Step 1: Assess the scope of the incident Run through this list of questions and tasks to discover the extent of the attack. These attacks involve many reconnaissance activities that enable human operators to profile the organization and know what next steps to take based on specific knowledge of the target. Consider resetting the passwords for any privileged account with broad administrative authority, such as the members of the Domain Admins group. The Doppelpaymer ransomware binary used in many attacks are signed using what appears to be stolen certificates from OFFERS CLOUD LTD, which might be trusted by various security solutions. This is especially notable as the ransomware deployments all occurred within one hour.". While they arent currently publicly observed to be running a RaaS program, ELBRUS is very active in compromising organizations via phishing campaigns that lead to their JSSLoader and Griffon malware. According to a report by the Department of Homeland Security's cybersecurity office, a ransomware assault on a hospital that is already under stress might result in "lower capacity and worsening health outcomes." Used with permission from Article Aggregator /> X. Trending. See the white paper: Azure defenses for ransomware attack whitepaper. In the next sections, we provide a deep dive into the following prominent ransomware threat actors and their campaigns to increase community understanding of these attacks and enable organizations to better protect themselves: Microsoft threat intelligence directly informs our products as part of our commitment to track adversaries and protect customers. Other malware families like GandCrab, MegaCortext, LockerGoga, Hermes, and RobbinHood have also used this method in targeted ransomware attacks. Once the operators have activated on a network, they utilize their Cobalt Strike or PowerShell tools to initiate reconnaissance and lateral movement on a network. The RaaS affiliate model, which has allowed more criminals, regardless of technical expertise, to deploy ransomware built or managed by someone else, is weakening this link. What user accounts were used on that date? Given the key role they play, IT pros should be part of security teams. Kusto query for all network logons that are local admins: Kusto query for non-RDP logons (more realistic for most networks): Quarantine and add indicators for files that are infected. A note on threat actor naming: as part of Microsofts ongoing commitment to track both nation-state and cybercriminal threat actors, we refer to the unidentified threat actors as a development group. Microsoft Secure Score assesses and measures an organizations security posture and provides recommended improvement actions, guidance, and control. Microsoft identified several dozens of hospitals with vulnerable gateway and VPN appliances. Aim to run services as Local System when administrative privileges are needed, as this allows applications to have high privileges locally but cant be used to move laterally. Here is Microsoft's Customer Guidance on the Ransomware Attack: In March, we released a security update which addresses the vulnerability that these attacks are exploiting. Their payloads are sometimes rebuilt from existing for-purchase ransomware tools like Rook, which shares code similarity with the Babuk ransomware family. Building an optimal organizational security posture is key to defending networks against human-operated attacks and other sophisticated threats. Take advantage of storage space to maintain two copies of your PC data. You can use the alerts and the evidence list in the incident to determine: Run through this list of tasks and questions to protect existing systems from attack: Use this list to keep the attack from spreading to additional entities. Back up the content on your PC regularly. New York Post Like us on Facebook to see similar stories Please give an overall site rating . Created on March 12, 2021 Ransomware attack Ransomware attack on my pc. We then help to translate the implications for those trends for those in charge of endpoint management strategies. Ransomware is spiking as cyberattacks on Microsoft jump, according to a report. In many cases, services like security and systems management software are configured with privileged accounts, such as domain administrator; this makes it easy for Ryuk operators to migrate from an initial desktop to server-class systems and domain controllers. In general, various server/endpoint antimalware, email antimalware and network protection solutions should be configured to automatically contain and mitigate known ransomware. Steps to the ransomware detection and recovery process on the OneDrive website. It was found that the United States was on the top of ransomware attacks; followed by Italy and Canada. Because attackers have accessed and explored many networks during their attacks, they have a deep knowledge of common network configurations and use it to their advantage. we equip you to harness the power of disruptive innovation, at work and at home. The mitigations include: "The threat landscape in Ukraine continues to evolve, and wipers and destructive attacks have been a consistent theme. Unlike more opportunistic attackers, DEV-0537 targets specific companies with an intent. Microsoft outlines three key methods the group used within one hour of each attack. In this blog, we will highlight case studies of human-operated ransomware campaigns that use different entrance vectors and post-exploitation techniques but have overwhelming overlap in the security misconfigurations they abuse and the impact they have on