Unit 42 explores key peak shopping season retail cyber threats, from ransomware to AI attacks, and shares how to defend operations and customer trust.
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An investigation into a threat actor bypassing AI safety controls to coordinate credential theft, VoIP fraud planning, and database exfiltration.
The post “Next Exploit Opportunities”: How a Threat Actor Used AI to Help Plan and Execute Multiple Types of Cybercrime Activities appeared first on Unit 42.
A new StopRansomware advisory warns SafePay ransomware has hit 600+ victims via VPN logins and edge flaws. See its tactics and key defenses.
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The post SafePay Ransomware Hits 600 Victims as FBI, CISA and Allies Issue Joint Warning appeared first on Daily CyberSecurity.
The FBI, CISA and international partners have issued a warning about SafePay ransomware, a group that has impacted at least 600 victims across multiple critical infrastructure sectors since August 2024. Published on October 20, 2026, the joint cybersecurity advisory describes SafePay as among the most active ransomware groups in 2026, with operations affecting organizations in North America, South America, Europe and Australia.
The advisory was released by the FBI, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the United States Secret Service, Germany’s Landeskriminalamt Rheinland-Pfalz, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency and the UK’s North West Regional Organised Crime Unit. It draws on investigations conducted as recently as August 2026.
According to the agencies, SafePay actors break into networks by stealing or guessing passwords, running brute force attacks, using phishing and exploiting VPN access. The group uses IP addresses from the VPN provider Mullvad and phished account profiles to exploit two flaws in edge devices: CVE-2020-3259 and CVE-2023-20269.
The actors also use automated scripts to exploit three vulnerabilities in internet-exposed systems: CVE-2023-27532, CVE-2024-40711 and CVE-2024-40766.
Once inside, SafePay actors establish persistence by gaining administrative privileges on existing accounts or creating new ones. They rely on built-in tools such as PsExec, Windows Remote Management and Remote Desktop Protocol to execute commands and move laterally.
To find valuable files, the group has used ShareFinder.ps1 and SharpShares.exe to enumerate network shares. Before moving laterally, the actors commonly disable security software. In some cases, they changed system users’ passwords, locking legitimate users out. The advisory also notes the use of a User Account Control bypass, token impersonation and the credential dumper Mimikatz.
Data exfiltration is a central part of the group’s playbook. SafePay actors compress files using 7-Zip, WinRAR, FileZilla and RClone, then move stolen data out through WinSCP, RClone, OneDrive and the Backblaze command-line tool b2.exe. Remote desktop tools such as AnyDesk and TeamViewer have been installed to transfer ransomware onto victim systems.
To block recovery, the actors halt the Volume Shadow Copy Service and reset network attached storage holding backups to factory settings.
Files are then encrypted using a hybrid scheme combining the ChaCha20 stream cipher with RSA public-key cryptography. Encrypted files carry the .SafePay extension and, according to the advisory, cannot be recovered without the decryption key.
The group typically demands a portion of company revenue in cryptocurrency. A ransom note left on the desktop or root directory directs victims to a TOR chat portal, using a victim ID to log in. A representative also makes phone calls to pressure victims. If payment is refused, stolen data is posted to SafePay’s leak site. The ransomware may delete itself after encryption.
To reduce the risk of ransomware attacks from SafePay, the agencies urge organizations to prioritize patching known exploited vulnerabilities, especially on firewalls and other internet-facing systems. They recommend requiring multifactor authentication for webmail, VPNs and accounts that access critical systems.
Other measures include passwords of 15 to 64 characters, account lockouts after failed logins, offline backups that are encrypted and immutable, network segmentation, least privilege access and time-based admin access. The advisory also recommends restricting command-line and scripting permissions.
The advisory lists IP addresses, file names, hashes and hostnames observed between November 2024 and August 2026. The agencies advise verifying these indicators before blocking, as some IP addresses may later be reassigned to benign services.
The authoring agencies do not encourage paying ransom, noting payment does not guarantee file recovery. Incidents can be reported to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, a local FBI or Secret Service field office, or CISA. In the UK, victims can report through Report Fraud or their local police force.
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Our analysis an AI-powered espionage campaign targeting government Linux infrastructure with custom malware, web shells, and advanced credential theft.
The post AI-Powered Espionage Campaign Targets Government Linux Infrastructure appeared first on Unit 42.
Analysis of how default configurations in AWS AgentCore Harness allow prompt injection to exfiltrate credentials, and key steps to secure your agents.
The post A Vault with a Heap-View: The Uncomfortable Space Between AgentCore Harness and Identity appeared first on Unit 42.
Nearly half of C2 malware bypasses DNS by connecting directly to IP addresses. Zero trust IP enforcement secures networks against these threats.
The post Almost Half of Malware Samples Communicate Direct to IP appeared first on Unit 42.
Analysis of XCSSET v40 reveals a macOS malware targeting developers via Xcode. Unit 42 used advanced pattern matching and AI to decode its logic.
The post The Xcode Assassin Returns: A Deep Dive Into the Latest XCSSET Version appeared first on Unit 42.
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The post The Global Namespace Risk: Universal Bucket Hijacking Technique for Cloud Data Exfiltration appeared first on Unit 42.
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The post Trust No Skill: Integrity Verification for AI Agent Supply Chains appeared first on Unit 42.
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The post Can AI Attack the Cloud? Lessons From Building an Autonomous Cloud Offensive Multi-Agent System appeared first on Unit 42.
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The post Fracturing Software Security With Frontier AI Models appeared first on Unit 42.
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The post Cracks in the Bedrock: Agent God Mode appeared first on Unit 42.
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