China-Nexus Actors Hijack Websites to Deliver Cobalt Strike malware

A Chinese state-sponsored threat group, identified as TAG-112, has been discovered hijacking Tibetan community websites to deliver Cobalt Strike malware, according to a recent investigation by Recorded Future’s Insikt Group.

According to a report from Recorded Future, the investigation revealed that TAG-112 compromised at least two websites belonging to Tibetan organizations: Tibet Post (tibetpost[.]net) and Gyudmed Tantric University (gyudmedtantricuniversity[.]org).

The attackers exploited vulnerabilities in the Joomla content management system (CMS), embedding malicious code that would deceive visitors into downloading malware disguised as a security certificate.

This incident marks a significant escalation in cyber-espionage activities targeting Tibetan communities and organizations.

Cobalt Strike, a legitimate penetration testing tool often misused by cybercriminals, allows attackers to remotely control infected systems, furthering espionage efforts.

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Attack Mechanism: Spoofed TLS Error and Malicious JavaScript

TAG-112’s attack begins when a user visits one of the compromised websites. Embedded within the site is a malicious JavaScript that detects the user’s operating system and browser.

If compatible, the user is redirected to a domain controlled by TAG-112, where they are presented with a fake Google Chrome TLS certificate error.

This spoofed error page tricks users into downloading what appears to be a security certificate. In reality, this download deploys Cobalt Strike, granting TAG-112 remote access to the victim’s system for further espionage and data collection.

The attackers likely gained access to the Tibetan websites via unpatched vulnerabilities in Joomla, a widely used CMS.

Weaknesses in outdated Joomla installations allowed TAG-112 to inject malicious JavaScript into the sites, a tactic that has remained active at least until early October 2024.

TAG-112 shares infrastructure and tactics with TAG-102, also known as Evasive Panda, another Chinese state-sponsored group known for targeting Tibetan entities.

However, TAG-112 operates with less sophistication, relying on publicly available tools like Cobalt Strike instead of developing custom malware.

To defend against this ongoing threat, cybersecurity experts recommend:

• Intrusion Detection: Deploy systems to monitor indicators of compromise related to TAG-112.
• User Awareness: Educate users about the risks of downloading files from untrusted sources.
• Cobalt Strike Detection: Employ real-time monitoring to detect communication with known Cobalt Strike command-and-control servers.

This latest campaign underscores the Chinese government’s persistent efforts to surveil and control groups it perceives as threats, such as the Tibetan community.

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