Summary:
Astaroth, a newly emerged phishing tool, is rapidly gaining traction on cybercrime platforms due to its advanced ability to bypass two-factor authentication. First advertised in January 2025, it employs session hijacking and real-time credential interception to compromise accounts on major platforms like Gmail, Yahoo, and Office 365. Unlike traditional phishing kits that capture login credentials but struggle against 2FA, Astaroth uses an evilginx-style reverse proxy to position itself between users and legitimate login pages. This allows attackers to intercept usernames, passwords, 2FA tokens, and session cookies in real time, effectively hijacking authenticated sessions and bypassing additional security measures without raising suspicion.

What makes Astaroth particularly dangerous is its ability to dynamically capture and forward authentication tokens as they are generated, making traditional phishing defenses ineffective. The kit operates through SSL-certified phishing domains, making fraudulent login pages appear authentic and minimizing red flags for victims. It is also compatible with multiple authentication methods, including SMS-based codes, push notifications, and authenticator apps. Once a victim enters their credentials, Astaroth instantly relays the stolen data to attackers via Telegram or a web panel, allowing them to take over accounts before security measures can respond.

Security Officer Comments:
Beyond its technical sophistication, Astaroth presents significant challenges for law enforcement. It offers bulletproof hosting options that resist takedown attempts and ensure long-term infrastructure availability. Additionally, its decentralized distribution via Telegram and cybercrime forums makes tracking and disrupting its sales difficult. Sellers provide six-month support packages for $2,000, further lowering the barrier to entry for cybercriminals and enabling even less-experienced attackers to conduct highly effective phishing campaigns.

Suggested Corrections:
Users should always be cautious of individuals or organizations that ask for personal information. Most companies will not ask for sensitive data from their customers. If in doubt, users should verify with the company itself to avoid any potential issues.

Users should always take a close look at the sender’s display name when checking the legitimacy of an email. Most companies use a single domain for their URLs and emails, so a message that originates from a different domain is a red flag.

As a general rule, users should not click links or download files even if they come from seemingly “trustworthy” sources.

Check for mismatched URLs. While an embedded URL might seem perfectly valid, hovering above it might show a different web address. In fact, users should avoid clicking links in emails unless they are certain that it is a legitimate link.

Users should always be on the lookout for any grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. Legitimate companies will often employ proofreaders and editors who ensure that the materials they send out are error-free.

Users should not be frightened or intimidated by messages that have an alarmist tone. They should double check with the company if they are uncertain about the status of their accounts.

Phishing emails are designed to be sent to a large number of people, so they need to be as impersonal as possible. Users should check whether the message contains a generic subject and greeting, as this can be a sign of a phishing attempt.

Although not every end user has access to advanced anti-phishing software, they can still use the built-in protection of their email clients to filter messages. One example is setting the email client to block all images unless approved.

Legitimate companies will never send confirmation emails unless there are specific reasons for doing so. In fact, most companies will avoid sending unsolicited messages unless it’s for company updates, newsletters, or advertising purposes.

Users should always take the context of an email or message into account. For example, most online accounts do away with viewable member numbers, so users should be wary if they receive emails containing a “member number” for services that generally don’t use them.

It is important to take note of unusual information in the text of the message. Any mentions of operating systems and software that are not typically used by consumers can often be indicators of a phishing attempt.

If it seems suspicious, it probably is. Users should always err on the side of caution when it comes to sending out personally identifiable information through messages and emails.


Link(s):
https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/astaroth-phishing-kit-bypasses-2fa/