Hackers exploit Android chat app to steal Signal and WhatsApp user data

Hackers have been found using a deceptive Android chat app, known as ''SafeChat'', to conduct espionage on unsuspecting victims. The spyware embedded within this malicious app targets popular communication platforms like Signal and WhatsApp, extracting sensitive data such as call logs, texts, and GPS locations from infected smartphones.
Researchers have attributed this sophisticated hacking campaign to the Indian APT hacking group named ''Bahamut'', who have previously demonstrated a track record of using fake apps to steal user information.

SafeChat is a serious threat to privacy
The Android spyware embedded in the ''SafeChat'' app has emerged as a significant threat to users of communication applications. The malware, suspected to be a variant of "Coverlm," specifically targets popular messaging services like Telegram, Signal, WhatsApp, Viber, and Facebook Messenger. This allows the hackers to exploit vulnerabilities and extract valuable user data.
Bahamut's latest attacks primarily employ spear phishing messages on WhatsApp. These messages serve as a delivery mechanism for the malicious payloads, enabling the spyware to infiltrate users' devices seamlessly. Victims are lured into installing ''SafeChat'' under the pretext of transitioning their conversations to a more secure platform, falling prey to the deceptive interface and registration process.
SafeChat employs social engineering tactics to appear as a legitimate chat app, thereby gaining the victim's trust. Its user registration process adds credibility to the façade, while the acquisition of permissions to use the Accessibility Services plays a critical role in the infection process. By exploiting these permissions, the spyware gains access to the victim's contacts list, SMS, call logs, external device storage, and precise GPS location data.

It does interact with other chat apps
A noteworthy aspect of the malware is its capability to interact with other chat applications already installed on the device. By utilizing intents and specific directories, the spyware can monitor and potentially extract data from these apps as well.
Once the spyware collects the stolen data, it is transferred to the attacker's Command and Control (C2) server via port 2053. To evade detection, the stolen data is encrypted using RSA, ECB, and OAEPPadding. Additionally, the attackers employ a "letsencrypt" certificate to counter network data interception efforts against them.
Read also: Google Play Store malware installed on 1.5 million Android devices.
Could be state-sponsored
Researchers from CYFIRMA have gathered enough evidence to link Bahamut's activities to a specific state government in India. This conclusion is based on shared characteristics with another Indian state-sponsored threat group, the ''DoNot APT'' (APT-C-35).
The overlapping use of certificate authorities, data stealing methodologies, and target scope all indicate a close collaboration between the two groups.
Featured image: Freepik.
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Thanks for the tip Martin.
It is for these kinds of posts that I follow GHacks.
What’s up with the generic comment, are you a bot?
2G?
Where on the planet is that still in use? I was forced to give up using my RAZRV3 years ago because 2G was phased out by AT&T.
Everywhere 3G has been turned off and you don’t have LTE coverage, and believe me there are many developed countries where this is the case and if it weren’t for 2G you wouldn’t even be able to make a phone call.
Maybe I missed it, but I don’t believe tha term “2G” is in the article. Perhaps you are referring to “AGM G2”??
@Martin
Your website has gone insane.
When I the post button I then saw my comment posted on a different article page. When I opened this article again, it is here.
@Tachy @Martin Brinkmann
” Your website has gone insane. ”
Same here. Has happened several times.
@Tachy,
@Martin P.,
For over two weeks now,
I’ve been seeing “Comments” posted by subscribers appearing in different, unrelated articles.
https://www.ghacks.net/windows-11-update-stuck-fixed-for-good/#comment-4572991
https://www.ghacks.net/windows-11-update-stuck-fixed-for-good/#comment-4572951
For the time being,
it would be better to specify the “article name and URL” at the beginning of the post.
@tachy a lot of non-phone devices with a sim in them rely on 2G, at least here in europe.
Usually things reporting usage or errors/alarms on something remote that does not get day to day inspection in person. They are out there in vast numbers doing important work. Reliable, good range. The low datarate is no problem at all in those cases.
3G is gone or on its last legs everywhere, but this stuff still has too much use to cancel.
Anyhow, interesting that they would put that in. I can see the point if you suspect a hostile 2G environment (amateur eavesdroppers with laptop, ranging up to professional grade MITM fake towers while “strangely” not getting the stronger crypto voip 4G because it is being jammed, and back down to something as old ‘stingray’ devices fallen into the wrong hands).
But does this also mean that they have handled and rolled out a fix for that nasty 4G ‘pwn by broadcast’ problem you reported earlier this year? I had 4G disabled due to that, on the off chance that some of the local criminals would buy some cheap chinese gear, download a working exploit and probe every phone in range all over town in the hope of getting into phones of the police.
>”While most may never be attacked in stingrays, it is still recommended to disable 2G cellular connections, especially since it does not have any downsides.”
The downside would be losing connectivity. I spend a lot of time way out in the countryside where there’s often no service or almost none. My network allows 2G, and I need it sometimes. I have an option on the phone to disable 2G, I may do that when I’m in the city and I have good 5G connectivity, but not out in the country.
I would imagine that the stingray exploits, like most of the bad things in this world, are probably things you will run into in the crowded big cities.
I stopped using it in a mobile (Wi-Fi line) environment, so I’m almost ignorant of the actual situation,
But the recent reality in Japan makes me realize that “the infrastructure of the web is nothing more than a papier-mâché fiction”.
https://www.ghacks.net/2023/08/17/google-chrome-to-enable-https-first-by-default-for-all-users/#comment-4572402
It is already beyond the scope of what an individual can do.
What we should be aware of is the reality that “governments and those in power want to control the world through the Web”, and efforts to counter (resist and prevent) such ambitions are necessary.
Why do you want people to disable the privacy features? Hmmmmm?
Now You: do you plan to keep the Ads privacy features enabled?
I’d like to tell you, but apparently if you make a post critical of Google, you get censored. * [Editor: removed, just try to bring your opinion across without attacking anyone]
@Martin
You website is still psychotic. Comments attach to random stories.
@Martin please do fix the comments, it’s completely insane commenting here! :[
@Martin
The comments are seriously messed up on gHacks now. These comments are mixed with the article at the below URL.
https://www.ghacks.net/2023/08/18/android-how-to-disable-2g-cellular-connections-to-improve-security/
And comments on other articles are from as far back as 2010.
What does this article has anything to do with all the comments on this article? LOL I think this Websuite is ran by ChatGPT. every article is messed up. Some older comments from 2015 shown up in recant articles, LOL
The picture captioned “Clearing the Android Auto’s cache might resolve the issue” is from Apple Carplay ;)
How about other things that matter:
Drop survival?
Screen toughness?
Degree of water and dust protection?