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Reports](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/trend-reports/) * [Vulnerabilities](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/vulnerabilities/) * ![Tags Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-tags-grey.svg) Tags: * [CVE-2014-6332](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/cve-2014-6332/) * [CVE-2016-0189](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/cve-2016-0189/) * [EK](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/ek/) * [Exploit kit](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/exploit-kit/) * [KaiXin](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/kaixin/) * [Rig](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/rig/) * [Sundown](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/sundown/) * [![Download Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-download.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42-the-old-and-new-current-trends-in-web-based-threats/?pdf=download&lg=en&_wpnonce=279fa6c5e6 "Click here to 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We will first describe statistical information about CVEs, malicious URLs and Exploit Kits (EKs), then discuss the current life cycle of these web-based threats, and wrap up with two case studies about evolving EKs and a cryptocurrency miner. Statistics analysis **CVEs** In the first quarter of 2018, we found 1583 malicious URLs across 496 different domains. Attackers used at least 8 old and public vulnerabilities as shown in Figure 1. The Top 3 CVEs used are 1. [CVE-2014-6332](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2014-6332): exploited by 774 malicious URLs 2. [CVE-2016-0189](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-0189): exploited by 219 malicious URLs 3. [CVE-2015-5122](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2015-5122): exploited by 85 malicious URLs. The first two are vulnerabilities with Microsoft Internet Explorer's VBScript, and the last one is an Adobe Flash Player vulnerability discovered by the Hacking Team and part of the July 2015 data leak. The exploit source code of these top 3 can easily be found on the internet. ![elink\_1](https://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/elink_1.png) *Figure* *1* .*CVE statistics* In addition to these top three some additional notable findings in our CVE statistics. We found attackers targeting very old vulnerabilities in Microsoft Internet Explorer, such as [CVE-2008-4844](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2008-4844) and [CVE-2009-0075](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2009-0075). According to statistics from netmarketshare\[.\]com, there are still 6.55% of users using Windows XP and 3.17% using old versions of Internet Explorer (IE6, IE7, IE8, IE9, IE10) as shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3. ![elink\_2](https://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/elink_2.png) *Figure* *2* .*Operating System share by version on March 2018* ![elink\_3](https://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/elink_3.png) *Figure* *3* .*Browser share by version on Mar 2018* Users still using old versions of web browsers, flash players, or unpatched operating systems are very vulnerable to these attacks, particulary because they are unprotected against both old and new vulnerabilities. URL statistics We found 496 malicious domains serving these exploits hosted across 27 different countries/regions. The Top 4 are: 1. United States: 257 domains 2. China : 106 domains 3. Hong Kong: 41 domains 4. Russia: 20 domains We created a heat map for all the malicious domains as shown in Figure 4 and the exact number of malicious domains for each country are in Table 1. ![elink\_4](https://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/elink_4.png) *Figure* *4* .*Malicious domain heat map* |-----------------------|---------------------------------| | **Countries/Regions** | **Number of malicious domains** | | Turkey | 2 | | Italy | 3 | | Panama | 1 | | France | 8 | | Georgia | 2 | | Argentina | 1 | | Israel | 1 | | Australia | 1 | | Singapore | 1 | | Slovenia | 1 | | China | 106 | | Thailand | 2 | | Germany | 12 | | Hong Kong | 41 | | Spain | 1 | | Ukraine | 1 | | Netherlands | 13 | | United States | 257 | | Japan | 3 | | Switzerland | 1 | | Russia | 20 | | Romania | 1 | | India | 2 | | United Kingdom | 3 | | Korea | 9 | | Hungary | 1 | | Taiwan | 2 | *Table 1. Malicious domain countries and numbers* Exploit Kit Statistics Of the 1583 URLs malicious URLs, 1284 malicious URLs are EK-related. We found Sundown and Rig EKs are slowing down not only in the number of vulnerabilities used but also in how often they are upgraded. However, KaiXin EK is still evolving. As we can see in Figure 5, below, KaiXin takes the lead when compared with Sundown and Rig. KaiXin was discovered in [2012](https://isc.sans.edu/forums/diary/Recent+example+of+KaiXin+exploit+kit/20827/) and became more and more active according our observations. The most exploited vulnerabilities in KaiXin are [CVE-2016-0189](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-0189) and [CVE-2014-6322](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2014-6332). We saw the very old EK Sinowal was also active with one malicious URL. ![elink\_6](https://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/elink_6.png) *Figure* *5* .