organizations. Domain admin accounts and other accounts with high privilege should not be present on workstations. Attackers utilize various methods to gain access to privileged accounts, including common credential theft tools like Mimikatz and LaZagne. We also offer security best practices on credential hygiene and cloud hardening, how to address security blind spots, harden internet-facing assets to understand your perimeter, and more. A ransomware organization known as the Hive has claimed responsibility for the incident. Attackers tweak their techniques and have tools to evade and disable security products. To further help customers, we released a Microsoft Defender ATP Threat Analytics report on the campaigns and mitigations against the attack. RaaS thus gives a unified appearance of the payload or campaign being a single ransomware family or set of attackers. BlackCat remains DEV-0504s primary payload as of June 2022. As we have learned from the adaptability and resourcefulness of attackers, human-operated campaigns are intent on circumventing protections and cleverly use whats available to them to achieve their goal, motivated by profit. DEV-0537 also takes advantage of cloud admin privileges to monitor email, chats, and VOIP communications to track incident response efforts to their intrusions. Meanwhile, DEV-0464 distributes the TR Qakbot and other malware such as SquirrelWaffle. Case in point, one of the most infamous DarkSide deployments wasnt performed by ELBRUS but by a ransomware as a service affiliate Microsoft tracks as DEV-0289. Turn on Windows Defender Antivirus to combat ransomware. DEV-0237 is also one of several actors observed introducing other tools into their attacks to replace Cobalt Strike. There are several potential triggers that may indicate a ransomware incident. For Microsoft Defender Antivirus, this includes: Disable Exchange ActiveSync and OneDrive sync. Microsoft has detailed DEV-0537 actions taken in early 2022 in this blog. Microsoft Defender ATP raises the alert Event log was cleared and Windows generates an Event ID 1102 when this occurs. The attacker usually exploits an existing vulnerability in your system to penetrate your network and execute the malicious software on the target host. Microsoft has flagged a new piece of ransomware that's hit transport and logistic organizations in Ukraine and Poland. Cobalt Strikes ubiquity and visible impact has led to improved detections and heightened awareness in security organizations, leading to observed decreased use by actors. One of the most prolific and successful Conti affiliatesand the one responsible for developing the Conti Manual leaked in August 2021is tracked as DEV-0230. The US government in February was worried the same malware could be used against US organizations. ELBRUS retired the DarkSide ransomware ecosystem in May 2021 and released its successor, BlackMatter, in July 2021. Also, the victim profiles align with recent Russia state-aligned activity and overlaps with victims of the HermeticWiper destructive malware that was deployed at the outset of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This data and associated stolen credentials are accessed by the attacker and likely retained, even after the ransomware portion is ended. The Threat and Vulnerability Management capability uses a risk-based approach to the discovery, prioritization, and remediation of misconfigurations and vulnerabilities on endpoints. Human operators manually spread it within compromised networks using stolen credentials for privileged accounts along with common tools like PsExec and Group Policy. Ransomware activity groups also rapidly adopt vulnerabilities related to authentication, such as ZeroLogon and PetitPotam, especially when they are included in toolkits like Mimikatz. Ransomware attacks have accelerated dramatically in the past year. In addition, RaaS developers and operators might also use the payload for profit, sell it, and run their campaigns with other ransomware payloadsfurther muddying the waters when it comes to tracking the criminals behind these actions. /> X. Trending. The cybercriminals behind Locky ransomware have adopted a new DDE hijacking technique to infect as many victims as possible while evading detection. Targets are lured by an ad purporting to be a browser update, or a software package, to download a ZIP file and double-click it. Microsoft 365 Defender can provide a consolidated view of all impacted or at-risk assets to aid in your incident response assessment. Combating and preventing attacks of this nature requires a shift in mindset, one that focuses on comprehensive protection required to slow and stop attackers before they can succeed. DEV-0504 was responsible for deploying BlackCat ransomware in companies in the energy sector in January 2022. Microsoft-signed malicious Windows drivers used in ransomware attacks. DEV-0237 heavily used Ryuk and Conti payloads from Trickbot LLC/DEV-0193, then Hive payloads more recently. What new file extension has been added to all your files, the only way to get your files back is with the use of a decrypter. Some activity groups can access thousands of potential targets and work through these as their staffing allows, prioritizing based on potential ransom payment over several months. The human-driven nature of these attacks and the scale of possible victims under control of ransomware-associated threat actors underscores the need to take targeted proactive security measures to harden networks and prevent these attacks in their early stages. Microsoft coined the term human-operated ransomware to clearly define a