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Showing posts with label Data Exfiltration. Show all posts
RAM malware
air gap vulnerability air-gapped networks covert channel attack Cyber Attacks Cybersecurity Threats Data Exfiltration electromagnetic emissions RAM malware

Researchers Uncover Vulnerability in Air-Gapped Networks: Covert Channel Attack via Electromagnetic Emissions

 

Researchers have uncovered vulnerabilities in air-gapped networks, revealing that despite being physically isolated, these systems can still be compromised through covert channels such as electromagnetic emissions. The attack strategy involves malware that manipulates RAM to generate radio signals, which can be encoded with sensitive information and exfiltrated over a distance. The study details the creation and testing of a transmitter and receiver that can transmit and receive these signals, demonstrating the attack's feasibility and underscoring the need for stronger defenses against such threats.

The research introduces a novel covert channel based on electromagnetic emissions from the RAM bus. The transmitter modulates memory access patterns to encode data, which is subsequently demodulated by the receiver. By employing Manchester encoding, the system ensures clock synchronization and error detection, enhancing the data transmission speed but also increasing bandwidth requirements. The transmitter uses the MOVNTI instruction to sustain RAM bus activity and incorporates a preamble sequence for synchronization. Data framing by the receiver is achieved through an alternating bit sequence. A comparison with OOK modulation showed that Manchester encoding is better suited for this covert channel due to its superior synchronization and error detection capabilities.

The evaluation of the RAMBO covert channel highlights its effectiveness in exfiltrating data via electromagnetic emissions from DDR RAM. Tests across various distances and bit rates showed that the channel maintained a strong signal-to-noise ratio and low bit error rates, although lower SNR levels limited high-speed data transfers. While Faraday shielding and virtualization emerged as effective countermeasures, their widespread deployment remains limited. Additionally, the DDR RAM clock frequency influences the covert channel’s frequency range and is subject to changes from spread spectrum clocking. Overall, the RAMBO covert channel poses a significant security risk, necessitating careful assessment and implementation of protective measures.

To mitigate the RAMBO attack, several countermeasures can be adopted. These include physical separation through zone restrictions and Faraday enclosures to prevent information leakage, and the use of host-based intrusion detection systems and hypervisor-level monitoring to detect suspicious memory access patterns. External spectrum analyzers and radio jammers can identify and disrupt covert radio transmissions, while internal memory jamming can interfere with the covert channel, albeit with potential impacts on legitimate operations. Effective defense against the RAMBO attack typically requires a combination of these strategies.

The study demonstrated a groundbreaking air gap covert channel attack that leverages memory operations in isolated computers to exfiltrate sensitive data. By manipulating memory-related instructions, attackers can encode and modulate information onto electromagnetic waves emitted from memory buses. A nearby receiver, equipped with a software-defined radio, can then intercept, demodulate, and decode the transmitted data. This enables attackers to leak various types of information, including keystrokes, files, images, and biometric data, at rates of hundreds of bits per second.
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Obfuscation Technique
Corporate Hacking Data Breach Data Exfiltration DNS IDS Obfuscation Technique

New Hacking Method: Akami DNS Data Exfiltration



 


When it comes to cybercrime, getting into a system is only half the battle; the real challenge is extracting the stolen data without being detected. Companies often focus on preventing unauthorised access, but they must also ensure that data doesn’t slip out undetected. Hackers, driven by profit, constantly innovate methods to exfiltrate data from corporate networks, making it essential for businesses to understand and defend against these techniques.

The Challenge of Data Exfiltration

Once hackers breach a network, they need to smuggle data out without triggering alarms. Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) are crucial in this fight. They monitor network traffic and system activities for suspicious patterns that may indicate unauthorised data extraction attempts. IDS can trigger alerts or even automatically block suspicious traffic to prevent data loss. To avoid detection, hackers use obfuscation techniques to disguise their actions. This can involve encrypting data or embedding it within harmless-looking traffic, making it difficult for IDS to identify and block the exfiltration attempts.

