State-Sponsored & APT
Cybersecurity news in this category
US Offers $10 Million Reward for Iranian IRGC Cyber Commander Amir Yaryab
APT28 Expands Espionage with New HOOKEDGE Backdoor Targeting European Organizations
Iran-Linked Cyber Attack Leaves Small UK Power Plant Offline for Four Days
Iran-Linked Tortoiseshell Group Deploys Malicious wtsapi32.dll Backdoor for Persistent Windows Access
Researchers have uncovered new tools deployed by the Tortoiseshell group, an Iranian-linked threat actor also tracked as Mirage Kitten, UNC1549, and Nimbus Manticore. The campaign features a Windows backdoor disguised as the legitimate wtsapi32.dll library that silently establishes reverse SSH tunnels over port 443 to maintain access to compromised networks. Active since at least 2018, the group has targeted defense, aerospace, technology, IT services, and military organizations primarily in the Middle East and the United States. The malware preserves expected Windows API functions while enabling command execution, file exfiltration, in-memory DLL loading, directory listing, and system reconnaissance. Associated infrastructure spans the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, Australia, and Japan.
HoneyMyte APT Deploys Kernel-Level CoolClient Backdoor Disguised as Microsoft Defender
The Chinese-speaking APT group HoneyMyte has deployed an updated version of its CoolClient backdoor in espionage operations targeting government and private organizations in Russia, Myanmar, Mongolia, Pakistan, and India. The new variant operates at the Windows kernel level using a signed driver, allowing it to hide processes, files, registry entries, and network activity while evading detection. Attackers first abuse PlugX to add exclusions for Microsoft Defender, then drop a fake Windows Defender directory containing the renamed Sangfor binary defender.exe and the malicious libngs.dll. A scheduled task ensures persistence by launching the fake defender.exe with high privileges on system startup. Kaspersky GReAT researchers note that the kernel-mode capabilities significantly increase the backdoor’s stealth and survivability compared to its previous user-mode implementation. The campaign demonstrates sophisticated living-off-the-land techniques combined with legitimate software abuse.
Lazarus Group Exploits Windows Kernel Zero-Day CVE-2026-68820 to Deploy FudModule Rootkit
The North Korean Lazarus APT group has been actively exploiting a zero-day vulnerability in the Windows kernel to escalate privileges to SYSTEM level and install the FudModule rootkit. The flaw, tracked as CVE-2026-68820, resides in the afd.sys driver responsible for network functions and socket management. Microsoft released a patch for the issue on August 11. The attacks form part of the ongoing Operation Dream Job campaign, which uses fake job offers to target professionals in defense, aerospace, and aviation sectors. Victims in Brazil, Europe, and India are tricked into opening malicious PDF viewers or prepared files that deliver the MISTPEN downloader. Once initial access is obtained, the zero-day exploit elevates privileges, allowing FudModule to tamper with Windows telemetry and weaken EDR solutions as well as Smart App Control.
Iranian Hackers Disable Safety Alarms in US Industrial Control Systems
Iranian threat actors have been compromising internet-exposed industrial controllers across the United States since at least March 2026, modifying alarm and safety shutdown logic in critical infrastructure. The campaign has targeted government organizations and operators in the water, wastewater, and energy sectors, resulting in operational disruptions and financial losses. Attackers focus on devices with insecure remote access, weak credentials, or default configurations rather than exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities. Targeted hardware includes Rockwell CompactLogix and Micro850 controllers, Schneider BMX P34 and Modicon M340 PLCs, and Siemens S7-1200 models. Operators use rented foreign infrastructure and legitimate programming software to download, alter, and re-upload control logic projects. In at least one case, malicious code maintained normal operations while introducing instructions that bypassed safe operational limits and altered data displayed on HMI and SCADA interfaces. The tactics closely resemble prior activity attributed to the CyberAv3ngers group linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, though direct attribution remains unconfirmed.
Russian State-Supported Group LAUNDRY BEAR Exploits Zero-Day CVE-2025-66376 in Zimbra Collaboration Suite
Synacor’s Zimbra Collaboration Suite was targeted in a zero-day campaign by the Russian state-backed threat actor known as LAUNDRY BEAR. The stored cross-site scripting flaw in the webmail stylesheet handler allowed attackers to steal past emails simply by having victims view a specially crafted HTML message. No user interaction beyond opening the email was required for JavaScript execution in the browser. On 23 July 2026, sixteen countries including the United States, European nations and Australia issued a joint advisory signed by twenty-seven agencies such as NSA, FBI and CISA. The vulnerability received CVE-2025-66376 and a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.2, rated High. Analysts assess the campaign focused on intelligence collection against Western government and corporate targets.