class of attacks driven by expert human intelligence at every step of the attack chain and culminate in intentional business disruption and extortion. This means that the impact of a successful ransomware and extortion attack remains the same regardless of the attackers skills. At the beginning of a Ryuk infection, an existing Trickbot implant downloads a new payload, often Cobalt Strike or PowerShell Empire, and begins to move laterally across a network, activating the Trickbot infection for ransomware deployment. Frequently attackers query for the currently running security tools, privileged users, and security settings such as those defined in Group Policy before continuing their attack. Although that simple technique often motivates victims to pay, it is not the only way attackers can monetize their access to compromised networks. However, despite law enforcement actions against suspected individual members, Microsoft has observed sustained campaigns from the ELBRUS group itself during these periods. Another RaaS affiliate that acquired access from Qakbot infections was DEV-0216, which maintains their own Cobalt Strike Beacon infrastructure and has operated as an affiliate for Egregor, Maze, Lockbit, REvil, and Conti in numerous high-impact incidents. Ransomware attacks generate multiple, disparate security product alerts, but they could easily get lost or not responded to in time. However, Microsoft says that this year, these ransomware gangs have been particularly active and have reduced the time they need to launch attacks, and especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This varies depending on what the attackers know about the organization and the assets that they have compromised. Identify any network communication that is associated with the incident. In late March of 2022, DEV-0237 was observed to be using a new version of Hive again. In this episode of MSP Dispatch we touch on OWASSRF: CrowdStrike Identifies New Exploit Method for Exchange Bypassing ProxyNotShell Mitigations, A New Chat Bot Is a 'Code Red' for Google's Search Business and Microsoft-Signed Malicious Windows Drivers Used in Ransomware Attacks. Some of the simple errors that enable attacks. The rise of adaptable, resourceful, and persistent human-operated attacks characterizes the need for advanced protection on multiple attack surfaces. The attackers dont always install ransomware immediately; they have been observed installing coin miners and using massmail.exe to run spam campaigns, essentially using corporate networks as distributed computing infrastructure for profit. We coined the industry term human-operated ransomware to clarify that these threats are driven by humans who make decisions at every stage of their attacks based on what they find in their targets network. Human-operated ransomware groups routinely hit the same targets multiple times. how do i resolve this. Using legitimate tools and settings to persist versus malware implants such as Cobalt Strike is a popular technique among ransomware attackers to avoid detection and remain resident in a network for longer. When you use an antimalware program, your device first scans any files or links that you attempt to open to help ensure they're safe. There may be cases, however, where the specific ransomware variant has been able to bypass such protections and successfully infect target systems. PARINACOTA impacts three to four organizations every week and appears quite resourceful: during the 18 months that we have been monitoring it, we have observed the group change tactics to match its needs and use compromised machines for various purposes, including cryptocurrency mining, sending spam emails, or proxying for other attacks. If theres minimal security hardening to complicate the attack and a highly privileged account can be gained immediately, attackers move directly to deploying ransomware by editing a Group Policy. The steps we outlined above defend against common attack patterns and will go a long way in preventing ransomware attacks. They target cloud administrator accounts to set up forwarding rules for email exfiltration and tamper with administrative settings on cloud environments. Run services as Network Service when accessing other resources. Microsoft has been tracking the activities of DEV-0193 since October 2020 and has observed their expansion from developing and distributing the Trickbot malware to becoming the most prolific ransomware-associated cybercriminal activity group active today. Assets can be organized by domain with each domain having its own set of risk mitigations. The techniques and methods used by the human-operated ransomware attacks we discussed in this blog highlight these important lessons in security: Some of the most successful human-operated ransomware campaigns have been against servers that have antivirus software and other security intentionally disabled, which admins may do to improve performance. When necessary, the group elevates privileges from local administrator to SYSTEM using accessibility features in conjunction with a batch file or exploit-laden files named after the specific CVEs they impact, also known as the Sticky Keys attack. Attackers also employ a few other techniques to bypass protections and run ransomware code. News Series Topics Threat Research Podcast. In some cases, we found artifacts indicating that they introduce a legitimate binary and use Alternate Data Streams to masquerade the execution of the ransomware binary as legitimate binary. If Microsoft 365 detected a ransomware attack, you see the Signs of ransonware detected screen when you go to