A sophisticated phishing campaign impersonated Adobe’s branding to deceive users into submitting their credentials via malicious HTML attachments disguised as procurement documents (e.g., RFQs or invoices). The attack leveraged JavaScript embedded within the files to harvest login credentials, IP addresses, and device metadata, exfiltrating the data to attacker-controlled Telegram bots via HTTP POST requests. The operation bypassed traditional security controls by avoiding suspicious URLs or external hosting, instead using encrypted payloads (CryptoJS AES) and anti-forensics techniques (blocking keyboard shortcuts, browser tools). Victims, including employees across industries like IT, government, and manufacturing in Central/Eastern Europe, were tricked into re-entering credentials, increasing success rates. While no direct data breach of Adobe’s systems was confirmed, the campaign exploited Adobe’s trusted brand to steal user credentials at scale, risking downstream account takeovers, fraud, or lateral attacks within organizations. The modular design allowed rapid adaptation to other brands (e.g., Microsoft, DHL), amplifying the threat’s reach.
Source: https://gbhackers.com/phishing-scam-2/
Adobe cybersecurity rating report: https://www.rankiteo.com/company/adobe
"id": "ado4393043111125",
"linkid": "adobe",
"type": "Cyber Attack",
"date": "11/2025",
"severity": "60",
"impact": "2",
"explanation": "Attack limited on finance or reputation"{'affected_entities': [{'industry': ['Agriculture',
'Automotive',
'Construction',
'Media',
'Government',
'Retail',
'Manufacturing',
'IT'],
'location': ['Central Europe',
'Eastern Europe',
'Czech Republic',
'Slovakia',
'Hungary',
'Germany'],
'type': 'Organizations (Targeted)'}],
'attack_vector': ['Email (HTML Attachments)',
'Fake Login Prompts',
'Telegram Bot API for Exfiltration'],
'customer_advisories': ['Verify login prompts carefully, especially in emails '
'with attachments.',
'Report suspicious emails to IT/security teams '
'immediately.',
'Enable MFA on all accounts to reduce credential '
'theft impact.'],
'data_breach': {'data_encryption': ['CryptoJS AES Encryption (Sample 1)'],
'data_exfiltration': ['Via Telegram Bot API (HTTP POST '
'Requests)'],
'personally_identifiable_information': ['Email Addresses',
'Potentially Linked '
'PII via Compromised '
'Accounts'],
'sensitivity_of_data': 'High (Credentials enable account '
'hijacking and lateral movement)',
'type_of_data_compromised': ['Credentials (Email/Password '
'Combinations)',
'Device Metadata (IP Address, '
'User-Agent)']},
'description': 'A recent investigation by Cyble Research and Intelligence '
'Labs (CRIL) uncovered a sophisticated phishing campaign '
'exploiting globally recognized and regional brands (e.g., '
'Adobe, Microsoft, DHL) to steal user credentials. The '
'operation delivers HTML attachments (e.g., '
'RFQ_4460-INQUIRY.HTML) disguised as procurement documents or '
'invoices, bypassing standard security controls. Victims are '
'tricked into entering credentials via fake login prompts '
'(e.g., Adobe-themed), which are exfiltrated to '
'attacker-controlled Telegram bots via HTTP POST requests. The '
'campaign employs modular toolkits, AES encryption, '
'anti-forensics, and regional/localized branding to maximize '
'reach and evade detection. Targets include industries across '
'Central/Eastern Europe (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, '
'Germany) and sectors like agriculture, automotive, '
'government, and IT.',
'impact': {'brand_reputation_impact': ['Erosion of Trust in Impersonated '
'Brands (Adobe, Microsoft, DHL, etc.)',
'Potential Customer Attrition'],
'data_compromised': ['User Credentials (Email/Password)',
'IP Addresses',
'User-Agent Data'],
'identity_theft_risk': 'High (Stolen credentials enable account '
'hijacking and identity fraud)',
'operational_impact': ['Potential Account Takeovers',
'Follow-on Attacks (e.g., Business Email '
