CTI & SOC Team’s Compliment Holistic Threat Hunting
SOC & CTI Compliment each other in threat Hunting
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AI Reshaping Roadmap for Cyber security
Can Gen AI Transform Organizations Cyber Posture
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Complexities Compounding in Cyber Landscape; WEF Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025 Analysis
WEF Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025
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Banshee Stealer: A Growing Threat to macOS Users
Overview
Cybersecurity researchers at Check Point Research (CPR) have discovered a sophisticated macOS malware called Banshee Stealer, putting over 100 million macOS users globally at risk. The malware, designed to exfiltrate sensitive user data, demonstrates advanced evasion techniques, posing a significant threat to users and organizations relying on macOS.
Key Threat Details:
Malware Capabilities:
- Data Theft: Banshee Stealer targets browser credentials, cryptocurrency wallets, and sensitive files, compromising user security.
- User Deception: It displays fake system pop-ups to trick users into revealing their macOS passwords, facilitating unauthorized access.
- Encryption and Exfiltration: Stolen data is compressed, encrypted, and transmitted to command-and-control (C&C) servers through stealthy channels, making detection challenging.
C&C decryption Source: Cybersecurity News
Evasion Tactics:
- Advanced Encryption: The malware utilizes encryption techniques similar to Apple’s XProtect, camouflaging itself to evade detection by traditional antivirus systems.
- Stealth Operations: It operates seamlessly within system processes, avoiding scrutiny from debugging tools and remaining undetected for extended periods.
Distribution Mechanisms:
- Phishing Websites: Banshee Stealer impersonates trusted software downloads, including Telegram and Chrome, to deceive users into downloading malicious files.
- Fake GitHub Repositories: It distributes DMG files with deceptive reviews and stars to gain user trust, facilitating the spread of the malware.
Repository releases source: Cybersecurity News
Recent Developments:
- Expanded Targeting: The latest version of Banshee Stealer has removed geographic restrictions, such as the Russian language check, broadening its target audience globally.
- Source Code Leak: Following a source code leak, there has been increased activity, enabling other threat actors to develop variants and intensify the threat landscape.
Impact:
- Users: Compromised browser data, cryptocurrency wallets, and personal files can lead to identity theft and financial losses.
- Organizations: Potential data breaches can result in reputational damage, financial losses, and legal implications.
- Global Threat: The malware’s expanded targeting underscores the need for enhanced vigilance among macOS users worldwide.
Indicators of Compromise (IOCs):
The IOCs listed below are associated with the threat. For the full list of IOCs, please refer to the link .
| IP Address and Domain | File Hash |
| 41.216.183[.]49 | 00c68fb8bcb44581f15cb4f888b4dec8cd6d528cacb287dc1bdeeb34299b8c93 |
| Alden[.]io | 1dcf3b607d2c9e181643dd6bf1fd85e39d3dc4f95b6992e5a435d0d900333416 |
| api7[.]cfd | 3bcd41e8da4cf68bb38d9ef97789ec069d393306a5d1ea5846f0c4dc0d5beaab |
| Authorisev[.]site | b978c70331fc81804dea11bf0b334aa324d94a2540a285ba266dd5bbfbcbc114 |
Recommendations:
To mitigate the risks associated with Banshee Stealer, consider implementing the following proactive measures:
- Avoid Untrusted Downloads:
- Refrain from downloading software from unverified sources, particularly free or “cracked” versions.
- Verify the authenticity of GitHub repositories before downloading any files.
- Strengthening System Defenses:
- Regularly update macOS and all installed applications to patch known vulnerabilities.
- Deploy advanced security solutions with real-time threat detection and proactive intelligence.
- Enhance Awareness and Training:
- Educate users on identifying phishing websites and suspicious downloads.
- Encourage caution when responding to system prompts or entering credentials.
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA):
- Secure accounts with 2FA to minimize the impact of stolen credentials.
- Monitor System Activity:
- Regularly review system logs for unauthorized changes or suspicious activity.
- Use tools to monitor unexpected outgoing data transmissions.
