ASEC Weekly Phishing Email Threat Trends (April 30th, 2023 – May 6th, 2023)
AhnLab Security Emergency response Center (ASEC) monitors phishing email threats with the ASEC automatic sample analysis system (RAPIT) and honeypot. This post will cover the cases of distribution of phishing emails during the week from April 30th, 2023 to May 6th, 2023 and provide statistical information on each type. Generally, phishing is cited as an attack that leaks users’ login account credentials by disguising as or impersonating an institute, company, or individual through social engineering methods. On a broader note, the act is a technical subterfuge that enables the threat actor to perform attacks such as information leaks, malware distribution, and fraud against various targets. The focus of this post will be on the fact that phishing attacks mainly occur through emails. We will also provide a detailed classification of various attack methods that are based on phishing emails. Furthermore, we will make an effort to minimize user damage by introducing new attack types that have never been found before and emails that require users’ caution, along with their keywords. The phishing emails covered in this post will only be those that have attachments. Emails that have malicious links in the body without attachments will be excluded.
Phishing Emails
During this week, the most prevalent threat type seen in phishing email attachments was FakePage with 44%. FakePages are web pages where the threat actor has imitated the screen layout, logo, and font of the real login pages or advertising pages, leading users to enter their account and password information. The input information is sent to the threat actor’s C2 server or used to induce users to access other fake websites. See <FakePage C2> below The second in line were infostealers like AgentTesla and FormBook that leaks user credentials saved in web browsers, emails, and FTP clients (40%). It was then followed by Worm, which took up 6%. Worm is a type of malware that has a feature to spread, where it uses various methods for spreading, with one of them being using the SMTP protocol to send emails in mass quantity. Aside from those mentioned above, Trojan (5%) and Downloader (4%) were detected. The threat types using phishing email attachments and their order of prevalence are similar to the order of malware distribution published weekly in the <ASEC Weekly Malware Statistics>.
File Extensions in Phishing Emails
We have identified which file extensions were used by the threats above for the distribution of email attachments. FakePages were distributed with web page scripts (HTM and HTML) that must be executed with a web browser. Other malware, including infostealer and downloader, came attached to emails with file extensions including compressed files (RAR, ZIP, 7Z, GZ, etc.).
Cases of Distribution
The following are distribution cases that occurred during the week from April 30th, 2023 to May 6th, 2023. The cases will be classified into FakePage and malware types, including infostealer, downloader, exploit, and backdoor. The numbers in email subjects and attachment filenames are unique IDs and may vary depending on the email recipient. Distribution cases with Korean subjects were also found. These are cases that specifically targeted Korean users instead of propagating themselves globally using identical English subject and texts.
Case: FakePage
Email Subject
Attachment
DHL Shipment Arrival Notice [AWB#*****378004]?
DocParcalAWB4521DHLShipment.html
[FedEx] Notice on Import License.?
FedEx – kcy***- AWB.pdf.htm
Clearance of original invoices and packing lists
Original-invoice_s10320.htm
[FedEx] Import tariffs payment deadline notice (INV and AWB)
AWB#989345874598.htm
Flight payment successful Check before going to airport
See received file (please print)..html
Re: Fwd: Quotation Order
PO# 175.htm
Re : PO#20836
Order-inquiry#02836.htm
DHL Shipping Document / Invoice Receipt
DHL Shippingdoc.htm
Re:Извещение.
Подробное описание проекта в файле с инструкциями и указаниями-aQvBzAZy731359.pdf
Nota Fiscal para ******.****@***.com
NFE01052023br.pdf
Transaction Details Report : Contact Email : *******79@*****.com .
Transaction Details(DOC).html
New Order Inquiry (Davis $ Shirtliff Co,. Ltd).
confirm_order_ inquiry.html
Email account ji*h.*** will be closed , Update account to stay connected today
Office 365 validation form.htm.
Re: RE: ET Info M396692
ProjectFunding-438574643-Apr28.pdf
[HDEC] RFQ_Qatar NOC Ruya Project.
REQUEST_FOR_QUOTATION_HDEC_80701125254.htm
Notification of shipment for ********.in@******.co.kr
AWB-Ref_#310479442.html
RFQ.
Purchase-request_pdf.shtml
Lee Stiles Roofing Ltd Invoice
Fixing Pricelist & Invoice #1939-doc.x.html
RIMINDER islee Confirm Your Delivery Address
AWB-Ref_#310479442.HTML
Re：(Scanned) Doc~Original Copy – FYI
Confirm Shipment.html
FW:ATTACHED SWIFT COPY 5/3/2023 2:37:00 a.m.
AWDPAYMENT-RECEIPT.html
Case: Malware (Infostealer, Downloader, etc.)
Email Subject
Attachment
[DHL] Acceptance of Import Declaration (Express Delivery Post Payment-Collection 18) Notice – 5039268570
Import_Declaration_5039268570_1235623437131M.rar
Re[4]: smart photos
fuckimg.jpg.scr
smart photos
coolimg.pif
Re[4]: very cool images PRIVATE
fuck-scene.gif.pif
Inquiry
110690531TEZ_S Quote.r09
Re[2]: very nice pics
fuckimages.jpg.exe
Re[5]: smart pictures private
prv-scene.exe
Purchase Order 5909121522
PO no. 5909121522.arj
Re[3]: smart pictures very important
fuck-imgs.exe
Invoice and packing list # TX/LO/3931/23-24 AIR SHIPMENT
INVOICE TX 3931 2023 LO.xz
RE: Holiday Tours Package
Booking_0256_0762pdf.7z
new order inquiry
Doc_7780_0614520pdf.7z
urgent new orders packaging and delivery.
