Summary:
Researchers recently disclosed the Xiū gǒu phishing kit, which has been operational since at least September 2024 in campaigns targeting Australia, Japan, Spain, the U.K., and the U.S. Xiū gǒu is a sophisticated phishing toolkit responsible for over 2,000 phishing websites aimed at various industries, including government, postal services, digital services, and banking. Leveraging Cloudflare's anti-bot and hosting obfuscation capabilities, Xiū gǒu evades detection effectively. Created by a Chinese-speaking threat actor, it incorporates technologies like Golang and Vue[.]js, providing an admin panel for attackers and enabling the exfiltration of sensitive credentials from fake login pages hosted via Telegram.

Xiū gǒu's phishing tactics are particularly novel, using Rich Communications Services (RCS) messages instead of traditional SMS. These messages warn victims of fake parking penalties or failed package deliveries, with links directing them to phishing sites masked by URL shorteners. RCS, a feature now available on Apple Messages and Google Messages for Android, enhances messaging capabilities with features like file sharing, typing indicators, and optional end-to-end encryption. Netcraft noted the effectiveness of Xiū gǒu in manipulating victims to disclose personal details or make payments, such as releasing a parcel or paying a fine.


Security Officer Comments:
Phishing campaigns have also started impersonating OpenAI, targeting businesses globally with emails instructing recipients to update payment details via a link embedded within the email. Notably, the email passed DKIM and SPF checks, meaning it was sent from an authorized server for the domain. However, Barracuda reported that the domain used in the campaign was suspicious, possibly indicating an attempt to evade detection by using different hyperlinks within the email body. This attack impacted over 1,000 recipients from a single domain, highlighting a growing trend of credential phishing through credible brand impersonation.


Suggested Corrections:
Users should always be cautious of individuals or organizations that ask for personal information. Most companies will not ask for sensitive data from its customers. If in doubt, users should verify with the company itself to avoid any potential issues.


Users should always take a close look at the sender's display name when checking the legitimacy of an email. Most companies use a single domain for their URLs and emails, so a message that originates from a different domain is a red flag.


As a general rule, users should not click links or download files even if they come from seemingly "trustworthy" sources.


Check for mismatched URLs. While an embedded URL might seem perfectly valid, hovering above it might show a different web address. In fact, users should avoid clicking links in emails unless they are certain that it is a legitimate link.


Users should always be on the lookout for any grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. Legitimate companies will often employ proofreaders and editors who ensure that the materials they send out are error-free.


Users should not be frightened or intimidated by messages that have an alarmist tone. They should double check with the company if they are uncertain about the status of their accounts.


Phishing emails are designed to be sent to a large number of people, so they need to be as impersonal as possible. Users should check whether the message contains a generic subject and greeting, as this can be a sign of a phishing attempt.


Although not every end user has access to advanced anti-phishing software, they can still use the built-in protection of their email clients to filter messages. One example is setting the email client to block all images unless approved.


Legitimate companies will never send confirmation emails unless there are specific reasons for doing so. In fact, most companies will avoid sending unsolicited messages unless it's for company updates, newsletters, or advertising purposes.


Users should always take the context of an email or message into account. For example, most online accounts do away with viewable member numbers, so users should be wary if they receive emails containing a "member number" for services that generally don't use them.


It is important to take note of unusual information in the text of the message. Any mentions of operating systems and software that are not typically used by consumers can often be indicators of a phishing attempt.


If it seems suspicious, it probably is. Users should always err on the side of caution when it comes to sending out personally identifiable information through messages and emails.


Link(s):
https://thehackernews.com/2024/11/new-phishing-kit-xiu-gou-targets-users.html

https://www.netcraft.com/blog/doggo-threat-actor-analysis/