Cybersecurity researchers have identified a new phishing campaign that uses a technique called ClickFix to deploy the open-source command-and-control (C2) framework known as Havoc. The campaign begins with a phishing email that contains an HTML attachment named “Documents.html.” When the user opens the file, it triggers an error message related to Microsoft OneDrive and encourages the user to manually update the DNS cache. This message is a decoy, designed to trick the victim into copying and executing a PowerShell command that activates the infection process.
The PowerShell command in the phishing attack downloads a malicious script from an adversary-controlled SharePoint server.
The downloaded PowerShell script checks if it’s running in a sandbox environment before proceeding. If the system is clean, the script then downloads the Python interpreter (“pythonw.exe”), if it’s not already present, and executes a Python script that acts as a shellcode loader for a more advanced stage of the attack. This stage involves launching a reflective loader, KaynLdr, which is capable of running an embedded DLL—specifically, the Havoc Demon agent.
The Havoc framework, used by the attackers, is delivered via SharePoint sites, and its command-and-control functions are masked by the Microsoft Graph API. This technique makes it harder for security tools to detect malicious activities, as the C2 communications are concealed within legitimate, trusted services. Havoc itself includes a wide range of functionalities that allow the attackers to gather system information, execute commands, manipulate files, and carry out advanced attacks such as token manipulation and Kerberos attacks. This makes the framework particularly dangerous and effective for long-term persistence on compromised systems.
The discovery of this phishing campaign coincides with ongoing reports of cybercriminals exploiting Google Ads policies to target PayPal customers.
Fraudulent ads have been used to trick victims into calling fake customer service numbers, where they are asked to provide sensitive personal and financial information. Researchers warn that these types of scams are becoming increasingly common, especially as cybercriminals continue to exploit weaknesses in popular platforms like Google Ads. This highlights the importance of staying vigilant and employing multiple layers of security to protect against such sophisticated cyber threats.
