SecuriTricks - north korea

Dissecting Kimsuky's Attacks on South Korea: In-Depth Analysis of GitHub-Based Malicious Infrastructure

A sophisticated spearphishing campaign targeting South Korea has been uncovered, utilizing GitHub as attack infrastructure. The threat actor, linked to the North Korean group Kimsuky, created multiple private repositories to store malware, decoy files, and exfiltrated victim data. The attack levera…

north korea

spearphishing

Published: June 26, 2025

Downloadable IOCs: 16

Analysis of APT37 Attack Case Disguised as a Think Tank for National Security Strategy in South Korea (Operation ToyBox Story)

APT37, a North Korean state-sponsored hacking group, launched a spear phishing campaign targeting activists focused on North Korea. The attack involved emails with Dropbox links to malicious LNK files, which when executed, activated additional malware. The group utilized legitimate cloud services a…

Published: June 6, 2025

Downloadable IOCs: 1

TA406 Pivots to the Front

In February 2025, TA406, a North Korean state-sponsored actor, began targeting Ukrainian government entities with phishing campaigns aimed at gathering intelligence on the Russian invasion. The group utilized freemail senders impersonating think tank members to deliver both credential harvesting at…

credential harvesting

Published: May 13, 2025

Downloadable IOCs: 11

Additional Features of OtterCookie Malware Used by WaterPlum

The article discusses updates to the OtterCookie malware utilized by the North Korea-linked attack group WaterPlum. The malware has evolved through four versions, with v3 and v4 being the focus. OtterCookie v3 introduced Windows support and enhanced file collection capabilities. Version 4 added new…

financial institutions

Published: May 11, 2025

Downloadable IOCs: 0

Slow Pisces Targets Developers With Coding Challenges and Introduces New Customized Python Malware

Slow Pisces, a North Korean state-sponsored threat group, is targeting cryptocurrency developers through LinkedIn with malicious coding challenges. The group impersonates recruiters and sends malware disguised as project tasks, infecting systems with RN Loader and RN Stealer. Their campaign uses Gi…

Published: April 14, 2025

Downloadable IOCs: 41

North Korean APT37 Mobile Spyware Discovered

A new Android spyware called KoSpy has been attributed to the North Korean group APT37 (ScarCruft). The malware, active since March 2022, targets Korean and English-speaking users by masquerading as utility apps. KoSpy uses a two-stage C2 infrastructure, retrieving initial configurations from Fireb…

Published: April 12, 2025

Downloadable IOCs: 0

Detailed Analysis of DocSwap Malware Disguised as Security Document Viewer

A new malware called DocSwap, disguised as a document viewing authentication app, was discovered targeting South Korean mobile users. The malware, linked to a North Korean APT group, performs keylogging and information theft through accessibility services. It decrypts an obfuscated APK file, execut…

accessibility services

Published: April 12, 2025

Downloadable IOCs: 0

Lazarus Expands Malicious npm Campaign: 11 New Packages Add Malware Loaders and Bitbucket Payloads

North Korean threat actors have expanded their presence in the npm ecosystem, publishing additional malicious packages that deliver the BeaverTail malware and introduce new remote access trojan loader functionality. The campaign, known as Contagious Interview, aims to compromise developer systems, …

Published: April 8, 2025

Downloadable IOCs: 6

Caution Against Watering Hole Attack and Malicious File Distribution Disguised as Unification Education Support Application

A watering hole attack targeting unification education program applicants has been discovered. The attackers uploaded malicious HWP document files to a notice board for an educational program. When opened, the file executes hidden malicious code through OLE objects. The malware creates persistence …

Published: March 11, 2025

Downloadable IOCs: 0

Astrill VPN and DPRK Remote Worker Fraud

Spur Engineering is releasing a comprehensive list of IP addresses associated with the Astrill VPN service to help companies protect against fraud and abuse from the Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK) in the future.

