The notorious Russian state-sponsored hacking group known as APT28 or UAC-0001, which has a history of launching targeted phishing attacks on Ukrainian public sector organizations, has resurfaced in the cyber threat landscape. In the latest adversary campaign covered by CERT-UA, attackers weaponize a PowerShell command embedded in the clipboard as an entry point to further conduct offensive […]
Hot on the heels of the “Rogue RDP” attacks exploiting the phishing attack vector and targeting Ukrainian state bodies and military units, CERT-UA researchers uncovered another wave of phishing attacks leveraging emails with invoice-related subject lures and weaponizing HOMESTEEL malware for file theft. The UAC-0218 group is believed to be behind the ongoing adversary operation. […]
Hard on the heels of a new wave of cyber-attacks by UAC-0050 involving cyber espionage and financial thefts and relying on a diverse number of tools, including MEDUZASTEALER, another suspicious activity comes to the spotlight in the Ukrainian cyber threat arena. CERT-UA recently launched a new alert covering spoofed phishing attacks spreading MEDUZASTEALER via Telegram […]
The UAC-0050 hacking collective notorious for its long-standing offensive operations against Ukraine steps back into the cyber threat arena. CERT-UA researchers have long been investigating the group’s activity, which primarily focuses on three key directions, including cyber espionage and financial theft, along with information and psychological operations tracked under the “Fire Cells Group” brand. Financially […]
The Vermin hacking collective, also tracked as UAC-0020, resurfaces, targeting Ukraine using a novel offensive tool dubbed FIRMACHAGENT. In the latest attack, adversaries leverage the phishing attack vector to spread emails with the lure subject related to the prisoners of war at the Kursk front. UAC-0020 aka Vermin Attack Analysis Using FIRMACHAGENT On August 19, 2024, […]
The increasing number of phishing attacks requires immediate attention from defenders, underscoring the need for increasing cybersecurity awareness and bolstering the organization’s cyber hygiene. Following the UAC-0102 attack targeting UKR.NET users, another hacking collective tracked as UAC-0198 leverages the phishing attack vector to target the Ukrainian state bodies and massively distribute ANONVNC (MESHAGENT) malware to […]
Leveraging public email services along with corporate email accounts is a common practice among government employees, military personnel, and the staff of other Ukrainian enterprises and organizations. However, adversaries might abuse these services to launch phishing attacks. Defenders have recently uncovered a new offensive activity aimed at stealing user authentication data by luring victims into […]
Defenders have observed a sudden surge in the adversary activity of the UAC-0057 hacking group targeting Ukrainian local government agencies. Attackers distribute malicious files containing macros aimed at launching PICASSOLOADER on the targeted computers, which leads to the delivery of Cobalt Strike Beacon. Detect UAC-0057 Activity Covered in the CERT-UA#10340 Alert Since the full-scale war […]
Since the outbreak of the full-scale war in Ukraine, cyber defenders have identified the growing volumes of cyber-espionage campaigns aimed at collecting intelligence from the Ukrainian state bodies. Further, the same tactics, techniques, and procedures are applied to target broader geography, including North America, Europe, and Asia. Precisely, in May 2023, the UAC-0063 group launched […]
According to Accenture research, around 97% organizations experienced a surge in cyber threats since the onset of the russia-Ukraine war in 2022, highlighting the significant impact of geopolitical tensions on global businesses. State-sponsored hacking groups have been using Ukraine as a testing ground, broadening their attack strategies to target European and North American regions. For […]