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Hook Android Banking Trojan Evolves

Sep 2, 2025 12:52:33 PM / by The Hivemind posted in Threat Bulletin, Evolving Threat, Android Malware, ransomware overlay, fake NFC overlay, phishing overlay, Accessibility Services abuse, lockscreen bypass, GitHub malware distribution, financial sector threats, Hook banking trojan

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Verticals Targeted: Financial, Enterprises
Regions Targeted: Not specified
Related Families: Ermac, Brokewell

Executive Summary

Hook Version 3 is an advanced Android banking trojan with ransomware, phishing, and lockscreen bypass capabilities, posing significant risks to financial institutions and enterprises. Its distribution via phishing websites and GitHub amplifies its reach, necessitating robust mobile threat defenses.

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VShell Linux Backdoor

Aug 29, 2025 12:46:41 PM / by The Hivemind posted in Threat Bulletin, Linux Malware, VShell malware, malicious filename, command injection, XOR encryption, Bash payload, remote access backdoor, fileless malware, Snowlight dropper, Linux server security

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Verticals Targeted: Not specified
Regions Targeted: Not specified
Related Families: Snowlight dropper

Executive Summary

VShell is a sophisticated Go-based backdoor targeting Linux systems through a novel infection chain that weaponizes filenames in RAR archives. This malware, linked to Chinese APT groups, exploits common shell scripting practices to execute malicious Bash payloads, delivering a stealthy, memory-resident backdoor capable of remote control, file operations, and network tunneling.

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GodRAT

Aug 25, 2025 2:36:30 PM / by The Hivemind posted in Threat Bulletin, AsyncRAT, Gh0st RAT, password stealer, shellcode injector, GodRAT, Remote Access Trojan, financial malware, steganography, FileManager plugin

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Verticals Targeted: Financial
Regions Targeted: Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Malaysia, Jordan
Related Families: AsyncRAT, AwesomePuppet, Gh0st RAT

Executive Summary

GodRAT is a RAT derived from the Gh0st RAT codebase. It was observed targeting financial institutions via malicious .scr and .pif files distributed through Skype. Leveraging steganography and additional plugins like FileManager, GodRAT facilitates credential theft and system exploration.

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PS1Bot Malware Framework

Aug 22, 2025 1:48:23 PM / by The Hivemind posted in Threat Bulletin, Emerging Threat, Evolving Threat, PS1Bot, malware campaign, information stealer, C# malware, malvertising, cryptocurrency wallet theft, keylogger, in-memory execution, persistence module

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Verticals Targeted: Not specified
Regions Targeted: Not specified
Related Families: AHK Bot, Skitnet/Bossnet

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Charon Ransomware Targets Middle East

Aug 18, 2025 1:56:06 PM / by The Hivemind posted in Threat Bulletin, Emerging Threat, Charon ransomware, Earth Baxia, APT techniques, process injection, anti-EDR, DLL sideloading, Middle East cyber attacks, public sector malware, aviation industry threats, ransomware defense

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Verticals Targeted: Public Sector, Aviation
Regions Targeted: Middle East
Related Families: None

Executive Summary

Charon is a new ransomware family employing advanced APT-style techniques, targeting Middle Eastern public sector and aviation organizations with tailored ransom demands. Its sophisticated attack chain, including DLL sideloading and process injection, underscores the growing convergence of ransomware and APT tactics.

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Plague Linux Backdoor

Aug 15, 2025 11:28:22 AM / by The Hivemind posted in Threat Hunting, Threat Bulletin, PAM malware, stealthy authentication bypass, Linux backdoor, XOR obfuscation, SSH persistence, Linux security

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Verticals Targeted: Not specified
Regions Targeted: Not specified
Related Families: None

Executive Summary

Researchers have uncovered Plague, a previously undetected Linux backdoor masquerading as a malicious Pluggable Authentication Module (PAM) to enable persistent SSH access and authentication bypass. This implant's layered obfuscation and environment tampering allow it to evade detection, persisting across system updates with minimal forensic traces.

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Gunra Ransomware

Aug 11, 2025 2:41:54 PM / by The Hivemind posted in Threat Bulletin, Emerging Threat, Evolving Threat, Data Exfiltration, Gunra Ransomware, Linux Ransomware Variant, Multi-Thread Encryption, Partial Encryption, Cross-Platform Ransomware, Conti-Inspired, Ransomware Analysis, Gunra Group, Enterprise Targeting

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Verticals Targeted: Government, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Transportation, Law and Consulting, IT, Agriculture
Regions Targeted: Brazil, Japan, Canada, Turkey, South Korea, Taiwan, United States
Related Families: Conti

Executive Summary

Gunra ransomware has debuted a Linux variant that boosts encryption speed and flexibility, signaling a shift toward broader cross-platform attacks following its initial Windows campaigns.

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CastleLoader

Aug 8, 2025 11:51:37 AM / by The Hivemind posted in Threat Bulletin, Phishing, Redline, Emerging Threat, PowerShell, StealC, ClickFix, CastleLoader, GitHub, DeerStealer, malware loader, NetSupport RAT

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Verticals Targeted: Government
Regions Targeted: US
Related Families: StealC, RedLine, NetSupport RAT, DeerStealer, HijackLoader, SectopRAT

Executive Summary

CastleLoader, a versatile malware loader, has infected 469 devices since May 2025, leveraging Cloudflare-themed ClickFix phishing and fake GitHub repositories to deliver information stealers and RATs. Its sophisticated attack chain, high infection rate, and modular design make it a significant threat to organizations, particularly U.S. government entities.

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