Published: March 5, 2025

Downloadable IOCs: 2360

Astrill VPN: New IPs Publicly Released on VPN Service Heavily Used by North Korean Threat Actors

North Korean threat actors, particularly from the Lazarus Group, continue to utilize Astrill VPN to conceal their IP addresses during attacks. Recent infrastructure and logs from the 'Contagious Interview' subgroup confirmed ongoing use of Astrill VPN in their operations. Google's Mandiant and Reco…

Published: March 1, 2025

Downloadable IOCs: 9

Pivots into New Lazarus Group Infrastructure, Acquires Sensitive Intel Related to $1.4B ByBit Hack and Past Attacks

A significant discovery has been made regarding the Lazarus Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) Group's infrastructure. Analysts have uncovered a domain registered by the group shortly before the $1.4 billion Bybit crypto heist, linked to an email address used in previous attacks. The investigation re…

Published: February 26, 2025

Downloadable IOCs: 0

Targeting of freelance developers

North Korea-aligned cybercriminals are targeting freelance software developers through fake job offers and coding challenges containing malware. The campaign, dubbed DeceptiveDevelopment, uses two main malware families - BeaverTail and InvisibleFerret - to steal cryptocurrency wallets and login cre…

Published: February 21, 2025

Downloadable IOCs: 0

Inside the Scam: North Korea's IT Worker Threat

North Korea has exploited remote work opportunities to infiltrate international companies with fraudulent IT workers, generating revenue and posing cybersecurity risks. The group PurpleBravo targets cryptocurrency firms using malware like BeaverTail and InvisibleFerret. At least seven suspected Nor…

Published: February 13, 2025

Downloadable IOCs: 43

Operation Phantom Circuit: North Korea's Global Data Exfiltration Campaign

In December 2024, the Lazarus Group, a North Korean threat actor, launched a sophisticated global campaign targeting cryptocurrency and technology developers. The operation, code-named 'Phantom Circuit,' involved embedding malware into trusted development tools, compromising hundreds of victims wor…

north korea

cryptocurrency

data exfiltration

software supply chain

command-and-control

2025-01-30

phantom circuit

Published: January 30, 2025

Downloadable IOCs: 13

Analyzing threat actor Kimsuky email phishing campaign

The report provides an in-depth analysis of the email phishing campaigns conducted by the Kimsuky threat actor group. It highlights their tactics of using diverse themes and subjects to pique the curiosity of recipients, targeting researchers and individuals related to North Korean affairs in an at…

Published: December 4, 2024

Downloadable IOCs: 24

Fake North Korean IT Worker Linked to BeaverTail Video Conference App Phishing Attack

Unit 42 researchers identified a North Korean IT worker activity cluster, CL-STA-0237, involved in phishing attacks using malware-infected video conference apps. The cluster likely operates from Laos and exploited a U.S.-based SMB IT services company to apply for other jobs, securing a position at …

Published: November 15, 2024

Downloadable IOCs: 6

BlueNoroff used macOS malware with novel persistence

SentinelLabs researchers identified a North Korea-linked threat actor targeting crypto businesses with new macOS malware as part of a campaign called 'Hidden Risk'. The attackers, linked to BlueNoroff, used fake cryptocurrency news emails and a malicious app disguised as a PDF to deliver multi-stag…

Published: November 8, 2024

Downloadable IOCs: 0

Analysis of Cyber Reconnaissance Activities Behind APT37 Threats

The report analyzes the covert cyber reconnaissance activities of the state-sponsored APT37 group targeting South Korea. The group uses spear-phishing emails with malicious LNK files to deploy the RoKRAT malware, collecting sensitive information from victims' devices. The attackers employ various t…

Published: November 6, 2024

Linked vulnerabilities : CVE-2022-41128

Downloadable IOCs: 20

Play Ransomware Engagement

Unit 42 has identified Jumpy Pisces, a North Korean state-sponsored threat group, as a key player in a recent ransomware incident. The group appears to be collaborating with the Play ransomware group, marking a shift in their tactics. This is the first observed instance of Jumpy Pisces using existi…

reconnaissance general bureau

initial access broker

korean people's army

fiddling scorpius

play ransomware

Published: October 30, 2024

Downloadable IOCs: 0

Kimsuky: A Gift That Keeps on Giving

This analysis details a sophisticated cyber attack attributed to the North Korean-linked Kimsuky APT group. The attack begins with an LNK file, leading to the execution of obfuscated VBS scripts. These scripts create scheduled tasks, modify registry keys for persistence, and establish communication…

Published: September 20, 2024

Downloadable IOCs: 2

MoonPeak malware unveils new details on attacker infrastructure

Cisco Talos has uncovered a campaign employing a new malware family called 'MoonPeak,' a remote access trojan actively developed by a North Korean advanced persistent threat group tracked as 'UAT-5394.' The analysis reveals the evolution of MoonPeak from an open-source malware called XenoRAT, with …

Published: August 21, 2024

Downloadable IOCs: 42

APT Group Kimsuky Targets University Researchers

A report detailing an ongoing cyberattack campaign by the North Korean APT group Kimsuky, which is targeting university staff, researchers, and professors to conduct espionage and gather intelligence for the North Korean government. The group employs phishing tactics, compromised infrastructure, an…