the OneDrive website (you might need to sign in first). Automation is critical to scaling SOC teams' capabilities across today's complex, distributed, and diverse ecosystems and showcases the true power of an XDR solution that correlates signals across endpoints, identities, email, documents, cloud apps, and more. A load is designed to install other malware or backdoors onto the infected systems for other criminals. Attackers may sometimes threaten to release sensitive information or destroy data. Ensure rapid detection and remediation of common attacks on VMs, SQL Servers, Web applications, and identity. To ensure customers running on Azure are protected against ransomware attacks, Microsoft has invested heavily on the security of our cloud platforms and has provided you the security controls you need to protect your Azure cloud workloads. Only a subset of the machines have the malware binary and a slightly smaller subset have their files encrypted. Email protection - Block exe file in basic mail flow and enable Advanced threat protection. These are the guys who snatch up your files and encrypt them, demanding payment in order to decrypt and redeliver. In addition, in many environments successfully compromised by Ryuk, operators are able to utilize the built-in administrator account to move laterally, as these passwords are matching and not randomized. After obtaining adequate credentials, attackers perform extensive reconnaissance of machines and running software to identify targets for ransomware delivery. Similarly, DEV-0230 shifted to deploying QuantumLocker around April 23, 2022. Ransomware deployment and lateral movement stage (in order of impact based on the stage in attack they prevent): Secure Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) or Windows Virtual Desktop endpoints with MFA to harden against password spray or brute force attacks. Qakbot is prevalent across a wide range of networks, building upon successful infections to continue spreading and expanding. Because DEV-0401 maintains and frequently rebrands their own ransomware payloads, they can appear as different groups in payload-driven reporting and evade detections and actions against them. Not only will it get you to a more secure position, it affords you the opportunity to consider your long-term strategy rather than reacting to the situation. Their initial access techniques include exploiting unpatched vulnerabilities in internet-facing systems, searching public code repositories for credentials, and taking advantage of weak passwords. Raspberry Robin is a USB-based worm first publicly discussed by Red Canary. What initially made you aware of the ransomware attack? Ransomware attacks have become even more impactful in recent years as more ransomware as a service ecosystems have adopted the double extortion monetization strategy. In general, such infections obvious from basic system behavior, the absence of key system or user files and the demand for ransom. This exfiltration can take the form of using tools like Rclone to sync to an external site, setting up email transport rules, or uploading files to cloud services. One such extortion attackers is DEV-0537 (also known as LAPSUS$), which is profiled below. The use of numerous attack methods reflects how attackers freely operate without disruption even when available endpoint detection and response (EDR) and endpoint protection platform (EPP) sensors already detect their activities. Report abuse. Attackers use various protocols or system frameworks (WMI, WinRM, RDP, and SMB) in conjunction with PsExec to move laterally and distribute ransomware. Building credential hygiene is developing a logical segmentation of the network, based on privileges, that can be implemented alongside network segmentation to limit lateral movement. Within this category of threats, Microsoft has been tracking the trend in the ransomware as a service (RaaS) gig economy, called human-operated ransomware, which remains one of the most impactful threats to organizations. The group also buys credentials from underground forums which were gathered by other password-stealing malware. Ryuk is another active human-operated ransomware campaign that wreaks havoc on organizations, from corporate entities to local governments to non-profits by disrupting businesses and demanding massive ransom. The Microsoft Defender for IoT research team details information on the recent distribution of a Go-based botnet, known as Zerobot, that spreads primarily through IoT and web-application vulnerabilities. The ransom note identifies itself as being "Prestige ranusomeware", according to the the Microsoft Threat Intelligence Center (MSTIC). Want to experience Microsoft 365 Defender? On the other hand, we use volcano names (such as ELBRUS) for ransomware or cybercriminal activity groups that have moved out of the DEV state. Microsoft provides extensive resources to help update your incident response processes on the Top Azure Security Best Practices. This group uses DEV-0365s Cobalt Strike Beacon infrastructure instead of maintaining their own. Other access brokers scan the internet for vulnerable systems, like exposed Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) systems with weak passwords or unpatched systems, and then compromise them en masse to bank for later profit. The cybercriminal can then extort money from the business owner in exchange for a key to unlock the encrypted data. All ransomware is a form of extortion, but now, attackers are not only encrypting data on compromised devices but also exfiltrating it and then posting or threatening to post it publicly