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Dust Specter Targets Iraqi Officials with New SPLITDROP and GHOSTFORM Malware

The Hacker News
Actively Exploited
Malware

Overview

A recent cyber campaign attributed to a group linked to Iran is targeting Iraqi government officials by impersonating the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This operation, identified by Zscaler ThreatLabz and named Dust Specter, involves the deployment of new malware strains called SPLITDROP and GHOSTFORM. Observed in January 2026, these attacks aim to compromise sensitive information from officials within the Iraqi government. The use of sophisticated tactics and novel malware underscores a growing threat to government entities in the region. This incident raises concerns about the security of state institutions and the potential for sensitive data breaches that could have significant political ramifications.

Key Takeaways

  • Active Exploitation: This vulnerability is being actively exploited by attackers. Immediate action is recommended.
  • Affected Systems: Iraqi government officials, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Timeline: Newly disclosed

Original Article Summary

A suspected Iran-nexus threat actor has been attributed to a campaign targeting government officials in Iraq by impersonating the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to deliver a set of never-before-seen malware. Zscaler ThreatLabz, which observed the activity in January 2026, is tracking the cluster under the name Dust Specter. The attacks, which manifest in the form of two different

Impact

Iraqi government officials, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Exploitation Status

This vulnerability is confirmed to be actively exploited by attackers in real-world attacks. Organizations should prioritize patching or implementing workarounds immediately.

Timeline

Newly disclosed

Remediation

Not specified

Additional Information

This threat intelligence is aggregated from trusted cybersecurity sources. For the most up-to-date information, technical details, and official vendor guidance, please refer to the original article linked below.

Related Topics: This incident relates to Malware.

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