Boomer HEAT Campaign (Phishing)

Boomer HEAT Campaign
Type of Malware	Phishing
Date of initial activity	2023
Motivation	Data Theft
Attack Vectors	Phishing
Type of information Stolen	Login Credentials

Overview

The Boomer phishing campaign has emerged as a notable and sophisticated threat targeting sensitive sectors such as government and healthcare. Discovered by Menlo Labs, this campaign employs advanced tactics that reflect a significant evolution in the methodology of cybercriminals, aimed at circumventing traditional security measures. By utilizing a combination of custom HTTP headers, tracking cookies, and server-side generated phishing pages, the Boomer campaign showcases a high level of technical expertise designed to exploit trust and evade detection. At the core of the Boomer campaign’s strategy is its focus on impersonating reputable brands, including major players like Adobe and Microsoft. This impersonation not only leverages the inherent trust users have in these brands but also enhances the credibility of the phishing attempts. The campaign’s clever use of multiple phishing sites, each featuring short time-to-live (TTL) settings, complicates efforts to block or blacklist malicious domains. By frequently rotating their phishing URLs, the attackers effectively reduce the chances of their operations being detected and dismantled, allowing them to maintain a persistent presence in targeted industries. The sophistication of the Boomer campaign extends beyond mere domain rotation. Its use of server-side generated phishing pages allows for rapid deployment and adaptation of phishing content, enabling attackers to modify their tactics in real time. This flexibility in response to evolving security measures showcases a higher level of skill among the threat actors, as they strategically design their phishing sites to minimize the likelihood of detection. The campaign also employs anti-automation measures, such as hidden iframes and custom HTTP headers, to thwart security tools and analysis efforts, further enhancing the success of their phishing attempts.

Targets

Health Care and Social Assistance Public Administration

How they operate

At the heart of the Boomer campaign’s operation is the use of server-side generated phishing pages. Unlike traditional phishing sites that rely on static content, these dynamic pages are created and served in real-time based on user interaction. This capability allows attackers to quickly adapt their tactics and content, providing a fresh phishing experience that can bypass traditional URL filtering and blacklisting techniques. The server-side generation also enables the attackers to tailor the phishing experience based on user behavior, increasing the likelihood that victims will input their credentials. One of the standout features of the Boomer campaign is its use of custom HTTP headers and tracking cookies. These elements are employed not only to collect information about potential victims but also to create a more personalized phishing experience. By manipulating HTTP headers, the campaign can obscure the true nature of its traffic, making it appear more legitimate and less suspicious to security tools. Additionally, tracking cookies facilitate the profiling of users, enabling attackers to identify high-value targets and further refine their phishing approaches based on user activity. The Boomer campaign also incorporates anti-automation scripts to thwart analysis by security tools and automation systems. These scripts are designed to detect and respond to automated scanning, making traditional security measures, such as sandboxing or URL scanning, less effective. For instance, hidden iframes are utilized to identify bot traffic, effectively filtering out automated analysis while allowing human users to interact with the phishing site. This technique not only complicates detection efforts but also demonstrates a high level of technical knowledge about how security systems operate. Another critical component of the Boomer campaign is its strategic use of multiple domains with short time-to-live (TTL) settings. By continuously rotating domains and using URLs that expire quickly, the campaign minimizes the risk of detection and blacklisting by cybersecurity professionals. This domain rotation strategy creates a moving target, complicating efforts to block the phishing sites before they can successfully lure victims. Additionally, the campaign frequently impersonates trusted brands like Adobe and Microsoft, enhancing its credibility and increasing the likelihood that potential victims will fall for the deception. The phishing pages utilized in the Boomer campaign are meticulously crafted to appear legitimate. They include recognizable logos and polished designs, free from spelling or grammatical errors, which can help to build trust with users. Once a victim interacts with the phishing page—such as by clicking a download button or entering credentials—a modal dialog may appear, presenting convincing images and text to further manipulate the user. In the event of multiple failed login attempts, the page redirects the user to a legitimate site, such as Google, to avoid account lockouts, a tactic that further obscures the malicious intent behind the phishing attempt. Menlo Security’s HEAT Shield technology plays a vital role in mitigating the risks posed by the Boomer campaign. By employing artificial intelligence and browser-oriented defenses, HEAT Shield effectively detects and blocks these sophisticated phishing attempts, providing a necessary layer of protection against evolving threats. As cybercriminals continue to refine their techniques, understanding the technical workings of campaigns like Boomer is crucial for improving defensive strategies and safeguarding sensitive information across vulnerable sectors. The ongoing battle between attackers and defenders underscores the importance of vigilance and innovation in the fight against cybercrime.