Understanding Current Malware Techniques

New findings from OpenAI reinforce that attackers are actively leveraging GenAI. Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 has observed this firsthand: we've seen threat actors exploiting LLMs for ransomware negotiations, deepfakes in recruitment scams, internal reconnaissance and highly-tailored phishing campaigns. China and other nation-states in particular are accelerating their use of these tools, increasing the speed, scale, and efficacy of attacks. But, we’ve also seen this on the cybercriminal side. Our research uncovered vulnerabilities in LLMs, with one model failing to block 41% of malicious prompts. Unit 42 has jailbroken models with minimal effort, producing everything from malware and phishing lures to even instructions for creating a molotov cocktail. This underscores a critical risk: GenAI empowers attackers, and they are actively using it. Understanding how attackers will leverage AI to advance their attacks but also exploit AI implementations within organizations is crucial. AI adoption and innovation is occurring at breakneck speed and security can’t be ignored. Adapting your organization’s security strategy to address AI-powered attacks is essential.

AI-powered malware isn’t science fiction—it’s here, and it’s changing cybersecurity. This new breed of malware can learn and adapt to bypass traditional security measures, making it harder than ever to detect and neutralize. Here’s the reality: AI-powered malware can: 👉 Outsmart conventional antivirus software 👉 Evade detection by constantly evolving 👉 Exploit vulnerabilities before your team even knows they exist But there’s hope. 🛡️ Here’s what you need to know to combat this evolving threat: 1️⃣ Shift from Reactive to Proactive Defense → Relying solely on traditional tools? It’s time to upgrade. AI-powered malware demands AI-powered security solutions that can learn and adapt just as fast. 2️⃣ Focus on Behavioral Analysis → This malware changes its signature constantly. Instead of relying on patterns, use tools that detect abnormal behaviors to spot threats in real time. 3️⃣ Embrace Zero Trust Architecture → Assume no one is trustworthy by default. Implement strict access controls and continuous verification to minimize the chances of an attack succeeding. 4️⃣ Invest in Threat Intelligence → Keep up with the latest in cyber threats. Real-time threat intelligence will keep you ahead of evolving tactics, making it easier to respond to new threats. 5️⃣ Prepare for the Unexpected → Even with the best defenses, breaches can happen. Have a strong incident response plan in place to minimize damage and recover quickly. AI-powered malware is evolving. But with the right strategies and tools, so can your defenses. 👉 Ready to stay ahead of AI-driven threats? Let’s talk about how to future-proof your cybersecurity approach.

Botnet Controller Hunter Recently, we identified interesting data captured by our logs hunting platform. In the past, we frequently discovered stealer malware embedded in software shared on the dark web and malware downloaders hidden within logs (credentials stolen by malware stealer) shared in Telegram groups and dark web forums. However, a new tactic has emerged. We observed an actor deploying malware disguised as captured data, which is then sent back to the Command and Control (C2) server. As shown in the first picture, the malware is uploaded to the C2 server under a name mimicking a typical log file (e.g., "Joris-ASUS1337-2024-08-20 11-46-24.html.exe"), which would usually be associated with AgentTesla stealer logs. When the botnet controller opens the file, they unknowingly infect themselves with a custom stealer malware. The actor targeting these botnet controllers has developed a specialized stealer designed to exploit infected machines. Notably, this malware is crafted to appear as a legitimate log file embedded within the executable, minimizing suspicion from the botnet controllers. This clever technique ensures the malware remains stealthy while compromising the controllers' systems. The malware itself is a simple .NET stealer equipped with encryption and custom obfuscation techniques to conceal its intent. We also identified instances of the same malware being embedded into log files shared in underground forums. This discovery highlights the evolving tactics used by threat actors to exploit vulnerabilities in malicious infrastructure. It serves as a reminder to continuously enhance our defenses and adopt proactive threat-hunting strategies to mitigate emerging risks. MD5: 31b3aa4498c158daa623776dc48b4d36 https://lnkd.in/eHzmXwfN C2: http:// 128.199.113[.]162 /XtfcshEgt/upwawsfrg.php