- Utilize threat intelligence feeds to detect and block IOCs like malicious IPs, domains, and file hashes.
- Continuously monitor network traffic, emails, and file uploads to identify and mitigate threats early.
Conclusion:
The rise of the Banshee malware exemplifies the increasing sophistication of threats targeting macOS. Users and organizations must adopt layered security defenses, maintain vigilance, and prioritize awareness to mitigate the risks of advanced malware like Banshee. By leveraging updated tools and practices, you can safeguard critical systems and data from evolving cyber threats.
References:
Cybersecurity Trends for 2025; Responsible AI to gain Importance
Cyber security trends as per research and data available shows that responsible AI will gain importance with more public scrutiny of risks growing along with remediation practices. Organizations will now require to balance taking risks with AI and having rapid remediation strategies available.
As per experts the areas that will get attention will be cloud security and data location. In 2025, new laws may require that sensitive data stay within national borders, affecting how companies manage and store data across regions. As businesses and critical services become increasingly dependent on cloud services, some countries may prioritize cloud availability in national emergency plans, recognizing that stable cloud access is mandatory for crisis management. This shift could lead towards the establishment of a new program like Cloud Service Priority (CSP), treating cloud infrastructure as important as utilities like electricity and telecoms.
How organization need to prepare themselves as big and small businesses and brands will see dramatically increased risks, as bad actors using AI will launch convincing impersonation attacks. This will make it easier with higher accuracy than ever to fool customers and clients.
Key Cyber Security Trends of 2025
- As organization navigate through 2025 we will witness that threat actors will increasingly use AI for sophisticated phishing, vishing, and social engineering attacks.
Gen-AI
- Generative AI is driving an unprecedented surge in cyber fraud, with nearly 47% of organisations identifying adversarial AI-powered attacks as their primary concern, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025.
- Due to technological advancements the Cyberspace is growing more complex due to technological advancements as they are interconnected to supply chains. Collaboration between public and private sectors is essential to secure the benefits of digitalization at all levels.
Digitalization
- 76% of cybersecurity leaders report difficulties navigating a patchwork of global policies and 66% of organizations expect AI to transform cybersecurity, only 37% have implemented safeguards to secure these tools before deployment.
IoT Devices Vulnerable
- Hackers will grow attacks on IoT devices as per research by Analytics insights report 2025 as over 30 billion devices across the globe will be connected through the Internet of Things. IoT enhance productivity offering convenience but due to their low-security backgrounds hackers may utilize opportunity to obtain sensitive information, or form massive botnets to execute Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks. (Analytics insight)
Ransomware
- Attackers have resorted to different methods of extortion, involving ransom demands along with DDoS attacks. Encryption and fileless ransomware are being developed in an attempt to evade detection. RaaS makes it increasingly easy for non-technical users to carry out advanced attacks and the trend is growing. Experts predict that, by 2025, ransomware attacks will occur globally every two seconds prime targets remain in the healthcare, education, and government sectors.
AI /ML
- To survive in highly competitive environment hackers will continue using AI so as organization will continue with previous theme of 2024 application of artificial intelligence and this will expand along with machine learning (ML) as these tools are the game changer in in a cybersecurity strategy.
Quantum Computing
- The year 2025 will witness the rise and development of Quantum Computing and computers.An exciting technological development; however, it also generates grave challenges for cybersecurity. Quantum computers solve complex problems much faster than classical computers, making traditional cryptography algorithms vulnerable to quantum attacks is equally necessary to be proactive, with an immediate focus on quantum-safe encryption that would last to provide safety to the digital security systems in the years to follow. McKinsey poll says, 72% of tech executives, investors and quantum computing academics believe that “a fully fault-tolerant quantum computer” will be here by 2035, while 28% think this won’t happen until at least 2040. With Quantum computing business can protect their data and stay ahead of quantum threats with the right tools and strategies in place.
Regulations
- Regulatory changes and compliance will evolve in 2025 as government across the European countries are gearing up with regulation being prepared to protect against surge of ransomware attacks, introducing stringent measures to combat the growing menace of cyber extortion. The EU emerged as a frontrunner in cybersecurity regulation, with the Network and Information Security (NIS2) Directive coming into full force.
