Saturday, April 5, 2025
HomeAndroidChameleon Device-Takeover Malware Attacking IT Employees

Chameleon Device-Takeover Malware Attacking IT Employees

Published on

SIEM as a Service

Follow Us on Google News

Researchers have identified a new Chameleon campaign targeting hospitality employees, where the attackers employed a deceptive tactic, disguising malicious software as a CRM app. 

File names uploaded to VirusTotal revealed evidence of targeted attacks, including a reference to a prominent international restaurant chain. This suggests a tailored approach to compromising specific organizations within the hospitality industry. 

Masquerading as CRM

Conventions regarding the naming of droppers and payloads indicate that the campaign is aimed at the hospitality industry and possibly more general business-to-consumer sectors. 

Successful infection of devices with corporate banking access grants the Chameleon malware control over business accounts, posing a significant organizational risk.

Are you from SOC and DFIR Teams? – Analyse Malware Incidents & get live Access with ANY.RUN -> Free Access

The campaign’s focus on CRM-related employee roles likely increases the probability of such access, making them high-value targets for attackers. 

A newly identified dropper capable of circumventing Android 13’s security restrictions marks a critical evolution in banking Trojan capabilities. 

This development underscores the increasing accessibility of Android bypass techniques following the public release of BrokewellDropper’s source code.

Upon activation, a malicious dropper presents a fraudulent CRM login screen demanding an employee ID. Subsequently, a deceptive prompt encourages application reinstallation, which is subterfuge, while the application secretly installs a Chameleon payload. 

The payload circumvents the fortified security measures implemented in Android 13 and later versions, specifically targeting accessibility service restrictions to establish a covert foothold within the device. 

fake page

A malicious actor deployed a fake website post-installation, prompting users for credentials.

Upon submission, the website displayed an error message indicating potential credential harvesting or further malicious activity beyond credential acquisition. 

Chameleon malware, actively operating in the background, employs keylogging to steal credentials and sensitive information. It poses a significant threat that can be exploited for further attacks or sold illicitly. 

Mobile Threat Intelligence has identified Chameleon targeting specific financial institutions, disguising itself as a security app to install a fraudulent security certificate, emphasizing the malware’s evolving tactics and the critical need for robust countermeasures. 

Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting employees of B2C businesses to gain access to business banking accounts via mobile devices.

As exemplified by malware like Chameleon, the proliferation of mobile banking products for SMEs creates new opportunities for attackers. 

According to ThreatFabric, financial institutions must proactively educate business customers about these threats, emphasizing the potential consequences of malware infection. 

By implementing robust anomaly detection systems and malware detection capabilities, banks can enhance visibility into customer accounts, safeguarding assets from unauthorized access and fraudulent activities. 

How to Build a Security Framework With Limited Resources IT Security Team (PDF) - Free Guide

Aman Mishra
Aman Mishra
Aman Mishra is a Security and privacy Reporter covering various data breach, cyber crime, malware, & vulnerability.

Latest articles

Ivanti Fully Patched Connect Secure RCE Vulnerability That Actively Exploited in the Wild

Ivanti has issued an urgent security advisory for CVE-2025-22457, a critical vulnerability impacting Ivanti...

Beware! Weaponized Job Recruitment Emails Spreading BeaverTail and Tropidoor Malware

A concerning malware campaign was disclosed by the AhnLab Security Intelligence Center (ASEC), revealing...

EncryptHub Ransomware Uncovered Through ChatGPT Use and OPSEC Failures

EncryptHub, a rapidly evolving cybercriminal entity, has come under intense scrutiny following revelations of...

PoisonSeed Targets CRM and Bulk Email Providers in New Supply Chain Phishing Attack

A sophisticated phishing campaign, dubbed "PoisonSeed," has been identified targeting customer relationship management (CRM)...

Supply Chain Attack Prevention

Free Webinar - Supply Chain Attack Prevention

Recent attacks like Polyfill[.]io show how compromised third-party components become backdoors for hackers. PCI DSS 4.0’s Requirement 6.4.3 mandates stricter browser script controls, while Requirement 12.8 focuses on securing third-party providers.

Join Vivekanand Gopalan (VP of Products – Indusface) and Phani Deepak Akella (VP of Marketing – Indusface) as they break down these compliance requirements and share strategies to protect your applications from supply chain attacks.

Discussion points

Meeting PCI DSS 4.0 mandates.
Blocking malicious components and unauthorized JavaScript execution.
PIdentifying attack surfaces from third-party dependencies.
Preventing man-in-the-browser attacks with proactive monitoring.

More like this

Ivanti Fully Patched Connect Secure RCE Vulnerability That Actively Exploited in the Wild

Ivanti has issued an urgent security advisory for CVE-2025-22457, a critical vulnerability impacting Ivanti...

Beware! Weaponized Job Recruitment Emails Spreading BeaverTail and Tropidoor Malware

A concerning malware campaign was disclosed by the AhnLab Security Intelligence Center (ASEC), revealing...

EncryptHub Ransomware Uncovered Through ChatGPT Use and OPSEC Failures

EncryptHub, a rapidly evolving cybercriminal entity, has come under intense scrutiny following revelations of...