Published on: 2025-03-28

Intelligence Report: Thousands of websites have now been hijacked by this devious and growing malicious scheme – TechRadar

1. BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front)

A large-scale cyber campaign has compromised thousands of websites, redirecting users to malicious pages serving malware and promoting fake gambling platforms. This campaign, believed to be linked to a threat actor using the “megalayer” exploit, has grown fourfold in recent months. Immediate actions are required to audit website security and block malicious domains to mitigate risks.

2. Detailed Analysis

The following structured analytic techniques have been applied for this analysis:

General Analysis

The campaign involves the hijacking of websites through iframe injection, displaying overlays that impersonate legitimate websites. The threat actor, likely operating from a Mandarin-speaking region, uses obfuscation tactics to evade detection. The compromised websites redirect users to gambling pages branded under “kaiyun,” indicating a targeted approach towards Chinese-speaking audiences. Security researchers emphasize the importance of regular code audits and firewall rules to block associated domains.

3. Implications and Strategic Risks

The widespread nature of this campaign poses significant risks to national security and economic interests. The redirection of legitimate traffic to malicious sites can lead to data breaches, identity theft, and financial losses. Additionally, the use of gambling platforms as a front for malware distribution could have broader implications for regional stability, particularly in areas with strict regulations on online gambling.

4. Recommendations and Outlook

Recommendations:

• Conduct comprehensive security audits of websites to identify and patch vulnerabilities.
• Implement firewall rules to block known malicious domains associated with the campaign.
• Enhance public-private partnerships to share threat intelligence and improve collective defense mechanisms.
• Encourage the development and deployment of advanced threat detection and response technologies.

Outlook:

Best-case scenario: Rapid identification and mitigation of vulnerabilities lead to a significant reduction in compromised websites, minimizing the campaign’s impact.

Worst-case scenario: Failure to address the vulnerabilities results in further expansion of the campaign, causing widespread disruption and financial losses.

Most likely scenario: Incremental improvements in security measures reduce the campaign’s growth, but ongoing vigilance is required to prevent future threats.

5. Key Individuals and Entities

The report mentions the following individuals and entities:

• Sead – A journalist based in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, who has reported on the campaign.
• TransUnion – A credit monitoring service mentioned in the context of identity theft protection.
• Kaiyun – The brand associated with the gambling platforms used in the campaign.