CyberHappenings logo
☰
Home Browse About

Track cybersecurity events as they unfold. Sourced timelines. Filter, sort, and browse. Fast, privacy‑respecting. No invasive ads, no tracking.

ERMAC V3.0 Banking Trojan Source Code Leak Exposes Full Malware Infrastructure

First reported
Last updated
3 unique sources, 4 articles

Summary

Hide ▲

The Hook Android banking trojan, an offshoot of ERMAC, has evolved to include ransomware-style overlays and supports 107 remote commands. The malware targets financial applications and is distributed via phishing websites and GitHub repositories. The source code leak of ERMAC V3.0 in March 2024 exposed its full infrastructure, revealing critical weaknesses that can be used by defenders to track and disrupt active operations. ERMAC V3.0, an Android banking trojan, was first documented in September 2021 by ThreatFabric as an evolution of the Cerberus banking trojan operated by a threat actor known as 'BlackRock'. ERMAC v2.0 was spotted by ESET in May 2022, targeting 467 apps, up from 378 in the previous version. In January 2023, ThreatFabric observed BlackRock promoting a new Android malware tool named Hook, which appeared to be an evolution of ERMAC.

Timeline

  1. 26.08.2025 12:01 2 articles · 1mo ago

    HOOK Android Trojan Adds Ransomware Overlays, Expands to 107 Remote Commands

    The Hook Android banking trojan now includes a ransomware-style overlay that locks a user's device and displays extortion methods. The malware features a fake near-field communications (NFC) overlay to trick victims into sharing sensitive data. The malware can bypass a lock screen via deceptive PIN and pattern prompts. The malware includes transparent malicious overlays that silently capture the gestures of the user to steal data and spy on activity. The malware supports screen-streaming sessions that allow for real-time monitoring. The malware is now distributed via GitHub repositories, in addition to phishing websites. The malware now supports 107 remote commands, with 38 new commands added in the most recent variant. The malware can mimic the legitimate unlock pattern or PIN entry screen to trick users into entering their credentials. The malware includes a new overlay to steal credit card information when the 'takencard' command is received from the server.

    Show sources
    Open in new tab
  2. 16.08.2025 13:41 4 articles · 1mo ago

    ERMAC V3.0 Source Code Leak Exposes Full Malware Infrastructure

    The source code for ERMAC V3.0, an Android banking trojan, was leaked, revealing its full infrastructure and critical weaknesses. The malware targets over 700 applications and includes new capabilities such as form injection methods, an overhauled C2 panel, a new Android backdoor, and AES-CBC encrypted communications. The leak includes the backend C2 server, frontend panel, exfiltration server, and Android builder panel, providing defenders with concrete ways to track, detect, and disrupt active operations. The source code was discovered in an open directory by Hunt.io researchers in March 2024. ERMAC V3.0 was first documented in September 2021 by ThreatFabric as an evolution of the Cerberus banking trojan operated by a threat actor known as 'BlackRock'. ERMAC v2.0 was spotted by ESET in May 2022, targeting 467 apps, up from 378 in the previous version. In January 2023, ThreatFabric observed BlackRock promoting a new Android malware tool named Hook, which appeared to be an evolution of ERMAC. HOOK, an offshoot of ERMAC, has evolved to include ransomware-style overlays and supports 107 remote commands, expanding its capabilities to capture user gestures, lockscreen PINs, and credit card information. The malware is distributed via phishing websites and GitHub repositories, posing a significant risk to financial institutions and users.

    Show sources
    Open in new tab

Information Snippets

Similar Happenings

Klopatra Android Trojan Conducts Nighttime Bank Transfers

A new Android Trojan named Klopatra has been identified, capable of performing unauthorized bank transfers while the device is inactive. The malware targets users in Italy and Spain, with over 3,000 devices infected. Klopatra disguises itself as the Mobdro streaming app and IPTV applications, leveraging their popularity to bypass security measures. It employs advanced techniques to evade detection and analysis, including anti-sandboxing methods, a commercial packer, and Hidden Virtual Network Computing (VNC) for remote control. The Trojan operates during nighttime hours, draining victims' bank accounts without alerting them. Klopatra uses Accessibility Services to gain extensive control over the device, allowing attackers to simulate user interactions remotely. It captures screenshots, records screen activity, and overlays fake login screens to steal credentials. The malware checks for device inactivity and charging status before executing its operations, ensuring the victim remains unaware until the next day. The malware is operated by a Turkish-speaking criminal group as a private botnet, with 40 distinct builds discovered since March 2025. The malware integrates Virbox, a commercial-grade code protector, to obstruct reverse-engineering and analysis. It uses native libraries to reduce its Java/Kotlin footprint and employs NP Manager string encryption in recent builds. Klopatra features several anti-debugging mechanisms, runtime integrity checks, and emulator detection capabilities. The malware supports all required remote actions for performing manual bank transactions, including simulating taps, swiping, and long-pressing. Klopatra uses Cloudflare to hide its digital tracks, but a misconfiguration exposed origin IP addresses, linking the C2 servers to the same provider. The malware has been linked to two campaigns, each counting 3,000 unique infections.

