TELEPUZ is a rapidly evolving modular MaaS malware delivered via ClickFix social engineering and VIDAR second-stage downloader chains. The 64-bit Windows DLL payload uses indirect syscalls, NTDLL unhooking, AMSI/ETW patching, and custom RC4 encryption for defense evasion, while establishing persistence as a Windows service and communicating over WebSockets with fallback C2 resolution via Telegram, Steam, DNS records, and Polygon blockchain smart contracts. The malware supports 36 commands including process hollowing, keylogging, credential theft, browser cookie extraction, and a WebInjector module that abuses Chrome DevTools Protocol to manipulate financial web forms in real-time.
Vidar
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TELEPUZ: a modular MaaS malware spreading via CLICKFIX-VIDAR chains June 2026 Infostealer Trend Report ASEC's June 2026 report details continued high-volume distribution of infostealers (Remus, ACRStealer, LummaC2, Vidar) via SEO-poisoned crack/keygen sites and cloud storage platforms, with DLL side-loading accounting for roughly 15.5% of infections. A notable macOS-focused development uses Polygon blockchain smart contracts for dynamic C2 resolution combined with ClickFix social engineering and .plist LaunchAgent persistence, while email vectors continue delivering AgentTesla and DarkCloud via SMTP exfiltration.
US Threat Landscape Alert: 30 Active Malware Families Ranked by Real Sandbox Data ANY.RUN's Malware Trends Tracker data shows that phishing-as-a-service kits now dominate the US threat landscape, with five of the top ten threats being AiTM or device-code phishing platforms that defeat MFA by stealing session cookies or OAuth tokens. Commodity RATs and info stealers remain in constant high-volume circulation, while legacy threats like Emotet and WannaCry persist on unpatched systems. Several top-ranked threats (Cobalt Strike, Qbot, Emotet, DonutLoader, Smoke Loader) function as ransomware precursors, meaning their detection should trigger urgent escalation rather than routine handling.
Malicious Go Module Exposes GitHub Malware Lure Network Spanning 222 Repositories Operation Muck and Load is a supply chain attack campaign centered on a malicious Go module that impersonates a DNS scanner tool to deliver a multi-stage Windows malware loader. The campaign leverages 222 GitHub lure repositories across 190 accounts with automated commit-farming workflows to create false credibility, and uses public dead-drop resolvers across multiple platforms for resilient payload-location resolution. The final payload chain delivers AsyncRAT, Quasar, Remcos, Vidar infostealer, and cryptominers through password-protected 7z archives extracted into masqueraded Microsoft-themed directories.
Vidar Infostealer Being Spread through Phishing Emails Vidar, a C++-based MaaS infostealer active since 2018, is being distributed via phishing emails disguised as resumes and copyright infringement notices targeting Korean users. The malware uses a Go-based packer to evade detection and employs a Dead Drop Resolver technique via Telegram and Steam profile pages to retrieve C&C server addresses. Once executed, Vidar exfiltrates browser credentials, cryptocurrency wallets, Discord/Telegram/Steam data, Azure tokens, FTP credentials, and screenshots, with anti-debugging and anti-VM techniques to hinder analysis.
StealC You Later: Proofpoint and IBM X-Force Support Operation Endgame Disruptions Proofpoint and IBM X-Force collaborated with Europol and Microsoft's Digital Crimes Unit to disrupt the StealC malware-as-a-service ecosystem as part of Operation Endgame, seizing 66 domains, 296 servers, and over 25.6 million stolen credentials. Researchers discovered a directory traversal vulnerability in the StealC PHP C2 panel's filename handling during ZIP extraction, which was exploited by law enforcement to access and seize C2 servers. The teams also built a StealC bot emulator to track affiliate infrastructure and observe payload delivery chains, revealing StealC's loader functionality distributing a broad range of secondary malware including ransomware, RATs, and additional stealers.
StealC and Amadey: Breaking down infostealers and the cybercrime services that deliver them StealC is a C++ malware-as-a-service infostealer that harvests credentials, cookies, and session tokens from browsers, email clients, crypto wallets, and gaming platforms, using APC injection to bypass Chromium App-Bound Encryption. Amadey is a modular MaaS loader that delivers StealC and other payloads through a rich backdoor command set including process injection, SOCKS proxying, RDP enablement, and hidden admin account creation. Microsoft DCU disrupted over 200 C2 domains and IPs associated with both threats in a coordinated action with Europol on June 24, 2026.
