FileFix: The New Social Engineering Attack Building on ClickFix Tested in the Wild

Check Point Research identifies how the new social engineering technique, FileFix, is being actively tested by threat actors in the wild.

Attackers have long exploited human trust as a primary attack surface, and they’re doing it again with a new technique called FileFix.

FileFix is a recently uncovered social engineering attack that builds on the widely abused ClickFix tactic. Unlike ClickFix, which tricks users into running malicious commands via the Windows Run dialog, FileFix takes a subtler approach: it opens a legitimate Windows File Explorer window from a webpage and silently loads a disguised PowerShell command into the user’s clipboard. When the victim pastes into the Explorer address bar, the malicious command executes. This attack relies not on software vulnerabilities but on exploiting routine user actions and trust. Within just two weeks of FileFix’s public disclosure, Check Point Research observed this technique being actively tested in the wild by a known threat actor. This group previously deployed ClickFix-based phishing campaigns targeting users of major cryptocurrency platforms. The FileFix tests so far use benign payloads, signaling an imminent shift to delivering real malware. During the same period, threat group KongTuke was also found using the method in a recent campaign.

With FileFix now operational in real-world campaigns, defenders must prepare for the next phase: full-scale deployment of malicious payloads using this technique. The attack infrastructure is established, and it’s only a matter of time before FileFix causes significant damage.

This blog will explain how the FileFix attack works, profile the threat actor testing it, and provide actionable guidance for defenders to detect, block, and prepare for this evolving threat.

Background: The Rise of FakeCaptcha/FixIt/ClickFix Attacks

ClickFix is a simple but highly effective social engineering trick. It convinces users to run malicious code by pretending there’s a technical problem that needs fixing, like a broken CAPTCHA or browser error. Victims are typically told to copy and paste a command into the Windows Run dialog, unknowingly infecting themselves in the process.

Over the past year, ClickFix attacks have surged, evolving into one of the most common initial access methods. Attackers spoof familiar services and design convincing error messages to lower users’ defenses. This success paved the way for FileFix, a new variation with even subtler execution.

The FileFix Technique: An Evolution of ClickFix Social Engineering Attacks

Building on the widespread success of the ClickFix social engineering attack, security researcher mr.d0x introduced FileFix on June 23, 2025 — a new, stealthier technique designed to trick users into executing malicious commands without raising suspicion.

Unlike ClickFix, which relies on the more noticeable Windows Run dialog, FileFix shifts the attack to the familiar and trusted environment of Windows File Explorer. This technique does not exploit software vulnerabilities; instead, it leverages user trust in everyday Windows actions to execute harmful code.

How FileFix works

A malicious webpage can launch a Windows Explorer window on the victim’s computer. Simultaneously, JavaScript running on that webpage quietly copies a disguised PowerShell command to the user’s clipboard. The victim is then instructed to paste a “file path” into the Explorer address bar. Instead of a real file path, the pasted content is a hidden PowerShell command. When the user presses Enter, Windows Explorer executes the command, which downloads and runs malware, all without displaying any obvious warning or command prompt.

To victims, this process appears to be a simple task of opening a shared file or folder, making it feel routine and safe. This subtle manipulation makes FileFix a more stealthy and potentially more dangerous evolution of the ClickFix social engineering attack.

Our Discovery: FileFix Technique Actively Tested in the Wild by Known Threat Actors

Just over two weeks after the FileFix social engineering technique was publicly disclosed, in early July 2025, Check Point Research observed cyber criminals actively testing this new attack method in real-world campaigns. The threat actor, previously known for leveraging the ClickFix technique to distribute malware such as loaders, remote access Trojans (RATs), and information stealers, has begun experimenting with FileFix as part of their phishing operations.

On July 6, 2025, we detected a newly registered domain hosting a phishing page closely resembling this group’s earlier campaigns. Although the embedded FileFix script initially delivered only a benign payload, the activity clearly signals that threat actors are preparing to weaponize FileFix for future malware distribution and targeted attacks.

Threat Actor Profile & Past Activity

This threat actor has a history of targeting users of major cryptocurrency exchanges and other legitimate services. Their primary lure technique is SEO poisoning, which involves manipulating search engine results to promote malicious sites to the top. For example, a recent attack used a malicious sponsored Bing ad (malvertising) directing a victim to a fake 1Password site, where they were tricked into executing a ClickFix script that installed a NetSupport Manager remote access tool on their machine.

A signature trait of this actor’s phishing pages is their consistent imitation of Cloudflare CAPTCHA or security verification screens. To broaden their reach, the actor translates their lures into multiple languages — including English, Korean, Slovak, and Russian — making their campaigns global and adaptable.

Threat actors started using the new FileFix technique less than two weeks after its publication, demonstrating how quickly cyber criminals adapt to emerging trends. Techniques like ClickFix have emerged as some of the most effective initial access methods, not through technical exploits but via low-cost, high-impact manipulation of user behavior.

Preparing for the Next Wave of Social Engineering Attacks: Defending Against FileFix and ClickFix

The rapid rise of the ClickFix technique in 2025 highlights that social engineering remains one of the most cost-effective and enduring methods cyber criminals use to breach defenses. This approach exploits human behavior by tricking users into unknowingly executing malicious commands on their own computers.

FileFix advances this tactic by concealing harmful commands behind the seemingly harmless act of opening files in Windows File Explorer. The fact that FileFix is already being tested and used in the wild mere days after its public disclosure shows how quickly attackers adopt new techniques and adapt to the evolving cyber threat landscape.

Key Recommendations for Defenders and Users

• Be highly suspicious of any webpage or email that asks you to perform unusual manual actions, especially copying and pasting commands into system dialogs or Windows Explorer address bars.
• Educate users that legitimate websites and software rarely require manual execution of commands to fix issues.
• Monitor phishing pages that mimic popular services or security verification screens, particularly those using Cloudflare-like templates or recurring fake identifiers like Ray IDs.
• Implement and fine-tune endpoint detection rules to flag suspicious clipboard activity or unusual PowerShell executions triggered by user actions.
• Stay current with emerging social engineering trends and regularly update user training, incident response plans, and security playbooks..
• Foster a culture of verification where users confirm unexpected or unusual requests with IT or security teams before acting.

Staying informed and vigilant is critical to preventing attackers from turning users into unwitting accomplices.

Leveraging Endpoint Protection with Check Point Harmony Endpoint

Tools like Check Point’s Harmony Endpoint offer advanced endpoint detection and response capabilities designed to identify suspicious behaviors, such as unusual clipboard manipulation or stealthy PowerShell command executions initiated by user interactions. By combining proactive threat hunting, behavioral analytics, and real-time blocking, Harmony Endpoint empowers organizations to detect and stop evolving social engineering attacks like FileFix and ClickFix before they cause damage.

In today’s fast-changing threat environment, deploying intelligent endpoint protection solutions is essential to strengthening your organization’s last line of defense.