Open Source
Python rejects $1.5M grant from U.S. govt. fearing ethical compromise
The Python Software Foundation (PSF) has withdrawn its $1.5 million grant proposal to the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) due to funding terms forcing a compromise on its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The funding would come through NSF’s Safety, Security, and Privacy of Open Source Ecosystems program, an initiative that finances research and development efforts […]
Hackers steal Discord accounts with RedTiger-based infostealer
Attackers are using the open-source red-team tool RedTiger to build an infostealer that collects Discord account data and payment information. The malware can also steal credentials stored in the browser, cryptocurrency wallet data, and game accounts. RedTiger is a Python-based penetration testing suite for Windows and Linux that bundles options for scanning networks and cracking […]
Hackers now use Velociraptor DFIR tool in ransomware attacks
Threat actors have started to use the Velociraptor digital forensics and incident response (DFIR) tool in attacks that deploy LockBit and Babuk ransomware. Cisco Talos researchers assess with medium confidence that the attacker behind the campaigns is a China-based adversary tracked as Storm-2603. Velociraptor is an open-source DFIR tool created by Mike Cohen. The project has been […]
Zeroday Cloud hacking contest offers $4.5 million in bounties
A new hacking competition called Zeroday Cloud, focused on open-source cloud and AI tools, announced a total prize pool of $4.5 million in bug bounties for researchers that submit exploits for various targets. The contest is launched by the research arm of cloud security company Wiz in partnership with Google Cloud, AWS, and Microsoft, and is scheduled for […]
F-Droid project threatened by Google’s new dev registration rules
F-Droid is warning that the project could reach an end due to Google’s new requirements for all Android developers to verify their identity. The third-party app store argues that Google falsely frames this new requirement as a security measure against malware and the purpose is to tighten the grip on “a formerly open ecosystem.” F-Droid […]
Malicious Rust packages on Crates.io steal crypto wallet keys
Two malicious packages with nearly 8,500 downloads in Rust’s official crate repository scanned developers’ systems to steal cryptocurrency private keys and other secrets. Rust crates are distributed through a central registry at Crates.io, the equivalent of npm for JavaScript, PyPI for Python, and Ruby Gems for Ruby. The malicious crates, named faster_log and async_println, were published on the platform on […]
GitHub tightens npm security with mandatory 2FA, access tokens
GitHub is introducing a set of defenses against supply-chain attacks on the platform that led to multiple large-scale incidents recently. Notable cyberattacks that started from compromising GitHub repositories and then spread to NPM include the “s1ngularity” attack in late August, the “GhostAction” campaign in early September, and the worm-style campaign dubbed “Shai-Hulud” from last week. The […]
NPM package caught using QR Code to fetch cookie-stealing malware
Newly discovered npm package ‘fezbox’ employs QR codes to retrieve cookie-stealing malware from the threat actor’s server. The package, masquerading as a utility library, leverages this innovative steganographic technique to harvest sensitive data, such as user credentials, from a compromised machine. QR codes find yet another use case While 2D barcodes like QR codes have conventionally been designed […]
New EDR-Freeze tool uses Windows WER to suspend security software
A new method and proof-of-concept tool called EDR-Freeze demonstrates that evading security solutions is possible from user mode with Microsoft’s Windows Error Reporting (WER) system. The technique eliminates the need of a vulnerable driver and puts security agents like endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools into a state of hibernation. By using the WER framework together […]
60 malicious Ruby gems downloaded 275,000 times steal credentials
Sixty malicious Ruby gems containing credential-stealing code have been downloaded over 275,000 times since March 2023, targeting developer accounts. The malicious Ruby gems were discovered by Socket, which reports they targeted primarily South Korean users of automation tools for Instagram, TikTok, Twitter/X, Telegram, Naver, WordPress, and Kakao. RubyGems is the official package manager for the […]