Real-World Cybersecurity Case Studies
Learn from actual attacks, defense strategies, and remediation techniques documented during AIMF Security's research
Why These Case Studies Matter
These aren't theoretical scenarios—they're real attacks that happened to real people. Each case study documents the full attack lifecycle: initial compromise, detection methods, forensic analysis, and complete remediation.
By studying these incidents, you'll learn to recognize attack patterns, implement effective detection strategies, and respond decisively when threats emerge.
⚠️ Disclaimer: All case studies are based on actual security incidents. Sensitive information has been redacted or anonymized. These materials are for educational purposes only.
Featured Case Studies
Spotify OAuth Backdoor Campaign
Attackers secretly re-attached Facebook OAuth to a Spotify account, exploiting 15+ legacy OAuth connections spanning 8 years. OAuth settings were completely hidden from the mobile app, affecting 95%+ of users who never audit their account settings.
Key Findings
- OAuth connections survive password changes
- Network analysis detected unexpected facebook.net connections
- Complete OAuth removal required (zero-trust policy)
- Cross-device impact (phone + laptop)
Amazon Mobile Exploitation Campaign
Mobile application exploitation revealing cross-device attack patterns and mobile-specific vulnerabilities that traditional security tools often miss.
Key Findings
- Mobile-specific attack vectors
- Cross-device compromise patterns
- Application-level exploitation
Gmail Cross-Device Exploit
Cross-device session hijacking attack demonstrating account-level exploitation and multi-device compromise through sophisticated session manipulation.
Key Findings
- Session persistence across devices
- Account-level exploitation techniques
- Multi-device compromise patterns
Facebook CDN Attack Campaign
CDN abuse via connect.facebook.net resulting in 289,489 bytes exfiltrated through automated attack waves every 2-4 hours.
Key Findings
- Automated attack waves (2-4 hour intervals)
- 289,489 bytes data exfiltration
- CDN-based attack infrastructure
GHOST Network Infrastructure Campaign
Advanced persistent threat demonstrating infrastructure-level compromise and sophisticated network attack patterns.
Key Findings
- Infrastructure-level compromise
- Advanced persistent threat tactics
- Network-wide exploitation
WiFi Pineapple Defense Campaign
Rogue access point attacks demonstrating WiFi security vulnerabilities and man-in-the-middle defense strategies.
Key Findings
- Rogue access point detection
- Man-in-the-middle prevention
- WiFi security best practices
McAfee Security Incident Campaign
Security software exploitation revealing antivirus bypass techniques and vulnerabilities in security tools themselves.
Key Findings
- Antivirus bypass techniques
- Security software vulnerabilities
- Defense-in-depth importance
Common Attack Themes
OAuth & Authentication
OAuth re-attachment attacks, legacy connections, and authentication bypass techniques affecting millions of users.
Mobile Security
Mobile app vulnerabilities, cross-device attack chains, and platform-specific exploitation methods.
Network Attacks
CDN abuse, data exfiltration, network-level compromise, and rogue access point attacks.
Learn From Real Attacks
Explore detailed case studies with forensic analysis, detection methods, and complete remediation guides
Indicators and techniques documented in these case studies may suggest risk patterns, but attribution requires independent third-party assertion and is not inferred by this analysis. All reports present IOC-based observations from direct network traffic analysis. Classification of activity as malicious is based on behavioral observation, not third-party reputation services. No actor identity, geographic origin, or organizational affiliation is claimed unless explicitly stated.
