Hackers are exploiting high-ranking infected websites to distribute malware and conduct phishing attacks. By leveraging the credibility and large user base of these trusted platforms, they can reach broader audiences and enhance the effectiveness of their attacks. This tactic also helps them evade detection for extended periods, increasing the challenge for cybersecurity measures.
Recently, cybersecurity analysts from GData Software identified a new threat called BadSpace malware. Discovered by researcher @kevross33 and reported by Gi7w0rm, BadSpace employs a multi-stage attack chain involving infected websites, command and control servers, and malicious JavaScript downloaders. These websites, often WordPress sites, are compromised to inject malicious code into JavaScript libraries or index pages, enabling the spread of BadSpace.
The malware is delivered through websites that track first-time visitors with cookies. It constructs a URL with device information and sends a GET request to overwrite the original webpage with malicious payloads. Infected sites might also display fake browser update windows to facilitate the download of the backdoor. This method mirrors techniques used by the SocGholish threat actor, known for similar attack methods.
BadSpace is a sophisticated backdoor that uses obfuscated PE32+ DLLs with encrypted strings and API names. It incorporates anti-sandbox measures and creates unique mutexes for persistence. Security researchers have developed Python scripts to decrypt BadSpace’s strings and APIs, aiding in its analysis and mitigation. The malware’s name, “BadSpace,” reflects its user agent, which includes distinctive spaces not found in standard Firefox user agents.
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