Cybersecurity researchers have identified a Windows version of the BiBi Wiper malware, originally used in cyber attacks targeting Israel. Dubbed BiBi-Windows Wiper by BlackBerry, this new variant signifies an escalation in the threat landscape, indicating that threat actors behind the wiper are expanding their operations to target end-user machines and application servers.
The Windows variant, tracked by Slovak cybersecurity firm as BiBiGun, operates by overwriting data in the C:\Users directory with junk data, adding .BiBi to filenames, and deleting shadow copies, making file recovery challenging for victims. The malware’s multithreading capabilities suggest a sophisticated and potentially more damaging approach in disrupting day-to-day operations. This BiBi-Windows Wiper is seen as part of a broader campaign, particularly targeting Israeli companies, with a deliberate intent to disrupt daily operations through data destruction.
Security Joes, the firm that first documented the BiBi-Linux Wiper, has identified tactical overlaps between the pro-Hamas hacktivist group, known as Karma, and another geopolitically motivated actor named Moses Staff, suspected to have Iranian origins. The campaign has historically focused on Israeli IT and government sectors, but some participating groups, like Moses Staff, have a track record of simultaneously targeting organizations across various business sectors and geographical locations. This highlights a coordinated and strategic effort to disrupt critical infrastructure. The BiBi-Windows Wiper was compiled on October 21, 2023, indicating its development in the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas war. The malware’s distribution method remains unknown, adding an element of unpredictability to its potential impact.
While it’s not immediately clear if the wiper has been deployed in real-world attacks or who the specific targets are, its existence underscores the evolving and adaptive nature of cyber threats, especially those originating from hacktivist groups engaged in geopolitical conflicts. The identification of this Windows variant further emphasizes the need for enhanced cybersecurity measures to safeguard against increasingly sophisticated and destructive cyber attacks.
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