Steganography Explained: How XWorm Hides Inside Images

The Hacker News reports on a sophisticated cyberattack using steganography, where XWorm malware is hidden inside innocent-looking image files to evade detection. The attack begins with a phishing PDF containing a malicious link that downloads a .REG file, which modifies the Windows registry to execute a hidden script at system startup. After reboot, PowerShell downloads a VBS file that retrieves an image containing a concealed malicious DLL payload. This DLL then injects XWorm into the AddInProcess32 system process, giving attackers remote access to steal data, execute commands, and deploy additional malware. The article highlights how steganography allows cybercriminals to bypass traditional security tools since malicious code hidden in images doesn’t trigger standard security alerts or phishing detection mechanisms.