Critical

Lazarus Abuses South Korean Security Software to Deploy Malware Using Post-Quantum Encryption

The Hacker News

October 27, 2026 at 11:32 AM

Actively Exploited

Overview

The Lazarus Group, a cyber espionage group linked to North Korea, has been targeting South Korean organizations in a campaign known as Operation FlashHole. This operation has affected at least three sectors: construction, software, and wire-communication equipment manufacturing. Kaspersky, a cybersecurity firm, reported that this campaign has been active since July 2025. The attackers are using South Korean security software to deploy malware, which is notable for utilizing post-quantum encryption techniques. This incident raises concerns about the cybersecurity resilience of critical industries in South Korea and highlights the sophisticated methods employed by state-sponsored threat actors.

Key Takeaways

Active Exploitation: This vulnerability is being actively exploited by attackers. Immediate action is recommended.
Affected Systems: South Korean construction, software, and wire-communication equipment manufacturing sectors
Timeline: Ongoing since July 2025

Original Article Summary

The North Korea-linked Lazarus Group has been attributed to a cyber espionage campaign dubbed Operation FlashHole targeting at least three organizations in South Korea spanning the construction, software, and wire-communication equipment manufacturing sectors. According to Russian cybersecurity company Kaspersky, the campaign has been active since at least July 2025. It's assessed to pick up

Impact

South Korean construction, software, and wire-communication equipment manufacturing sectors

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

Ongoing since July 2025

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, Critical, Kaspersky.

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