April 11, 2025 • 11 mins
In this episode of Cybersecurity Today, host Jim Love covers the shutdown of a spammer exploiting OpenAI's GPT model, a cybersecurity breach at the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and a new malware operation called 'Operation End Game' targeting major cybercrime networks. He also discusses the emergence of a destructive RAT on GitHub that poses a significant risk to Windows systems, and a critical vulnerability in the WordPress plugin AutoKit that was exploited mere hours after its disclosure. Ensure you stay updated on these evolving threats and the necessary precautions to safeguard your systems.
00:00 Introduction and Headlines
00:25 Spammers Exploit OpenAI's GPT Model
02:14 US Bank Regulator Hacked
04:25 Operation End Game: Tackling Cybercrime
07:06 Neptune RAT: A New Threat to Windows
09:12 WordPress Plugin Vulnerability Exploited
11:25 Conclusion and Contact Information
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Open AI shuts down a spammer.
After 80,000 messages, escape detection,the US Bank regulator is hacked.
Operation end game aims to cut offthe hacker ecosystem from both sides.
A new RAT that can wreck Windows and aWordPress bug affecting 100,000 sites,
goes from announcement to attack in hours.
(00:21):
This is cybersecurity today.
I'm your host, Jim Love.
Spammers have exploited openAI's GPT language model to send
over 80,000 unsolicited messagesthat bypassed spam filters.
According to a report by Ars Technica.
This campaign active for four monthsutilized a tool called a KEIRA
(00:41):
Bot to generate unique messagestailored to each recipient, allowing
them to evade detection systems.
Akira Bot is a Python basedframework that automates mass
messaging to promote dubious searchengine optimization services to
small and medium sized websites.
It employs open AI's Chat, API,specifically the GPT-4 oh mini
(01:03):
model to craft individualizedmessages for each targeted site.
this customization likely contributedto the messages slipping past filters
designed to block identical content.
The spammers also implemented techniquesto bypass capture systems, which
are designed to distinguish betweenhuman users and automated bots.
(01:24):
By mimicking legitimate user behavior andutilizing proxy services, Akira Bot was
able to evade these protective measures.
Upon being alerted to this misuse,OpenAI revoked the spammers account,
but the activity had been alreadypersisting for several months.
This incident underscores thechallenges in proactively detecting
(01:44):
and preventing the malicioususe of advanced language models.
What did it take to getpast open AI's guardrails?
Well, here's the prompt.
You are a helpful assistant thatgenerates marketing messages, The
exploitation of AI tools like ChatGPT for generating personalized spam
highlights the evolving tactics ofcyber criminals and the need for
(02:07):
continuous advancements in cybersecuritymeasures to counteract these threats.
The US office of the Comptroller of thecurrency, OCC reported a cybersecurity
breach involving unauthorized access toemails of its executives and employees.
This was discovered on February 11th,and the breach was publicly disclosed
(02:30):
approximately two weeks later.
The compromised emails containedhighly sensitive information concerning
the financial condition of federallyregulated financial institutions.
The OCC attributed the breach tolongstanding organizational and
structural vulnerabilities within itsinformation technology infrastructure.
In response, the agency initiated acomprehensive review of its IT security
(02:53):
policies and procedures to enhance thedefenses against future cyber threats
acting Controller of the currency.
Rodney E Hood emphasized the need foraccountability regarding the system
failures that permitted the breach.
Specific details about the exploitedvulnerabilities and the identity
of the perpetrators have not beendisclosed, but Bloomberg reported that
(03:15):
the hackers had access to more than.
150,000 emails from June,2023 until earlier this year.
The compromised information isparticularly sensitive as it
pertains to the financial health ofinstitutions regulated by the OCC.
Unauthorized access to suchdata could have significant
(03:36):
implications for the stabilityand trust in the financial sector.
The OCC has not provided further specificson the nature of the data accessed
or the methods used by the attackers.
As for whom Mastermindof the incident, our own.
David Shipley said in an interviewthat whoever it is is really, really
audacious to go after the Departmentof the Treasury, and he reminds
(04:00):
us that this is where the SecretService Lives and the Secret Service
investigates financial cyber crime.
Shipley goes on to say, in his inimitablefashion, you are poking one of the
best resourced bears on the planet.
But that should tell you something.
Someone felt bold enough to pull this offand pulled it off for a long time, and
(04:21):
that says Shipley should scare people.
Frankly, we hope the bear pokes back aspart of what was termed operation end
game, international law enforcementagencies have arrested a Burnaby
British Columbia resident accused ofoperating a vast network of infected
(04:42):
computers used to distribute malware.
The arrest announced by the RoyalCanadian Mounted Police, the RCMP,
is one of several global actionstargeting not just the creators of
malware services, but also their.
Customers marking a major shift inhow cybercrime could be prosecuted.