*Exploit Kit statistics* Life Cycle of Web Threats All of the malicious URLs were tagged as malicious when we first detected them. On April 11, 2018, we reviewed all 1583 malicious URLs from the first quarter of 2018 and found 54 domains which didn't bind to a valid IP address which are in Figure 6, below. Among the 496 domains, by April only 145 domains were still alive, and of the 1583 malicious URLs only 375 were still alive. It means at least 10% (54 out of 496) domains are registered by attackers to be used to serve exploits specially, among the remaining 442 domains approximately 66% (297 out of 442) domains did not serve exploits. The 54 malicious domains are shown in Figure 6 below. ![elink\_7](https://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/elink_7.png) *Figure* *6* .*Invalid domains* It also shows the life cycle of around 23% (375 out of 1583) of malicious URLs are live for over 2 months. We also drew a new malicious domain heat map for these 375 domains, shown in Figure 7, with China and U.S. having the highest numbers. The exact numbers are shown in Table 2. ![elink\_8](https://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/elink_8.png) *Figure* *7* .*Live malicious domain heat map* |-----------------------|---------------------------------| | **Countries/Regions** | **Number of malicious domains** | | France | 4 | | Hungary | 1 | | China | 37 | | Hong Kong | 3 | | Italy | 3 | | Spain | 1 | | Taiwan | 1 | | United States | 68 | | Argentina | 1 | | Germany | 5 | | Russia | 4 | | Romania | 1 | | Korea | 3 | | Singapore | 1 | | Thailand | 1 | | Turkey | 1 | | Netherlands | 5 | | Japan | 3 | | United Kingdom | 2 | *Table 2. Live malicious domain countries/regions and numbers* Case studies **EK evolving** Although EKs are not as active as previously, we are still seeing EKs evolving. KaiXin EK used the original exploit code of [CVE-2016-0189](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-0189) without any obfuscation when we first detected it in 2016 as showed in Figure 8. ![elink\_10](https://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/elink_10.png) *Figure* *8* .*First version of CVE-2016-0189 used in KaiXin EK* Several months later, the author(s) of KaiXin EK added 2 layers of obfuscation for [CVE-2016-0189](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-0189). The first layer's obfuscation is unescape and document.write as showed in Figure 9. ![elink\_11](https://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/elink_11.png) *Figure* *9* .*First layer obfuscation of CVE-2016-0189 used in KaiXin EK* In the second layer obfuscation, we can see they used a VB array to store the encoded real triggerBug function and payload in Figure 10. Everytime they only needed to change the offset (here is 599), then the VB array is different, which is used to evade content-based detections like IDS/IPS. ![elink\_12](https://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/elink_12.png) *Figure* *10* .*Second layer of obfuscation for CVE-2016-0189 used in KaiXin EK* After the de-obfuscation, we can see the real payload and source exploit code in Figure 11. ![elink\_13](https://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/elink_13.png) *Figure* *11* .*De-obfuscation of CVE-2016-0189 used in KaiXin EK* Later, KaiXin EK also embedded a Flash vulnerability ([CVE-2015-5122](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=cve-2015-5122)) as shown in Figure 12, and used UTF-16 encoding to evade detection as showed in Figure 13. ![elink\_14](https://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/elink_14.png) *Figure* *12* .*Combination of CVE-2015-5122 and CVE-2016-0189 in KaiXin EK* ![elink\_15](https://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/elink_15.png) *Figure 13. UTF-16 encoding of CVE-2016-0189 in KaiXin EK* Cryptocurrency Miner Usually web-based threats are spread via malicious domains, however we found a malicious link (hxxp://210.21.11\[.\]205/HDCRMWEBSERVICE/bin/aspshell\[.\]html) hosting malicious content on the IP address instead of using a domain in the malicious link. The content of this malicious page is quite straight forward as showed in Figure 14. ![elink\_16](https://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/elink_16.png) *Figure 14. Malicious content shows use of CVE-2014-6332* There are 2 parts in this malicious page. They used document.write to obfuscate the real exploit code in the first part. We can get the plain exploit code through simple de-obfuscation as shown in Figure 15. ![elink\_17](https://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/elink_17.png) *Figure 15. de-obfuscation of CVE-2014-6332* This is [CVE-2014-6332](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=cve-2014-6332) which used an Out of Boundary (OOB) vulnerability in VBArray. If the attack succeeds, the VB code runs custom function runmumaa which generates and executes wmier.vbs that in turn downloads and executes lzdat. as shown in Figure 16 and Figure 17. ![elink\_18](https://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/elink_18.png) *Figure 16. The payload of CVE-2014-6332* ![elink\_19](https://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/elink_19.png) *Figure 17. wmier.vbs* Another example of EK which used CVE-2016-6332, this time of a cryptocurrency miner hosted on a domain, there is a domain "twlife\[.