Attackers are increasingly exploiting Windows shortcut (LNK) files for malware delivery. Palo Alto Unit 42 telemetry revealed 21,098 malicious LNK samples in 2023, which surged to 68,392 in 2024.
In this article, Unit 42 researchers present an in-depth investigation of LNK malware, based on analysis of 30,000 recent samples. Windows shortcut files use the .lnk file extension and function as a virtual link that allows people to easily access other files without having to navigate through multiple folders on a Windows host. The flexibility of LNK files makes them a powerful tool for attackers, as they can both execute malicious content and masquerade as legitimate files to deceive victims into unintentionally launching malware.
Read more…
Source: Palo Alto Unit 42
Sign up for the Cyber Security Review Newsletter
The latest news and insights delivered right to your inbox.
Related:
- PoC exploit released for Microsoft Exchange bug dicovered by NSA
May 3, 2021
Technical documentation and proof-of-concept exploit (PoC) code is available for a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange Server that could let remote attackers execute code on unpatched machines. The flaw is for one of the four that the National Security Agency (NSA) reported to Microsoft and received a fix in April. Read more… Source: Bleeping Computer
- N3TW0RM ransomware emerges in wave of cyberattacks in Israel
May 3, 2021
A new ransomware gang known as ‘N3TW0RM’ is targeting Israeli companies in a wave of cyberattacks starting last week. Israeli media Haaretz reported that at least four Israeli companies and one nonprofit organization had been successfully breached in this wave of attacks. Read more… Source: Bleeping Computer
- San Diego: Scripps Health Cyberattack Causes Widespread Hospital Outages
May 3, 2021
Scripps Health, a hospital network based in San Diego, was hit by a cyberattack over the weekend, forcing some critical-care patients to be diverted, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Scripps acknowledged the attack in a statement but didn’t specify whether it was a ransomware incident. It’s also unknown whether the adversaries compromised any patient records ...
- New Buer Malware Downloader Rewritten in E-Z Rust Language
May 3, 2021
A variant of the Buer malware, which is being distributed in emails disguised as DHL support shipping notices, comes with a fresh code rewrite in the popular Rust language and looks like it may be in the process of prepping for rental to other cybercrooks. Using the increasingly popular, efficient and easy-to-use Rust programming language will ...
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise Plugs Critical Bug in Edge Platform Tool
May 3, 2021
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) is urging customers to patch one of its premier edge application management tools that could allow an attacker to carry out a remote authentication bypass attack and infiltrate a customer’s cloud infrastructure. Rated critical, with a CVSS score of 9.8, the bug impacts all versions of HPE’s Edgeline Infrastructure Manager (EIM) prior ...
- Suspected Chinese state hackers target Russian submarine designer
April 30, 2021
Hackers suspected to work for the Chinese government have used a new malware called PortDoor to infiltrate the systems of an engineering company that designs submarines for the Russian Navy. They used a spear-phishing email specifically crafted to lure the general director of the company into opening a malicious document. The threat actor targeted Rubin Central Design ...