- BISO Analytics: In 2025 we will witness rise of virtual CISO (vCISO) or CSO consultant roles over full-time in-house roles. Also Shifting CISO responsibilities have brought about an increasing role for BISOs. The cybersecurity team has a lot to handle as companies face more cyber threats, compliance requirements, growing remote workforces, and rapid adoption of new cloud-based technologies. With such a large scope of duty, the CISO is often over stretched and in this complex cybersecurity environment having a BISO will bring in support to entire cyber security strategy.
- BISO ‘s may also be called upon to interact with marketing and corporate communications, bringing their research into potential attack vectors, typical points of vulnerability, and unique understanding of the hackers mindset and guide organizations that are increasingly battening cybersecurity strategy to deal with various attack vectors.
- Intrucept offers BISO Analytics as a services. BISOs are crucial for strategies requiring technical cybersecurity and strategic business input.
Organizations need bespoke solutions to defend against attacks across email, social, and other channels as we witness evolving nature of attacks demands continuous weekly innovation to stay ahead. The use of Multifactor authentication reduces the danger in identity and access management EDR solutions with feeds of threat intelligence will gain prominence. Intrucept is dedicated in helping organizations to run fast and be secure. We will always find that being easy and slowing down is a tendency but we as organization try to enable our customers to maintain speed (and even accelerate).
References:
- McKinsey Lock Down! Top Cybersecurity Threats We May Witness in 2025 Healthcare Trends Shaping 2025 And Insights For Industry LeadersLock Down! Top Cybersecurity Threats We May Witness in 2025
- Healthcare Trends Shaping 2025 And Insights For Industry Leaders
- https://www.cisecurity.org/insights/blog/12-cis-experts-cybersecurity-predictions-2025
Adobe released Security updates Addressing critical ColdFusion vulnerability with (PoC) Exploit code
Adobe released security updates (APSB24-107) addressing an arbitrary file system vulnerability ColdFusion, identified as CVE-2024-53961, is linked to a path traversal weakness with proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit code.
This could allow attackers to exploit the flaw and gain unauthorized access to arbitrary files on vulnerable servers.
As per the updates Adobe ColdFusion versions 2023 and 2021 that addressed an arbitrary file proof-of-concept may enable attackers to read arbitrary files on vulnerable servers, potentially leading to unauthorized access and data exposure warns of critical ColdFusion bug with PoC exploit code.
Summary:
“Adobe is aware that CVE-2024-53961 has a known proof-of-concept that could cause an arbitrary file system read,” Adobe earlier gave statement cautioning customers that it assigned a “Priority 1” severity rating to the flaw because it has a “a higher risk of being targeted, by exploit(s) in the wild for a given product version and platform.”
Key findings:
- The vulnerability, CVE-2024-53961, affects ColdFusion 2021 and 2023.
- Adobe has provided a patch to address the issue.
- The vulnerability can potentially lead to unauthorized access and data exposure
- The flaw has been given a Priority 1 severity rating, the highest possible level, due to its potential for exploitation in the wild.
- Adobe has highlighted the critical nature of these updates and classified the vulnerability with a CVSS base score of 7.4, signifying a threat to the security of affected systems.
Adobe has issued advisory
- Monitor systems for any signs of exploitation.
- Adobe has provided a patch to address the vulnerability remediation to mitigate the risk of exploitation.
- Consider implementing file system monitoring and logging to detect and prevent unauthorized file access.
Path traversal weakness in ColdFusion; CVE-2024-53961
What is Path Traversal?
Hackers uses a tactics by Tricking a web application into displaying the contents of a directory that was not on request by user to gain access to sensitive files on a server.
The path traversal weakness in ColdFusion could be exploited by an attacker to perform unauthorized file system reads on affected servers.
This means that an attacker could manipulate file paths to access sensitive files that are otherwise restricted. This kind of vulnerability can lead to exposure of critical system information, unauthorized access and data exposure.
