• Home
  • Cyber Crime
  • Cyber warfare
  • APT
  • Data Breach
  • Deep Web
  • Digital ID
  • Hacking
  • Hacktivism
  • Intelligence
  • Internet of Things
  • Laws and regulations
  • Malware
  • Mobile
  • Reports
  • Security
  • Social Networks
  • Terrorism
  • ICS-SCADA
  • POLICIES
  • Contact me
MUST READ

Koske, a new AI-Generated Linux malware appears in the threat landscape

 | 

Mitel patches critical MiVoice MX-ONE Auth bypass flaw

 | 

Coyote malware is first-ever malware abusing Windows UI Automation

 | 

SonicWall fixed critical flaw in SMA 100 devices exploited in Overstep malware attacks

 | 

DSPM & AI Are Booming: $17.87B and $4.8T Markets by 2033

 | 

Stealth backdoor found in WordPress mu-Plugins folder

 | 

U.S. CISA adds CrushFTP, Google Chromium, and SysAid flaws to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

 | 

U.S. CISA urges FCEB agencies to fix two Microsoft SharePoint flaws immediately and added them to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

 | 

Sophos fixed two critical Sophos Firewall vulnerabilities

 | 

French Authorities confirm XSS.is admin arrested in Ukraine

 | 

Microsoft linked attacks on SharePoint flaws to China-nexus actors

 | 

Cisco confirms active exploitation of ISE and ISE-PIC flaws

 | 

SharePoint under fire: new ToolShell attacks target enterprises

 | 

CrushFTP zero-day actively exploited at least since July 18

 | 

Hardcoded credentials found in HPE Aruba Instant On Wi-Fi devices

 | 

MuddyWater deploys new DCHSpy variants amid Iran-Israel conflict

 | 

U.S. CISA urges to immediately patch Microsoft SharePoint flaw adding it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

 | 

Microsoft issues emergency patches for SharePoint zero-days exploited in "ToolShell" attacks

 | 

SharePoint zero-day CVE-2025-53770 actively exploited in the wild

 | 

Singapore warns China-linked group UNC3886 targets its critical infrastructure

 | 
  • Home
  • Cyber Crime
  • Cyber warfare
  • APT
  • Data Breach
  • Deep Web
  • Digital ID
  • Hacking
  • Hacktivism
  • Intelligence
  • Internet of Things
  • Laws and regulations
  • Malware
  • Mobile
  • Reports
  • Security
  • Social Networks
  • Terrorism
  • ICS-SCADA
  • POLICIES
  • Contact me
  • Home
  • APT
  • Breaking News
  • Hacking
  • Iran-linked Tortoiseshell APT behind watering hole attacks on shipping and logistics Israeli websites

Iran-linked Tortoiseshell APT behind watering hole attacks on shipping and logistics Israeli websites

Pierluigi Paganini May 25, 2023

Iran-linked threat actor Tortoiseshell targeted shipping, logistics, and financial services companies in Israel with watering hole attacks.

ClearSky Cyber Security uncovered a watering hole attack on at least eight Israeli websites belonging to shipping, logistics, and financial services companies and attributed them with low confidence to the Iran-linked APT group Tortoiseshell (aka TA456 or Imperial Kitten).

The threat actors used a script on the compromised websites to collect preliminary user information.

The malicious JavaScript employed in the watering hole attacks collects data from visitors, including the user’s OS language, IP address, screen resolution, as well as the URL from which the website was visited.

The activity of the APT group was first detailed by Symantec in 2019, the experts analyzed a series of attacks against IT providers in Saudi Arabia and US entities. The expert spotted the Iranian group in 2018, but they speculate that it has been active for a longer time.

Five out of eight compromised websites were hosted by the uPress hosting service, which was hit by a cyber attack carried out by the Iranian group Emennet Pasargad5, “Hackers of Savior”, in 2020.

