Operation ASTERIX: Anatomy of a Crypto Fraud Pipeline


Rapid7 researchers identified an exposed web directory on infrastructure used to support a cryptocurrency fraud operation. The server contained raw phone-number datasets, account-validation tools, enriched lead records, phishing panels, voice-dialing scripts, fake wallet applications, persistence mechanisms, and Telegram exfiltration code. Among the artifacts was evidence that the operator relied on AI coding assistants throughout the campaign’s development; recovered prompts, shell history, and project files show AI being used to package Electron applications, obfuscate code, troubleshoot builds, modify phishing infrastructure, and prepare malware for distribution. When one model began resisting parts of that workflow, the operator switched providers and attempted to bypass the next model’s safety controls with a custom jailbreak prompt. Together, these artifacts provide an unusual view into how AI was integrated into the development of an active phishing operation rather than simply being used to generate isolated snippets of code.

Read more…
Source:  Rapid7 News


Sign up for the Cyber Security Review Newsletter
The latest cyber security news and insights delivered right to your inbox


Related:

  • Attackers have a new way to slip past your MFA

    December 3, 2025

    Attackers are using a tool called Evilginx to steal session cookies, letting them bypass the need for a multi-factor authentication (MFA) token. Researchers are warning about a rise in cases where this method is used against educational institutions. Evilginx is an attacker-in-the-middle phishing toolkit that sits between you and the real website, relaying the genuine sign-in ...

  • A data breach at analytics giant Mixpanel leaves a lot of open questions

    December 2, 2025

    A cybersecurity incident at analytics provider Mixpanel announced just hours before the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday weekend could set a new standard for how not to announce a data breach. To recap: In a bare bones blog post last Wednesday, Mixpanel chief executive Jen Taylor announced that the company had detected an unspecified security incident on November ...

  • Unraveling Water Saci’s New Multi-Format, AI-Enhanced Attacks Propagated via WhatsApp

    December 2, 2025

    Brazil has seen a recent surge of threats delivered via WhatsApp. As observed in Trend Micro previously published research on the SORVEPOTEL malware and the broader Water Saci campaignopen on a new tab, this popular platform has been used to launch sophisticated campaigns. Unsuspecting users receive convincing messages from trusted contacts, often crafted to exploit social ...

  • Google patches 107 Android flaws, including two being actively exploited

    December 2, 2025

      Google has patched 107 vulnerabilities in Android in its December 2025 Android Security Bulletin, including two high-severity flaws that are being actively exploited. The December updates are available for Android 13, 14, 15, and 16. Android vendors are notified of all issues at least a month before publication, but that doesn’t always mean the patches ...

  • NHS Highland staff ‘poor practice’ sparks fears of heightened risk of a major cyber attack

    December 1, 2025

    NHS Highland is at heightened risk of falling prey to a major cyber attack in part due to “poor practice” by some staff members. The warning, contained in a report to the board assessing risk levels faced in a range of areas against what is deemed an acceptable level of risk, comes as the busy ...

  • FTC cracks down on education tech company after massive student data breach

    December 1, 2025

    The Federal Trade Commission took action against Illuminate Education on December 1, 2025, after the Wisconsin-based company suffered a massive data breach that exposed personal information of more than 10 million students. In late December 2021, a hacker used login credentials from a former employee who had left the company three and a half years ...