\]tlgins\[.\]com\[.\]tw" which hosted the cryptocurrency miner payload "wu\[.\]exe" called by the custom VB function runmumaa. This domain appears to be a legitmate but compromised domain belonging to a Taiwan insurance company and likely compromised by attackers with a Struts vulnerability as shown in Figure 18. ![elink\_20](https://blog.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/elink_20.png) *Figure 18. malicious domain information* The second part in the exploit code is a cryptocurrency miner. It used a public JavaScript library of cryptocurrency miner named CoinHive and we can see the user is "John-doe". More and more web Trojans are used to mine cryptocurrencies recently. More information about CoinHive, please see another [blog](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/resources/blogs/unit42-unauthorized-coin-mining-browser.html) by Unit 42. Summary Based our observation from ELINK statistics in first quarter 2018, we found that the most active EK is becoming KaiXin and it is still evolving with more layers obfuscation and adding a cryptocurrency miner. The traditional EKs, Rig and Sundown, are still alive but not too much updating and using some old exploits. Besides, not all of web-based threats are from EK, around 20% of the malicious URLs are not from an EK family and using some public exploits. All of malicious URLs detected from ELINK will be blocked by Palo Alto Firewalls, we have all of these exploits covered with IPS signature and also other Palo Alto Networks products or service like URL filtering and Threat Prevention will protect our customers from these kinds of attacks. At last, to protect yourselves from most of web Trojans, we recommend users to use the latest software and patch your system in time. IOCs **Malicious domains:** www.primoprime\[.\]com www.adultcre\[.\]online apple-id\[.\]vip iz-icloud\[.\]cn icloud-appd\[.\]cn www.icloud-mayiphone\[.\]com theshoppingoffers\[.\]trade casino-lemnde\[.\]online tdpaas\[.\]com техталенто\[.\]рф www.icloud-fneiphone\[.\]com iosny\[.\]cn gavkingate\[.\]info icloud\[.\]iosny\[.\]cn www.appleid-ifane\[.\]com app-id-itunes\[.\]vip bugi1man\[.\]info www.apple-ifngiphone\[.\]com www.adultacream\[.\]online www.applefind-iphone\[.\]com www.icloud-iphoneifed\[.\]com www.appid\[.\]pxret-ios\[.\]cn www.iphone\[.\]firds\[.\]cn com-iosvnt\[.\]cn appie-pd\[.\]top prestige-rent\[.\]eu netrsy\[.\]com icloud\[.\]com-iosrnx\[.\]cn appie-yd\[.\]top www.icloud\[.\]com-ioseat\[.\]cn casinosmart\[.\]online appleid-iphone\[.\]com www.aducrea\[.\]online apple-icloud-idcos\[.\]top ggga\[.\]xyz www.apple-ifena\[.\]com 24vipcpsins\[.\]online www.apple-lnciphone\[.\]com www.icloud\[.\]com.iosny\[.\]cn www.icloud\[.\]com-ioslga\[.\]cn apple-icloud-iphone\[.\]cn недостаточно\[.\]рф icloud-mybook\[.\]com\[.\]cn www.apple\[.\]com.iosny\[.\]cn lookogo\[.\]com www.app-id-itunes\[.\]vip www.iphone\[.\]id\[.\]firds\[.\]cn com-iosrnx\[.\]cn www.apple-ifoniphone\[.\]com www.apple-icloud-ac\[.\]cn appie-td\[.\]top tvbsports\[.\]nl icloud-id\[.\]co pixelko\[.\]info Back to top ### Tags * [CVE-2014-6332](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/cve-2014-6332/ "CVE-2014-6332") * [CVE-2016-0189](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/cve-2016-0189/ "CVE-2016-0189") * [EK](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/ek/ "EK") * [Exploit kit](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/exploit-kit/ "exploit kit") * [KaiXin](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/kaixin/ "KaiXin") * [Rig](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/rig/ "Rig") * [Sundown](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/sundown/ "Sundown") [Threat Research Center](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com "Threat Research") [Next: Phishing in a Nutshell: January -- March 2018](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42-phishing-nutshell-january-march-2018/ "Phishing in a Nutshell: January – March 2018") ### Related Articles * [Network Attack Trends: Internet of Threats (November 2020-January 2021)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/network-attack-trends-winter-2020/ "article - table of contents") * [Script-Based Malware: A New Attacker Trend on Internet Explorer](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/script-based-malware/ "article - table of contents") * [3 Vulnerabilities Found on AvertX IP Cameras](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/avertx-ip-cameras-vulnerabilities/ "article - table of contents") ## Related Resources ![Pictorial representation of post-exploitation identity misuse in SPIFFE/SPIRE. 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A close-up of a computer circuit board with a central microchip is depicted. Red digital data streams in the form of glowing binary numbers and arrows appear to flow in and out of the chip, symbolizing data processing and transfer. The scene is illuminated with a futuristic blue and red glow.