Simplifying Cyber Month - July 18 Fileless Malware Simplified (Kind of) Traditional viruses are like stupid criminals who break in and leave behind tools or footprints (in this case, actual files) that antivirus can spot and clean up. But fileless malware is like an invisible ghost that gets embedded in your computer's short-term memory or hides inside legitimate programs, doing its dirty work (like stealing data) without ever dropping a detectable file. Here's how it basically works: 1) Attackers exploit vulnerabilities in everyday software (like your browser or email app) to inject malicious code directly into the system's volatile memory, where it runs without writing anything to disk. 2) Once inside, it leverages trusted, built-in system tools, like PowerShell on Windows or scripts in other OS' to execute commands, steal information, or spread further. 3) This "living off the land" approach means it uses what's already there, leaving no new files or footprints for traditional antivirus to detect. It often enters your system through shady emails, malicious websites, or compromised trusted apps, making it highly covert on your system and hard for basic AV tools to catch. But doing some simple things can reduce the chances of being infected this way. 1) Keep Everything Updated: Regularly update your operating system, browsers, and apps. These patches often fix vulnerabilities that fileless malware exploits. 2) Be Email and Web Smart: Avoid clicking suspicious links or attachments; use browser extensions that block malicious sites. (Bad guys win because someone ALWAYS clicks a link) 3) For businesses: Use Behavior-Focused Security: Opt for antivirus tools that monitor unusual activity (like "endpoint detection" features) rather than just scanning files. 4) Limit Administrator Privileges: Run your daily tasks without full admin rights to prevent malware from gaining deep access. 5) (As Always) Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Adding this extra login step everywhere possible to block unauthorized access even if malware sneaks in. Why This Matters: Without visible traces, fileless attacks can linger undetected, leading to data theft or worse. If you have any other tips post them below. Repost/Share, tickle the algorithm (if you want to - no pressure) #knowledgeisprotection #Cybersecurity #SimplifyingCyberMonth #InvisibleThreats #filelessmalware #cybereducation

Let’s face it—despite next-gen firewalls and endpoint protection, most breaches still start the old-fashioned way: through email and web browsers. Why? Because they’re the tools we use every day, and that makes them the easiest to exploit. The Problem ✔ Email is a hacker’s best friend—phishing, BEC scams, and weaponized attachments keep evolving. Even with filters, one cleverly disguised email can bypass defenses and trick even savvy users. ✔ Browsers are the wild west—malicious ads, drive-by downloads, and rogue extensions turn routine web browsing into a minefield. And with SaaS apps everywhere, employees are constantly logging into new (and sometimes risky) sites. Basic spam filters and antivirus won’t cut it anymore. Attackers use AI-generated messages, zero-day exploits, and social engineering to slip past traditional defenses. What Actually Works ✅ AI-powered email filtering that detects subtle phishing cues (not just obvious spam). ✅ Browser isolation or strict extension controls to stop malicious code before it executes. ✅ Zero Trust policies—because assuming "trusted" users or devices is a recipe for disaster. ✅ Ongoing security training—because human error is still the weakest link. The Bottom Line If your security strategy isn’t obsessed with locking down email and browsers, you’re leaving the front door wide open. #CyberSecurity #EmailSecurity #BrowserSecurity #ZeroTrust #Phishing

Attackers are getting crafty with how they trick you into willingly running malicious code. It works like this: 1. The attacker sends you a phishing email, tricking you into clicking on a link to a phishing site. 2. The phishing site asks you to verify that you are a human, which is pretty standard nowadays. 3. When you click on the “I’m not a robot” button, a new prompt pops up asking you to do the following: 3.1: Press your Windows key + R. This opens the Windows run prompt, which lets you open programs. 3.2: Press ctrl + v, which copies the content from your clipboard. In this instance, the attacker uses Javascript to copy a malicious command into your clipboard. That command is designed to launch PowerShell and download and execute an infostealer on your system. 3.3: Press the enter key, which runs the malicious PowerShell code… Variations of this have been around for a while. What stood out to me is the auto-copying of the malicious command into your clipboard. It saves the victim a step (how thoughtful) and increases the likelihood that they won’t look at the command before running it. ------------------------------ 📝Get the latest cyber and AI insights in my weekly newsletter 👆Subscribe with the link at the top of the post

There’s some scary new malware targeting Windows devices. It’s a fresh variant of a remote access trojan called Bandook which first made its debut back in 2007. It was basically the ‘Swiss Army Knife’ of malware, with a ton of features to wreak havoc. Its main goal? Giving the bad guys remote access to your devices. This new version targets Windows devices, making its way into systems via phishing emails carrying malicious PDF files. Once you fall for it and click on the PDF, it extracts the malware and injects its payload into a seemingly innocent program called msinfo32.exe. This is supposed to diagnose your computer issues, but Bandook turns it into a cyber criminal’s playground. The nasty part doesn't stop there. Bandook goes on to connect to a command-and-control server to receive further sinister instructions. These instructions can include all sorts of actions like stealing info, manipulating files, and even gaining full control over your computer. Terrifying. What can you do to protect your business from this? - Keep an eye out for the latest cyber security threats. Knowledge is your best defense. - Train your team how to spot phishing emails. Always assume the worst with unexpected attachments or suspicious links. - Ensure your Windows devices are running the latest updates and security patches. - Invest in reliable antivirus software to detect and neutralize threats like Bandook. - Educate your employees about cyber security best practices and the dangers of opening unknown files or links. - And, implement strong network security measures and firewall configurations to stop any suspicious activity. If you need a hand with any of this, get in touch. #CyberSecurity #Windows #malware https://hubs.la/Q02gpHhQ0