UNC6040 Didn’t Hack the System—They Hacked the People Running It

Cybercrime syndicate UNC6040 used spoofed IT helpdesk calls and legitimate remote access tools to infiltrate corporate environments—Google TAG reveals ongoing threat to global organizations.

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Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG) has exposed UNC6040, a coordinated cybercrime group leveraging voice phishing—also known as vishing—to breach enterprise networks. By posing as trusted IT support, attackers tricked employees into handing over credentials and granting remote access, escalating to full system compromise.

Silicon Valley, California — August 6, 2025

In a chilling reminder of how human trust remains a prime target in cybersecurity, Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG) has unmasked a stealthy cybercrime syndicate identified as UNC6040, responsible for a wave of voice phishing (vishing) attacks against corporate users across multiple sectors.

According to a comprehensive technical report released by Google, the group has been actively impersonating internal IT helpdesk staff to deceive employees into providing multifactor authentication (MFA) codes and remote desktop access—bypassing traditional security defenses without deploying malware.

“This is a shift in attack methodology,” said Billy Leonard, Principal Analyst at Google TAG. “Instead of exploiting software vulnerabilities, UNC6040 exploited the vulnerability between the headset and the chair—human trust.”

How the Attacks Work: A Technical Breakdown

The attack chain typically unfolds in the following steps:

1. Reconnaissance & Initial Contact
   UNC6040 gathers publicly available data—often from LinkedIn or data breaches—to identify targets within a company. The group then calls employees, spoofing legitimate internal numbers using VoIP tools.
2. Social Engineering via Vishing
   The attackers pose as helpdesk or IT support staff, claiming urgent issues like account compromise or system updates. Using psychological manipulation and urgency, they convince employees to share MFA passcodes or to install remote access tools such as AnyDesk, ScreenConnect, or Zoho Assist.
3. Lateral Movement & Privilege Escalation
   Once inside, the attackers pivot through the network, seeking higher privileges or access to sensitive systems—often by harvesting additional credentials, capturing keystrokes, or navigating corporate VPNs.
4. Data Exfiltration or Further Compromise
   While data theft has occurred in some cases, Google warns that UNC6040 may also be preparing infrastructure for future ransomware deployment, making their presence not only invasive but potentially catastrophic.

Human Impact: Beyond the Firewall

The consequences for organizations can be severe.

“Employees were made to feel like they were helping secure the company—when in fact, they were opening the front door to attackers,” said Sophia Katz, a cybersecurity investigator familiar with voice-based attacks.

Several victims faced data breaches, compliance violations, and reputational damage, especially where customer or financial data was exposed. In one instance, the attackers maintained persistent access for over three weeks, silently collecting internal data.

Google’s Response and Mitigation Guidance

Google TAG has coordinated with law enforcement and industry partners to disrupt the UNC6040 infrastructure and published a list of indicators of compromise (IOCs). The company urges enterprises to:

• Educate employees on social engineering and vishing threats.
• Implement phishing-resistant MFA such as hardware security keys.
• Monitor for remote access tool installation and outbound traffic anomalies.
• Restrict software installation rights and enforce zero-trust policies.

The Bigger Picture

The revelation underscores the evolving sophistication of cybercriminal groups who increasingly blend technical tools with psychological manipulation.

“UNC6040 is part of a broader trend where threat actors sidestep hardened digital defenses by targeting the human layer,” said Leonard.

Cybersecurity experts warn that voice phishing will likely increase in frequency and effectiveness, especially as attackers employ AI-generated voices and deepfake audio to improve believability.

Read the full original report on The Hacker News
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