A brand new social engineering method referred to as GlitchFix has emerged, powered by ErrTraffic—a specialised site visitors distribution system designed to trick web site guests into downloading malware via visually damaged internet pages.
The assault platform prices round $800 and gives cybercriminals an entire resolution for operating misleading campaigns throughout a number of working methods.
ErrTraffic extends the normal ClickFix method by intentionally breaking internet pages utilizing visible distortions and chaos results, making customers consider their browser or system requires an pressing replace.
The platform targets Home windows, macOS, Android, and Linux units whereas supporting eight languages, enabling international campaigns.
In contrast to fundamental phishing assaults, this technique creates a convincing sense of urgency by scrambling web page content material with rubbish characters, making use of CSS distortions, and triggering mouse jitter results—all whereas retaining the faux replace immediate completely readable.
Censys analysts recognized the risk infrastructure after discovering 5 bodily servers operating ErrTraffic panels throughout three autonomous methods, internet hosting eleven distinctive domains.
The researchers discovered two distinct variations working concurrently: model 2 with unobfuscated JavaScript and Russian-only admin interfaces, and model 3 that includes XOR-based payload obfuscation and a complicated ClickFix mode.
One misconfigured occasion uncovered the whole supply code, offering detailed visibility into the operation.
The assault delivers distant monitoring and administration instruments disguised as professional browser or font updates, together with FleetDeck, ITarian MDM, and ConnectWise Management.
These digitally signed instruments are generally allowlisted by safety merchandise, making detection difficult for conventional defenses.
An infection Mechanism and Assault Workflow
The ErrTraffic system operates via a multi-stage an infection chain starting when victims go to compromised web sites containing injected script tags.
The malicious JavaScript hundreds from the ErrTraffic panel and instantly fingerprints the browser, working system, and language settings.
Geographic filtering happens subsequent, utilizing the ipwho.is API to dam entry from CIS international locations together with Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan—a powerful attribution indicator pointing to Russian-speaking risk actors.
The ErrTraffic v2 admin dashboard exhibiting analytics, file administration, and script configuration (Supply – Censys)
If the sufferer passes geolocation and bot detection checks, the web page enters chaos mode. Textual content transforms into unreadable Unicode characters whereas CSS transformations skew and rotate web page layouts.
The system screens dynamic content material utilizing MutationObserver APIs, making certain newly loaded parts obtain the identical corruption remedy.
After a configurable delay, sometimes one second, a clear modal seems providing browser updates, font installations, or in model 3, PowerShell command execution.
Discussion board publish itemizing ErrTraffic v2 on the market (Supply – Censys)
When victims click on the replace button, the script requests a one-time obtain token from the panel server.
The token-based supply system prevents researchers from straight accessing payloads with out finishing the total assault workflow.
After validation, the system serves working system-specific RMM installers via hidden iframes, establishing persistent distant entry.
Model 3’s ClickFix mode bypasses conventional obtain protections completely by copying obfuscated PowerShell instructions to clipboards, instructing customers to manually execute terminal instructions.
The ErrTraffic assault move from preliminary go to to payload supply (Supply – Censys)
The platform’s evasion capabilities embody bot detection patterns focusing on safety scanners, headless browsers, and automatic instruments.
Detection signatures depend on errtraffic_session cookies and particular API paths like /api/css.js.php for model 2 and /api/css.js for model 3.
The infrastructure makes use of low-cost top-level domains and free subdomain providers, with some panels impersonating authorities businesses like update211.security-ssa-gov.com.
Defenders ought to concentrate on community monitoring for errtraffic_session cookies, educating customers about faux replace prompts, and monitoring uncommon RMM software installations.
The malware-as-a-service mannequin consists of subscription options with rental expiration fields, suggesting ongoing improvement and operator assist past the preliminary $800 buy worth.
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