Operation ForumTroll continues: Russian political scientists targeted using plagiarism reports

Securelist

December 17, 2025 at 10:00 AM

Actively Exploited

Overview

Kaspersky's GReAT team has reported an increase in cyberattacks from the ForumTroll APT group, which is specifically targeting Russian political scientists. The attackers are using a tool known as the Tuoni framework to infiltrate their devices. This situation is concerning as it shows a focused attempt to compromise the devices of individuals involved in political research, potentially to gather sensitive information or disrupt their work. The targeting of political scientists indicates a strategic move to influence or monitor political discourse in Russia. These incidents serve as a reminder of the ongoing risks faced by academics and researchers in politically sensitive environments.

Key Takeaways

Active Exploitation: This vulnerability is being actively exploited by attackers. Immediate action is recommended.
Affected Systems: Devices of Russian political scientists, potentially including personal computers and academic networks.
Timeline: Newly disclosed

Original Article Summary

Kaspersky's GReAT experts have uncovered a new wave of cyberattacks by the ForumTroll APT group, targeting Russian political scientists and delivering the Tuoni framework to their devices.

Impact

Devices of Russian political scientists, potentially including personal computers and academic networks.

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 APT, Kaspersky.

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