Anvilogic Forge Threat Research Reports
Here you can find an accumulation of trending threats published weekly by the Anvilogic team.
We curate threat intelligence to provide situational awareness and actionable insights
Atomic detections that serve as the foundation of our detection framework.
Risk, pattern, and sequence-based detections utilizing the outputs of Threat Identifiers as a means of identifying actual threats.
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Forge Report: First Half Threat Trends of 2024
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Recommendations for Countering Against Phobos Ransomware
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), FBI, and MS-ISAC have released recommendations to combat Phobos ransomware, targeting critical sectors since May 2019. Phobos, a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operation, exploits vulnerabilities in Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) services and conducts sophisticated phishing campaigns. It employs tools like Smokeloader, Cobalt Strike, and Bloodhound for attacks. Recommendations include monitoring for initial access attempts, especially via phishing and vulnerable RDP ports, and detecting known executables associated with Phobos to mitigate threats.
Increasing Docker Exploitation for Cryptomining
Cado Security researchers have disclosed a campaign exploiting misconfigured servers, including Docker and Apache Hadoop YARN, for cryptomining. The operation involves Docker container escapes and Linux host intrusions, using Golang payloads and bash scripts for automated vulnerability exploitation. The report highlights parallels with previous cloud-targeting campaigns and outlines anti-forensics measures and attack techniques used to maintain stealth and persistence.
Cybersecurity Authorities Warn of APT29's Shift Towards Cloud Infrastructure Attacks
Cybersecurity advisories from CISA and the UK's NCSC have highlighted a strategic shift by APT29, a Russian state-sponsored cyber group, towards targeting cloud infrastructures across sectors such as aviation, education, financial, government, law enforcement, and military. The advisories detail APT29's evolved tactics to exploit cloud-based systems, including password spraying, leveraging service accounts, enrolling new devices to bypass MFA, and using residential proxies to hide their operations. These methods demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of cloud vulnerabilities, underscoring the need for organizations to adopt recommended mitigations to protect against such advanced threats.
Attackers' Bluff Exposed in S3 Bucket Deletion Scam
Cybersecurity analyst Stephan Berger (@malmoeb) has exposed a scam involving the deletion of AWS S3 buckets, where attackers then demand a ransom. The incident began with reconnaissance in January 2024, escalating to the deletion of an S3 bucket in February. The attackers left a ransom note and a supposed recovery binary, which Berger identified as a decoy designed to pressure victims into paying the ransom. The investigation revealed that only a small fraction of data was compromised, highlighting the deceptive nature of the attackers' claims. This analysis underscores the importance of skepticism and thorough investigation in the face of ransom demands.
More Ransomware Gangs Pounce on ScreenConnect Vulnerabilities
Trend Micro reports escalating ransomware attacks by Black Basta and Bl00dy gangs exploiting ScreenConnect vulnerabilities, CVE-2024-1708 and CVE-2024-1709, in versions 23.9.7 and earlier. The vulnerabilities, leading to ransomware deployment and data theft, are a critical security risk requiring immediate action. Attackers utilize sophisticated techniques, including path traversal and authentication bypass, to conduct reconnaissance, escalate privileges, and deploy malicious payloads such as Cobalt Strike beacons. These findings underscore the importance of updating and securing network environments against these emerging threats.
Government Agencies Warn of ALPHV's Aggression Against Healthcare Organizations
The FBI, CISA, and HHS have issued a joint cybersecurity advisory warning of increased ALPHV/Blackcat ransomware attacks on the healthcare sector. Despite actions against the gang in December 2023, their activity persists with enhanced tactics. The advisory highlights the use of sophisticated tools and techniques, emphasizing the healthcare industry's need for heightened security measures and vigilance.
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