(05:03):
Operation End Game is a sweeping jointeffort involving Canada, the United
States, and five European countries.
Authorities have focused ondismantling major malware loaders,
automated systems that deliverransomware and other malicious
tools, but now they're going further.
Her investigators have started chargingindividuals who used services like the
(05:24):
smoke loader botnet to deploy attacks.
Many of you will know this butfor those who don't, these large
criminal gangs act like franchises.
They develop the tools to use inattacks, and they provide the means to
collect ransoms usually in Bitcoin, butthey rely on a network of individuals
who actually perform the attacks.
(05:46):
They're the front edgeof the attack surface.
And unlike the major gangs who oftenhide in countries that protect them
like Russia or China or others,the individuals that are out there.
Instigating.
These attacks are often withinthe reach of law enforcement.
It's still a major piece of police workto find and prosecute these individuals.
(06:07):
But as Superintendent McIntosh ofthe MP's Federal Policing Cyber
Crime Investigative Team said thisinvestigation is a clear example of
the global reach and cooperation neededto tackle transnational cyber crime.
And before you feel sorry for theseindividuals, the Burnaby suspect
allegedly controlled thousandsof compromised systems that could
(06:29):
be activated to spread malware.
Their operation linked directly intothe broader infrastructure used by cyber
crime networks targeted in endgame.
By pursuing both the suppliersand the users of malware tools,
police hope to shrink the cybercrime ecosystem from both ends.
And the message is clear.
Buying access to these servicescould now land you in the same
(06:52):
legal jeopardy as building them.
this evolution in enforcement couldalter the risk calculation for
anyone considering paying to launcha ransomware or malware campaign.
A new version of the Neptune Rat.
remote access Trojan has surfaced onGitHub with capabilities so destructive
(07:13):
that security experts warn it coulddestroy the Windows operating system.
The malware bypasses standard securitytools, ex filtrates credentials
from hundreds of applications, andincludes ransomware features to boot
According to a report by cybersecurityfirm Cy Firma, the updated Neptune
Rat is now being widely distributedthrough telegram, YouTube, and
(07:38):
underground marketplaces promoted withphrases like the most advanced rat.
The malware includes a crypto clippercredential, Steeler ransomware module,
and real time desktop monitoring.
its credential theft capabilitiesare especially alarming.
It can extract and decrypt savedlogin data from over 270 applications,
(08:00):
including popular chromium basedbrowsers such as Google Chrome, brave
Opera, Yandex, and Komodo Dragon.
The malware scrapes credentials fromlocal storage, decrypts them and transmits
the data to attacker controlled servers.
classifies this version of Neptune Ratas an extremely serious threat due to
(08:22):
its advanced anti analysis featuresand ability to maintain long-term
persistence on infected systems.
Once installed the malware grants,remote control to attackers potentially
leading to total system compromiseor destruction, Compounding concerns.
The public version may be amore stripped down release.
(08:42):
Cyfirma notes hints of a morepowerful variant available behind
a paywall, marketed under theguise of cybersecurity training.
.I haven't been able to dig up great defenses for this rat variant yet, I
presume making sure we're running thebest in endpoint security, uh, and keeping
up to date and watching for more newson this topic is probably a good idea.
(09:05):
If there is someone out there who has moreinformation on this, kindly get in touch.
A critical authenticationbypass vulnerability.
In the auto kit WordPress plugin wasformally known as Sure Triggers is being
actively exploited by hackers, but justmere hours after its public disclosure.
(09:26):
The plugin, which facilitates connectionsbetween various tools like WooCommerce,
MailChimp, and Google Sheets is installedon approximately 100,000 websites, and the
vulnerabilities identified as CVE 20 25 310 2 affects all versions up to 1.0 0.78.
it arises from a missing empty valuecheck in the authenticate user function,
(09:51):
which handles the REST API authentication.
if the plugin's not configured withan API key, the secret key remains
empty, allowing attackers to sendan empty st underscore authorization
header to gain unauthorizedaccess to protected API endpoints.
This flaw enables the creationof a new administrator account
(10:11):
without authentication, posing asignificant risk of site takeover.
Wordfence.
a WordPress security firm reported theissue to the plugin vendor on April
3rd, leading to the release of a patchedversion 1.0 0.79 on the same day.
Despite the availabilityof the fix, attackers began
(10:31):
exploiting the vulnerabilitywithin hours of its disclosure.
Patch Stack.
Another security platform observedthe first recorded exploitation
attempt just four hours afterthe vulnerability was made.
Public administrators using auto Kitt Suretriggers, plugins are strongly advised to
update to version 1.0 0.79 immediately.
(10:54):
additionally, it's crucial to reviewuser accounts for unauthorized additions,
inspect logs for unexpected activities,and ensure that security settings have not
been altered, prompt action is necessaryto mitigate the risk of unauthorized
access and potential site compromise.