Published: August 9, 2024

Downloadable IOCs: 24

North Korean Hacking Groups Stealing Construction and Machinery Sector Technologies: A Warning

South Korea's cybersecurity community, consisting of the National Intelligence Service, Prosecution Service, Police Agency, Defense Security Command, and Cyber Command, among others, warns of the risks posed by North Korean hacking groups' cyber attacks targeting the domestic construction and machi…

Published: August 6, 2024

Downloadable IOCs: 16

Array of malware used to gather intelligence for North Korea

Microsoft Threat Intelligence analyzes the activities of the North Korean threat actor Onyx Sleet, which conducts cyber espionage operations primarily targeting military, defense, and technology industries. The report covers Onyx Sleet's affiliations with other North Korean threat groups, its targe…

Published: July 29, 2024

Linked vulnerabilities : CVE-2023-42793, CVE-2021-44228, CVE-2023-46604, CVE-2023-22515, CVE-2023-27350

Downloadable IOCs: 24

Appearance of Kimsuky group's new backdoor (HappyDoor)

Asec Ahnlab analyzes a new backdoor malware called HappyDoor used by the North Korean hacking group Kimsuky in recent email attacks. The malware has evolved over time and contains capabilities for information stealing and remote access. It communicates with command and control servers using encrypt…

Published: July 1, 2024

Downloadable IOCs: 16

Kimsuky Deploys TRANSLATEXT Chrome Extension

In March 2024, the cybersecurity firm Zscaler observed a new activity from Kimsuky, a North Korean state-sponsored hacker group. They employed a malicious Google Chrome extension named 'TRANSLATEXT' specifically crafted to steal email addresses, usernames, passwords, cookies, and capture browser sc…

Published: June 28, 2024

Downloadable IOCs: 10

Moonstone Sleet emerges as new North Korean threat actor with new bag of tricks

Microsoft has identified Moonstone Sleet, a new North Korean threat actor that employs various tactics, including creating fake companies, distributing trojanized legitimate tools, developing a malicious game, and deploying custom ransomware. This actor combines methods used by other North Korean g…

Published: May 29, 2024

Linked vulnerabilities : CVE-2023-42793

Downloadable IOCs: 20

Tag: north korea

Attack reports

Dissecting Kimsuky's Attacks on South Korea: In-Depth Analysis of GitHub-Based Malicious Infrastructure

Analysis of APT37 Attack Case Disguised as a Think Tank for National Security Strategy in South Korea (Operation ToyBox Story)

TA406 Pivots to the Front

Additional Features of OtterCookie Malware Used by WaterPlum

Slow Pisces Targets Developers With Coding Challenges and Introduces New Customized Python Malware

North Korean APT37 Mobile Spyware Discovered

Detailed Analysis of DocSwap Malware Disguised as Security Document Viewer

Lazarus Expands Malicious npm Campaign: 11 New Packages Add Malware Loaders and Bitbucket Payloads

BeaverTail and Tropidoor Malware Distributed via Recruitment Emails

From Contagious to ClickFake Interview: Lazarus leveraging the ClickFix tactic

APT37 - RokRat

Caution Against Watering Hole Attack and Malicious File Distribution Disguised as Unification Education Support Application

Astrill VPN and DPRK Remote Worker Fraud

Astrill VPN: New IPs Publicly Released on VPN Service Heavily Used by North Korean Threat Actors

Pivots into New Lazarus Group Infrastructure, Acquires Sensitive Intel Related to $1.4B ByBit Hack and Past Attacks

Targeting of freelance developers

Inside the Scam: North Korea's IT Worker Threat

Operation Phantom Circuit: North Korea's Global Data Exfiltration Campaign

Analyzing threat actor Kimsuky email phishing campaign

Fake North Korean IT Worker Linked to BeaverTail Video Conference App Phishing Attack

BlueNoroff used macOS malware with novel persistence

Analysis of Cyber Reconnaissance Activities Behind APT37 Threats

Play Ransomware Engagement

Kimsuky: A Gift That Keeps on Giving

MoonPeak malware unveils new details on attacker infrastructure

APT Group Kimsuky Targets University Researchers

North Korean Hacking Groups Stealing Construction and Machinery Sector Technologies: A Warning

Array of malware used to gather intelligence for North Korea

Appearance of Kimsuky group's new backdoor (HappyDoor)

Kimsuky Deploys TRANSLATEXT Chrome Extension

Moonstone Sleet emerges as new North Korean threat actor with new bag of tricks