Unveiling ErrTraffic: inside a growing ClickFix malware distribution framework ErrTraffic is a Malware-as-a-Service framework that compromises WordPress sites and uses malvertising to deliver ClickFix social engineering lures. It leverages EtherHiding via Polygon smart contracts to dynamically resolve C2 infrastructure and distribute infostealers, RATs, and loaders.
Dozens of malicious wallpapers found on Steam Workshop: gamers’ accounts at risk Cybercriminals are abusing the 'application wallpapers' feature of Wallpaper Engine on Steam Workshop to distribute malware, including DarkKomet, Lumma, and Vidar. The malicious wallpapers drop backdoors and patched system libraries to hijack active Steam sessions, primarily targeting gamers in China and Russia.
AI brands as bait: How threat actors are using the AI hype in social engineering Threat actors are increasingly leveraging the hype around AI platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, and DeepSeek to conduct social engineering attacks. These campaigns utilize phishing, malvertising, and SEO poisoning to distribute infostealers such as Vidar or facilitate credential theft via adversary-in-the-middle (AiTM) infrastructure.
Exposing Fox Tempest: A malware-signing service operation Fox Tempest is a financially motivated threat actor providing malware-signing-as-a-service (MSaaS) to the cybercrime ecosystem. By abusing Microsoft Artifact Signing via stolen identities, they generate short-lived, fraudulent code-signing certificates that allow threat actors like Vanilla Tempest to bypass security controls and deploy payloads such as the Oyster backdoor and Rhysida ransomware.
The "vice" in tech advice: ClickFix-style commands disguised as tech tips across social media platforms and beyond Threat actors are leveraging social media platforms, SEO poisoning, and AI agent responses to distribute ClickFix-style attacks disguised as tech tips. Victims are socially engineered into executing malicious PowerShell commands that initiate a fileless infection chain, bypassing traditional security controls to deploy information stealers like Vidar on their endpoints.
Claude Code Packaging Error Remains a Lure in an Active Campaign: What Defenders Should Do Threat actors are actively exploiting the recent Claude Code packaging error by hosting fake GitHub repositories that distribute trojanized archives. These archives contain a Rust-compiled dropper that deploys Vidar, GhostSocks, and PureLog Stealer to harvest credentials and establish residential proxies on compromised Windows systems.
Weaponizing Trust Signals: Claude Code Lures and GitHub Release Payloads Following an accidental source code leak of Anthropic's Claude Code via npm, threat actors rapidly deployed fake GitHub repositories to distribute a Rust-compiled dropper. This dropper, part of a broader rotating-lure campaign, deploys Vidar stealer and GhostSocks proxy while utilizing extensive anti-analysis checks and PowerShell to disable Windows Defender.
Latin America and the Caribbean Cybercrime Landscape In 2025, the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region faced escalating cybercriminal activity driven by rapid digital adoption and economic instability. Threat actors heavily utilized Telegram and dark web forums to distribute ransomware, banking trojans, and infostealers, increasingly targeting the healthcare, manufacturing, and government sectors while adapting to law enforcement disruptions.
Anthropic Claude Code Leak | ThreatLabz Anthropic accidentally leaked the source code for its Claude Code CLI tool via an npm package source map. Threat actors are exploiting the high interest in this leak by creating fake GitHub repositories that distribute a Rust-based dropper, which subsequently installs Vidar infostealer and GhostSocks proxy malware on developer workstations.
2025 Year in Review: Malicious Infrastructure In 2025, Insikt Group observed the continued dominance of Cobalt Strike, AsyncRAT, and infostealers like Vidar, alongside the rise of new offensive tools such as RedGuard, Ligolo, and CastleLoader. The report highlights the critical role of Threat Activity Enablers (TAEs) and the abuse of legitimate infrastructure services, such as CDNs, in sustaining cybercriminal and APT operations.
2025 Identity Threat Landscape Report The 2025 Identity Threat Landscape Report highlights a massive surge in credential theft driven by infostealer malware, with LummaC2 leading the ecosystem. A critical finding is the widespread theft of active session cookies, which allows attackers to bypass multi-factor authentication (MFA) and directly access high-value corporate systems, VPNs, and cloud platforms.
New BoryptGrab Stealer Targets Windows Users via Deceptive GitHub Pages A new information stealer named BoryptGrab is being distributed through deceptive GitHub repositories that masquerade as legitimate software tools. The malware employs complex infection chains involving DLL side-loading, VBS downloaders, and encrypted payloads to deliver the stealer alongside additional backdoors like TunnesshClient and HeaconLoad.