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/04_Malware_Category_1920x900-6-786x368.jpg) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/icon-threat-research.svg)Threat Research](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/threat-research/) September 9, 2026 [#### Untracked Nightmares: The Threats Hiding Behind Commodity Infrastructure](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/ppi-network-malware-campaign-analysis/) * [ARKTunnel](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/arktunnel/ "ARKTunnel") * [C2](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/c2/ "C2") * [CL-CRI-1171](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/cl-cri-1171/ "CL-CRI-1171") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/ppi-network-malware-campaign-analysis/ "Untracked Nightmares: The Threats Hiding Behind Commodity Infrastructure") ![Pictorial representation of attackers using AI tools to target Latin American organizations. A vibrant cityscape with silhouettes of numerous people walking along a bustling street. The scene is illuminated by bright urban lights and digital-like particles, creating a dynamic and futuristic atmosphere.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/AdobeStock_768915868-2-1-786x373.jpg) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/icon-threat-research.svg)Threat Research](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/threat-research/) September 3, 2026 [#### Attackers Expose Ongoing AI Tool Use Targeting Organizations in Latin America](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/ai-tool-use-targeting-latam-orgs/) * [Agentic AI](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/agentic-ai/ "Agentic AI") * [ChatGPT](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/chatgpt/ "ChatGPT") * [CL-CRI-1131](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/cl-cri-1131/ "CL-CRI-1131") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/ai-tool-use-targeting-latam-orgs/ "Attackers Expose Ongoing AI Tool Use Targeting Organizations in Latin America") ![Pictorial representation of vishing campaigns in Microsoft Teams. A digital image of a skull formed by blue binary code on a black background, with scattered ones and zeros and digital noise, symbolizes how stealthy prompt injection attacks can exploit AI logic to bypass security controls.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/01_Malware_Category_1920x900-5-786x368.jpg) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/icon-threat-research.svg)Threat Research](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/threat-research/) August 31, 2026 [#### Spring Ring: An Inside Look at Voice Phishing Campaigns in Microsoft Teams](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/spring-ring-voice-phishing-campaigns/) * [Cloaked Ursa](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/cloaked-ursa/ "Cloaked Ursa") * [Entra ID](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/entra-id/ "Entra ID") * [Microsoft Teams](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/microsoft-teams/ "Microsoft Teams") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/spring-ring-voice-phishing-campaigns/ "Spring Ring: An Inside Look at Voice Phishing Campaigns in Microsoft Teams") ![Pictorial representation of AI-enabled malware. A vibrant digital interface displaying various icons and graphs, resembling a futuristic network or data analysis dashboard. The scene is illuminated with glowing lights and patterns.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AdobeStock_1270203474-2-1-786x368.png) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/icon-threat-research.svg)Threat Research](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/threat-research/) August 25, 2026 [#### The State of AI-Enabled Malware August 2026: From Brand Abuse to Agentic Execution](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/ai-enabled-malware-analysis/) * [Backdoor](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/backdoor/ "backdoor") * [Bitcoin](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/bitcoin/ "Bitcoin") * [DLL hijacking](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/dll-hijacking/ "DLL hijacking") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/ai-enabled-malware-analysis/ "The State of AI-Enabled Malware August 2026: From Brand Abuse to Agentic Execution") ![Pictorial representation of identity abuse through trusted communication channels. Close-up view of a digital screen displaying a glitched and pixelated image of a skull-like shape.