Tracking FileFix, Shadow Vector, and SideWinder

SUMMARY :

This intelligence report details collaborative research between Acronis Threat Research Unit and VirusTotal on three emerging cyber threats. FileFix, a variant of ClickFix, uses malicious websites to trick victims into running commands copied to their clipboard. Shadow Vector targets Colombian users with SVG images disguised as court summonses containing links to malicious payloads. SideWinder, a South Asian threat actor, continues to exploit old vulnerabilities in document-based attacks on government and defense entities. The report highlights the use of VirusTotal's platform for threat hunting, including content searching, metadata filtering, and YARA rule creation to track these campaigns and uncover their tactics and infrastructure.

OPENCTI LABELS :

colombia,filefix,south asia,svg,clickfix,virustotal,yara,cve-2017-11882,cve-2017-0199,clipboard manipulation,document-based attacks,shadow vector


AI COMMENTARY :

1. Introduction The collaborative efforts of the Acronis Threat Research Unit and VirusTotal have shed light on three emerging cyber threats that demand immediate attention. As adversaries innovate, security teams must refine their tactics to stay ahead of malicious operators. This report delves into FileFix, Shadow Vector, and SideWinder, illustrating how threat intelligence platforms—particularly VirusTotal—play a pivotal role in discovering and mitigating these campaigns.

2. FileFix: Clipboard Manipulation and Web-Based Deception FileFix, a deceptive variant of the ClickFix family, leverages malicious websites to trick unsuspecting victims into executing harmful commands. By prompting users to copy text to their clipboard under the guise of benign instructions, FileFix deceives them into pasting and running commands in their terminal or command prompt. This approach circumvents traditional detection mechanisms, demonstrating how simple clipboard manipulation can yield elevated privileges and widespread compromise in enterprise environments.

3. Shadow Vector: SVG Lures Targeting Colombian Users Shadow Vector campaigns exploit social engineering by sending victims SVG images disguised as official court summonses. These scalable vector graphics appear legitimate but contain embedded links that download malicious payloads when clicked. Colombian citizens have been the primary targets, with attackers adapting legal-themed lures to increase trust. Once the payload executes, operators can deploy backdoors, harvest credentials, and pivot deeper into organizational networks.

4. SideWinder: Exploiting Legacy Document Vulnerabilities in South Asia SideWinder, a threat actor active across South Asia, continues to weaponize well-known Microsoft Office flaws such as CVE-2017-11882 and CVE-2017-0199. Their document-based attacks typically masquerade as official communications from government or defense entities. When recipients open the malicious document, SideWinder’s code exploits outdated libraries and installs remote access tools that facilitate espionage and data exfiltration. The persistence of these campaigns underlines the critical need for patch management and legacy software mitigation strategies.

5. Leveraging VirusTotal for Proactive Threat Hunting VirusTotal’s platform empowers researchers to unearth indicators of compromise across vast datasets. Content search capabilities enable detection of known YARA rules and clipboard-manipulating scripts, while metadata filtering isolates files by geolocation, file type, and observed malicious behaviors. Analysts can refine search queries to track Shadow Vector’s unique SVG payloads or SideWinder’s exploitation of CVE-2017-0199. Crafting custom YARA rules further automates discovery, correlating infrastructure and tactics to reveal the full scope of these threat actors’ campaigns.

6. Conclusion Understanding FileFix, Shadow Vector, and SideWinder is essential for any organization seeking to strengthen its security posture. By combining detailed threat intelligence from Acronis Threat Research Unit with VirusTotal’s powerful analysis tools, defenders can detect emerging threats faster, respond more effectively, and anticipate adversary tactics. Continued collaboration and proactive threat hunting remain the cornerstone of resilient defenses in an ever-evolving cyber landscape.


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Tracking FileFix, Shadow Vector, and SideWinder