State-backed attackers and commercial surveillance vendors repeatedly use the same exploits


Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG) observed multiple in-the-wild exploit campaigns, between November 2023 and July 2024, delivered from a watering hole attack on Mongolian government websites.

The campaigns first delivered an iOS WebKit exploit affecting iOS versions older than 16.6.1 and then later, a Chrome exploit chain against Android users running versions from m121 to m123. These campaigns delivered n-day exploits for which patches were available, but would still be effective against unpatched devices. TAG researchers assess with moderate confidence the campaigns are linked to the Russian government-backed actor APT29. In each iteration of the watering hole campaigns, the attackers used exploits that were identical or strikingly similar to exploits previously used by commercial surveillance vendors (CSVs) Intellexa and NSO Group.

Read more…
Source: Google’s Threat Analysis Group


Sign up for our Newsletter


Related:

  • Patch these critical Fortinet sandbox bugs that let attackers bypass login, run commands over HTTP

    April 15, 2026

    Watch out for more Fortinet vulns! Two critical bugs in Fortinet’s sandbox could allow unauthenticated attackers to bypass authentication or execute unauthorized code on vulnerable systems. Luckily, the security vendor has issued fixes – so patch now – and so far, there are no reports of active exploitation. But considering that the vulnerabilities are now public, ...

  • From fake Proton VPN sites to gaming mods, this Windows infostealer is everywhere

    April 15, 2026

    Malwarebytes Labs researchers uncovered multiple campaigns distributing an infostealer we track as NWHStealer, using everything from fake VPN downloads to hardware utilities and gaming mods. What makes this campaign stand out isn’t just the malware, but how widely and convincingly it’s being spread. Once installed, it can collect browser data, saved passwords, and cryptocurrency wallet information, ...

  • Sweden blames Russian hackers for attempting ‘destructive’ cyberattack on thermal plant

    April 15, 2026

    The Swedish government said Russian government-linked hackers attempted to disrupt the operations at one of the country’s thermal power plants last year. Sweden said that, while the hackers were unsuccessful, hybrid attacks that extend beyond cyberspace are becoming more dangerous. Sweden’s minister of civil defense, Carl-Oskar Bohlin, said during a press conference on Wednesday that the ...

  • Omnistealer uses the blockchain to steal everything it can

    April 14, 2026

    A new infostealer dubbed Omnistealer is turning the blockchain into a permanent malware hosting platform, which is bad news for both companies and everyday users. It’s pretty common for malware to store its payload on a public platform, ideally one that adds some trustworthiness to the download location, like Google docs, OneDrive, GitHub, npm, PyPI, and ...

  • Patch Tuesday – April 2026

    April 14, 2026

    Microsoft is publishing 167 vulnerabilities on April 2026 Patch Tuesday. Microsoft is aware of exploitation in the wild for one of today’s vulnerabilities, and public disclosure for one other. Microsoft evaluates 19 of the vulnerabilities published today as more likely to see future exploitation. So far this month, Microsoft has provided patches to address 80 browser ...

  • Zombie Microsoft bugs rise from the dead, pave way for crims and ransomware scum

    April 13, 2026

    Crooks are exploiting four Microsoft vulnerabilities – one patched 14 years ago and another tied to ransomware activity – according to America’s lead cyber-defense agency, which on Monday gave federal agencies two weeks to patch them. The four vulnerabilities added to CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog on Monday are: CVE-2025-60710, a link-following vulnerability in Windows ...