Russian Intelligence Hijacks Exposed Security Cameras in Europe and Ukraine for Military Surveillance
Dutch intelligence agencies AIVD and MIVD have revealed that Russian military intelligence is systematically compromising internet-connected security cameras across Europe and Ukraine. The attackers scan for exposed devices using brand fingerprints, then log in with default passwords and outdated firmware without needing zero-day exploits. In Ukraine, live camera feeds are used not only for reconnaissance of military transport routes and weapon deliveries but also to directly support targeting of Ukrainian forces and equipment. Censys identified over 87,000 vulnerable cameras in the EU, NATO countries, and Ukraine, with more than 4,000 located in Ukraine alone. While the actual number of confirmed compromises is smaller, the cameras are strategically positioned along key military logistics routes. The agencies issued basic but critical recommendations including disabling public exposure, changing default credentials, and applying patches for known vulnerabilities such as CVE-2016-7407 and CVE-2021-39275.
US Accuses Russian Cybersecurity Specialist D.O. of Void Blizzard Attacks on European Governments and US Companies, Kaspersky Ties Emerge
American authorities have charged Russian information security specialist D.O. with participating in cyberattacks by the Void Blizzard group, also known as Laundry Bear, targeting NATO-aligned European government agencies and at least 11 US companies since 2023. D.O., who previously held a senior position at one of Russia’s largest cybersecurity firms widely identified as Kaspersky, did not plead guilty during a court hearing in Boston. The US Department of Commerce banned the company’s software in 2024 over national security concerns, while European agencies had issued similar warnings earlier. Prosecutors also linked D.O. to a Nizhny Novgorod IT company where he served as deputy director from 2024, although his earlier Kaspersky employment was confirmed through salary records and a former colleague rather than the indictment itself. D.O. graduated from Bauman Moscow State Technical University with a degree in information security, an institution previously flagged by European journalists as a potential training ground for state-linked operatives. Experts note that movement between commercial cybersecurity roles and intelligence structures occurs across countries, but D.O.’s guilt remains to be proven in court.
Iranian State-Sponsored Hackers Unveil Cavern C2 Framework: Multi-Format .NET Compilation Bypasses All Security Detection Tools
In July 2026, Check Point Research exposed Cavern Manticore, an Iranian MOIS-linked APT group, actively targeting Israeli IT providers and government entities with a sophisticated modular C2 framework called Cavern (also known as Cav3rn). Unlike previous Iranian groups that rely on public tools, this actor built an entirely custom .NET-based framework deliberately compiled into three incompatible binary formats—pure IL, mixed-mode C++/CLI, and .NET 8 Native AOT—to force analysts to maintain multiple reverse-engineering toolchains and dramatically increase operational costs. The framework achieves near-zero detection rates on VirusTotal by avoiding traditional obfuscation and instead weaponizing compilation formats themselves, with modules running in isolated AppDomains that leave no persistent artifacts. Attackers gain initial access through compromised RMM solutions such as SysAid, abusing legitimate update mechanisms to sideload the Cavern Agent disguised as uxtheme.dll via a WinDirStat DLL side-loading chain. Communication uses XOR encryption with Base64 encoding, fixed Edge User-Agent strings, custom headers, and a unique protocol syntax, while supporting hot updates and aggressive cleanup. The campaign coincides with parallel operations by MuddyWater against regional targets, highlighting Iran’s coordinated escalation in cyberspace and the growing threat of supply-chain trust abuse against MSPs and RMM platforms worldwide.
NSA Revives Elite TAO Hacking Unit Behind Stuxnet and WannaCry to Accelerate Cyber Operations Against China and Adversaries
The U.S. National Security Agency has restored the original name Tailored Access Operations (TAO) to its premier cyber intrusion division as part of a major internal restructuring aimed at speeding up offensive operations against hostile nations, including China. The unit, which operated under the name Office of Computer Network Operations (CNO) following the 2016 NSA21 reforms, will once again function as a distinct entity with its own dedicated building at Fort Meade. The change reverses aspects of the earlier reorganization that had merged offensive operations and intelligence collection into larger directorates, a move former employees say hindered collaboration between developers and operators. Deputy NSA Director Tim Kosiba, a former TAO member, oversaw the revival, which was presented to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during his visit to the agency’s headquarters. TAO has long been linked to some of the most sophisticated U.S. cyber tools, including those used in the Stuxnet operation against Iran’s nuclear program and the EternalBlue exploit later deployed in the global WannaCry ransomware attack. The unit develops custom malware, persistence mechanisms, and covert access tools for intelligence collection against foreign targets. Former personnel believe the restored structure will improve attack preparation and innovation, particularly in the era of artificial intelligence.