But even if you don't have this plugin,this is an object lesson in how fast
(11:17):
we're moving from announcement toattack in critical vulnerabilities.
Get patching, and that'sour show for today.
You can reach me ateditorial@technewsday.ca.
You can find me on LinkedIn.
Many people do.
Or if you're watching the YouTubeversion of this, you can leave
(11:39):
a comment just under the video.
I'm your host, Jim Love.
Thanks for listening.
Open AI shuts down a spammer.
After 80,000 messages, escape detection,the US Bank regulator is hacked.
Operation end game aims to cut offthe hacker ecosystem from both sides.
A new RAT that can wreck Windows and aWordPress bug affecting 100,000 sites,
goes from announcement to attack in hours.
(00:21):
This is cybersecurity today.
I'm your host, Jim Love.
Spammers have exploited openAI's GPT language model to send
over 80,000 unsolicited messagesthat bypassed spam filters.
According to a report by Ars Technica.
This campaign active for four monthsutilized a tool called a KEIRA
(00:41):
Bot to generate unique messagestailored to each recipient, allowing
them to evade detection systems.
Akira Bot is a Python basedframework that automates mass
messaging to promote dubious searchengine optimization services to
small and medium sized websites.
It employs open AI's Chat, API,specifically the GPT-4 oh mini
(01:03):
model to craft individualizedmessages for each targeted site.
this customization likely contributedto the messages slipping past filters
designed to block identical content.
The spammers also implemented techniquesto bypass capture systems, which
are designed to distinguish betweenhuman users and automated bots.
(01:24):
By mimicking legitimate user behavior andutilizing proxy services, Akira Bot was
able to evade these protective measures.
Upon being alerted to this misuse,OpenAI revoked the spammers account,
but the activity had been alreadypersisting for several months.
This incident underscores thechallenges in proactively detecting
(01:44):
and preventing the malicioususe of advanced language models.
What did it take to getpast open AI's guardrails?
Well, here's the prompt.
You are a helpful assistant thatgenerates marketing messages, The
exploitation of AI tools like ChatGPT for generating personalized spam
highlights the evolving tactics ofcyber criminals and the need for
(02:07):
continuous advancements in cybersecuritymeasures to counteract these threats.
The US office of the Comptroller of thecurrency, OCC reported a cybersecurity
breach involving unauthorized access toemails of its executives and employees.
This was discovered on February 11th,and the breach was publicly disclosed
(02:30):
approximately two weeks later.
The compromised emails containedhighly sensitive information concerning
the financial condition of federallyregulated financial institutions.
The OCC attributed the breach tolongstanding organizational and
structural vulnerabilities within itsinformation technology infrastructure.
In response, the agency initiated acomprehensive review of its IT security
(02:53):
policies and procedures to enhance thedefenses against future cyber threats
acting Controller of the currency.
Rodney E Hood emphasized the need foraccountability regarding the system
failures that permitted the breach.
Specific details about the exploitedvulnerabilities and the identity
of the perpetrators have not beendisclosed, but Bloomberg reported that
(03:15):
the hackers had access to more than.
150,000 emails from June,2023 until earlier this year.
The compromised information isparticularly sensitive as it
pertains to the financial health ofinstitutions regulated by the OCC.
Unauthorized access to suchdata could have significant
(03:36):
implications for the stabilityand trust in the financial sector.
The OCC has not provided further specificson the nature of the data accessed
or the methods used by the attackers.
As for whom Mastermindof the incident, our own.
David Shipley said in an interviewthat whoever it is is really, really
audacious to go after the Departmentof the Treasury, and he reminds
(04:00):
us that this is where the SecretService Lives and the Secret Service
investigates financial cyber crime.
Shipley goes on to say, in his inimitablefashion, you are poking one of the
best resourced bears on the planet.
But that should tell you something.
Someone felt bold enough to pull this offand pulled it off for a long time, and
(04:21):
that says Shipley should scare people.
Frankly, we hope the bear pokes back aspart of what was termed operation end
game, international law enforcementagencies have arrested a Burnaby
British Columbia resident accused ofoperating a vast network of infected
(04:42):
computers used to distribute malware.
The arrest announced by the RoyalCanadian Mounted Police, the RCMP,
is one of several global actionstargeting not just the creators of
malware services, but also their.
Customers marking a major shift inhow cybercrime could be prosecuted.
(05:03):
Operation End Game is a sweeping jointeffort involving Canada, the United
States, and five European countries.
Authorities have focused ondismantling major malware loaders,
automated systems that deliverransomware and other malicious
tools, but now they're going further.
Her investigators have started chargingindividuals who used services like the
(05:24):
smoke loader botnet to deploy attacks.
Many of you will know this butfor those who don't, these large
criminal gangs act like franchises.
