Spark

"Spark" refers to various concepts in different contexts. In cybersecurity, Spark is a Remote Access Trojan (RAT) used by the hacking group ExCobalt as part of their attack chain, which also includes tools like Mimikatz, ProcDump, SMBExec, Metasploit, and rsocx. This malware can infiltrate systems without users' knowledge, potentially causing significant damage. A notable vulnerability involves a Genie API that allows users to submit SQL queries via Spark SQL, presenting an opportunity for malicious exploitation. In the cryptocurrency space, Bitcoin Spark is a new digital currency inspired by Bitcoin, offering cutting-edge technology from 2023 at 2011 prices. Notably, this should not be confused with SPARK Matrix, a benchmarking system used to evaluate digital threat intelligence management solutions. CrowdStrike, a leading cybersecurity firm, was named a Leader in the SPARK Matrix for Digital Threat Intelligence Management by Quadrant Knowledge Solutions in 2022. The term "Spark" also appears in discussions around database-oriented operating systems (DBOS). PostgreSQL pioneer Mike Stonebraker and Spark creator Matei Zaharia have co-founded a venture that developed a high-performance distributed DBOS. This system aims to facilitate the development of greenfield web applications. Furthermore, SPARK Lab at the University of Texas at Austin has identified a novel cyber-attack method called ConfusedPilot, which targets Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) based AI systems like Microsoft 365 Copilot.