Konni Group Using Russian-Language Malicious Word Docs in Latest Attacks
Vulnerabilities mentionedAll →
| CVE | Vulnerability | CVSS | EPSS | Flags | Affected | Exposure | Published |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2023-38831 | Code Execution in RARLAB WinRAR via Crafted ZIP File/Folder Name Confusion RARLAB WinRAR before 6.23 mishandles ZIP archives that contain a benign file (such as a JPG) alongside a folder with the same name, causing the folder's contents - which can include malicious executable files - to be processed when the user merely attempts to view the benign file. By sending a crafted ZIP archive, an attacker gains arbitrary code execution on the victim's machine with the user's privileges. Because the flaw is local (AV:L) and requires user interaction, risk is limited to Windows systems running an unpatched copy of WinRAR, while machines without the tool are unaffected. The bug was actively exploited in the wild from April through October 2023, including by government-backed actors (APT28), SideCopy attacks on Indian government entities, ransomware operations, and trading-account theft campaigns, and it was added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2023-08-24. Do: Upgrade all Windows systems running WinRAR to version 6.23 or later, which fixes this flaw; if patching is not immediately possible, treat ZIP files from untrusted sources with caution and check archives for duplicate file/folder names before opening. Given KEV listing with known ransomware use and public proof-of-concept exploits, hunt for compromise by reviewing whether unexpected executables or scripts ran when ZIP archives were opened, and apply vendor mitigations per CISA's required action or discontinue use if mitigations are unavailable. | 7.8 | 98% | KEV ransomware PoC ×4 |
| masshundreds of millions of users/installations worldwide (WinRAR is one of the most widely installed Windows archive utilities) |
Full article445 words · extracted from thehackernews.com · click to collapse
Ravie LakshmananNov 23, 2023Malware / Cyber Espionage
A new phishing attack has been observed leveraging a Russian-language Microsoft Word document to deliver malware capable of harvesting sensitive information from compromised Windows hosts.
The activity has been attributed to a threat actor called Konni, which is assessed to share overlaps with a North Korean cluster tracked as Kimsuky (aka APT43).
"This campaign relies on a remote access trojan (RAT) capable of extracting information and executing commands on compromised devices," Fortinet FortiGuard Labs researcher Cara Lin said in an analysis published this week.
The cyber espionage group is notable for its targeting of Russia, with the modus operandi involving the use of spear-phishing emails and malicious documents as entry points for their attacks.
Recent attacks documented by Knowsec and ThreatMon have leveraged the WinRAR vulnerability (CVE-2023-38831) as well as obfuscated Visual Basic scripts to drop Konni RAT and a Windows Batch script capable of collecting data from the infected machines.
"Konni's primary objectives include data exfiltration and conducting espionage activities," ThreatMon said. "To achieve these goals, the group employs a wide array of malware and tools, frequently adapting their tactics to avoid detection and attribution."
The latest attack sequence observed by Fortinet involves a macro-laced Word document that, when enabled, displays an article in Russian that's purportedly about "Western Assessments of the Progress of the Special Military Operation."
The Visual Basic for Application (VBA) macro subsequently proceeds to launch an interim Batch script that performs system checks, User Account Control (UAC) bypass, and ultimately paves the way for the deployment of a DLL file that incorporates information gathering and exfiltration capabilities.
"The payload incorporates a UAC bypass and encrypted communication with a C2 server, enabling the threat actor to execute privileged commands," Lin said.
Konni is far from the only North Korean threat actor to single out Russia. Evidence gathered by Kaspersky, Microsoft, and SentinelOne shows that the adversarial collective referred to as ScarCruft (aka APT37) has also targeted trading companies and missile engineering firms located in the country.
The disclosure also arrives less than two weeks after Solar, the cybersecurity arm of Russian state-owned telecom company Rostelecom, revealed that threat actors from Asia – primarily those from China and North Korea – accounted for a majority of attacks against the country's infrastructure.
"The North Korean Lazarus group is also very active on the territory of the Russian Federation," the company said. "As of early November, Lazarus hackers still have access to a number of Russian systems."
Found this article interesting? Follow us on Google News, Twitter and LinkedIn to read more exclusive content we post.
Text extracted automatically; images, tables and formatting may be missing. Original: https://thehackernews.com/2023/11/konni-group-using-russian-language.html