Fast Facts
- Attackers in Latin America are leveraging AI-driven tools like large language models (LLMs) and open-source interfaces such as NextChat to troubleshoot, automate, and streamline complex intrusion and exfiltration campaigns.
- The campaigns utilize exposed, unsecured infrastructure—including staging servers, open directories, and multi-SAN certificates—allowing defenders to easily track, analyze, and disrupt their operations.
- Despite deploying custom malware and proxy networks, threat actors’ operational security failures—such as exposing staging interfaces—remain vulnerable points that can be exploited to identify and dismantle their campaigns.
Threats, Techniques, and Targets
Recent campaigns in Latin America show attackers using AI tools to improve their hacking efforts. They are targeting organizations in Mexico and Brazil. In Mexico, the attackers focused on transportation companies, government agencies, and water utilities. They used living-off-the-land techniques, running batch scripts to access and exfiltrate sensitive data. They also hosted NextChat on their infrastructure. This campaign is called CL-CRI-1131.
In Brazil, the threat actors targeted financial institutions. They expanded their focus on vulnerable web servers through phishing emails, then used custom remote access Trojan (RAT) malware. They employed a tunneling tool called SockTz and used AI-enabled naming conventions for their files, some of which suggest AI involvement. This activity is tracked as CL-CRI-1163.
Both campaigns share similarities, like using AI to plan and troubleshoot. They also used proxy networks and AI to facilitate their attacks, but operate in different regions. Technical overlaps include shared infrastructure, such as SOCKS5 relay servers, and AI-powered workflows that help generate scripts and troubleshoot errors.
Impact, Security Concerns, and Guidance
These campaigns can cause serious harm. They may lead to data theft, disruption of services, or financial loss. The use of AI increases the complexity and speed of attacks, making detection harder. Attackers’ infrastructure, like open staging servers and unsecured chat interfaces, exposes their plans. This offers defenders opportunities to disrupt their operations.
Currently, specific remediation steps are not detailed here. Organizations should consult their cybersecurity vendors or authorities for tailored guidance. Protecting against these threats involves monitoring network traffic, blocking known malicious domains and IPs, and securing sensitive data. It is essential to keep security systems updated to detect AI-enabled malware and command-and-control infrastructure.
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