Intelligence & Analytics - Security Intelligence

Hive0051’s large scale malicious operations enabled by synchronized multi-channel DNS fluxing

12 min read - Recent analysis of Hive0051 has identified three key changes to capabilities: an improved multi-channel approach to DNS fluxing, obfuscated multi-stage scripts, and the use of fileless PowerShell variants of the Gamma malware.

September 12, 2023

Email campaigns leverage updated DBatLoader to deliver RATs, stealers

11 min read - IBM X-Force has identified new capabilities in DBatLoader malware samples delivered in recent email campaigns, signaling a heightened risk of infection from commodity malware families associated with DBatLoader activity. Explore the analysis.

September 7, 2023

New Hive0117 phishing campaign imitates conscription summons to deliver DarkWatchman malware

8 min read - IBM X-Force uncovered a new phishing campaign likely conducted by Hive0117 delivering the fileless malware DarkWatchman, directed at individuals associated with major energy, finance, transport, and software security industries based in Russia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, and Estonia. DarkWatchman malware is capable…

August 9, 2023

X-Force releases detection & response framework for managed file transfer software

5 min read - The mass exploitation of managed file transfer (MFT) attacks is on the rise. To empower cybersecurity defenders, IBM Security X-Force has released a common framework for detection and response for MFTs.

August 8, 2023

Unmasking hypnotized AI: The hidden risks of large language models

11 min read - The emergence of Large Language Models (LLMs) is redefining how cybersecurity teams and cybercriminals operate. As security teams leverage the capabilities of generative AI to bring more simplicity and speed into their operations, it’s important we recognize that cybercriminals are…

Bringing threat intelligence and adversary insights to the forefront: X-Force Research Hub

3 min read - Today defenders are dealing with both a threat landscape that’s constantly changing and attacks that have stood the test of time. Innovation and best practices co-exist in the criminal world, and one mustn’t distract us from the other. IBM X-Force is continuously observing new attack vectors and novel malware in the wild, as adversaries seek to evade detection innovations. But we also know that tried and true tactics — from phishing and exploiting known vulnerabilities to using compromised credentials and…

The rise of malicious Chrome extensions targeting Latin America

9 min read - This post was made possible through the research contributions provided by Amir Gendler and Michael Gal. In its latest research, IBM Security Lab has observed a noticeable increase in campaigns related to malicious Chrome extensions, targeting Latin America with a focus on financial institutions, booking sites, and instant messaging. This trend is particularly concerning considering Chrome is one of the most widely used web browsers globally, with a market share of over 80% using the Chromium engine. As such, malicious…

What’s new in the 2023 Cost of a Data Breach report

3 min read - Data breach costs continue to grow, according to new research, reaching a record-high global average of $4.45 million, representing a 15% increase over three years. Costs in the healthcare industry continued to top the charts, as the most expensive industry for the 13th year in a row. Yet as breach costs continue to climb, the research points to new opportunities for containing breach costs. The research, conducted independently by Ponemon Institute and analyzed and published by IBM Security, constitutes the…

BlotchyQuasar: X-Force Hive0129 targeting financial institutions in LATAM with a custom banking trojan

16 min read - In late April through May 2023, IBM Security X-Force found several phishing emails leading to packed executable files delivering malware we have named BlotchyQuasar, likely developed by a group X-Force tracks as Hive0129. BlotchyQuasar is hardcoded to collect credentials from multiple Latin American-based banking applications and websites used within public and private environments. Similar operations conducted in late 2022 have also been noted delivering an earlier variant of this modified QuasarRAT by likely Spanish-speaking actors. BlotchyQuasar, which X-Force describes as…

BlotchyQuasar: X-Force Hive0129 targeting financial institutions in LATAM with a custom banking trojan

Your BOFs are gross, put on a mask: How to hide beacon during BOF execution

8 min read - In this post, we’ll review a simple technique that we’ve developed to encrypt Cobalt Strike’s Beacon in memory while executing BOFs to prevent a memory scan from detecting Beacon. Picture this — you’re on a red team engagement and your…

How do some companies get compromised again and again?

3 min read - Hack me once, shame on thee. Hack me twice, shame on me. The popular email marketing company, MailChimp, suffered a data breach last year after cyberattackers exploited an internal company tool to gain access to customer accounts. The criminals were…

Going up! How to handle rising cybersecurity costs

4 min read - The average cost of cybersecurity systems, solutions and staff is increasing. As noted by research firm Gartner, companies will spend 11% more in 2023 than they did in 2022 to effectively handle security and risk management. This puts companies in…

Security Intelligence

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Topics

Hive0051’s large scale malicious operations enabled by synchronized multi-channel DNS fluxing

Email campaigns leverage updated DBatLoader to deliver RATs, stealers

New Hive0117 phishing campaign imitates conscription summons to deliver DarkWatchman malware

X-Force releases detection & response framework for managed file transfer software

Unmasking hypnotized AI: The hidden risks of large language models

Bringing threat intelligence and adversary insights to the forefront: X-Force Research Hub

The rise of malicious Chrome extensions targeting Latin America

What’s new in the 2023 Cost of a Data Breach report

BlotchyQuasar: X-Force Hive0129 targeting financial institutions in LATAM with a custom banking trojan

BlotchyQuasar: X-Force Hive0129 targeting financial institutions in LATAM with a custom banking trojan

Your BOFs are gross, put on a mask: How to hide beacon during BOF execution

How do some companies get compromised again and again?

Going up! How to handle rising cybersecurity costs

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Topic updates