Reference: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/adobe-warns-of-critical-coldfusion-bug-with-poc-exploit-code/
Sophisticated Phishing Attack Exposed Over 600,000 Users to Data Theft; 16 Chrome Extensions Hacked
A sophisticated phishing attack exposed 600, 000 user data to theft as 16 Chrome Extensions got hacked amounting to credential theft. The attack targeted extension publishers through phishing emails where Developers were tricked into granting access to a malicious OAuth app via fake Chrome Web Store emails. The malicious update mimicked official communications from the Chrome Web Store, stealing sensitive user data.
This breach puts Facebook ad users at high risk of account hacking or unknown access
Summary of the attack
The phishing email was designed to create a sense of urgency posing as Google Chrome Web Store Developer Support, warns the employee of the extension removal for policy violations. The message urges the recipient to accept the publishing policy.
As per Cyberhaven, a cybersecurity firm report mentioned about the impacted firms as the attack occurred on December 24 and involved phishing a company employee to gain access to their Chrome Web Store admin credentials.
16 Chrome Extensions, including popular ones like “AI Assistant – ChatGPT and Gemini for Chrome,” “GPT 4 Summary with OpenAI,” and “Reader Mode,” were compromised, exposing sensitive user data.
Response & Recommendations:
The attackers targeted browser extension publishers with phishing campaigns to gain access to their accounts and insert malicious code.
Extensions such as “Rewards Search Automator” and “Earny – Up to 20% Cash Back” were used to exfiltrate user credentials and identity tokens, particularly from Facebook business accounts.
Malicious versions of extensions communicated with external Command-and-Control (C&C) servers, such as domains like “cyberhavenext[.]pro.”
- Cyberhaven released a legitimate update (version 24.10.5), hired Mandiant to develop an incident response plan and also notified federal law enforcement agencies for investigation.
- All users advised to revoke credentials, monitor logs, and secure extensions; investigations continue.
- As per Cyberhaven, version 24.10.4 of Chrome extension was affected, and the malicious code was active for less than a day.
- The malicious extension used two files: worker.js contacted a hardcoded C&C server to download configuration and executed HTTP calls, and content.js that collected user data from targeted websites and exfiltrated it to a malicious domain specified in the C&C payload.
Godot Hijacked with Malware to infect Thousands of PC’s
Godot is a platform that host open source game development, where new Malware loader installed in its programming language
At least 17,000 devices were infected with infostealers and cryptojackers so far.
As per researchers cyber criminals have been building malicious code written in GDScript (Godot’s Python-like scripting language) calling on some 200 GitHub repositories and more than 220 Stargazer Ghost accounts.
Earlier hackers targeted the open sources gaming platform targeting users of the Godot Gaming Engine and researcher’s spotted that GodLoader would drop different malware to the infected devices mostly in RedLine stealer, and XMRig, a popular cryptojacker.
GodLoader, the researchers further explained, was downloaded at least 17,000 times, which is a rough estimate on the number of infected devices. However, the attack surface is much, much larger.
Check Point argues that in theory, crooks could hide malware in cheats, cracks, or modes, for different Godot-built games. Check Point detected four separate attack waves against developers and gamers between September 12 and October 3, enticing them to download infected tools and games.
Looking at the number of popular games developed with Godot, that would put the attack surface at approximately 1.2 million people.
Hackers delivered the GodLoader malware through the Stargazers Ghost Network, a malware Distribution-as-a-Service (DaaS) that masks its activities using seemingly legitimate GitHub repositories.
Technical Details
Godot does not register a file handler for “.pck” files. This means that a malicious actor always has to ship the Godot runtime together with a .pck file. The user will always have to unpack the runtime together with the .pck to the same location and then execute the runtime.
There is no way for a malicious actor to create a “one click exploit”, barring other OS-level vulnerabilities. If such an OS-level vulnerability were used then Godot would not be a particularly attractive option due to the size of the runtime.
LogoFAIL Exploited to Deploy Bootkitty, the first UEFI bootkit for Linux
Researchers have uncovered the first UEFI bootkit designed specifically for Linux systems, named Bootkitty.
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