Open in new tab

XCSSET macOS Malware Targets Xcode Developers with Enhanced Features

A new variant of the XCSSET macOS malware has been detected, targeting Xcode developers with enhanced features. This variant includes improved browser targeting, clipboard hijacking, and persistence mechanisms. The malware spreads by infecting Xcode projects, stealing cryptocurrency, and browser data from infected devices. The malware uses run-only compiled AppleScripts for stealthy execution and employs sophisticated encryption and obfuscation techniques. It incorporates new modules for data exfiltration, persistence, and clipboard monitoring. The malware has been observed in limited attacks, with Microsoft sharing findings with Apple and GitHub to mitigate the threat. Developers are advised to keep macOS and apps up to date and inspect Xcode projects before building them.

Open in new tab

CISA Emergency Directive 25-03: Mitigation of Cisco ASA Zero-Day Vulnerabilities

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued Emergency Directive 25-03, mandating federal agencies to identify and mitigate zero-day vulnerabilities in Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances (ASA) exploited by an advanced threat actor. The directive requires agencies to account for all affected devices, collect forensic data, and upgrade or disconnect end-of-support devices by September 26, 2025. The vulnerabilities allow threat actors to maintain persistence and gain network access. Cisco identified multiple zero-day vulnerabilities (CVE-2025-20333, CVE-2025-20362, CVE-2025-20363, and CVE-2025-20352) in Cisco ASA, Firewall Threat Defense (FTD) software, and Cisco IOS software. These vulnerabilities enable unauthenticated remote code execution, unauthorized access, and denial of service (DoS) attacks. GreyNoise detected large-scale campaigns targeting ASA login portals and Cisco IOS Telnet/SSH services, indicating potential exploitation of these vulnerabilities. The campaign is widespread and involves exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities to gain unauthenticated remote code execution on ASAs, as well as manipulating read-only memory (ROM) to persist through reboot and system upgrade. CISA and Cisco linked these ongoing attacks to the ArcaneDoor campaign, which exploited two other ASA and FTD zero-days (CVE-2024-20353 and CVE-2024-20359) to breach government networks worldwide since November 2023. CISA ordered agencies to identify all Cisco ASA and Firepower appliances on their networks, disconnect all compromised devices from the network, and patch those that show no signs of malicious activity by 12 PM EDT on September 26. CISA also ordered that agencies must permanently disconnect ASA devices that are reaching the end of support by September 30 from their networks. The U.K. National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) confirmed that threat actors exploited the recently disclosed security flaws in Cisco firewalls to deliver previously undocumented malware families like RayInitiator and LINE VIPER. Cisco began investigating attacks on multiple government agencies in May 2025, linked to the state-sponsored ArcaneDoor campaign. The attacks targeted Cisco ASA 5500-X Series devices to implant malware, execute commands, and potentially exfiltrate data. The threat actor modified ROMMON to facilitate persistence across reboots and software upgrades. The compromised devices include ASA 5500-X Series models running specific software releases with VPN web services enabled. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security urged organizations to update to a fixed version of Cisco ASA and FTD products to counter the threat. Nearly 50,000 Cisco ASA and FTD appliances are vulnerable to actively exploited flaws. The vulnerabilities CVE-2025-20333 and CVE-2025-20362 enable arbitrary code execution and access to restricted URL endpoints. The Shadowserver Foundation discovered over 48,800 internet-exposed ASA and FTD instances still vulnerable to the flaws. The majority of vulnerable devices are located in the United States, followed by the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Russia, Canada, and Denmark. The Shadowserver Foundation's data is as of September 29, indicating a lack of response to the ongoing exploitation activity. Greynoise had warned on September 4 about suspicious scans targeting Cisco ASA devices, indicating upcoming undocumented flaws. CISA's emergency directive gave 24 hours to FCEB agencies to identify and upgrade vulnerable Cisco ASA and FTD instances. CISA advised that ASA devices reaching their end of support should be disconnected from federal networks by the end of September. The U.K. NCSC reported that the hackers deployed Line Viper shellcode loader malware and RayInitiator GRUB bootkit.

