Beware of sophisticated phishing attacks targeting hotel Bookings

Phishing attacks are a common form of cybercrime that involves attackers impersonating legitimate entities to trick victims into revealing sensitive information. One such attack targeting travelers revolves around the popular booking platform Booking.com.
Booking.com Phishing Variant:
Researchers have uncovered a sophisticated phishing campaign that targets Booking.com users. The attackers have compromised hotel managers’ accounts to create malicious websites that mimic the official Booking.com extranet portal. These fake sites are designed to steal login credentials and private information.
Technical Details:
The phishing attack employs several advanced techniques to evade detection and maximize its impact:

• Dynamic Cloaking: The attack displays either a legitimate or malicious page depending on the victim’s IP address and browser settings.
• JavaScript Obfuscation: The malicious code is hidden using JavaScript obfuscation to prevent detection.
• STUN Binding Requests: High-port requests are used to maintain persistent access to the compromised system.
• UDP Hole Punching: The attackers use UDP hole punching to bypass network firewalls and establish connections to internal networks.
• Centralized Control: An iFrame links to numerous phishing pages, providing centralized control over the attack infrastructure.
  Impact:
  The primary goal of this phishing attack is to infect hotel managers’ devices and exploit Booking.com’s chat system to distribute malicious links to customers. This could lead to account takeovers, financial losses, and damage to the hotel’s reputation.
  Traveler Precautions:
  To protect yourself from this phishing attack, travelers should:
• Be wary of unsolicited emails or text messages from Booking.com.
• Never click on links or open attachments from unknown senders.
• Verify the authenticity of Booking.com websites before entering sensitive information.
• Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication.
  Conclusion:
  The Booking.com-themed phishing attack is a reminder of the evolving threat landscape. Travelers and hotel management need to be vigilant against such sophisticated attacks by following best practices and seeking the guidance of cybersecurity experts.