Cybercriminals Exploit Google Apps Script for Sophisticated Phishing Attacks

Cybersecurity researchers have raised alarms over a disturbing trend where hackers are turning Google’s own trusted tools against users. By exploiting the Google Apps Script platform, threat actors are now deploying highly convincing phishing attacks that appear completely legitimate to unsuspecting victims. These malicious campaigns are especially dangerous because they leverage a Google infrastructure that most email filters and security platforms already trust.

Hackers Now Hosting Phishing Pages on Google’s Trusted Domain

In a newly observed wave of cyberattacks, criminals are abusing Google Apps Script—a tool originally designed for automating Google Workspace tasks—to create deceptive phishing pages. These pages, hosted under the “script.google.com” domain, look like real login screens and are used to steal sensitive user credentials.

The scam typically begins with an email posing as an invoice or tax notification. It includes a link that directs the recipient to a fake login page hosted on Google’s trusted infrastructure. Since the page is under Google’s domain, security software usually allows it through without scrutiny. Once the victim enters their credentials, the data is secretly sent to the hacker’s server. To further mask the deceit, the user is then redirected to the actual legitimate service they thought they were accessing.

This technique is especially dangerous because it weaponizes a legitimate cloud platform. Since Google Apps Script lets users publish web apps to the public with little restriction, hackers can make quick changes to their lures without needing to resend phishing emails. This agility makes their schemes harder to detect and shut down.

Researchers from Cofense emphasize how realistic the fake login pages look, increasing the odds of a successful attack. Additionally, since these scripts run within Google’s domain, they exploit the inherent trust users and systems place in Google services.

Despite the potential risk, there is still no public statement from Google addressing how they plan to curb this abuse. In the meantime, experts recommend configuring email security systems to inspect cloud service links more rigorously and possibly block or flag links to Google Apps Script URLs to mitigate the risk.

What Undercode Say:

The exploitation of Google Apps Script by threat actors is a strategic and troubling evolution in phishing techniques. What sets this method apart from traditional phishing is the credibility lent by Google’s infrastructure itself. Cybercriminals have realized that the most effective way to bypass security barriers is to cloak malicious activity in the garb of legitimacy. By hosting phishing pages on a trusted domain like script.google.com, they effectively sidestep many conventional email security systems that would typically block suspicious URLs.

Moreover, the dynamic capabilities of Google Apps Script allow attackers to update their malicious payloads in real time. This means once a phishing email is delivered, the attacker can change the bait—be it an invoice, a tax notification, or a new lure—without needing to send a new message. This drastically reduces the window for detection and increases the likelihood of successful exploitation.

Another key advantage for attackers is the seamless user redirection after stealing login credentials. Victims often don’t realize they’ve been duped because they’re immediately taken to the real website after entering their details. This type of sleight-of-hand behavior is particularly effective in maintaining the illusion of legitimacy.

From an enterprise standpoint, the threat highlights a growing issue: the blind trust placed in cloud service domains. Organizations tend to whitelist services like Google, assuming they’re inherently safe. This incident proves otherwise. The solution lies in adopting smarter, context-aware email security systems that don’t just trust domains blindly but analyze the content and behavior of linked resources.

Furthermore, this development is a wake-up call for cloud service providers like Google. As more services move to the cloud, threat actors will increasingly seek to exploit the trust users place in these platforms. Without tighter controls, stricter publishing rules, or better abuse detection mechanisms, the problem is bound to grow.

Finally, end-user awareness must be part of the solution. Users need ongoing training to recognize the subtleties of modern phishing techniques, including suspicious login requests—even if they appear to come from trusted sources. The attack vector here isn’t just technical, it’s psychological. And tackling it requires a blend of smarter tools and more informed users.

Fact Checker Results ✅

🔎 The phishing tactic is confirmed by security experts at Cofense
🔒 It leverages trusted domains to bypass security filters
📩 Attacks are typically disguised as legitimate invoices or tax alerts

Prediction

The use of legitimate platforms like Google Apps Script in phishing attacks will likely increase as attackers prioritize stealth and adaptability. If left unregulated, Google’s open scripting environment may become a favorite playground for cybercriminals seeking both credibility and scalability. Expect stricter email filtering tools and new browser warnings to emerge in response—but also anticipate a surge in phishing tactics that abuse other trusted cloud services.