The Ukrainian CERT-UA (Computer Emergency Response Team) has identified a surge in activity from a threat actor it tracks as UAC-0184 involving attacks targeting Ukrainian military with malware delivered through popular messaging apps and dating sites.

The attacks typically involve social engineering techniques, such as enticing messages with themes like opening executive proceedings or criminal cases, videos of combat actions, or requests for acquaintance via popular platforms.

The perpetrators start communicating with military personnel, eventually sending them a file (archive) asking to help open or process it.

The threat actor employs a range of software in their malicious activities, including both commercial programs and open-source tools, including IDAT (HijackLoader, Shadowladder, Ghostpulse), RemcosRAT, Viottokeyloager, Xworm, Sigtop, and Tusc.

The UAC-0184 group is known for its targeting members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in an attempt to gain access to their computers and steal sensitive documents and data from messaging apps.

In January, the threat actor was observed using phishing lures linked to themes of war and military operations to deploy the RemcosRAT and ReverSessh malware.