disrupt security solutions before deploying encryptors. The research, based on almost 90 EDR killers tracked in the wild, reveals that these tools are fundamental in modern ransomware operations. Affiliates, not operators, typically choose EDR killers, leading to greater tooling diversity in larger affiliate pools. The same vulnerable driver can appear in unrelated tools, and tools can switch between drivers, making driver-based attribution unreliable. The landscape includes forked proofs of concept, professional implementations, and commercial offerings. While Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) technique dominates, custom scripts, anti-rootkits, and driverless approaches are also utilized. The analysis emphasizes the importance of looking beyond drivers to understand the full scope of EDR killer ecosystem and its implications for cybersecurity.

MediumMalwareUnited StatesUnited KingdomGermany+10#ghostdriver#byovd#vulnerable drivers

Check Point Research uncovered an ongoing campaign by the Silver Fox APT group exploiting a previously unknown vulnerable driver to evade endpoint protection. The attackers used a Microsoft-signed WatchDog Antimalware driver to terminate protected processes on fully updated Windows systems. A dual-driver strategy ensured compatibility across Windows versions. Following disclosure, the vendor released a patched driver, but attackers quickly adapted by modifying it to bypass blocklists while preserving its valid signature. The campaign delivered ValleyRAT as the final payload, demonstrating sophisticated evasion techniques and highlighting the growing trend of weaponizing signed-but-vulnerable drivers to bypass security measures.

MediumMalwareGermanyFranceUnited Kingdom+5#driver abuse#kernel exploitation#signature manipulation

Raven Stealer is a modern, lightweight information-stealing malware developed in Delphi and C++. It targets Chromium-based browsers to extract sensitive data, including passwords, cookies, and payment details. The malware uses a modular architecture and UPX packing to evade detection. It executes stealthily and exfiltrates data via Telegram bot integration. Distributed through GitHub and promoted on Telegram, Raven Stealer's user-friendly interface and dynamic module support make it attractive in the commodity malware ecosystem. The malware's capabilities include credential theft, browser data harvesting, and real-time exfiltration, posing a significant threat when used maliciously.

MediumMalwareGermanyFranceItaly+5#browser data#c++#octalyn stealer

A series of attacks targeting financial organizations across Africa has been observed since July 2023. The threat actor, tracked as CL-CRI-1014, uses open-source and publicly available tools like PoshC2, Chisel, and Classroom Spy to establish attack frameworks, create tunnels for network communication, and perform remote administration. They forge file signatures to disguise their toolset and mask malicious activities. The attackers are suspected to be acting as initial access brokers, creating footholds in financial institutions to sell access on darknet markets. Their playbook includes lateral movement techniques such as creating remote services, executing through DCOM, and using PsExec. The threat actor also employs evasion methods like using packers and signing tools with stolen signatures.

MediumMalwareSouth AfricaNigeriaKenya+5#lateral movement#financial sector#poshc2