Check Point® Software Technologies has published its Global Threat Index for June 2023. Research revealed Qbot AKA Qakbot, a multipurpose malware that first appeared in 2008 had a 12.29% impact on India. It was designed to steal a user’s credentials, record keystrokes, steal cookies from browsers, spy on banking activities, and deploy additional malware. Often distributed via spam email, Qbot employs several anti-VM, anti-debugging, and anti-sandbox techniques to hinder analysis and evade detection. Commencing in 2022, it emerged as one of the most prevalent Trojans. The threat index revealed Healthcare followed by Education/Research, Insurance/Legal, and Utilities became the most attacked industries in India.
Qbot, which initially emerged in 2008 as a banking Trojan, has undergone consistent development, acquiring additional functionalities for the purpose of stealing passwords, emails, and credit card details. It is commonly propagated through spam emails and employs various techniques such as anti-VM, anti-debugging, and anti-sandbox methods to impede analysis and avoid detection. Presently, its primary role is to act as a loader for other malware and establish a presence within targeted organizations, serving as a stepping stone for ransomware group operators.
Meanwhile, researchers discovered a prolific mobile malware that has so far amassed 421 million downloads. Last month, for the first time, Trojanized Software Development Kit (SDK) SpinOk made its way to the top of the mobile malware families. Used by numerous popular apps for marketing purposes, this malicious software has infiltrated highly popular apps and games, some of which were available on the Google Play Store. Capable of stealing sensitive information from devices and monitoring clipboard activities, SpinOk malware poses a serious threat to user privacy and security, underscoring the need for proactive measures to protect personal data and mobile devices. It also serves as a stark reminder of the devastating potential of software supply chain attacks.
Last month also saw the launch of a large-scale ransomware campaign that impacted organizations worldwide. In May 2023, Progress Software Corporation disclosed a vulnerability in MOVEit Transfer and MOVEit Cloud (CVE-2023-34362) that could allow unauthorized access to the environment. Despite it being patched within 48 hours, cybercriminals associated with Russian-affiliated ransomware group Clop exploited the vulnerability and launched a supply chain attack against MOVEit users. To date, 108 organizations – including seven US universities – have been listed publicly, following the incident, with hundreds and thousands of records obtained.
“The MOVEit exploit proves that 2023 is already becoming a significant year in ransomware. Prominent groups like Clop are not operating tactically to infect a single target, but instead, making their operations more efficient by exploiting software that is widely used in a corporate environment. This approach means they can reach hundreds of victims in a single attack.” said Maya Horowitz, VP Research at Check Point Software. “This attack pattern emphasizes the importance for companies to implement a multi-layered cyber security strategy and to prioritize patching quickly when vulnerabilities are disclosed.”
CPR also revealed that “Web Servers Malicious URL Directory Traversal” was the most exploited vulnerability last month, impacting 51% of organizations globally, followed by “Apache Log4j Remote Code Execution” with 46% of organizations worldwide. “HTTP Headers Remote Code Execution” was the third most used vulnerability, with a global impact of 44%.
Top malware families
*The arrows relate to the change in rank compared to the previous month.
Qbot was the most prevalent malware last month with an impact of 7% worldwide organizations, followed by Formbook with a global impact of 4% and Emotet with a global impact of 3%.
- ↔ Qbot – Qbot AKA Qakbot is a multipurpose malware that first appeared in 2008. It was designed to steal a user’s credentials, record keystrokes, steal cookies from browsers, spy on banking activities, and deploy additional malware. Often distributed via spam email, Qbot employs several anti-VM, anti-debugging, and anti-sandbox techniques to hinder analysis and evade detection.
- ↔ Formbook – Formbook is an Infostealer targeting the Windows OS and was first detected in 2016. It is marketed as Malware as a Service (MaaS) in underground hacking forums for its strong evasion techniques and relatively low price. FormBook harvests credentials from various web browsers, collects screenshots, monitors and logs keystrokes, and can download and execute files according to orders from its C&C.
- ↑ Emotet – Emotet is an advanced, self-propagate and modular Trojan. Emotet once used to be employed as a banking Trojan, and recently has become a distributor for other malware or malicious campaigns. It uses multiple methods for maintaining persistence and Evasion techniques to avoid detection. In addition, it can be spread through phishing spam emails containing malicious attachments or links.
Top Attacked Industries Globally
Last month, Education/Research remained in first place as the most exploited industry globally, followed by Government/Military and Healthcare.
- Education/Research
- Government/Military
- Healthcare
Top exploited vulnerabilities
Last month, “Web Servers Malicious URL Directory Traversal” was the most exploited vulnerability, impacting 51% of organizations globally, followed by “Apache Log4j Remote Code Execution” with 46% of organizations worldwide. “HTTP Headers Remote Code Execution” was the third most used vulnerability, with a global impact of 44%.
