Monday, October 14, 2024
HomeCyber Security NewsHackers Weaponize HWP Documents to Attack Defense and Press Sectors

Hackers Weaponize HWP Documents to Attack Defense and Press Sectors

Published on

Malware protection

HWP documents are primarily associated with the Hangul Word Processor software used in South Korea. 

Hackers may opt for HWP documents to target National Defense and Press Sectors because they exploit vulnerabilities in this specific file format and software, which may not be as widely monitored or protected as more common document formats like PDF or Microsoft Word.

Cybersecurity analysts at ASEC recently discovered HWP documents with OLE objects, potentially distributed via email attachments or download links, targeting specific sectors like:-

- Advertisement - SIEM as a Service
  • National Defense
  • Media

The document names relate to the following domains:-

  • National Defense
  • Unification
  • Education
  • Broadcasting

Hackers Weaponize HWP Documents

The analyzed HWP documents have two main types:-

  • One connecting to an external URL.
  • The other one creating a script file. 

However, the researchers also suspect a common creator due to the shared FTP server password in type 2.

Operation process (Source - ASEC)
Operation process (Source – ASEC)

Here below, we have mentioned all the HWP documents’ file names:-

  • Unification** cue sheet May 29 Mon.hwp
  • 20230508_ProfessorMeetingMaterial_NewTemplate.hwp
  • (***)2023-05-30 Material for Professor Meeting.hwp
  • Payment Receipt (Chief ***).hwp
  • (Template)Payment Receipt_Congratulatory and Condolence Money.hwp
  • 20230512_MyungbakScenario_Details.hwp
  • 1-1.Installation of a Separate Service for Research Support Within the Overseeing Organization (** University Graduate School Academic-Industry Cooperation Center).hwp
  • Reference Material for School President for the Honorary Doctorate Awarding Ceremony of Former Prime Minister Hu** ***.hwp
  • [Faculty Training Department-489 (Attached)] [Attachment 3] Lecturer Card (Template).hwp
  • National Defense and Protection Sacrificed to Political Disputes.hwp
  • ** Unification April 30 2023 (Sun).hwp
  • Special The Agricultural Industry and Quality of Life of North Korea ** Cho.hwp
  • 42- Wagner’s Lesson (Aug 2023).hwp
  • [Template1] Business Budget Issue Request.hwp
  • Dissertation Evaluation (** Kwon).hwp
  • Evidentiary Documents of Incentive Payment.hwp
  • ** Unification Sep 06 Final Wednesday.hwp
  • ** Kim_Statement of Honorarium Payment.hwp
  • [Template_Attachment 5]_Recommender_Certificate_Template-** Jeon.hwp

The OLE object has 5MB of dummy bytes and a malicious URL. When clicked, it connects to that URL, and the malicious URLs found are tailored for specific individuals with unique parameters.

Here below, we have mentioned the malicious URLs:-

  • hxxp://host.sharingdocument[.]one/dashboard/explore/starred?hwpview=[specific value] 
  • hxxp://mail.smartprivacyc[.]com/get/account/view?myact=[specific value]

Type 2 HWP docs embed a malicious script. It creates zz.bat and oz.txt in %temp%. Clicking them runs PowerShell commands from GitHub:-

  • hxxps://raw.githubusercontent[.]com/babaramam/repo/main/pq.txt

Besides this, the data is deobfuscated and executed with a key, while the GitHub script has four functions that we have mentioned below:-

  • mainFunc
  • getinfo
  • uploadResult
  • downCommand

The mainFunc changes the PowerShell policy, enabling later script execution. getinfo collects user data from hxxps://raw.githubusercontent[.]com/babaramam/repo/main/info.txt. 

uploadResult sends collected data and deletes it. downCommand maintains persistence with the LNK file. thumbs.log runs the script on PC restart.

Though it collects user data, the script can perform various malicious actions based on pq.txt.

Nowadays, there are multiple malicious HWP documents circulating actively, so it’s strongly recommended to be cautious about document authors and senders.

Protect yourself from vulnerabilities using Patch Manager Plus to patch over 850 third-party applications quickly. Try a free trial to ensure 100% security.

Tushar Subhra
Tushar Subhra
Tushar is a Cyber security content editor with a passion for creating captivating and informative content. With years of experience under his belt in Cyber Security, he is covering Cyber Security News, technology and other news.

Latest articles

OilRig Hackers Exploiting Microsoft Exchange Server To Steal Login Details

Earth Simnavaz, an Iranian state-sponsored cyber espionage group, has recently intensified its attacks on...

CoreWarrior Malware Attacking Windows Machines From Dozens Of IP Address

Researchers recently analyzed a CoreWarrior malware sample, which spreads aggressively by creating numerous copies...

TrickMo Malware Targets Android Devices to Steal Unlock Patterns and PINs

The recent discovery of the TrickMo Banking Trojan variant by Cleafy has prompted further...

pac4j Java Framework Vulnerable to RCE Attacks

A critical security vulnerability has been discovered in the popular Java framework pac4j. The...

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

OilRig Hackers Exploiting Microsoft Exchange Server To Steal Login Details

Earth Simnavaz, an Iranian state-sponsored cyber espionage group, has recently intensified its attacks on...

CoreWarrior Malware Attacking Windows Machines From Dozens Of IP Address

Researchers recently analyzed a CoreWarrior malware sample, which spreads aggressively by creating numerous copies...

TrickMo Malware Targets Android Devices to Steal Unlock Patterns and PINs

The recent discovery of the TrickMo Banking Trojan variant by Cleafy has prompted further...