to pressure the targets into paying the ransom. For example, through Microsoft Defender ATPs integration with Microsoft Intune and System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM), security administrators can create a remediation task in Microsoft Intune with one click. In February of 2022, DEV-0401 was observed deploying the Pandora ransomware family, primarily via unpatched VMware Horizon systems vulnerable to the Log4j 2 CVE-2021-44228 vulnerability. Based on tactics observed by Microsoft, ransomware attackers likely gained access to compromised networks via a BATLOADER-delivered Cobalt Strike Beacon implant. Ryuk operators then use a variety of techniques to steal credentials, including the LaZagne credential theft tool. Ransomware: Why it's still a big threat, and where the gangs are going next, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Block process creations originating from PSExec and WMI commands to stop lateral movement utilizing the WMIexec component of Impacket, Enable Tamper protection to prevent attacks from stopping or interfering with Microsoft Defender, Turn on cloud-delivered protection in Microsoft Defender Antivirus or its equivalent, Enable MFA and ensure that MFA is enforced for all remote connectivity including VPNs. Doppelpaymer ransomware, like Wadhrama, Samas, LockerGoga, and Bitpaymer before it, does not have inherent worm capabilities. Frequently, the group targets built-in local administrator accounts or a list of common account names. The default settings across the 365 suite only protect data for an average of 30-90 days, after which it's deleted. ELBRUS developed their own RaaS ecosystem named DarkSide. Human-operated attacks involve a fairly lengthy and complex attack chain before the ransomware payload is deployed. This is when a group gains access to an entity's computer system, sometimes via an email "phishing" attack. Its important to understand that the lack security controls on these systems that have access to highly privileged credentials act as blind spots that allow attackers to perform the entire ransomware and exfiltration attack chain from a single system without being detected. IT security teams and SOCs can work together with the authorized use of this tool to enable the reduction of exposed credentials. Security researchers are warning that threat actors could hijack Office 365 accounts to encrypt for a ransom the files stored in SharePoint and OneDrive services that companies use . The ransom amount is adjusted based on the likelihood the organization will pay due to impact to their company or the perceived importance of the target. The DART engages with customers around the world, helping to protect and harden against attacks before they occur, as well as investigating and remediating when an attack has occurred. Microsoft warns of attacks targeting companies in Poland and Ukraine. Consequently, DeviceOn integrates Acronis Active Protection, Acronis Backup & Recovery, and the Advantech iBMC device management chip within the IT/OT total security solution; delivering complete edge . In many instances, attackers test their attacks in production from an undetected location in their targets environment, deploying tools or payloads like commodity malware. These attacks are settling into the normal ebb and flow of the threat environment. Microsoft has been tracking this group for some time, but now refers to them as PARINACOTA, using our new naming designation for digital crime actors based on global volcanoes. Attackers most commonly take advantage of an organizations poor credential hygiene and legacy configurations or misconfigurations to find easy entry and privilege escalation points in an environment. What are the best over-ear headphones, and which are best for exercise? September 2022 update New information about recent Qakbot campaigns leading to ransomware deployment. 1. In the early attack stages, such as deploying a banking trojan, common remediation efforts like isolating a system and resetting exposed credentials may be sufficient. This is in addition to numerous indicators of credential theft and the use of reconnaissance tools. Holiday Gift Guides 2022; Best gaming gift ideas for the holidays; Best cheap tech gifts under $50 to give for the holidays; This evolution is driven by the human-operated aspect of these attacksattackers make informed and calculated decisions, resulting in varied attack patterns tailored specifically to their targets and iterated upon until the attackers are successful or evicted. This has resulted in a confusing story of the scale of the ransomware problem and overinflated the impact that a single RaaS program shutdown can have on the threat environment. The group most often employs a smash-and-grab method, whereby they attempt to infiltrate a machine in a network and proceed with subsequent ransom in less than an hour. As in other ransomware campaigns, the attackers use native commands to stop Exchange Server, SQL Server, and similar services that can lock certain files and disrupt attempts to encrypt them. Without the ability to steal access to highly privileged accounts, attackers cant move laterally, spread ransomware widely, access data to exfiltrate, or use tools like Group Policy to impact security settings. Historically, Qakbot infections typically lead to hands-on-keyboard activity and ransomware deployments by DEV-0216, DEV-0506, and DEV-0826. A vast amount of the current cybercriminal economy connects to a nexus of activity that Microsoft tracks as DEV-0193, also referred to as Trickbot LLC. Human-operated ransomware campaigns often start with commodity malware like banking Trojans or unsophisticated attack vectors that typically trigger multiple detection alerts; however, these tend to be triaged as unimportant and therefore not thoroughly investigated and remediated. Determine your compromise recovery process. Do not forget to scan devices that synchronize data or the targets of mapped network drives. 