A new, highly advanced malware strain—NimDoor—has emerged as the latest cyber weapon in the arsenal of North Korean state-sponsored hackers, specifically targeting macOS systems used by cryptocurrency and Web3 organizations. This episode explores the complex tactics and alarming capabilities of NimDoor, a malware family showcasing a blend of C++ and Nim programming, stealthy persistence mechanisms, and an intense focus on stealing digital assets.

First identified in early 2025, NimDoor marks a significant evolution in North Korean cyber operations. Delivered through social engineering on Telegram, the attack chain begins with a deceptive fake Zoom SDK update. Once executed, the malware installs multiple payloads—including GoogIe LLC and CoreKitAgent—designed to establish persistence, exfiltrate data, and communicate with command-and-control servers using TLS-encrypted WebSocket connections and layered RC4 encryption.

This episode covers:

• Anatomy of the NimDoor Infection Chain: How Telegram lures and fake SDKs lead to multi-stage infections on macOS.
• Advanced Persistence via Signals: A rare signal-based persistence mechanism enables NimDoor to reinstall itself if terminated—an unusually resilient feature for macOS malware.
• Targeted Data Theft: NimDoor steals sensitive browser data, cryptocurrency wallet credentials, Telegram's encrypted databases, macOS Keychain items, and even command histories.
• Why Nim Matters: The use of Nim, a lesser-known and rarely detected language in malware development, allows attackers to evade traditional antivirus and EDR solutions while enabling sophisticated binary construction.
• North Korea’s Cyber Objectives: The Lazarus Group and its affiliated APTs are not just stealing information—they are funneling stolen cryptocurrency to fund the North Korean regime, bypassing sanctions.
• macOS as a Target: This attack busts the myth of Apple’s invincibility, illustrating how macOS is now firmly in the crosshairs of nation-state threat actors.
• Modular Payloads and Exfiltration Tools: From C++ loaders to Nim-compiled components and Bash scripts like upl and tlgrm, the malware’s design is optimized for flexibility and maximum data theft.
• How to Defend:
  • Don’t trust third-party cryptocurrency tools—especially if shared via chat platforms like Telegram.
  • Train teams to recognize fake software prompts and suspicious update requests.
  • Apply the principle of least privilege, and implement strict application allowlists.
  • Patch aggressively and monitor for unexpected outbound connections over wss (WebSocket over TLS).
  • Understand that malware written in Nim is no longer exotic—it's active and dangerous.

The NimDoor campaign represents a convergence of nation-state strategy, programming innovation, and cryptocurrency exploitation. For Web3 builders, crypto investors, and cybersecurity professionals, it’s a wake-up call that threat actors are not just evolving—they're innovating faster than ever.