SparrowDoor Backdoor Variants Target US and Mexico
Cybersecurity researchers have identified two new, more sophisticated variants of the SparrowDoor backdoor used by the China-linked threat group FamousSparrow. These updated malware versions, discovered during July 2024 attacks on organizations in the U.S. and Mexico, feature enhanced capabilities like modularity and parallel command execution, alongside improved anti-detection techniques. This campaign also marked the first observed use of the ShadowPad malware by FamousSparrow, a tool commonly associated with other Chinese APT actors, suggesting potential resource sharing. The attacks exploited vulnerabilities in outdated Microsoft systems to deploy these backdoors, enabling persistent access, command execution, and data theft. Organizations are urged to update systems and implement advanced security measures to defend against this evolving threat.