Open in new tab

Brickstorm Malware Used in Long-Term Espionage Against U.S. Organizations

The UNC5221 activity cluster, attributed to suspected Chinese hackers, has been using the BRICKSTORM malware in long-term espionage operations against U.S. organizations in the technology, legal, SaaS, and BPO sectors. The malware, a Go-based backdoor, has been active for over a year, with an average dwell time of 393 days. It has been used to steal data from various sectors, including SaaS providers and BPOs. The attackers exploit vulnerabilities in edge devices and use anti-forensics techniques to avoid detection. The malware serves multiple functions, including web server, file manipulation, dropper, SOCKS relay, and shell command execution. It targets appliances without EDR support, such as VMware vCenter/ESXi, and uses legitimate traffic to mask its C2 communications. The attackers aim to exfiltrate emails and maintain stealth through various tactics, including removing the malware post-operation to hinder forensic investigations. The attackers use a malicious Java Servlet Filter (BRICKSTEAL) on vCenter to capture credentials, and clone Windows Server VMs to extract secrets. The stolen credentials are used for lateral movement and persistence, including enabling SSH on ESXi and modifying startup scripts. The malware exfiltrates emails via Microsoft Entra ID Enterprise Apps, utilizing its SOCKS proxy to tunnel into internal systems and code repositories. UNC5221 focuses on developers, administrators, and individuals tied to China's economic and security interests. Mandiant has released a free scanner script to help defenders detect BRICKSTORM. The BRICKSTORM backdoor is under active development, with a variant featuring a delay timer for C2 communication. The attackers have exploited Ivanti Connect Secure zero-day vulnerabilities (CVE-2023-46805 and CVE-2024-21887) for initial access. The attackers have used a custom dropper to install a malicious Java Servlet filter (BRICKSTEAL) in memory, avoiding detection. The attackers have modified init.d, rc.local, or systemd files to ensure persistence on appliances. The attackers have targeted Windows environments in Europe since at least November 2022. The attackers have been linked to other related Chinese threat actors besides UNC5221. The campaign has been monitored by Mandiant since March 2025. The attackers have targeted downstream customers of compromised SaaS providers. The attackers are believed to be analyzing stolen source code to identify zero-day vulnerabilities in enterprise technologies. The attackers use a delay timer to lie dormant on infected systems until a hard-coded date. The malware employs Garble, an open-source tool, for code obfuscation to hide function names, structures, and logic. Brickstorm has been found on VMware vCenter and ESXi hosts, often deployed prior to pivoting to these systems. The attackers use legitimate cloud services like Cloudflare Workers or Heroku for C2 communications. The attackers use dynamic domains like sslip.io or nip.io that point directly to the C2 server’s IP. The attackers favor appliance and management-plane compromise, per-victim obfuscated Go binaries, delayed-start implants, and Web/DoH C2 to preserve stealth. The attackers harvest and use valid high-privilege credentials to appear as routine administrator tasks. The attackers deploy in-memory servlet filters, remove installer artifacts, and embed delayed-start logic to limit forensic traces. The attackers abuse virtualization management capabilities, such as cloning VMs to extract credential stores offline. The attackers deploy an in-memory Java Servlet filter on vCenter to intercept and decode web authentication to harvest high-privilege credentials. The attackers use a SOCKS proxy on compromised appliances to tunnel into internal networks for interactive access and file retrieval.

Open in new tab

Supermicro BMC Firmware Vulnerabilities Allow Firmware Tampering

Two medium-severity vulnerabilities in Supermicro Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) firmware allow attackers to bypass firmware verification and update the system with malicious firmware. These vulnerabilities, CVE-2025-7937 and CVE-2025-6198, exploit flaws in the cryptographic signature verification process. The vulnerabilities affect the Root of Trust (RoT) security feature, potentially allowing attackers to gain persistent control over the BMC system and the main server OS. The issues were discovered by Binarly, a firmware security company. Supermicro has released firmware fixes for impacted models, and Binarly has released proof-of-concept exploits for both vulnerabilities. CVE-2025-7937 is a bypass for a previously disclosed vulnerability, CVE-2024-10237, which was reported by NVIDIA. CVE-2025-6198 bypasses the BMC RoT security feature, raising concerns about the reuse of cryptographic signing keys.

Open in new tab