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Critical Malware Insights: Security Affairs Newsletter Round 45

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By Tom Grant
3 min read
Critical Malware Insights: Security Affairs Newsletter Round 45

TL;DR

The Security Affairs Malware Newsletter Round 45 highlights the latest developments in malware threats, including new info-stealers, ransomware evolutions, and sophisticated attack techniques. Key topics include PupkinStealer, Interlock ransomware, and advanced phishing threats like Horabot.

Introduction

The cybersecurity landscape is constantly evolving, with new threats emerging regularly. The Security Affairs Malware Newsletter Round 45 provides a comprehensive overview of the latest malware research and developments, offering insights into the current threat landscape.

Key Highlights

Emerging Malware Threats

  • PupkinStealer: A .NET-Based Info-Stealer PupkinStealer has been identified as a sophisticated info-stealer leveraging .NET frameworks to exfiltrate sensitive data1.

  • Interlock Ransomware: Evolving Under the Radar Interlock ransomware continues to evolve, employing stealthy tactics to evade detection and compromise systems2.

Technical Analysis and Attack Vectors

  • TransferLoader: In-Depth Technical Analysis A detailed analysis of TransferLoader reveals its advanced capabilities in transferring malicious payloads3.

  • Sophisticated NPM Attack A recent NPM attack utilizes Unicode steganography and Google Calendar for command and control, showcasing the increasing complexity of modern threats4.

Phishing and Botnet Threats

  • Horabot: A Stealthy Phishing Threat Horabot represents a new wave of phishing attacks, characterized by its stealthy and effective tactics5.

  • HTTPBot: Expanding Botnet Family A high-risk warning has been issued for the Windows ecosystem as the new botnet family, HTTPBot, continues to expand its reach6.

Malware in Hardware and Software

  • Malware-Laced Printer Drivers Printer maker Procolored has been found to offer malware-laced drivers for months, highlighting the risks associated with third-party software7.

  • Fileless Execution: PowerShell-Based Shellcode Loader A fileless execution technique using PowerShell-based shellcode loaders to execute Remcos RAT has been discovered, underscoring the need for advanced detection methods8.

Advanced Malware Detection Techniques

  • Skitnet: Overview Skitnet represents a new approach to malware detection, focusing on advanced threat intelligence9.

  • TA406 Pivots to the Front TA406, a notorious threat actor, has shifted its tactics, pivoting to more frontal attacks10.

Research and Innovations

  • MAL-XSEL: Enhancing Industrial Web Malware Detection MAL-XSEL introduces an explainable stacking ensemble model to enhance malware detection in industrial web environments11.

  • FICConvNet: Privacy-Preserving Malware Detection FICConvNet utilizes CKKS homomorphic encryption to provide a privacy-preserving framework for malware detection12.

  • Scaling Up Android Sandboxes for Malware Classification Researchers are revisiting the mining of Android sandboxes at scale to improve malware classification techniques13.

  • Evaluating the Robustness of Adversarial Defenses A study evaluating the robustness of adversarial defenses in malware detection systems highlights the need for continuous improvement in defensive measures14.

Conclusion

The Security Affairs Malware Newsletter Round 45 underscores the dynamic nature of the cybersecurity landscape. Staying informed about the latest malware threats and detection techniques is crucial for maintaining robust security measures. As threats continue to evolve, so must the strategies employed to combat them.

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Additional Resources

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References

  1. (2025). “PupkinStealer : A .NET-Based Info-Stealer”. Cyfirma. Retrieved 2025-05-18. ↩︎

  2. (2025). “Interlock ransomware evolving under the radar”. Sekoia. Retrieved 2025-05-18. ↩︎

  3. (2025). “Technical Analysis of TransferLoader”. Zscaler. Retrieved 2025-05-18. ↩︎

  4. (2025). “Sophisticated NPM Attack Leveraging Unicode Steganography and Google Calendar C2”. Veracode. Retrieved 2025-05-18. ↩︎

  5. (2025). “Horabot Unleashed: A Stealthy Phishing Threat”. Fortinet. Retrieved 2025-05-18. ↩︎

  6. (2025). “High Risk Warning for Windows Ecosystem: New Botnet Family HTTPBot is Expanding”. Nsfocusglobal. Retrieved 2025-05-18. ↩︎

  7. (2025). “Printer maker Procolored offered malware-laced drivers for months”. BleepingComputer. Retrieved 2025-05-18. ↩︎

  8. (2025). “Fileless Execution: PowerShell Based Shellcode Loader Executes Remcos RAT”. Qualys. Retrieved 2025-05-18. ↩︎

  9. (2025). “Skitnet”. Prodaft. Retrieved 2025-05-18. ↩︎

  10. (2025). “TA406 Pivots to the Front”. Proofpoint. Retrieved 2025-05-18. ↩︎

  11. (2025). “MAL-XSEL: Enhancing Industrial Web Malware Detection with an Explainable Stacking Ensemble Model”. MDPI. Retrieved 2025-05-18. ↩︎

  12. (2025). “FICConvNet: A Privacy-Preserving Framework for Malware Detection Using CKKS Homomorphic Encryption”. MDPI. Retrieved 2025-05-18. ↩︎

  13. (2025). “Scaling Up: Revisiting Mining Android Sandboxes at Scale for Malware Classification”. arXiv. Retrieved 2025-05-18. ↩︎

  14. (2025). “Evaluating the Robustness of Adversarial Defenses in Malware Detection Systems”. arXiv. Retrieved 2025-05-18. ↩︎

Cybersecurity & Data Protection, Malware
cybersecurity threat intelligence malware
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