FSB-Linked Gamaredon Group Uses Windows Data Streams for Stealthy Cyber Espionage in Ukraine
A Russian state-affiliated cyber espionage group, Gamaredon, has been identified using a sophisticated worm to infiltrate Ukrainian networks. This worm exploits a lesser-known Windows feature, NTFS Alternate Data Streams, to conceal its presence and spread across systems without leaving a trace. According to Sekoia, a cybersecurity firm, the worm is part of a campaign that targets Ukrainian government, military, and critical infrastructure. The campaign, active since January 2026, employs fileless VBScript to enhance its stealth capabilities. The initial infection vector involves a booby-trapped xHTML file that delivers a malicious RAR archive exploiting a WinRAR vulnerability. This vulnerability, CVE-2025-8088, allows the worm to plant hidden files that execute upon system login, maintaining persistence and enabling further payload delivery.