Campaign Evolution: pseudo
Unit 42 traces the pseudo-Darkleech campaign's 2016 shift from Angler to Neutrino to Rig exploit kits and rotating ransomware payloads.
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Malware
CryptXXX
- Mentions · 7d0
- Mentions · 30d0
- All mentions5
- First seenAug 17, 2026
- Last mentionedAug 17, 2026
Timeline
5 articles · newest firstAfraidgate: Major Exploit Kit Campaign Swaps Locky Ransomware for CryptXXX
Unit 42 reports the Afraidgate campaign switched from Nuclear EK delivering Locky to Angler EK delivering CryptXXX via the Bedep downloader.
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Understanding Angler Exploit Kit
Unit 42 explains exploit kit fundamentals, describing how landing pages profile victims, deliver exploits, and install malware payloads on Windows hosts.
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Understanding Angler Exploit Kit
Unit 42 examines Angler EK operations, including rapid zero-day adoption, fileless Bedep infections, and ransomware payloads like TeslaCrypt and CryptXXX.
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Afraidgate: Major Exploit Kit Campaign Switches from CryptXXX Ransomware Back to Locky
The Afraidgate exploit kit campaign stopped distributing CryptXXX and now delivers the .zepto Locky variant exclusively through Neutrino EK since July 2016.
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Related CVEs
by mentions- CVE-2016-003469%8.8Remote Code Execution via Crafted Website in Microsoft Silverlight 5
- CVE-2015-511999%—Use-After-Free RCE in Adobe Flash Player (ActionScript 3 ByteArray)
- CVE-2015-241953%—Memory Corruption RCE in Microsoft Internet Explorer JScript Engine
Appears with
- Palo Alto Networksvendor · 5
- Angler EKmalware · 3
- Unit 42organization · 3
- pseudo-Darkleechthreat actor · 3
- Adobevendor · 2
- Internet Explorerproduct · 2
- Lockymalware · 2
- Adobe Flash Playerproduct · 2
- Microsoftvendor · 2
- Microsoft Silverlightproduct · 2
- Afraidgatethreat actor · 2
- TeslaCryptmalware · 2
- Bedepmalware · 2
- Neutrino exploit kitmalware · 1
- Angler exploit kitmalware · 1
- Necurs botnetmalware · 1
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