'Compromise)',
'Increased Helpdesk/IT Support Burden']},
'initial_access_broker': {'data_sold_on_dark_web': ['Likely (Stolen '
'credentials often '
'monetized on underground '
'markets)'],
'entry_point': ['Phishing Emails with HTML '
'Attachments'],
'high_value_targets': ['Procurement/Finance Teams '
'(via RFQ/Invoice Lures)',
'Employees with Access to '
'Sensitive Systems']},
'investigation_status': 'Ongoing (Active Campaign)',
'lessons_learned': ['HTML attachments can bypass traditional security '
'controls (e.g., URL filtering).',
'Telegram Bot API abuse complicates detection by '
'decentralizing C2 infrastructure.',
'Brand impersonation with regional/localized templates '
'increases campaign effectiveness.',
'Anti-forensics (e.g., blocking keyboard shortcuts, '
'sandbox evasion) raises analysis difficulty.',
'Modular toolkits enable rapid adaptation to new '
'brands/languages.'],
'motivation': ['Financial Gain (Credential Theft)',
'Data Exfiltration for Dark Web Sales',
'Potential Follow-on Attacks (e.g., Ransomware, BEC)'],
'post_incident_analysis': {'corrective_actions': ['Deploy advanced email '
'security solutions capable '
'of HTML attachment '
'analysis.',
'Implement behavioral '
'analytics to detect '
'credential stuffing '
'attempts post-breach.',
'Establish a '
'cross-functional incident '
'response team for '
'phishing-specific threats.',
'Develop a playbook for '
'Telegram Bot API abuse '
'incidents.'],
'root_causes': ['Over-reliance on perimeter '
'defenses (e.g., URL filtering) '
'that fail to inspect HTML '
'attachments.',
'Lack of user awareness about '
'evolving phishing tactics (e.g., '
'fake login modals).',
'Insufficient monitoring of '
'API-based exfiltration channels '
'(e.g., Telegram Bot traffic).',
'Delayed patching of human '
'vulnerabilities (e.g., trust in '
'branded communications).']},
'recommendations': ['Block HTML attachments at email gateways or quarantine '
'for inspection.',
'Restrict outbound traffic to Telegram API endpoints '
'where possible.',
'Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) to mitigate '
'stolen credential risks.',
'Conduct retroactive reviews of user activity for signs '
'of compromise (e.g., unusual logins).',
'Enhance employee training to recognize sophisticated '
'phishing (e.g., blurred backgrounds, fake login '
'prompts).',
'Deploy advanced threat detection for API-based '
'exfiltration (e.g., Telegram Bot traffic).',
'Monitor dark web/underground forums for leaked '
'credentials tied to impersonated brands.',
'Collaborate with threat intelligence providers (e.g., '
'CRIL) for IOCs and campaign updates.'],
'references': [{'source': 'Cyble Research and Intelligence Labs (CRIL)'}],
'response': {'communication_strategy': ['Public Advisory via Cyble Reports',
'Media Outreach (Google News, '
'LinkedIn, X)'],
'containment_measures': ['Block HTML Attachments at Email '
'Gateway',
'Restrict Access to Telegram API',
'Retroactive Review of User Activity '
'for Compromise Signs'],
'enhanced_monitoring': ['Monitor for Unusual Login Attempts',
'Track Telegram API Traffic'],
'remediation_measures': ['User Training on Evolving Phishing '
'Tactics',
'Enhanced Email Vetting Procedures',
'Integration of Threat Intelligence '
'Feeds'],
'third_party_assistance': ['Cyble Research and Intelligence Labs '
'(CRIL)']},
'stakeholder_advisories': ['Security Teams: Update email filtering rules and '
'monitor Telegram API traffic.',
'Executives: Allocate resources for user training '
'and threat intelligence integration.'],
'title': 'Sophisticated Phishing Campaign Exploiting Global and Regional '
'Brands for Credential Theft via HTML Attachments',
'type': ['Phishing',
'Credential Theft',
'Social Engineering',
'Malware (HTML/JavaScript-based)'],
'vulnerability_exploited': ['Human Trust in Branded Communications',
'Lack of Email Gateway HTML Attachment Blocking',
'Insufficient User Awareness Training']}