The DPRK strikes using a new variant of RUSTBUCKET
Elastic Security Labs disclosed a new variant of RUSTBUCKET malware attributed to North Korean Lazarus Group (BlueNorOff), targeting macOS systems at cryptocurrency service providers. The variant adds previously unseen LaunchAgent persistence, employs multi-stage execution via AppleScript/Swift/Rust binaries, and uses User-Agent string validation and rapid C2 domain rotation to evade detection. At publication, the variant had zero VirusTotal detections and was actively used in intrusions against a US-based cryptocurrency payment services company.