Reality vs. Hollywood

In Hollywood movies like "Mission Impossible," data theft is often depicted as a physical heist involving stealth and daring. In reality, hackers prefer remote methods to avoid detection and the risk of getting caught. By exploiting vulnerabilities in web servers, hackers can gain access to a network and search for valuable data. Once they find it, the challenge becomes how to exfiltrate it without triggering security systems.

One common way hackers hide their tracks is through obfuscation. A well-known method of obfuscation is image steganography, where data is embedded within images. This technique allows small amounts of data, such as passwords, to be hidden within images without raising suspicion. However, it is impractical for large datasets due to its low bandwidth and the potential for triggering alarms when numerous images are sent out.

Innovative DNS Data Exfiltration

The Domain Name System (DNS) is essential for internet functionality, translating domain names into IP addresses. Hackers can exploit this by sending data disguised as DNS queries. Typically, corporate firewalls scrutinise unfamiliar DNS requests and block those from untrusted sources. However, a novel method known as "Data Bouncing" has emerged, bypassing these restrictions and making data exfiltration easier for hackers.

How Data Bouncing Works

Data Bouncing leverages trusted web hosts to facilitate DNS resolution. Here’s how it works: hackers send an HTTP request to a reputable domain, like "bbc.co.uk," with a forged "Host" header containing the attacker’s domain. Akami Ghost HTTP servers, configured to resolve such domains, process the request, unknowingly aiding the exfiltration.

Every HTTP request a browser makes to a web server includes some metadata in the request’s headers. One of these header fields is the "Host" field, which specifies the requested domain. Normally, if you request a domain that the IP address doesn’t host, you get an error. However, Akami Ghost HTTP servers are set up to send a DNS request to resolve the domain you’ve asked for, even if it’s outside their network. This means you can send a request to a trusted domain, like "bbc.co.uk," with a "Host" header for "encryptedfilechunk.attackerdomain.com," and the trusted domain carries out the DNS resolution for you.

To prevent data exfiltration, companies need a comprehensive security strategy that includes multiple layers of defence. This makes it harder for hackers to succeed and gives security teams more time to detect and stop them. While preventing intrusions is crucial, detecting and mitigating ongoing exfiltration attempts is equally important to protect valuable data.

As cyber threats take new shapes, so must our defences. Understanding sophisticated exfiltration techniques like Data Bouncing is essential in the fight against cybercrime. By staying informed and vigilant, companies can better protect their data from falling into the wrong hands.





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URLs
Data Exfiltration HFS https malware Monero Cryptocurrency Monero Miner URLs

Hackers Attack HFS Servers to Install Malware and Mine Monero


 

Cybersecurity researchers have identified a wave of attacks targeting outdated versions of the HTTP File Server (HFS) software from Rejetto, aiming to distribute malware and cryptocurrency mining tools. These attacks exploit a critical security flaw known as CVE-2024-23692, which allows hackers to execute arbitrary commands without needing authentication.

CVE-2024-23692 is a high-severity vulnerability discovered by security researcher Arseniy Sharoglazov. It was publicly disclosed in May this year, following a detailed technical report. The flaw is a template injection vulnerability that enables remote attackers to send specially crafted HTTP requests to execute commands on the affected systems. The vulnerability affects HFS versions up to and including 2.3m. In response, Rejetto has issued a warning to users, advising against the use of these versions due to their susceptibility to control by attackers.

Researchers at AhnLab Security Intelligence Center (ASEC) have observed multiple attacks on version 2.3m of HFS. This version remains popular among individuals, small teams, educational institutions, and developers for network file sharing. The attacks likely began after the release of Metasploit modules and proof-of-concept exploits soon after the vulnerability's disclosure.

During these attacks, hackers gather information about the compromised system, install backdoors, and deploy various types of malware. Commands such as "whoami" and "arp" are executed to collect system and user information and identify connected devices. Hackers also add new users to the administrators' group and terminate the HFS process to prevent other threat actors from exploiting the same vulnerability.

