"Phishing Attacks Target Windows NTLM Authentication with Weaponized ZIP File"

The hacking group TA577 has shifted to using phishing emails to steal NTLM authentication hashes, targeting employees in organizations worldwide. These hashes can be used for offline password cracking or "pass-the-hash" attacks, potentially enabling attackers to escalate privileges, hijack accounts, access sensitive information, and move laterally within a breached network. The phishing emails contain unique ZIP archives with HTML files that trigger automatic connections to steal the NTLM hashes. Security measures such as multi-factor authentication, firewall configurations, email filtering, and Windows 11 security features can help mitigate these attacks.