ZeroHour

Source: Kaspersky Securelist

3,249 stories

Angry Birds: Toy Ghouls’ new toys

Kaspersky tracks ransomware group Toy Ghouls deploying new custom backdoors, mqtt-bird-agent and matrix-bird-agent, using HiveMQ MQTT and Element as C2 channels.

Kaspersky reports that Toy Ghouls (also known as Bearlyfy, Laboo.boo and Feral Wolf), a financially motivated group targeting Russian organizations since 2025, shifted from leaked Babuk and LockBit builders and public GitHub tools to its custom GenieLocker ransomware. In early July 2026 the group deployed two custom backdoors: mqtt-bird-agent 0.1.0 using the public HiveMQ MQTT broker as C2, and matrix-bird-agent 0.1.0 using the Element messenger. The backdoors are delivered via WinRM using Evil-WinRM and WinRM-fs, persist as Windows services, and encrypt their configuration with ChaCha20-Poly1305 keyed to the machine's MachineGuid registry value.

Kaspersky Securelist · 11d agoThreat actor

Mirage Kitten targeting aviation and FinTech sectors across the Middle East and Africa with a new malware set

Kaspersky reports Mirage Kitten targeting aviation and fintech organizations across the Middle East and Africa with new NodeRabbit and PollCat backdoors.

Kaspersky researchers documented new Mirage Kitten operations against aviation and fintech organizations in the Middle East and Africa. The campaign uses two previously undocumented backdoors: NodeRabbit, written in Node.js, and PollCat, written in JavaScript. The findings expand the group's known toolset and TTPs.

Kaspersky Securelist · 14d agoThreat actor in the wild1

ValleyRAT masquerading as adware

Kaspersky reports threat actors distributing the ValleyRAT backdoor disguised as adware, tracing the infection chain to the final payload.

Kaspersky researchers analyzed a campaign distributing the ValleyRAT backdoor under the guise of adware. The write-up documents the complete infection chain, from the malicious installer through deployment of the final backdoor payload. ValleyRAT is a remote access tool typically used by criminal actors for surveillance and data theft.

Kaspersky Securelist · 15d agoMalware in the wild

Threat landscape for industrial automation systems. Q2 2026

Kaspersky's Q2 2026 report tracks ransomware, miners, and spyware detected on industrial control systems worldwide.

Kaspersky Securelist published statistics on threats blocked on industrial automation systems during Q2 2026. The report covers ransomware, cryptocurrency miners, spyware, and other malware detected on ICS environments. The quarterly telemetry gives OT defenders a view of threat trends affecting industrial infrastructure.

Kaspersky Securelist · 19d agoResearch

Exploits and vulnerabilities in Q2 2026

Kaspersky's Q2 2026 report tallies vulnerability, exploit, and C2 framework statistics, adding first-ever data on open-source AI framework flaws.

Kaspersky Securelist released its quarterly report on vulnerabilities, exploits, and C2 frameworks for Q2 2026. The report aggregates statistics on vulnerability disclosures and exploit activity for the quarter. For the first time, it also aggregates data on vulnerabilities in open-source AI agents and AI frameworks, extending coverage into the AI software supply chain.

Kaspersky Securelist · 20d agoResearch

The invisible passenger in your car

Kaspersky discovered Android adware and proxy-botnet malware delivered inside legitimate DoFun car head-unit software.

Kaspersky researchers uncovered Android malware distributed through legitimate software for DoFun automotive head units. The malware displays ads on infotainment screens and enrolls infected devices into a proxy botnet for resale of residential-style proxy traffic. Delivery via trusted vendor software means victims receive it through a legitimate update channel, raising infection likelihood.

Kaspersky Securelist · 25d agoMalware in the wild

APT group HoneyMyte upgrades CoolClient: the backdoor gets a kernel-level Windows rootkit

Kaspersky reports APT group HoneyMyte upgraded its CoolClient backdoor with a kernel-mode Windows rootkit hiding processes, files, and network connections.

Kaspersky researchers discovered a new variant of the HoneyMyte CoolClient backdoor equipped with a kernel-mode Windows rootkit driver. The rootkit hides malicious processes, files, and network connections from security tools and threat analysts, significantly increasing the backdoor's stealth. The report documents an upgrade to the APT group's backdoor tooling with a kernel-level implant.

Kaspersky Securelist · Aug 14, 2026Threat actor in the wild

Armored Likho expands its cyber-espionage toolkit

Kaspersky reports the Armored Likho espionage group now delivers its new Still Toolkit via fundraising-themed lures to steal Telegram data and eavesdrop on victims.

Kaspersky researchers describe a new campaign by the Armored Likho espionage actor. The campaign masquerades as fundraising efforts and delivers a newly developed Still Toolkit designed to steal Telegram data and eavesdrop on victims. The update expands the group's toolkit and continues its espionage-focused targeting.

Kaspersky Securelist · Aug 13, 2026Threat actor in the wild

Head Mare APT is exploiting vulnerabilities in an unpatched TrueConf server to deliver PhantomCore and PhantomGraph to video conference participants

Head Mare APT exploits unpatched TrueConf server vulnerabilities to deliver PhantomCore and PhantomGraph backdoors to video conference participants.

Kaspersky discovered malicious TrueConf software installers used by the Head Mare APT group to deploy the PhantomCore and PhantomGraph backdoors. The group exploits vulnerabilities in an unpatched TrueConf server to reach targets. Video conference participants are infected via the trojanized installers.

Kaspersky Securelist · Aug 11, 2026Threat actor in the wild

Project CAV3RN continues: Google Apps Script as C2 relay and DNS-based C2 channel selection

Project CAV3RN continues targeting Israel, using Google Apps Script C2 relays and DNS-based channel routing in a .NET NativeAOT framework.

Kaspersky Securelist documents the continuation of Project CAV3RN operations against Israel. The modular .NET NativeAOT framework uses Google Apps Script as a C2 relay and DNS-based C2 channel selection, blending command traffic with legitimate Google services to evade detection.

Kaspersky Securelist · Aug 11, 2026Threat actor in the wild