Hackers linked to Kremlin used patched iOS and Android flaws to target site visitors

Researchers said Wednesday that attackers possibly linked to Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service exploited previously patched iOS and Android flaws in an attempt to hack visitors to multiple websites, including one tied to the 250th anniversary of American independence. The attacks used injected JavaScript to profile devices and then delivered zero click exploit chains aimed at stealing browser cookies and, in some cases, Wi-Fi passwords and full mobile device data.

Impersonated and compromised websites

One impersonated site was america250.org, belonging to a non partisan group of lawmakers, business executives, and at least one former member of the Trump administration. The attackers registered america250.holiday and used it as a reverse proxy to america250.org, delivering real content with added malicious JavaScript. Sekoia researchers said the intrusion set may have deliberately selected the website because of its association with a high profile national celebration, potentially using the event as a pretext for invitation themed spear phishing campaigns.

A second site, theowo.club, proxied Raffles of London OWO, a luxury hotel physically close to UK government institutions including the Ministry of Defence and 10 Downing Street. Open source reporting indicates Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stayed there during a visit on October 14. Researchers said the watering hole may have sought to target diplomatic delegations and high profile guests through targeted spear phishing campaigns.

The attackers also used compromised websites, including a top Ukrainian gas production company and a Ukrainian web analytics service that serves thousands of websites.

Exploit chains and attribution

Sekoia's attribution to the Kremlin is based on target profiles and similarities to a previous attack attributed to APT29, one of the names used for the suspected Russian group. The hackers used three infection vectors: direct JavaScript injection into traffic from legitimate websites, proxy domains such as america250.holiday, and the supply chain compromise of the Ukrainian web analytics service. In each case, the injected JavaScript was the same.

During the first stage, the JavaScript profiled the visitor's browser and device. The attackers then used that information to deliver one of three zero click exploit chains, which work without requiring interaction from the target. One chain was DarkSword, an iOS exploit kit that Google researchers said customers of PARS Defense, a commercial surveillance vendor in Turkey, and at least two other threat actors have used. Sekoia said the more recent campaign used two other exploit chains that were not named.

All of the vulnerabilities exploited in the campaign had already been patched. The attacks worked only on outdated versions of iOS or Android.

Sources: Ars Technica