0. This technique helps the attackers evade reputation-based detection, which may block their scanning boxes; it also preserves their command-and-control (C2) infrastructure. Learn how you can stop attacks through automated, cross-domain security and built-in AI with Microsoft Defender 365. What programs were added to automatically start around the time that the incident occurred? This attribution masks the actions of the set of the attackers in the DEV-0504 umbrella, including other REvil and BlackCat affiliates. They exhibit extensive knowledge of systems administration and common network security misconfigurations, perform thorough reconnaissance, and adapt to what they discover in a compromised network. Microsoft Defender ATP alert for credential theft. The Ryuk operators use stolen Domain Admin credentials, often from an interactive logon session on a domain controller, to distribute the Ryuk payload. Understanding and fixing the fundamental security issues that led to the compromise in the first place should be a priority for ransomware victims. We use a naming structure with a prefix of DEV to indicate an emerging threat group or unique activity during investigation. sir i am just checked. The success of attacks relies on whether campaign operators manage to gain control over domain accounts with elevated privileges after establishing initial access. One common misconfiguration they exploit is running services and scheduled tasks as highly privileged service accounts. Most ransomware attackers opportunistically deploy ransomware to whatever network they get access to, and some even purchase access to networks from other cybercriminals. While Dridex is likely used as initial access for delivering Doppelpaymer on machines in affected networks, most of the same networks contain artifacts indicating RDP brute force. Look for currently-open tickets that indicate similar incidents. Microsoft-signed malicious Windows drivers used in ransomware attacks bleepingcomputer.com 1 Like Comment To view or add a comment, sign in Others also viewed (Gregory R.) Greg Ellis Seasoned. For instance, they sometimes discover unpatched systems and use disclosed vulnerabilities to gain initial access or elevate privileges. Example Kusto query: For the devices that are not yet isolated and are not part of the critical infrastructure: Isolate compromised devices from the network but do not shut them off. "For this DEV-0960 activity, the methods used to deploy the ransomware varied across the victim environments, but it does not appear to be due to security configurations preventing the attacker from using the same techniques. Many RaaS programs further incorporate a suite of extortion support offerings, including leak site hosting and integration into ransom notes, as well as decryption negotiation, payment pressure, and cryptocurrency transaction services. For example, initial access gained by a banking trojan leads to a Cobalt Strike deployment, but the RaaS affiliate that purchased the access may choose to use a less detectable remote access tool such as TeamViewer to maintain persistence on the network to operate their broader series of campaigns. is confirmed to be a China-based activity group. Those who have Windows Update enabled are protected against attacks on this vulnerability. Once initial access to a network is gained, DEV-0537 takes advantage of security misconfigurations to elevate privileges and move laterally to meet their objectives of data exfiltration and extortion. DEV-0193 is responsible for developing, distributing, and managing many different payloads, including Trickbot, Bazaloader, and AnchorDNS. Under this, assistance is provided in all areas such as restoration of identity services, remediation and hardening and with monitoring deployment to help victims of ransomware attacks to return to normal business in the shortest possible timeframe. Durable machine learning and behavior-based protections detect human-operated campaigns at multiple points in the attack chain, before the ransomware payload is deployed. Microsoft 365 Suggests Rollback After Issues From Update. They can also manifest in even more extreme behavior where RaaS affiliates switch to older fully owned ransomware payloads like Phobos, which they can buy when a RaaS isnt available, or they dont want to pay the fees associated with RaaS programs. Replicating their patterns from DarkSide, ELBRUSdeployed BlackMatter themselves and ran a RaaS program for affiliates. Figure 8. Attackers take advantage of common weaknesses to exfiltrate data and demand ransom without deploying a payload. Gaining this clarity helps surface trends and common attack patterns that inform defensive strategies focused on preventing attacks rather than detecting ransomware payloads. These rules, which can be configured by all Microsoft Defender Antivirus customers and not just those using the EDR solution, offer significant hardening against attacks. Another widely distributed malware, Qakbot, also leads to handoffs to RaaS affiliates. Microsoft found that more than 80 per cent of ransomware attacks can be traced back to common misconfigurations of software and devices. In late September 2022, Microsoft observed DEV-0506 adding Brute Ratel as a tool to