Gen Digital
November 3, 2025
•[ spear-phishing, malware, backdoor ]
Gen Digital reported that the North Korea-linked Kimsuky group used spear-phishing emails carrying a fake VPN invoice ZIP archive to compromise at least one South Korean victim and deploy a new HttpTroy backdoor. Execution of the malicious SCR file launches a three-stage chain (dropper, MemLoad loader and HttpTroy DLL) that displays a decoy PDF while silently establishing persistence via a scheduled task masquerading as an AhnLab update. HttpTroy then connects to a remote command-and-control server and gives the attackers full remote-access capabilities, including file transfer, command execution, reverse shell, process control and screenshot capture.
At least one Belgian diplomat
October 31, 2025
•[ cyber-espionage, spear-phishing, vulnerability ]
Arctic Wolf Labs and other researchers detailed a Chinese state-aligned cyber-espionage campaign in which UNC6384 targeted European diplomatic entities, notably in Hungary and Belgium, between September and October 2025. The group sent spear-phishing emails referencing real EU and NATO events that carried malicious Windows shortcut (.LNK) files exploiting the ZDI-CAN-25373 (CVE-2025-9491) vulnerability to execute obfuscated PowerShell, unpack a signed Canon utility and side-load a PlugX remote access trojan. The resulting implants, communicating over HTTPS to attacker-controlled domains, provide long-term access for reconnaissance, keylogging, command execution and collection of sensitive diplomatic documents and credentials aligned with PRC strategic intelligence priorities.
KakaoTalk account of a South Korea–based counselor
September 5, 2025
•[ spear-phishing, malware, credential theft ]
According to research by Genians reported by BleepingComputer, a North Korean activity cluster linked to APT37 and KONNI targets South Koreans via spear-phishing emails that spoof national agencies and deliver signed MSI installers. Once executed, the chain installs a remote access toolkit that steals Google and Naver account credentials, giving attackers full
