Kroll observed the use of SPARKRAT in conjunction with a previously undocumented loader written in Golang. The loader assists in the initial infection and deployment of the malicious payload, enabling SPARKRAT to execute on a system. This process allows the payload to reach the target system undetected and unquarantined. The loader achieves its goal by decoding and decrypting a secondary payload binary, then injecting it into a notepad.exe instance.

We’re back again with a monthly-ish blog reflecting on major goings on in the security world. I am writing the first draft on the rarest of holidays, leap day1! February gets extended by a day every four years, and if we had to guess Ivanti wishes this month would end.

New Linux malware campaign targets misconfigured servers, ransomware actors diversify their exfiltration tools, and Cado reveals its top cloud threat findings report for 2H23.

Hackers move fast. The cybersecurity industry works hard to move as fast (or faster) than hackers. And regulators work to keep pace. In 2017, the New York Department of Financial Services enacted the sector’s most ambitious set of cybersecurity regulations: 23 NYCRR Part 500. These “Part 500” rules have been updated to reflect the evolving threat landscape, the most recent change (“Amendment 2”) implemented in December 2023 to address emerging cybersecurity needs.

In 2022 alone, there was a staggering 70% increase in malicious events across all public clouds. And cybercriminals are specifically targeting one of the most critical assets of any organization - its data. According to an 2023 IBM report, 82% of breaches involved data stored in the cloud. So this begs the question, which tools do defenders have at their disposal to address these mounting threats?

As open source software development continues to evolve, so does its susceptibility to cybersecurity threats. One such instance is the recent discovery of malware repositories on GitHub. In this cybersecurity attack, threat actors managed to upload malicious code onto GitHub, a platform that hosts millions of code repositories and is used by developers worldwide.

GuLoader stands out as a prominent downloader founded on shellcode that has been used in many attacks aimed at spreading a diverse array of highly sought-after malware strains. For over three years, GuLoader has maintained its activity and is continuously evolving through ongoing development efforts. The latest iteration introduces novel anti-analysis techniques, making its analysis extremely difficult.

The specter of cybercrime continues to grow, with losses soaring to $12.5 billion in 2023, according to the recently released Internet Crime Report by the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). The revelations underline an alarming surge in cybercrime, affecting both business and personal interests alike, with the main attack vectors being investment fraud, business email compromises and an increased surge of ransomware attacks on nearly every critical infrastructure sector.

Navigating the internet today can be a minefield. With the rise of malicious websites, customers and employees must now think twice before clicking on unfamiliar links or sites. Attackers often try to spoof and ‘brandjack’ well-reputed organizations and lure users into giving away personal info, money or letting hackers into their systems.