Friday, November 1, 2024
HomeCyber Security NewsThe UK and US Cybersecurity Agencies Said Cyclops Blink Malware Linked to...

The UK and US Cybersecurity Agencies Said Cyclops Blink Malware Linked to Russian State Hackers

Published on

Malware protection

The UK and US cybersecurity agencies have recently linked a new malware called Cyclops Blink to the Russian state hacker group, Sandworm which is also known as Voodoo Bear.

While cybersecurity analysts have claimed that the Cyclops Blink malware is the replacement for the VPNFilter malware that was revealed in 2018 and the deployment of this malware could allow the operators of Sandworm to access the networks remotely.

This Cyclops Blink malware has been used by the threat actors in several attacks against the WatchGuard Firebox network security appliances and other small office/home office (SOHO) network devices.

- Advertisement - SIEM as a Service

Security Agencies Involved

Here below we have mentioned all the UK and US security agencies that are involved in this analysis:-

  • NCSC from the UK
  • CISA from the USA
  • FBI from the USA
  • NSA from the USA

Steadiness via Firmware Updates

The UK National Cyber ​​Security Center (NCSC) asserted that with VPNFilter, the deployment of Cyclops Blink malware appears to be indiscriminate and widespread. And this malware has already affected 1% of all active WatchGuard firewall devices used by business customers.

Moreover, this malware comes with multiple modules that are primarily designed to do the following things:-

  • Upload files to and from the C&C.
  • Steal device information.
  • Update malware.

Here on the infected devices, the malware uses legitimate firmware update channels to retain access to the compromised systems by:- 

  • Injecting the malicious code.
  • Deploying repackaged firmware images.

Recommendations

The security agencies have recommended a few mitigations, and here we have mentioned them below:-

  • Management interfaces of network devices should not be exposed to the internet.
  • Make sure to update your devices and networks with the latest update.
  • Always use multi-factor authentication.
  • Always use strong and complex passwords.
  • Use robust security mechanisms and AV tools.
  • Make sure to treat people as your first line of defense.
  • Set up a security monitoring capability.
  • Make sure to prevent and detect lateral movement in your organization’s networks

Apart from this, the cybersecurity agencies, FBI, CISA, NSA, and NCSC are working with WatchGuard to provide all the necessary tools and recommendations to deliver custom updates to remove the Cyclops Blink malware from all the vulnerable WatchGuard devices.

You can follow us on Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook for daily Cybersecurity and hacking news updates.

Gurubaran
Gurubaran
Gurubaran is a co-founder of Cyber Security News and GBHackers On Security. He has 10+ years of experience as a Security Consultant, Editor, and Analyst in cybersecurity, technology, and communications.

Latest articles

LightSpy iOS Malware Enhanced with 28 New Destructive Plugins

The LightSpy threat actor exploited publicly available vulnerabilities and jailbreak kits to compromise iOS...

ATPC Cyber Forum to Focus on Next Generation Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence Issues

White House National Cyber Director, CEOs, Key Financial Services Companies, Congressional and Executive Branch...

New PySilon RAT Abusing Discord Platform to Maintain Persistence

Cybersecurity experts have identified a new Remote Access Trojan (RAT) named PySilon. This Trojan...

Konni APT Hackers Attacking Organizations with New Spear-Phishing Tactics

The notorious Konni Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) group has intensified its cyber assault on...

Free Webinar

Protect Websites & APIs from Malware Attack

Malware targeting customer-facing websites and API applications poses significant risks, including compliance violations, defacements, and even blacklisting.

Join us for an insightful webinar featuring Vivek Gopalan, VP of Products at Indusface, as he shares effective strategies for safeguarding websites and APIs against malware.

Discussion points

Scan DOM, internal links, and JavaScript libraries for hidden malware.
Detect website defacements in real time.
Protect your brand by monitoring for potential blacklisting.
Prevent malware from infiltrating your server and cloud infrastructure.

More like this

LightSpy iOS Malware Enhanced with 28 New Destructive Plugins

The LightSpy threat actor exploited publicly available vulnerabilities and jailbreak kits to compromise iOS...

New PySilon RAT Abusing Discord Platform to Maintain Persistence

Cybersecurity experts have identified a new Remote Access Trojan (RAT) named PySilon. This Trojan...

Konni APT Hackers Attacking Organizations with New Spear-Phishing Tactics

The notorious Konni Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) group has intensified its cyber assault on...