Intel471’s new report reveals macOS is more and more focused by menace actors, who develop particular malware for the working system or use cross-platform languages to attain their targets on macOS computer systems.
Extra macOS vulnerabilities are additionally being exploited within the wild. Malware and exploits is likely to be used for each cybercrime and cyberespionage.
Extra malware than ever on macOS
Between January 2023 and July 2024, the researchers noticed greater than 40 menace actors concentrating on macOS programs with totally different malware varieties, the most well-liked being infostealers and trojans.
Infostealers
Info stealer malwares — aka infostealers — are more and more developed and deployed on all working programs, and macOS isn’t any exception.
In accordance to cloud safety firm Uptycs, incidents involving infostealers doubled within the first quarter of 2023 in comparison with the identical interval in 2022. Cybersecurity firm Group-IB additionally studies a fivefold rise in underground gross sales associated to macOS infostealers.
Such software program is utilized by cybercriminals to steal log-in credentials, session cookies enabling authentication with out credentials, and extra knowledge corresponding to bank card info or cryptocurrency wallets. The software program can also be extensively utilized by preliminary entry brokers, who acquire legitimate credentials, most frequently from corporations quite than people, and promote them to different cybercriminals.
Atomic Stealer — additionally known as Atomic macOS Stealer or AMOS — is among the hottest macOS infostealers since 2023. It’s designed to steal credentials and cryptocurrency pockets knowledge from macOS gadgets and browsers.
But a number of cybercriminals function or promote different infostealers concentrating on macOS. A menace actor nicknamed codehex marketed for a macOS infostealer dubbed ShadowVault, able to stealing knowledge from numerous Chrome-based browsers, information saved on compromised computer systems, and knowledge from cryptocurrency wallets.
The malware operators might additionally signal it with an Apple developer signature, making its detection tougher for safety software program. The malware was offered at a month-to-month worth of $500 underneath a Malware-as-a-Service (MaaS) enterprise mannequin.
One other dearer infostealer, Quark Lab, with capabilities to steal keychain passwords from programs in addition to cryptocurrency wallets and well-liked browser info, was offered for $3,000 per thirty days.
Trojans
Distant entry trojans are one other well-liked class of malware more and more deployed on macOS.
RustDoor, a macOS malware developed in RUST and presumably tied to a ransomware menace actor, gives a number of functionalities to its controller:
- Executes distant instructions.
- Manipulates information on compromised programs.
- Provides extra payloads.
- Collects system info.
This makes it a singular instrument for each cyberespionage and cybercrime menace actors. Rust programming language has turn out to be extra well-liked amongst malware builders, as it’s a cross-platform language that permits a developer to simply port code into any working system.
Ransomware
As written by Intel471, “the looks of macOS ransomware raises considerations because it demonstrates menace actors in search of new avenues to compromise Apple customers.”
In April 2023, safety researchers found a brand new encryptor for the notorious LockBit ransomware, which focused macOS gadgets, together with newer macOS programs working on Apple Silicon.
In late 2023 got here one other less-advanced ransomware, dubbed Turtle, and developed as soon as once more in a cross-platform programming language, Golang, aka Go. The malware was solely signed advert hoc and never notarized, making it detectable by Gatekeeper, as defined by knowledgeable safety researcher Patrick Wardle.
Vulnerabilities exploited
The variety of macOS vulnerabilities exploited in 2023 elevated by greater than 30%, in accordance to patch administration software program firm Action1.
Moreover, Intel471 discovered 69 vulnerabilities that impacted a number of variations of macOS from March 2020 to July 2024, with greater than 10 vulnerabilities ranked at a high-risk degree. A few of these vulnerabilities have been exploited by cyberespionage menace actors.
CVE-2023-41993, an unspecified vulnerability concentrating on a number of variations of macOS, was exploited to put in Cytrox’s Predator adware that was offered to a number of state-sponsored organizations worldwide.
Menace actors additionally exploited CVE-2023-41064, a buffer-overflow vulnerability. The cyberespionage menace actor offered its adware to state-sponsored organizations.
A cybercriminal nicknamed oDmC3oJrrSuZLhp provided to promote an exploit on an underground discussion board for $2.7 million for the CVE-2022-32893 vulnerability, which permits an attacker to execute arbitrary code on focused programs.
State-sponsored menace actors
Whereas totally different adware suppliers have offered their companies to state-sponsored menace actors, a few of these menace actors do develop malware and instruments aimed toward macOS.
North Korean menace actor BlueNoroff, for instance, has developed a malicious loader often called RustBucket, developed for macOS and aimed toward concentrating on monetary establishments whose actions are associated to cryptocurrencies.
The group additionally targets people holding cryptocurrency belongings, with the final word objective of stealing all of the crypto cash from focused wallets.
Russian menace actors APT28, a part of the Russian Fundamental Directorate of the Basic Workers of the Armed Forces, and APT29, a part of Russia’s International Intelligence Service, have additionally used macOS malware.
The XAgent modular backdoor utilized by APT28 has been round for a few years and included a macOS model, permitting it to steal knowledge from compromised macOS programs, together with iOS backups containing messages, contacts, voicemail, name histories, notes, and calendars. APT29 used the no-longer-supported Empire cross-platform distant administration and post-exploitation framework, enabling concentrating on of macOS.
Vietnam-based menace actor APT32 additionally deployed a macOS backdoor used for concentrating on totally different organizations.
Tips on how to guard towards this menace
macOS programs should at all times be updated and patched to keep away from being compromised by widespread vulnerabilities.
Safety software program needs to be deployed on the programs to detect malware and suspicious actions. E-mail safety options must also be used since a number of the preliminary compromise is unfold through phishing emails.
Lastly, all staff must be skilled to detect potential social engineering strategies utilized in emails or instantaneous messaging instruments.
Disclosure: I work for Pattern Micro, however the views expressed on this article are mine.