In several cases, the XMRig tool, used for mining Monero cryptocurrency, was installed. ASEC researchers attribute one of these attacks to the LemonDuck threat group. Other malware payloads deployed include:

1. XenoRAT: A tool for remote access and control, often used alongside XMRig.

2. Gh0stRAT: Used for remote control and data exfiltration.

3. PlugX: A backdoor associated with Chinese-speaking threat actors, providing persistent access.

4. GoThief: An information stealer that uses Amazon AWS for data exfiltration, capturing screenshots, collecting desktop file information, and sending data to an external command and control server.

AhnLab continues to detect attacks on HFS version 2.3m. Given that the server must be online for file sharing, it remains a lucrative target for hackers. Rejetto recommends users switch to version 0.52.x, which is the latest release despite its lower version number. This version is web-based, requires minimal configuration, and supports HTTPS, dynamic DNS, and administrative panel authentication.

The company has also provided indicators of compromise, including malware hashes, IP addresses of command and control servers, and download URLs for the malware used in these attacks. Users are urged to update their software to the latest version and follow cybersecurity best practices to protect their systems from such vulnerabilities.

By assimilating and addressing these vulnerabilities, users can better secure their systems against these sophisticated attacks.


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Unfading Sea Haze
Cyber Security cyber threat Data Exfiltration LNKs Spear Phishing Unfading Sea Haze

Hidden Cyber Threat Exposed After Six Years

 


A newly identified cyber threat group, known as "Unfading Sea Haze," has been secretly infiltrating military and government networks in the South China Sea region since 2018, according to a recent report by Bitdefender researchers. The group's activities align with Chinese geopolitical interests, focusing on gathering intelligence and conducting espionage. Unfading Sea Haze shares many tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) with other Chinese state-sponsored hacking groups, particularly APT41.

The group's attacks typically begin with spear-phishing emails containing malicious ZIP files disguised as legitimate documents. These ZIP files, often named to appear as Windows Defender installers, contain LNK files with obfuscated PowerShell commands. If an ESET security executable is detected on the target system, the attack is halted. Otherwise, the PowerShell script uses Microsoft's msbuild.exe to launch fileless malware directly into memory, leaving no traces on the victim's machine.

The code executed by MSBuild installs a backdoor called 'SerialPktdoor,' which gives the attackers remote control over the compromised system. Additionally, the hackers use scheduled tasks and manipulate local administrator accounts to maintain their presence on the network. By resetting and enabling the typically disabled local admin account, they create a hidden profile for continuous access.

Unfading Sea Haze employs a variety of custom tools and malware. Among these are 'xkeylog,' a keylogger for capturing keystrokes, info-stealers targeting browser data, and PowerShell scripts for extracting information. Since 2023, the group has adopted stealthier methods, such as abusing msbuild.exe to load C# payloads from remote SMB shares and deploying different variants of the Gh0stRAT malware.


Bitdefender has identified several Gh0stRAT variants used by the hackers:

1. SilentGh0st: A variant with extensive functionality through numerous commands and modules.

2. InsidiousGh0st: A Go-based evolution with enhanced capabilities, including TCP proxy, SOCKS5, and improved PowerShell integration.

3. TranslucentGh0st, EtherealGh0st, and FluffyGh0st: Newer variants designed for evasive operations with dynamic plugin loading and a lighter footprint.

Earlier attacks utilised tools like Ps2dllLoader for loading .NET or PowerShell code into memory and SharpJSHandler, a web shell for executing encoded JavaScript via HTTP requests. The group also created a tool to monitor newly connected USB and Windows Portable Devices every ten seconds, reporting device details and specific files to the attackers.

For data exfiltration, Unfading Sea Haze initially used a custom tool named 'DustyExfilTool,' which securely extracted data via TLS over TCP. In more recent attacks, the group has shifted to using a curl utility and the FTP protocol, with dynamically generated credentials that are frequently changed to enhance security.

The sophisticated techniques employed by Unfading Sea Haze highlight the need for robust cybersecurity defences. Organisations should implement a comprehensive security strategy that includes regular patch management, multi-factor authentication (MFA), network segmentation, traffic monitoring, and advanced detection and response tools.

