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ZDI-CAN-25373 Windows Shortcut Exploit Abused as Zero-Day in Widespread APT Campaigns

2025-03-18, TrendMicro
https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/25/c/windows-shortcut-zero-day-exploit.html
#EarthImp #EarthKumiho #EarthManticore #LNK #VoidImugi

Contents

Exploits & Vulnerabilities
ZDI-CAN-25373: Windows Shortcut Exploit Abused as Zero-Day in Widespread APT Campaigns
Trend Zero Day Initiative™ (ZDI) uncovered both state-sponsored and cybercriminal groups extensively exploiting ZDI-CAN-25373, a Windows .lnk file vulnerability that enables hidden command execution.
Summary
- Trend Zero Day Initiative™ (ZDI) identified nearly 1,000 malicious .lnk files abusing ZDI-CAN-25373, a vulnerability that allows attackers to execute hidden malicious commands on a victim’s machine by leveraging crafted shortcut files.
- The attacks leverage hidden command line arguments within .lnk files to execute malicious payloads, complicating detection. The exploitation of ZDI-CAN-25373 exposes organizations to significant risks of data theft and cyber espionage.
- The vulnerability has been exploited by state-sponsored APT groups from North Korea, Iran, Russia, and China. Organizations across the government, financial, telecommunications, military, and energy sectors have been affected in North America, Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia.
- Organizations should immediately scan and ensure security mitigations for ZDI-CAN-25373, maintain vigilance against …

IoC

rule ZTH_LNK_EXPLOIT_A
{
meta:
author = "Peter Girnus"
description = "This YARA file detects padded LNK files designed to exploit ZDI-CAN-25373."
reference = "<LINK_TO_BLOG>"
target_entity = "file"
strings:
$magic = {4C 00 00 00 01 14 02 00}
$spoof_a = {20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00 20 00}
$spoof_b = {09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00 09 00}
$spoof_c = {0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00 0A 00}
$spoof_d = {0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00 0D 00}
$spoof_e = {11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00 11 00}
$spoof_f = {12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00 12 00}
$spoof_g = {13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00 13 00}
$spoof_h = {0D 00 0A 00 0D 00 0A 00 0D 00 0A 00 0D 00 0A 00 0D 00 0A 00 0D 00 0A 00 0D 00 0A 00 0D 00 0A 00 0D 00 0A 00 0D 00 0A 00 0D 00 0A 00 0D 00 0A 00 0D 00 0A 00 0D 00 0A 00 0D 00 0A 00 0D 00 0A 00 0D 00 0A 00 0D 00 0A 00 0D 00 0A 00 0D 00 0A 00}
condition:
$magic at 0x00 and ($spoof_a or $spoof_b or $spoof_c or $spoof_d or $spoof_e or $spoof_f or $spoof_g or $spoof_h)
}