“uPress”, a hosting service, was attacked in 2020 by the Iranian group Emennet Pasargad5 , “Hackers of Savior”, who defaced thousands of Israeli sites hosted by it.

The collected data were transferred into a JSON file via a POST request to a website under the control of the threat actor.

The experts noticed that the first malicious JavaScript they spotted contains a unique string of text which includes grammatical errors. Looking for this unique string, the researchers were able to find another JavaScript that contains the same code but is used on a different domain.

“The script is downloaded from the malicious website cdnpakage[.]com. Our team discovered that cdnpakage[.]com previously had another SSL certificate related to another domain – globalpneuservices[.]com.” reads the report published by ClearSky. “Using the domain cdnpakage[.]com, additional infected domains were found: tel-bar.co[.]il, aviram.co[.]il.”

Tortoiseshell Israel websites

The attribution to an Iran-linked APT is based on the following evidence:

  • C2 Attribution – The domain jquery-stack[.]online is attributed to TA456 (Tortoiseshell).
  • Attackers employed four domains impersonating the legitimate JavaScript framework jQuery
    by using “jQuery” in their domain names. The trick to use domain names impersonating jQuery was observed in a previous Iranian campaign from 2017.
  • Watering holes have been part of the initial access stage used by Iran-linked APT since at
    least 2017.
  • Iranian threat actors target Israeli websites and attempt to collect data on logistics companies
    associated with shipping and healthcare.
  • Re-use of open-source penetration testing tools that focus on web browsers was seen both in
    an Iranian campaign in 2017 and in this current campaign.

We are in the final!

Please vote for Security Affairs (https://securityaffairs.com/) as the best European Cybersecurity Blogger Awards 2022 – VOTE FOR YOUR WINNERS
Vote for me in the sections where is reported Securityaffairs or my name Pierluigi Paganini

Please nominate Security Affairs as your favorite blog.

Nominate Pierluigi Paganini and Security Affairs here here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepvnj8b7QzMdLh7vWEDQDqohjBUsHyn3x3xRdYGCetwVy2DA/viewform

Follow me on Twitter: @securityaffairs and Facebook and Mastodon

Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs – hacking, Tortoiseshell)


facebook linkedin twitter

Hacking hacking news information security news Israel IT Information Security malware Pierluigi Paganini Security Affairs Security News shipping TortoiseShell watering hole

you might also like

Pierluigi Paganini July 25, 2025
Koske, a new AI-Generated Linux malware appears in the threat landscape
Read more
Pierluigi Paganini July 25, 2025
Mitel patches critical MiVoice MX-ONE Auth bypass flaw
Read more

leave a comment

newsletter

Subscribe to my email list and stay
up-to-date!

    recent articles

    Koske, a new AI-Generated Linux malware appears in the threat landscape

    Malware / July 25, 2025

    Mitel patches critical MiVoice MX-ONE Auth bypass flaw

    Security / July 25, 2025

    Coyote malware is first-ever malware abusing Windows UI Automation

    Malware / July 24, 2025

    SonicWall fixed critical flaw in SMA 100 devices exploited in Overstep malware attacks

    Security / July 24, 2025

    DSPM & AI Are Booming: $17.87B and $4.8T Markets by 2033

    Security / July 24, 2025

    To contact me write an email to:

    Pierluigi Paganini :
    pierluigi.paganini@securityaffairs.co

    LEARN MORE

    QUICK LINKS

    • Home
    • Cyber Crime
    • Cyber warfare
    • APT
    • Data Breach
    • Deep Web
    • Digital ID
    • Hacking
    • Hacktivism
    • Intelligence
    • Internet of Things
    • Laws and regulations
    • Malware
    • Mobile
    • Reports
    • Security
    • Social Networks
    • Terrorism
    • ICS-SCADA
    • POLICIES
    • Contact me

    Copyright@securityaffairs 2024

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
    Cookie SettingsAccept All
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities...
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT