SecureWorks shed light on BRONZE BUTLER group that targets Japanese Enterprises
Vulnerabilities mentionedAll →
| CVE | Vulnerability | CVSS | EPSS | Flags | Affected | Exposure | Published |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2016-7836 | Unauthenticated RCE in SKYSEA Client View Management Console SKYSEA Client View Ver.11.221.03 and earlier contains an improper authentication flaw (CWE-287) in the processing of authentication on the TCP connection used with the management console program. An attacker with network reachability to that TCP service can send crafted authentication data that triggers remote code execution with no credentials, no user interaction, and no special conditions (CVSS 3.1: 9.8). Successful exploitation gives the attacker full code execution on the console side, with high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability, and potential access to the managed-client inventory the console controls. Organizations running SKYSEA Client View Ver.11.221.03 or earlier are affected; the product is a client/IT-asset management suite deployed largely by Japanese organizations. CISA added the vulnerability to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on October 14, 2025, indicating confirmed in-the-wild exploitation, and EPSS currently estimates a 19.4% probability of exploitation within 30 days. Do: Upgrade SKYSEA Client View to a fixed release later than Ver.11.221.03 as directed in Sky Group's security advisory (https://www.skygroup.jp/security-info/170308.html), and inventory any console running Ver.11.221.03 or older. Until patched, restrict access to the management console TCP port from untrusted network segments and review console servers for signs of compromise. CISA KEV requires applying vendor mitigations or discontinuing use within the BOD 22-01 timeline. | 9.8 | 19% | KEV PoC |
| largeon the order of tens of thousands of management console deployments (product has a cumulative licensed base of millions of endpoints, concentrated in Japan) |
Full article412 words · extracted from securityaffairs.com · click to collapse
Researchers with Counter Threat Unit at SecureWorks continues to monitor the Bronze Butler cyberespionage group (aka Tick).
Researchers with Counter Threat Unit at SecureWorks are monitoring the Bronze Butler cyberespionage group (aka Tick). The hacker group has been targeting Japanese heavy industry, manufacturing and international relations at least since 2012,
According to the experts, the group is linked to the People’s Republic of China and is focused on exfiltrating confidential data.
“BRONZE BUTLER’s operations suggest a long-standing intent to exfiltrate intellectual property and other confidential data from Japanese organizations. Intrusions observed by CTU™ researchers indicate a focus on networks involved in critical infrastructure, heavy industry, manufacturing, and international relations.” states the analysis published by SecureWorks.
SecureWorks detailed TTPs of the Bronze Butler group, the hackers used spearphishing, strategic web compromises (SWCs) in their targeted attacks and leveraged zero-day exploit to compromise targeted systems.
The threat actor used to maintain access to compromised environments and periodically revisiting them to exfiltrate further data.
“BRONZE BUTLER uses spearphishing emails and SWCs to compromise target networks, often leveraging Flash. The group has used phishing emails with Flash animation attachments to download and execute Daserf malware, and has also leveraged Flash exploits for SWC attacks.” continues the analysis.
Experts observed Bronze Butler leveraging an Adobe Flash zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2016-7836) in a popular Japanese corporate desktop management tool called SKYSEA Client View.
Experts highlighted the ability of the group in discovering a zero-day flaw in a software used in a certain region.
The researchers documented one of the malware in the arsenal of the group, the Daserf backdoor that allows gaining full control over the compromised system.
Bronze Butler developed two versions of the tool over time, in 2016, the hackers shifted from using Daserf to two remote access trojans (RATS) called xxmm and Datper.
The following image shows some of the proprietary tools used by the group between 2012 and 2017.
Analyzing the intent of the group, the researchers concluded the group may be tasked by multiple teams or organizations.
“The focus on intellectual property, product details, and corporate information suggests that the group seeks information that they believe might be of value to competing organizations. The diverse targeting suggests that BRONZE BUTLER may be tasked by multiple teams or organizations with varying priorities.” concluded the report.
Bronze Butler is still active and must be considered a very capable gang.
| [adrotate banner=”9″] | [adrotate banner=”12″] |
(Security Affairs – Bronze Butler, hacking)
[adrotate banner=”5″]
[adrotate banner=”13″]
Text extracted automatically; images, tables and formatting may be missing. Original: https://securityaffairs.com/64311/apt/bronze-butler-ttps.html