NFCShare Android malware spreads via fake banking app updates on GitHub
NFCShare Android malware spreads via fake banking app updates on GitHub
Publish Date: 2026-06-08 18:11:00
Source Domain: www.bleepingcomputer.com
New variants of the NFCShare Android malware are being distributed as fake updates for legitimate banking apps hosted on GitHub.
The malware has evolved and is now targeting customers of multiple banks and financial institutions across Europe in a phishing campaign aimed at stealing payment card data.
After tricking victims with a fake verification screen to place the cards near the mobile device’s near-field communication (NFC) chip, NFCShare reads the information using Android’s IsoDep interface and EMV commands.
The malware steals the card number, type, expiry date, and a 4-digit PIN entered by the victim under the pretense of a security step, and exfiltrates it to the attacker’s command-and-control (C2) host over a WebSocket channel.
The information collected this way can then be used in NFC payment relay schemes, as documented in the NGate, SuperCard X, and RelayNFC malware attacks.
NFCShare’s social engineering screens
Source: D3Lab
NFCShare was first documented by D3Lab researchers in January 2026, who have been tracking its activity and evolution.
D3Lab researcher Andrea Draghetti told BleepingComputer that, despite similarities to other Android malware that exploit NFC chips for data theft, NFCShare uses distinct code, libraries, architecture, and implementation details.
Draghetti noted, though, that it could still be an evolution of the same ecosystem, driven by the same threat actors.
Recent NFCShare attacks observed starting May 14 begin with the victim visiting a phishing site that impersonates a real bank and asks for banking credentials.
Victims are then urged to update their banking app and are redirected to a GitHub repository hosting a malicious APK file.
Malicious GitHub repository
Source: D3Lab
The researchers note that SMS messages or phone calls from fake bank representatives may also be used as part of the social-engineering process, as seen in similar attacks, although D3Lab researchers did not…
