Threat Overview

The Security Operations Center (SOC) has identified a new and sophisticated threat campaign orchestrated by the financially motivated threat group known as Venom Spider. This campaign, detailed in a recent report published by AlienVault on May 3, 2025, highlights the evolving tactics employed by cybercriminals to infiltrate corporate networks.

Venom Spider’s latest campaign targets corporate HR departments with fake resumes containing the More_eggs backdoor. The group leverages spear-phishing emails and legitimate job platforms to apply for real jobs, making their approach highly deceptive. This method allows them to bypass traditional security measures and gain initial access to an organization’s network.

The More_eggs backdoor is a versatile tool capable of stealing credentials, customer data, and intellectual property. The threat group has incorporated several upgrades into this campaign, including server-side polymorphism and advanced evasion techniques. These enhancements make the malware more difficult to detect and analyze, increasing the likelihood of successful infiltration.

Attack Chain

The attack chain employed by Venom Spider involves multiple stages designed to evade detection and maximize impact:

1. Spear-Phishing Emails: The campaign begins with carefully crafted spear-phishing emails targeting HR departments. These emails contain fake resumes that appear legitimate but are laced with malicious code.
2. Obfuscated JavaScript: Upon opening the resume, obfuscated JavaScript is executed, which initiates the next stage of the attack.
3. LNK Files: The JavaScript triggers the download and execution of an LNK file, a shortcut that appears harmless but contains embedded commands to execute malicious payloads.
4. Dropper: The LNK file executes a dropper that generates polymorphic code. This code is designed to change its appearance each time it is executed, making it challenging for traditional antivirus solutions to detect.
5. Backdoor Installation: Finally, the More_eggs backdoor is installed on the victim’s system, providing Venom Spider with persistent access and the ability to exfiltrate sensitive data.

Recommendations

To mitigate the risks associated with this campaign, organizations should implement the following recommendations:

1. Employee Training: Conduct regular phishing awareness training for all employees, with a particular focus on HR departments that frequently handle attachments from unknown senders.
2. Email Filtering: Deploy advanced email filtering solutions to detect and block spear-phishing attempts before they reach end-users.
3. Endpoint Protection: Ensure that all endpoints are equipped with up-to-date antivirus software capable of detecting polymorphic malware.
4. Network Monitoring: Implement robust network monitoring tools to identify and respond to suspicious activities in real-time.
5. Incident Response Plan: Develop and regularly update an incident response plan to quickly contain and mitigate the impact of a successful attack.

Conclusion

The Venom Spider campaign underscores the importance of staying vigilant against evolving cyber threats. By understanding the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) employed by threat actors, organizations can better prepare and defend themselves against sophisticated attacks. Regular training, advanced security solutions, and proactive monitoring are essential components of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy.

For more detailed information on this campaign, please refer to the following external references:

1. Arctic Wolf Labs Blog: Venom Spider Uses Server-Side Polymorphism to Weave a Web Around Victims
   URL: https://arcticwolf.com/resources/blog/venom-spider-uses-server-side-polymorphism-to-weave-a-web-around-victims

2. AlienVault OTX Pulse
   URL: https://otx.alienvault.com/pulse/681587bd6ded7af256a18a26