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DeeperML - #northkorea
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@cyberscoop.com
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North Korean operatives have infiltrated hundreds of Fortune 500 companies, posing a significant and growing threat to IT infrastructure and sensitive data. Security leaders at Mandiant and Google Cloud have indicated that nearly every major company has either hired or received applications from North Korean nationals working on behalf of the regime. These individuals primarily aim to earn salaries that are then sent back to Pyongyang, contributing to the country's revenue stream. Cybersecurity experts warn that this issue is more pervasive than previously understood, with organizations often unaware of the extent of the infiltration.
Hundreds of Fortune 500 organizations have unknowingly hired these North Korean IT workers, and nearly every CISO interviewed has admitted to hiring at least one, if not several, of these individuals. Google has also detected North Korean technical workers within its talent pipeline, though the company states that none have been hired to date. The risk of North Korean nationals working for large organizations has become so prevalent that security professionals now assume it is happening unless actively detected. Security analysts continue to raise alarms and highlight the expansive ecosystem of tools, infrastructure, and specialized talent North Korea has developed to support this illicit activity. The FBI and cybersecurity experts are actively working to identify and remove these remote workers. According to Adam Meyers, Head of Country Adversary Operations at CrowdStrike, there have been over 90 incidents in the past 90 days, resulting in millions of dollars flowing to the North Korean regime through high-paying developer jobs. Microsoft is tracking thousands of personas and identities used by these North Korean IT workers, indicating a high-volume operation. Uncovering one North Korean IT worker scam often leads to the discovery of many others, as demonstrated by CrowdStrike's investigation that revealed 30 victim organizations.
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@www.silentpush.com
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North Korean hackers, identified as the Contagious Interview APT group, are running a sophisticated malware campaign targeting individuals seeking employment in the cryptocurrency sector. Silent Push threat analysts have uncovered the operation, revealing that the group, also known as Famous Chollima and a subgroup of Lazarus, is using three front companies—BlockNovas LLC, Angeloper Agency, and SoftGlide LLC—to spread malicious software. These companies are being used to lure unsuspecting job applicants into downloading malware through fake job interview opportunities, marking an evolution in the group's cyber espionage and financial gain tactics.
The campaign involves the distribution of three distinct malware strains: BeaverTail, InvisibleFerret, and OtterCookie. Job seekers are enticed with postings on various online platforms, including CryptoJobsList, CryptoTask, and Upwork. Once an application is submitted, the hackers send what appear to be legitimate interview-related files containing the malware. The attackers are also using AI-generated images to create employee profiles for these front companies, specifically using Remaker AI to fabricate realistic personas, enhancing the credibility of their fraudulent operations and making it harder for job seekers to differentiate between genuine and malicious opportunities. The use of these front companies and AI-generated profiles signifies a new escalation in the tactics employed by Contagious Interview. The malware, once installed, allows hackers to remotely access infected computers and steal sensitive data. The campaign leverages legitimate platforms like GitHub and various job boards to further enhance its deceptive nature. Silent Push's analysis has successfully traced the malware back to specific websites and internet addresses used by the hackers, including lianxinxiao[.]com, and uncovered a hidden online dashboard monitoring suspected BeaverTail websites, providing valuable insights into the operational infrastructure of this North Korean APT group.
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