Malware

OtterCandy

Also known as: HardHatRAT · UNSEENMINK

OtterCandy is a JavaScript backdoor that uses the Socket.IO WebSocket protocol over port 5000 for command and control and exfiltrates data via HTTP on port 3011. It focuses on credential theft from Chromium-based browsers (Chrome, Edge, Brave, Opera, Yandex) by decrypting SQLite login databases with Windows DPAPI, and it targets cryptocurrency wallets through both browser extension identification and desktop wallet directory collection. The malware conducts recursive filesystem searches to gather .env files, seed phrases, blockchain configuration data, shell history, and cloud credentials for AWS, Azure, and GCP. It fingerprints victims by combining hostname and machine UUID to prevent duplicate records and includes a secondary payload system that downloads, prepares, and executes platform-specific follow-on malware.

Indicators of Compromise 1

Domain mouse-review[.]discord[.]gg

MITRE ATT&CK TTPs 8

T1021.003

Distributed Component Object Model

Lateral Movement

T1059

Command and Scripting Interpreter

Execution

T1071

Application Layer Protocol

Spearphishing Attachment

Source Articles

Contagious Interview Campaign Compromises 30,000 Devices, Steals $10.71M in Crypto

North Korean threat actors associated with the Contagious Interview campaign have compromised over 30,000 devices across more than 100 countries since at least 2022, targeting software developers and IT professionals in cryptocurrency, blockchain, and Web3 sectors. The attackers pose as recruiters on platforms like LinkedIn, offering fake job opportunities that lead to multi-stage malware infections. Malware families deployed include BeaverTail, InvisibleFerret, and RATatouille, enabling credential theft, cryptocurrency theft, and lateral movement into corporate networks. A related operation uses Western proxies recruited via Discord to bypass sanctions and identity checks, with North Korean IT workers using AI-generated identities to secure remote jobs and steal funds.

hacker-news ·1mo ago

North Korean WaterPlum hackers infected 30,000 devices worldwide

North Korean threat actor WaterPlum conducted a global campaign from December 2025 to July 2026, compromising over 30,000 devices and stealing more than $10.7 million in cryptocurrency. The group targeted job seekers by impersonating legitimate companies and delivering malware through malicious npm packages and Visual Studio Code projects. WaterPlum deployed multiple malware families including BeaverTail, InvisibleFerret, OtterCookie, OtterCandy, and StoatWaffle to steal credentials, cryptocurrency keys, and conduct espionage. The actors are linked to North Korea's 313 General Bureau and operate alongside fraudulent IT worker operations using stolen identities and AI face-swapping during fake interviews.

bleeping-computer ·1mo ago