They develop the tools to use inattacks, and they provide the means to
collect ransoms usually in Bitcoin, butthey rely on a network of individuals
who actually perform the attacks.
(05:46):
They're the front edgeof the attack surface.
And unlike the major gangs who oftenhide in countries that protect them
like Russia or China or others,the individuals that are out there.
Instigating.
These attacks are often withinthe reach of law enforcement.
It's still a major piece of police workto find and prosecute these individuals.
(06:07):
But as Superintendent McIntosh ofthe MP's Federal Policing Cyber
Crime Investigative Team said thisinvestigation is a clear example of
the global reach and cooperation neededto tackle transnational cyber crime.
And before you feel sorry for theseindividuals, the Burnaby suspect
allegedly controlled thousandsof compromised systems that could
(06:29):
be activated to spread malware.
Their operation linked directly intothe broader infrastructure used by cyber
crime networks targeted in endgame.
By pursuing both the suppliersand the users of malware tools,
police hope to shrink the cybercrime ecosystem from both ends.
And the message is clear.
Buying access to these servicescould now land you in the same
(06:52):
legal jeopardy as building them.
this evolution in enforcement couldalter the risk calculation for
anyone considering paying to launcha ransomware or malware campaign.
A new version of the Neptune Rat.
remote access Trojan has surfaced onGitHub with capabilities so destructive
(07:13):
that security experts warn it coulddestroy the Windows operating system.
The malware bypasses standard securitytools, ex filtrates credentials
from hundreds of applications, andincludes ransomware features to boot
According to a report by cybersecurityfirm Cy Firma, the updated Neptune
Rat is now being widely distributedthrough telegram, YouTube, and
(07:38):
underground marketplaces promoted withphrases like the most advanced rat.
The malware includes a crypto clippercredential, Steeler ransomware module,
and real time desktop monitoring.
its credential theft capabilitiesare especially alarming.
It can extract and decrypt savedlogin data from over 270 applications,
(08:00):
including popular chromium basedbrowsers such as Google Chrome, brave
Opera, Yandex, and Komodo Dragon.
The malware scrapes credentials fromlocal storage, decrypts them and transmits
the data to attacker controlled servers.
classifies this version of Neptune Ratas an extremely serious threat due to
(08:22):
its advanced anti analysis featuresand ability to maintain long-term
persistence on infected systems.
Once installed the malware grants,remote control to attackers potentially
leading to total system compromiseor destruction, Compounding concerns.
The public version may be amore stripped down release.
(08:42):
Cyfirma notes hints of a morepowerful variant available behind
a paywall, marketed under theguise of cybersecurity training.
.I haven't been able to dig up great defenses for this rat variant yet, I
presume making sure we're running thebest in endpoint security, uh, and keeping
up to date and watching for more newson this topic is probably a good idea.
(09:05):
If there is someone out there who has moreinformation on this, kindly get in touch.
A critical authenticationbypass vulnerability.
In the auto kit WordPress plugin wasformally known as Sure Triggers is being
actively exploited by hackers, but justmere hours after its public disclosure.
(09:26):
The plugin, which facilitates connectionsbetween various tools like WooCommerce,
MailChimp, and Google Sheets is installedon approximately 100,000 websites, and the
vulnerabilities identified as CVE 20 25 310 2 affects all versions up to 1.0 0.78.
it arises from a missing empty valuecheck in the authenticate user function,
(09:51):
which handles the REST API authentication.
if the plugin's not configured withan API key, the secret key remains
empty, allowing attackers to sendan empty st underscore authorization
header to gain unauthorizedaccess to protected API endpoints.
This flaw enables the creationof a new administrator account
(10:11):
without authentication, posing asignificant risk of site takeover.
Wordfence.
a WordPress security firm reported theissue to the plugin vendor on April
3rd, leading to the release of a patchedversion 1.0 0.79 on the same day.
Despite the availabilityof the fix, attackers began
(10:31):
exploiting the vulnerabilitywithin hours of its disclosure.
Patch Stack.
Another security platform observedthe first recorded exploitation
attempt just four hours afterthe vulnerability was made.
Public administrators using auto Kitt Suretriggers, plugins are strongly advised to
update to version 1.0 0.79 immediately.
(10:54):
additionally, it's crucial to reviewuser accounts for unauthorized additions,
inspect logs for unexpected activities,and ensure that security settings have not
been altered, prompt action is necessaryto mitigate the risk of unauthorized
access and potential site compromise.
But even if you don't have this plugin,this is an object lesson in how fast
(11:17):
we're moving from announcement toattack in critical vulnerabilities.
Get patching, and that'sour show for today.
You can reach me ateditorial@technewsday.ca.
You can find me on LinkedIn.
Many people do.
Or if you're watching the YouTubeversion of this, you can leave
(11:39):
a comment just under the video.
I'm your host, Jim Love.
Thanks for listening.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com