By adopting these measures, organisations can better defend against the persistent and evolving threats posed by groups like Unfading Sea Haze. The group's ability to remain undetected for six years sets a strong precedent for the critical importance of vigilance and continuous improvement in cybersecurity practices.



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Vulnerabilities and Exploits
Data Exfiltration Files Microsoft SharePoint threats Vulnerabilities and Exploits

Secrets of SharePoint Security: New Techniques to Evade Detection

 



According to a recent discovery by Varonis Threat Labs, two new techniques have emerged that pose a significant threat to data security within SharePoint, a widely used platform for file management. These techniques enable users to evade detection and retreat files without triggering alarm bells in audit logs.

Technique 1: Open in App Method

The first technique leverages SharePoint's "open in app" feature, allowing users to access and download files while leaving behind only access events in the file's audit log. This method, which can be executed manually or through automated scripts, enables rapid exfiltration of multiple files without raising suspicion.

Technique 2: SkyDriveSync User-Agent

The second technique exploits the User-Agent for Microsoft SkyDriveSync, disguising file downloads as sync events rather than standard downloads. By mislabeling events, threat actors can bypass detection tools and policies, making their activity harder to track.

Implications for Security

These techniques pose a significant challenge to traditional security tools such as cloud access security brokers and data loss prevention systems. By hiding downloads as less suspicious access and sync events, threat actors can circumvent detection measures and potentially exfiltrate sensitive data unnoticed.

Microsoft's Response

Despite Varonis disclosing these methods to Microsoft, the tech giant has designated them as a "moderate" security concern and has not taken immediate action to address them. As a result, these vulnerabilities remain in SharePoint deployments, leaving organisations vulnerable to exploitation.

Recommendations for Organisations

To alleviate the risk posed by these techniques, organisations are advised to closely monitor access events in their SharePoint and OneDrive audit logs. Varonis recommends leveraging User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) and AI features to detect and stop suspicious activities, such as mass file access.

What Are the Risks?

While SharePoint and OneDrive are essential tools for facilitating file access in organisations, misconfigured permissions and access controls can inadvertently expose sensitive data to unauthorised users. Threat actors often exploit these misconfigurations to exfiltrate data, posing a significant risk to organisations across various industries.

Detection and Prevention Strategies

To detect and prevent unauthorised data exfiltration, organisations should implement detection rules that consider behavioural patterns, including frequency and volume of sync activity, unusual device usage, and synchronisation of sensitive folders. By analysing these parameters, organisations can identify and mitigate potential threats before they escalate.




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Vulnerabilities and Exploits
Conti Ransomware Data Exfiltration Encryption Phishing Attacks Ransomware Attacks. Vulnerabilities and Exploits

Conti's Legacy: Ransomware's Evolution and Future Threats

Ransomware has been a persistent and highly lucrative threat in the cybersecurity landscape, and one group that has garnered significant attention is Conti. Known for their sophisticated tactics and high-profile attacks, Conti has left a lasting impact on the cybersecurity community. However, recent developments indicate that Conti's legacy is undergoing a transformation, with spinoffs refining their attack strategies and raising concerns about the future of ransomware.

Conti first emerged in 2020 and quickly gained notoriety for its highly effective and profitable ransomware operations. The group targeted a wide range of industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, and finance, leveraging advanced techniques to breach networks and encrypt valuable data. Their success was attributed to their ability to exploit vulnerabilities in organizations' security infrastructure and their aggressive extortion tactics.

However, recent reports suggest that Conti's original group may have disbanded or rebranded, leading to the emergence of spinoffs carrying on their legacy. These new entities, operating under different names, have refined their attack strategies and continue to pose a significant threat to organizations worldwide.

One notable aspect of these spinoffs is their focus on data exfiltration alongside encryption. Instead of merely encrypting files and demanding a ransom, they now steal sensitive data before encryption, increasing their leverage by threatening to expose confidential information if the ransom is not paid. This approach not only amplifies the financial pressure on victims but also raises concerns about potential data breaches and regulatory implications.

