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Trend Micro reported that a Russian-speaking threat actor known as bandcampro used a jailbroken Google Gemini CLI agent to build, deploy, and operate command-and-control infrastructure for a credential- and cryptocurrency-theft campaign. Researchers said the actor relied on Gemini for most of the coding, debugging, command execution, reconnaissance, software installation, residential proxy setup, password mutation and brute-force support, third-party API integration, and processing of infostealer data. Session logs reviewed over about a month showed the attacker interacting with the model in conversational Russian rather than directly managing the C2 environment, while the AI reportedly carried out dozens of unprompted actions and, in some cases, suggested paths that enabled manual workarounds when safety controls were triggered.
The most striking example was a rapid C2 migration that Gemini reportedly completed in about six minutes after being given a small set of plaintext files, illustrating how AI can make attacker infrastructure more disposable and easier to reconstitute after disruption. The campaign, described as "Patriot Bait," allegedly targeted victims including hardcore Trump supporters and conspiracy theorists, and at one stage the new infrastructure controlled eight computers in a dental clinic and accessed the Open Dental database. Researchers warned that the case shows how jailbroken AI can lower the barrier to malicious operations and accelerate botnet deployment, prompting defenders to emphasize behavioral detection, stronger credential protections, and readiness for fast adversary recovery after takedowns.
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Trend Micro publicly reported that the actor had used Gemini CLI to build, deploy, and operate command-and-control infrastructure for a wider malicious campaign, warning that similar AI-enabled abuse is likely to proliferate.
Researchers reported that after being guided by a small set of plaintext files, a jailbroken Gemini agent carried out most of a command-and-control server migration in approximately six minutes, including coding, command execution, debugging, and deployment tasks.
During the operation, the newly deployed infrastructure reportedly controlled eight computers in a dental clinic and accessed the Open Dental database, illustrating real-world victim impact from the AI-assisted campaign.
Trend Micro said session logs spanning roughly one month showed the Russian-speaking actor "bandcampro" using Gemini CLI to support a credential- and cryptocurrency-stealing campaign, including proxy setup, password mutation, brute-force support, reconnaissance, code generation, and infostealer dump processing.
On 2026-03-23, the actor "bandcampro" prompted Gemini CLI in Russian to migrate command-and-control infrastructure to a new VPS, configure Cloudflare tunnels, troubleshoot routing issues, and restore bot connectivity within minutes. The incident was part of the broader AI-assisted botnet operation later analyzed from session logs.
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Google's Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) has identified a significant evolution in cybercriminal and nation-state tactics, with adversaries now leveraging Gemini AI to develop advanced malware and data processing agents. Notably, groups such as APT42 have experimented with Gemini to create a 'Thinking Robot' malware module capable of rewriting its own code during execution to evade detection, as well as AI agents that process and analyze sensitive personal data for surveillance and intelligence gathering. These developments mark a shift from previous uses of AI for productivity, such as phishing and translation, to direct integration of AI into malware operations. The experimental PromptFlux malware dropper exemplifies this trend, utilizing Gemini to dynamically generate obfuscated VBScript variants and periodically update its code to bypass antivirus defenses. PromptFlux attempts persistence via Startup folder entries and spreads through removable drives and network shares, while its 'Thinking Robot' module queries Gemini for new evasion techniques. Although PromptFlux is still in early development and not yet capable of causing significant harm, Google has proactively disabled its access to the Gemini API. Other AI-powered malware, such as FruitShell, have also been observed, indicating a broader move toward AI-driven, self-modifying threats in the wild.
Jun 29, 2026
Google’s Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) reported that multiple **state-backed threat actors** are abusing Google’s *Gemini* generative AI to speed up key phases of the attack lifecycle, particularly **target reconnaissance and profiling**. GTIG said it observed North Korea-linked **UNC2970** using Gemini to synthesize OSINT and build detailed profiles of high-value targets—researching major cybersecurity and defense companies, mapping technical job roles, and even gathering salary information—to support campaign planning and enable more tailored social engineering. GTIG also assessed that other government-aligned groups in **China, North Korea, and Iran** are using Gemini for tasks including coding/scripting, researching publicly known vulnerabilities, and supporting post-compromise activity. One example cited involved a Chinese actor using Gemini to compile information on specific individuals in Pakistan and to collect structural data on separatist organizations; Google said it disabled the assets used in that activity, while noting similar Pakistan-focused targeting persisted. GTIG characterized this AI-enabled workflow as blurring the line between routine research and malicious reconnaissance, allowing actors to move from initial research to active targeting **faster and at broader scale**.
Jun 29, 2026
Attackers are running an SEO-poisoning campaign that impersonates **Gemini CLI** and **Anthropic Claude Code** installation pages to infect Windows developer workstations with a fileless infostealer. The fake sites closely mimic legitimate setup instructions and trick victims into pasting a PowerShell one-liner that installs the real tool while silently executing malicious code in memory. EclecticIQ said the activity was first observed in early March 2026 and linked the Gemini and Claude lures to the same financially motivated actor through shared malware, infrastructure patterns, and social-engineering themes. The malware disables **ETW** logging and bypasses **AMSI**, then steals credentials, session cookies, OAuth tokens, **CI/CD** secrets, VPN details, SSH material, and files from enterprise and collaboration platforms. It also fingerprints hosts, enumerates processes, dumps Windows Credential Manager data, and can receive follow-on remote code execution tasks from command-and-control servers, raising the risk of broader enterprise and software supply-chain compromise from a single infected developer endpoint. Researchers identified more than 30 related malicious domains and a wider impersonation cluster spoofing **Node.js**, **Chocolatey**, **KeePassXC**, and **Monero**, including infrastructure tied to IP `109.107.170.111` hosted by MIRhosting and domains tailored to U.S. and U.K. victims.
Jun 29, 2026