A newly uncovered hacking campaign is targeting business leaders and cryptocurrency firms by abusing Zoom’s remote control feature, allowing attackers to take over victims’ computers with a single click.
The sophisticated operation, attributed to a threat group known as ELUSIVE COMET, highlights a growing trend where social engineering and human error, rather than technical flaws, become the weakest link in organizational security.
From Conference Invitations to Crypto Theft
The attack was first detected by cybersecurity firm Trail of Bits when their CEO was approached for a supposed interview for “Bloomberg Crypto”—a ruse designed to lend credibility through impersonation.
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The attackers, using fake Twitter accounts and unverified calendly links, orchestrated what appeared to be a standard business encounter.
During the Zoom meeting, the attackers leveraged the platform’s remote control feature, a legitimate function that allows participants to control another’s computer upon approval.
Alarmingly, the attacker changed their display name to “Zoom,” making the request appear like a routine system notification.
Security experts warn this subtle interface manipulation exploits users’ habituation to clicking “Approve” on pop-up prompts, especially during time-pressured, professional interactions.
If the remote control request is accepted, attackers are given full access to the victim’s system.
This access can be used to install malware, steal sensitive data, or, as in previous attacks attributed to this group, siphon millions in cryptocurrency.
What sets ELUSIVE COMET apart is its operational sophistication. By mimicking legitimate business processes and creating a context of trust, the group bypasses many traditional technical controls.
Their playbook mirrors techniques used in the $1.5 billion Bybit hack earlier this year, where operational weaknesses, rather than software vulnerabilities, were exploited.
Their infrastructure includes accounts such as @EditorStacy and @KOanhHa on X (formerly Twitter), the email address bloombergconferences[at]gmail.com, and fake meeting links that closely mimic genuine Bloomberg properties.
Why Does This Attack Work?
- Legitimacy: Occurs in normal business settings, leveraging familiar workflows.
- Interface Deception: Permission dialogs don’t explicitly warn of security risks.
- Habituation: Users are conditioned to approve pop-ups in busy meetings.
- Attention Split: Victims are focused on conversation, not cybersecurity.
Even seasoned security professionals have fallen prey to these tactics, underscoring how vulnerable organizations are to such operational attacks.
Additional advice includes training staff to recognize social engineering tricks during video calls, verifying all media requests via official channels, and instituting organization-wide reporting procedures for suspicious interactions.
The ELUSIVE COMET campaign is a stark reminder that as organizations harden their technical defenses, attackers are increasingly exploiting human factors and operational blind spots.
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