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/02_Malware_Category_1920x900-2-786x368.jpg) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/icon-threat-research.svg)Threat Research](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/threat-research/) August 20, 2026 [#### Identity Abuse Through Trusted Communication Channels](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/communication-channel-identity-risks/) * [Authentication](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/authentication/ "authentication") * [Identity theft](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/identity-theft/ "identity theft") * [Malware](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/malware/ "malware") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/communication-channel-identity-risks/ "Identity Abuse Through Trusted Communication Channels") ![Pictorial representation of Kimwolf botnet malware family. Digital screen with a warning sign reading "Malware." The background features lines of computer code and graphics, creating a sense of cybersecurity threat.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/07_Malware_Category_1920x900-3-786x368.jpg) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/icon-threat-research.svg)Threat Research](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/threat-research/) August 11, 2026 [#### Kimwolf v7: An Evolution of the Kimwolf Botnet](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/kimwolf-v7-botnet-malware/) * [Android APK](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/android-apk/ "Android APK") * [Ethereum](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/ethereum/ "Ethereum") * [HTTP](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/http/ "HTTP") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/kimwolf-v7-botnet-malware/ "Kimwolf v7: An Evolution of the Kimwolf Botnet") ![Pictorial representatiom pf Aeternum's blockchain C2. A close-up of a computer circuit board with a central microchip is depicted. Red digital data streams in the form of glowing binary numbers and arrows appear to flow in and out of the chip. The scene is illuminated with a futuristic blue and red glow.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/04_Malware_Category_1920x900-4-786x368.jpg) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/icon-threat-research.svg)Threat Research](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/threat-research/) August 10, 2026 [#### The Permanent Threat: Analyzing Aeternum's Blockchain-Based C2 Operations and Communications](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/aeternum-blockchain-c2-analysis/) * [Aeternum](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/aeternum/ "Aeternum") * [Infection chain](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/infection-chain/ "infection chain") * [JSON](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/json/ "JSON") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/aeternum-blockchain-c2-analysis/ "The Permanent Threat: Analyzing Aeternum’s Blockchain-Based C2 Operations and Communications") ![Pictorial representation of ChainDrop, a self-propagating npm worm. An artistic depiction of a digital workspace featuring an open laptop with a red virus on the screen.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/03_Malware_Category_1920x900-7-786x368.jpg) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/top-threats.svg)High Profile Threats](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/top-cyberthreats/) August 6, 2026 [#### ChainDrop: Inside a Self-Propagating npm Worm](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/chaindrop-npm-worm-analysis/) * [Blockchain](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/blockchain/ "blockchain") * [ChainDrop](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/chaindrop/ "ChainDrop") * [Claude code](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/claude-code/ "Claude code") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/chaindrop-npm-worm-analysis/ "ChainDrop: Inside a Self-Propagating npm Worm") ![Pictorial representation of Token-jacking. A person types on a laptop with multiple digital interface elements projected, including an "AI" icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/AdobeStock_1246251272-2-786x369.jpg) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/icon-threat-research.svg)Threat Research](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/threat-research/) August 6, 2026 [#### Token Jacking: Cybercriminals Could Be Stealing Your AI Resources](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/ai-token-jacking/) * [AI API](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/ai-api/ "AI API") * [AI gateway](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/ai-gateway/ "AI gateway") * [API keys](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/api-keys/ "API keys") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/ai-token-jacking/ "Token Jacking: Cybercriminals Could Be Stealing Your AI Resources") * ![Slider arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/slider-arrow-left.svg) * ![Slider arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/slider-arrow-left.svg) ![Close button](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/close-modal.svg) ![Enlarged Image]() ![Newsletter](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/unit42-footer-subscribe-desktop.png) ![UNIT 42 Small Logo](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/palo-alto-logo-small.svg) Get updates from Unit 42 ## Peace of mind comes from staying ahead of threats. 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