Operation HollowQuill Weaponizing PDF Documents to Infiltrate Academic & Government Networks

A sophisticated cyber espionage campaign dubbed “Operation HollowQuill” has been uncovered targeting academic institutions and government agencies worldwide through weaponized PDF documents. Once opened, these documents silently deploy a multi-stage infection chain that establishes persistence on compromised systems while exfiltrating sensitive research data and confidential government information. The malware’s sophistication suggests a well-funded, possibly state-sponsored operation specifically targeting intellectual property and classified information across research institutions and government networks in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia. The operation employs social engineering tactics, disguising malicious PDFs as research papers, grant applications, or government communiqués to entice unsuspecting users. The campaign’s hallmark is its highly deceptive social engineering approach, with attackers first mapping organizational structures through open-source intelligence before crafting personalized PDF lures relevant to targets’ specific research or policy interests. Cyber Security News is a Dedicated News Platform For Cyber News, Cyber Attack News, Hacking News & Vulnerability Analysis. With years of experience under his belt in Cyber Security, he is covering Cyber Security News, technology and other news. The threat actors behind HollowQuill demonstrate advanced technical capabilities, utilizing zero-day vulnerabilities in PDF rendering engines to execute code without triggering traditional security alerts. This decoded payload injects shellcode into the PDF reader process, which then downloads and executes a second-stage loader from command-and-control servers typically masquerading as academic content delivery networks. Tushar is a Cyber security content editor with a passion for creating captivating and informative content. Seqrite security analysts noted that HollowQuill employs an unusual obfuscation technique to evade detection. HollowQuill’s initial infection vector leverages malicious JavaScript embedded within seemingly legitimate PDF documents. “We’ve identified a distinctive pattern where the malware splits its payload across multiple JavaScript objects within the PDF, reassembling only during runtime,” explained Dr. The infection chain begins when this script decodes an embedded binary object disguised as document metadata. This technique, coupled with SSL certificate impersonation of legitimate educational domains, creates a highly convincing façade that has successfully compromised numerous high-value targets since its discovery.

This Cyber News was published on cybersecuritynews.com. Publication date: Thu, 03 Apr 2025 13:35:15 +0000


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