A fresh wave of phishing attacks, dubbed SERPENTINE#CLOUD by Securonix, is using Office invoice emails and disguised Windows shortcuts to deliver memory-resident RATs via Cloudflare Tunnel subdomains. Impress IT Solutions in West Houston is well-prepared to neutralize this sophisticated threat.
🚨 How SERPENTINE#CLOUD Works
- Phishing email arrives disguised as an invoice with links to a ZIP archive.
- Inside is a malicious Windows LNK shortcut, masquerading as a PDF.
- Launch it → A WSF loader runs via cscript.exe, referencing Cloudflare Tunnel-hosted scripts.
- The loader pulls a batch file (kiki.bat), which:
- Displays a decoy document
- Detects AV software
- Executes a Python-based Donut-packed payload directly in memory
- Final payloads include RATs like AsyncRAT or Revenge RAT, all in-memory, hiding from disk-based detection.
Attackers also shift tactics—from URL files to LNK files and WebDAV fetches via Cloudflare Tunnel—making detection by IP or domain blocking nearly impossible.
🛡️ Impress IT Solutions’ Multi-Layered Defense Strategy
At Impress IT, we view SERPENTINE#CLOUD as a textbook example of attacker innovation. Here’s how we counter every step:
- 🎯 Advanced Email Protection & Phishing Defense
- Real-time URL rewriting inspects any links in emails, even those pointing to Cloudflare subdomains.
- Attachment sandboxing executes LNK, ZIP, WSF, and Python scripts in controlled environments to detect any malicious behavior pre-delivery.
- 🔒 Endpoint Threat Detection
- Deploy EDR agents that flag:
- Execution of LNK shortcuts
- Silent invocation of cscript.exe from unusual folders
- In-memory payload unpacking via Donut
- Log and alert every instance to the SIEM for forensic review.
- 📡 Network-Level Controls
- Maintain DNS whitelists that block unfamiliar .trycloudflare.com destinations unless specifically approved.
- Use SSL decryption and inspection to reveal hidden WebDAV retrievals, often used in RAM-based loading.
- 🚫 Block Living-off-the-Land Techniques
- Restrict Powershell and Python executions unless explicitly whitelisted.
- Lock down Windows scripting tools (cscript.exe, wscript.exe, etc.) to prevent stealth payloads.
- 🧠 Threat Hunting & Incident Response
- Regularly hunt for indicators like unusual Cloudflare subdomain use.
- Maintain a pre-defined incident response plan: isolate endpoints, create memory dumps, rotate credentials, and investigate the full attack chain.
- 👥 Continuous Training & User Awareness
- Launch simulated phishing campaigns that mimic invoice and shortcut-based attacks.
- Provide ongoing training so staff understand why attachments with double-click-triggered scripts can be dangerous—even when they look “legit.”
✅ Impress IT Solutions: Your Partner Against Advanced Threats
- Adaptive Protection: No single control stops living-off-the-land threats. Our layered approach ensures all bases are covered.
- Proactive Insight: Skilled threat hunters analyze logs for anomalies—especially those involving new cloud tunnels or memory-based payloads.
- Rapid Containment: In the event of an infection, we isolate quickly, preserve forensic evidence, and reboot systems cleanly.
✉️ Key Takeaways for All Organizations
If you’re worried about malware campaigns like SERPENTINE#CLOUD, Impress IT Solutions recommends:
| Area | Recommended Action |
| Email Security | Sandbox suspicious attachments & rewrite inbound URLs for scrutiny |
| Endpoint Control | Use EDR to detect LNK, WSF, Python and don’t rely on AV alone |
| Network Defenses | Block unknown cloud tunnel subdomains and inspect WebDAV traffic |
| Script Lockdown | Logging/Control of cscript, wscript, python, and PowerShell usage |
| Training & Awareness | Run phishing simulations and educate users about staged phishing techniques |
🧩 Final Word
SERPENTINE#CLOUD exemplifies how attackers now combine phishing, fileless malware, and trusted cloud services to bypass traditional defenses. Impress IT Solutions in West Houston is uniquely positioned to cover every attack vector:
- At the email layer with sandboxing and URL filtering
- With EDR and memory logging at the endpoint
- Through network traffic inspection and Cloudflare-aware DNS policies
- And through human training and incident readiness
Let us help you close the door on these modern, multi-stage threats—keeping remote attachments from becoming your next malware headline.
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