To make matters worse, these spinoffs have also adopted a more targeted approach, carefully selecting victims based on their perceived ability to pay a significant ransom. By focusing on organizations with deep pockets or critical infrastructure, they maximize their chances of success and potential profit. Additionally, they have become more adept at evading detection by using sophisticated obfuscation techniques and employing anonymous communication channels.

The evolution of Conti's legacy highlights the need for organizations to remain vigilant and proactive in their cybersecurity measures. This includes implementing robust security controls, conducting regular vulnerability assessments, and educating employees about the risks and best practices for preventing ransomware attacks. It is also crucial for organizations to establish and regularly test incident response plans to minimize the impact and downtime in the event of an attack.

Furthermore, collaboration among law enforcement agencies, cybersecurity firms, and the private sector is essential to disrupt the operations of ransomware groups and bring their members to justice. By sharing threat intelligence and coordinating efforts, the global community can work towards dismantling these criminal networks and mitigating the widespread damage caused by ransomware attacks.
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Data Theft
Corporate Security Data Breach Data Exfiltration data security Data Theft

Data Theft: Employees Steal Company Data After Getting Fired


Employees taking personal data with them

Around 47 Million Americans left their jobs in 2021, and some took away personal information with them.

The conclusion comes from the latest report by Cyberhaven Inc, a data detection and response firm. It studied 3,72,000 cases of data extraction, and unauthorized transferring of critical info among systems- it involves 1.4 over a six-month period. Cyberhaven Inc found that 9.% of employees took data during that time frame. 

Over 40% of the compromised data was customer or client details, 13.8% related to source code, and 8% was regulated by personally identifiable information. The top 1% of guilty actors are accountable for around 8% of cases and the top 10% of guilty parties are responsible for 35% of cases. 

Reason for data extraction

As expected, the prime time for data extraction was between notice submissions by employees and their last day at work. Cyberhaven calculated around a 38% rise in cases during the post-notice period and an 83% rise in two weeks prior to an employee's resignation. The Cases bounced to 109% on the day the employees were fired from the company. 

Cyberhaven Inc blog says:

"While external threats capture headlines, our report proves that internal leaks are rampant – costing millions (sometimes billions) in IP loss and reputational damage. High-profile recent examples include Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook, but for the most part, this trend has flown under the radar."

The scale of the incident

If you look at the threat on a per-person basis, the risk is not significant, however, it intensifies with scale. Companies experience a mere average of 0.045% data extraction cases/per employee every month, however, it piles up to 45 monthly events at 1,000-employee organizations. 

A general way an employee usually takes out information is through cloud storage accounts, these were used in 27.5% of cases, then 19% belonging to personal webmail, with 14.4% incidents having corporate email messages sent to personal accounts. Removable storage drives amount to one in seven cases. 

Most incidents caused due to accident

Howard Ting (Chief Executive) warned not to jump to any conclusions, thinking many employees are criminals. He believes that the first and foremost cause of data exfiltration is an accident, one shouldn't assume every user is guilty. He said that users are generally unaware they aren't able to upload critical info on drives. 

Most organizations fail to clearly mention policies regarding data ownership. People in sales may believe they can keep account details they have, and developers may keep their code as a personal achievement. Organization mails having internal contact details are casually forwarded to personal accounts without ill intent and critical information can be stored in local hard drives, just a few clicks away. Cyberhaven inc comments:

"Our data suggests employees often sense their impending dismissal and decide to collect sensitive company data for themselves, while others quickly siphon away data before their access is turned off."





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Ransomware
Cyber Attacks Data Exfiltration Encryption Extortion Scheme Ransomware

Newly Discovered Royal Ransomware is Targeting Organizations with Multi-Million Dollar Assaults

 

A new ransomware operation dubbed “Royal” is targeting organizations with ransom demands ranging from $250.000 to over $2 million. 

A new report from BleepingComputer in collaboration AdvIntel researchers has investigated the group’s encryptor and its methodology. The ransomware group was first identified in January 2022 and includes vetted and experienced hackers from past operations. 

