They told us MFA was the final shield. What they didn’t tell us – cybercriminals are now poisoning the shield itself.
Welcome to the next evolution in social engineering: attackers using malicious QR codes to bypass multi-factor authentication and compromise critical systems.
This isn’t theoretical. The Poisoned QR Code attack, linked to the advanced Chinese threat group PoisonedSeed, is already live – targeting corporate systems by embedding fake QR codes within cloned login portals, emails, and even internal IT tickets.
The shocking part? The user sees what appears to be a standard MFA login prompt. But the QR code redirects to a malicious server, collecting credentials and MFA tokens in real time.
Here’s the breakdown of how it works:
- The attacker crafts a fake login page mimicking a trusted app.
- They embed a malicious QR code that seems to initiate MFA.
- The unsuspecting user scans it, thinking it’s legitimate.
- Their session is hijacked instantly – the attacker now has their credentials and access tokens.
Most companies don’t simulate this attack. Even fewer monitor QR code-based threats. This is a blind spot.
If you’re a CISO, Head of IT, or SecOps lead – your teams must stop relying on static MFA workflows. QR code authentication, if not actively tested through social engineering simulations, becomes a vulnerability.
AUMINT Trident simulates advanced attack vectors like Poisoned QR codes to test and harden employee responses. It identifies weak points, visualizes risk by department or role, and delivers customized training at scale.
This is the kind of forward-facing resilience your board expects – and attackers fear.
Want to see how your org stands up to MFA-targeted attacks? Book a walkthrough of AUMINT Trident.
You’ve secured the password.
You’ve enforced MFA.
But have you tested what happens when the MFA itself is weaponized?
Don’t wait to find out the hard way. See how AUMINT closes the gap.