Excel File Deploys Cobalt Strike at Ukraine


FortiGuard Labs has recently identified a sophisticated cyberattack involving an Excel file embedded with a VBA macro designed to deploy a DLL file.

The attacker uses a multi-stage malware strategy to deliver the notorious “Cobalt Strike” payload and establish communication with a command and control (C2) server. This attack employs various evasion techniques to ensure successful payload delivery. Over the past few years, Ukraine has been a significant target due to its geopolitical situation. The history of these attacks reveals a pattern of increasing complexity and frequency, particularly during periods of geopolitical tension.

Read more…
Source: Fortinet


Sign up for our Newsletter


Related:

  • WPA2 Going the Way of WEP After Wi-Fi Researchers Find Critical Flaw

    October 16, 2017

    The WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access II) protocol that’s used by most Wi-Fi networks today has been compromised, and a way to intercept traffic between computers, phones, and access points has been found. Today’s Internet and network connections rely on specific tools that are taken for granted, most of the time. From time to time, a way ...

  • Cyberespionage Group Steps Up Campaigns Against Japanese Firms

    October 14, 2017

    Researchers are learning more about the cyberespionage group Bronze Butler. While the gang has been targeting Japanese heavy industry since 2012, not much is known about the group’s current modus operandi. In a report released Thursday by the Counter Threat Unit at SecureWorks, a subsidiary of Dell Technologies, researchers paint the most complete picture yet of ...

  • Iran to blame for cyber-attack on MPs’ emails – British intelligence

    October 14, 2017

    Iran is being blamed for a cyber-attack in June on the email accounts of dozens of MPs, according to an unpublished assessment by British intelligence. Disclosure of the report, first revealed by the Times but independently verified by the Guardian, comes at an awkward juncture. Donald Trump made it clear on Friday that he wants to ...

  • Swedish transport agencies targeted in cyber attack

    October 12, 2017

    Swedish transport authorities were hit by a cyber attack on Thursday morning, a day after trains were delayed as a result of another attack on IT systems monitoring railway traffic. The website of Sweden’s Transport Agency (Transportstyrelsen) was partially down on Thursday morning, according to the agency most likely as a result of a DDoS attack. During ...

  • Defence data hack puts cyber security in the spotlight

    October 12, 2017

    Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne has warned firms they face losing government contracts if they do not have strong levels of protection against cyber attacks in place after a massive hack of secret data involving Australia’s new fleet of Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, spy planes and warships. As cyber security experts backed the minister’s call, Mr Pyne deflected ...

  • FormBook—Cheap Password Stealing Malware Used In Targeted Attacks

    October 5, 2017

    It seems sophisticated hackers have changed the way they conduct targeted cyber operations—instead of investing in zero-days and developing their malware; some hacking groups have now started using ready-made malware just like script kiddies. Possibly, this could be a smart move for state-sponsored hackers to avoid being attributed easily. Security researchers from multiple security firms, including Arbor Networks and FireEye, ...