Doc_7780_061161pdf.7z
Re[3]: sexy pics
greatimg.gif.scr
CHILDREN GARDEN PROJECT – SHARJAH
CHILDREN GARDEN PROJECT.7z
sexy photo
theimg.jpg.pif
Re[3]: beautiful photos
fuckact.jpg.pif
Re: Booking Package
Booking_0026_062pdf (1).7z
Re[3]: beautiful pictures private
prv__photos.gif.scr
re: Adtours travel, inc
Booking_5136_05842pdf.7z
Re: sexy photo just for you
best_phot.gif.pif
Shipping Docs – CI & PL
Cl & PL.docx
PAYMENTS – 5th May 2023
20230505_MT103_0198236541001.gz
smart photo just for you
privatepctrs.jpg.pif
Re[3]: very smart images only for you
wild-plp.gif.exe
smart picture
superimgs.jpg.exe
beautiful pictures
coolphot.gif.scr
Re[5]: super cool picture FOR YOU ONLY
priv_photos.jpg.pif
Terelease- 100% Down payment Usd217,000 made to your account!!!
UDB TRANSFER MT_103.zip
beautiful picture
superimgs.gif.scr
Re[4]: nice picture private
best_pic.jpg.exe
Custom Leather for Mining H&M Style PS MARILN JACKET S.8
PS MARILN JACKET S.8 and Sticker Series.docx
Purchase Order #PO2300109
PO.xls
RFQ_XINGTAI NET PISTON CO.,LTD//CIF Xingtai, Hebei PORT
RFQ_CIF Xingtai, Hebei PORT PDF.r00
New Purchase Order May-PO_3852118
PO_3852118.r09
Quote Request
QUOTATION.IMG
URGENT / RQ2 / NEW ENQUIRY
NEW ENQUIRY.zip
T.HALK BANKASI A.S. 04.05.2023 Hesap Ekstresi
Halkbank_Ekstre_04052023_073379_6158824-PDF.tar
RE: [EXTERNAL] Order confirmation
New order list attached.zip
Purchase Order – [68048-2023031801]
68048-2023031801.001
RE: Confirmación del pedido
Adjunto factura proforma.zip
New purchase order teams
New purchase order teams.pdf.zip
Fw: SOA Reminder #300536
SOA.zip
DBS Transfer status on hold
DBS.IMG
Re: New Offer 56009214
Offerr POA 234667843.zip
order
Quote_4400001478.r09
TRANSFER ORDER/Payment 50% order
OV PRETEC 50% FORM.rar
RE: [EXTERNAL] Confirmación del pedido,
Se adjunta nueva lista de pedidos.zip
Quotation
QUO21256.001
AW: PO-000001306
1300690531TEZ_S Quote.gz
New enquiry
31TEZ_S Quote.r09
HSBC – EXPORT BILL PROCEEDS PAID BACKTG783686CCC – Ref:[TRDAB0429159461]
HSA771942-T01.rar
The ASEC analysis team has selected keywords that users must look out for, based on the distribution cases above. If these keywords are included in the subject of the email, or if the same characteristics are found, users must exercise strict caution as they may be phishing emails from threat actors.
Keyword to Beware of: ‘Plane Ticket’
The keyword for this week is ‘Plane Ticket.’ Attackers distributed phishing emails disguised as plane tickets, hoping to take advantage of the increase in overseas travelers during the holiday season. The emails contain the payment statement for the plane ticket. They prompt users to enter their email account credentials by requiring them to confirm the ticket. Once you enter the account credentials, they will be leaked to the attacker’s phishing server address. As such, users should always take caution when opening attachments and check the sender if the email asks to enter ID and password to prevent their personal information from being leaked. Phishing URL: https[:]//unitedmerchantbank[.]com/resources/views/email/post.php
FakePage C2 URL
When users enter their IDs and passwords on the login pages among the FakePages created by the threat actor, their information is sent to the attacker’s server. The list below shows the threat actor’s C2 addresses of fake login pages distributed during the week.
https[:]//formspree[.]io/f/myyazkbv
https[:]//www[.]cncorporation[.]co[.]th/new/1drv[.]php
https[:]//press[.]genesis[.]ru/cv/xlss[.]php
https[:]//formspree[.]io/f/myyazkbv
https[:]//submit-form[.]com/igEYNa0o
https[:]//unitedmerchantbank[.]com/resources/views/email/post[.]php
https[:]//submit-form[.]com/fqlAV3x1
https[:]//submit-form[.]com/4X38L2pE
https[:]//dkglobaljobs[.]com/static/js/will/exee[.]php
https[:]//submit-form[.]com/YSQ2tHeA
Attacks using phishing emails are disguised with content that can easily deceive users, such as invoices and tax payments, to induce users to access fake login pages or execute malware. Fake login pages are evolving by the second to closely resemble the original pages. The attackers pack malware in compressed file formats to escape the attachment scans of users’ security products. Users must practice strict caution and refer to recent cases of distribution to avoid being exposed to infection by malicious phishing emails. The ASEC analysis team recommends users follow the email security guidelines below.
Do not execute links and attachments in emails from unverified senders until they are proven to be credible.
Do not enter sensitive information such as login account credentials until the site is found to be reliable.
Do not execute attachments with unfamiliar file extensions until they are found to be reliable.
Use security products such as antimalware software.
According to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, phishing email attacks correspond to the following techniques.
Phishing for Information (Reconnaissance, ID: T1598[1])
Phishing (Initial Access, ID: TI1566[2])
Internal Spearphishing (Lateral Movement, ID: T1534[3])
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The post ASEC Weekly Phishing Email Threat Trends (April 30th, 2023 – May 6th, 2023) appeared first on ASEC BLOG.
Article Link: https://asec.ahnlab.com/en/52667/
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