A pro-Houthi cyber group named OilAlpha is targeting humanitarian organizations in Yemen by using malicious Android applications. These apps, disguised as legitimate tools used by NGOs like CARE International and the Norwegian Refugee Council, are designed to steal credentials and gather intelligence. The malware requests invasive permissions, such as access to cameras, microphones, and SMS, indicating that the attackers intend to gain unauthorized control over the devices of targeted personnel. This tactic poses a significant threat to humanitarian operations, potentially allowing the group to manipulate aid distribution for its agenda.
The malicious applications employed by OilAlpha function as Remote Access Trojans (RATs), enabling the attackers to monitor and control the targeted devices remotely. The apps, named “Cash Incentives.apk,” were discovered in June 2024 and have been found to request excessive permissions, further indicating their malicious intent. The discovery of additional malicious apps by the Insikt Group’s research points to a broader campaign by OilAlpha, aimed at compromising the security of humanitarian workers and their operations.
To carry out their attacks, OilAlpha uses a credential theft portal hosted on the domain kssnew.com, which mimics legitimate login pages of targeted NGOs. Through phishing tactics, the attackers trick users into entering their credentials, which are then stolen. This method bypasses technical security measures and poses a serious threat to the confidentiality of the sensitive data handled by humanitarian organizations.
To defend against such social engineering attacks, organizations are advised to implement strong information security policies, conduct regular employee training sessions on phishing awareness, and enforce robust password protocols with multi-factor authentication. These measures can significantly reduce the success rate of credential theft and help protect the critical operations of humanitarian organizations in conflict zones like Yemen.