Interestingly, it does not operate as a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS), but instead as a private group without partners or affiliates. At first, the group employed the encryptors of other ransomware operations, such as the BlackCat example, before utilizing its own encryptors, the first being Zeon, an encryptor that designs ransom notes identical to Conti’s. 

Royal modus operandi 

Based on the observations gathered by threat analysts, this month, the Royal ransomware used a new encryptor and its name in ransom notes to represent itself accurately. The security experts have also identified that the hacking group is working underground and has not employed a data leak site to disclose their activities. 

The malicious campaign is employing a technique called “callback phishing,” wherein the Royal hackers mimic software vendors and food delivery platforms in emails, pretending to be an offer to renew a subscription. 

When victims call the number, the ransomware operators employ social engineering to lure them into installing remote access software, thus acquiring access to the corporate network. Subsequently, the hackers execute multiple attack procedures, eventually leading to the encryption of the exploited devices. They employ Cobalt Strike to spread out across the network, collect credentials, steal data, and finally encrypt machines. 

The targeted individuals would then discover a ransom note, named README.TXT, containing a Tor link to engage in negotiations with malicious hackers. The ransomware operators will offer their demand, with ransom amounts ranging from $250.000 to over $2 million. To prove that they have the firm’s data, Royal will decrypt a few files and share lists of the siphoned data. 

It remains unclear how successful the operation is because at the time of writing there are no reports of any victims actually paying for the decryption key. The researchers have strongly recommended network, windows, and security admins to keep an eye on the activities of this group, as they are ramping up their operations and will likely surge to become a significant business-targeting ransomware operation.
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Websites
Corporate Data Exfiltration Data Extortion Data Hacking Double extortion malware Night Sky Ransom Ransom note Ransomware Tor Site Websites

Night Sky: New Ransomware Targeting Corporate Networks

 

The new year has brought with it new ransomware named 'Night Sky,' which targets corporate networks and steals data in double-extortion attacks. 

The Night Sky operation began on December 27th, according to MalwareHunterTeam, which was the first to identify the new ransomware. The ransomware has since published the data of two victims. 

One of the victims got an initial ransom demand of $800,000 in exchange for a decryptor and the promise that the stolen material would not be made public. 

How Night Sky encrypts devices

A sample of the Night Sky ransomware seen by BleepingComputer has a personalised ransom note and hardcoded login credentials to access the victim's negotiation page. 

When the ransomware is activated, it encrypts all files except those with the.dll or.exe file extensions. The ransomware will not encrypt the following files or folders: 
• AppData
• Boot
• Windows
• Windows.old
• Tor Browser
• Internet Explorer
• Google
• Opera
• Opera Software
• Mozilla
• Mozilla Firefox
• $Recycle.Bin
• ProgramData
• All Users
• autorun.inf
• boot.ini
• bootfont.bin
• bootsect.bak
• bootmgr
• bootmgr.efi
• bootmgfw.efi
• desktop.ini
• iconcache.db
• ntldr
• ntuser.dat
• ntuser.dat.log
• ntuser.ini
• thumbs.db
• Program Files
• Program Files (x86)
• #recycle

Night Sky appends the.nightsky extension to encrypted file names while encrypting them. A ransom letter named NightSkyReadMe.hta is included in each folder, and it provides details about what was stolen, contact emails, and hardcoded passwords to the victim's negotiation page. 

Instead of communicating with victims through a Tor site, Night Sky employs email addresses and a transparent website that runs Rocket.Chat. The credentials are used to access the Rocket.Chat URL specified in the ransom note. 

Double extortion tactic: 

Before encrypting devices on the network, ransomware operations frequently grab unencrypted data from victims. Threat actors then utilize the stolen data in a "double-extortion" scheme, threatening to leak the information unless a ransom is paid. 

Night Sky built a Tor data leak site to leak the data of victims, which now contains two victims, one from Bangladesh and the other from Japan. While there hasn't been much activity with the new Night Sky ransomware operation, one should keep a watch on it as we enter the new year.
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