Security News > 2024 > March > Hackers abuse Windows SmartScreen flaw to drop DarkGate malware
A new wave of attacks by the DarkGate malware operation exploits a now-fixed Windows Defender SmartScreen vulnerability to bypass security checks and automatically install fake software installers.
The flaw tracked as CVE-2024-21412 is a Windows Defender SmartScreen flaw that allows specially crafted downloaded files to bypass these security warnings.
Microsoft fixed the flaw in mid-February, with Trend Micro disclosing that the financially motivated Water Hydra hacking group previously exploited it as a zero-day to drop their DarkMe malware onto traders' systems.
Upon execution of the MSI installer, another DLL sideloading flaw involving the "Libcef.dll" file and a loader named "Sqlite3.dll" will decrypt and execute the DarkGate malware payload on the system.
Hackers used new Windows Defender zero-day to drop DarkMe malware.
Windows SmartScreen flaw exploited to drop Phemedrone malware.
News URL
Related news
- New Microsoft script updates Windows media with bootkit malware fixes (source)
- Hackers exploit SimpleHelp RMM flaws to deploy Sliver malware (source)
- Russian military hackers deploy malicious Windows activators in Ukraine (source)
- FINALDRAFT Malware Exploits Microsoft Graph API for Espionage on Windows and Linux (source)
- North Korean hackers spotted using ClickFix tactic to deliver malware (source)
- North Korean Hackers Target Freelance Developers in Job Scam to Deploy Malware (source)
- Chinese hackers use custom malware to spy on US telecom networks (source)
- New Linux Malware ‘Auto-Color’ Grants Hackers Full Remote Access to Compromised Systems (source)
- Steam pulls game demo infecting Windows with info-stealing malware (source)
- EncryptHub Exploits Windows Zero-Day to Deploy Rhadamanthys and StealC Malware (source)
Related Vulnerability
| DATE | CVE | VULNERABILITY TITLE | RISK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-02-13 | CVE-2024-21412 | Unspecified vulnerability in Microsoft products Internet Shortcut Files Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability | 0.0 |