facilitate their hands-on-keyboard access as well as Cobalt Strike Beacons. We also add the note Ongoing hands-on-keyboard attack to alerts that indicate a human attacker is in the network. Microsoft processes 24 trillion signals every 24 hours, and we have blocked billions of attacks in the last year alone. Qakbots initial actions include profiling the system and the network, and exfiltrating emails (.eml files) for later use as templates in its malware distribution campaigns. Unlike many other types of malware, most will be higher-confidence triggers (where little additional investigation or analysis should be required prior to the declaration of an incident) rather than lower-confidence triggers (where more investigation or analysis would likely be required before an incident should be declared). Join discussions at the Microsoft Threat Protection and Microsoft Defender ATP tech communities. According to a report by the Department of Homeland Security's cybersecurity office, a ransomware assault on a hospital that is already under stress might result in "lower capacity and worsening health outcomes." . For example, it has used l33tspeak versions of company names and company phone numbers. In many instances, the initial access for access brokers is a legacy system that isnt protected by antivirus or EDR solutions. Are there any suspected compromised accounts that appear to be actively used by the adversary? The group dumps credentials from the LSASS process, using tools like Mimikatz and ProcDump, to gain access to matching local administrator passwords or service accounts with high privileges that may be used to start as a scheduled task or service, or even used interactively. An often-documented trademark of Ryuk and Conti deployments is naming the ransomware payload xxx.exe, a tradition that DEV-0237 continues to use no matter what RaaS they are deploying, as most recently observed with BlackCat. Disrupting common attack patterns by applying security controls also reduces alert fatigue in security SOCs by stopping the attackers before they get in. Split from this thread. A durable security strategy against determined human adversaries must include the goal of mitigating classes of attacks and detecting them. The reason why this type of ransomware is so dangerous is because once cybercriminals get ahold of your files, no security software or system restore can return them to you. Some well-known human-operated ransomware campaigns include REvil, Samas, Bitpaymer, and Ryuk. Since 2019, ELBRUS has partnered with DEV-0324 to distribute their malware implants. This is where a ransomware attack on a Microsoft Office 365 environment can cause permanent damage, because Microsoft doesn't provide native backup for Microsoft Office 365. SystemBC is a SOCKS5 proxy used to conceal malware traffic that shares code and forensic markers with other malware from the Trickbot family. Trickbot, and the Ryuk operators, also take advantage of users running as local administrators in environments and use these permissions to disable security tools that would otherwise impede their actions. But MSTIC says the Prestige campaign is separate from HermeticWiper and other destructive malware that has been deployed at multiple Ukraine critical infrastructure operators in the past two weeks. In addition, there is evidence that DEV-0537 leverages credentials stolen by the Redline password stealer, a piece of malware available for purchase in the cybercriminal economy. Reset the passwords of any known compromised user accounts and require a new sign-in. Read all Microsoft security intelligence blog posts. To further reduce organizational exposure, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint customers can use the threat and vulnerability management capability to discover, prioritize, and remediate vulnerabilities and misconfigurations. #security #privacy #cloud #cyber #cybersecurity #infosec Attempts to bypass antivirus protection and deploy ransomware are particularly successful in cases where: Microsoft Defender ATP generates alerts for many activities associated with these attacks. By June 2022, DEV-0237 was still primarily deploying Hive and sometimes Nokoyawa but was seen experimenting with other ransomware payloads, including Agenda and Mindware. On machines that the group doesnt use for subsequent RDP brute-force attacks, they proceed with a separate set of actions. Select the Get started button to begin.. Like many RaaS operators, DEV-0401 maintained a leak site to post exfiltrated data and motivate victims to pay, however their frequent rebranding caused these systems to sometimes be unready for their victims, with their leak site sometimes leading to default web server landing pages when victims attempt to pay. Attackers are known to hire talent from other cybercriminal groups or use contractors, who provide gig economy-style work on a limited time basis and may not rejoin the group. Attacks using ransomware pose a risk to patient security. The cybercriminal economya connected ecosystem of many players with different techniques, goals, and skillsetsis evolving. The threat actor is using theChina Chopper web shellto spread the Babuk ransomware and demand a ransom of $10,000 in XMR cryptocurrency (Monero) to decrypt the data encrypted by the ransomware. In organizations where the local administrator rights havent been removed from end users, attackers can be one hop away from domain admin just from an initial attack like a banking trojan. However, focusing solely on the ransomware stage obscures many stages of the attack that come before, including actions like data exfiltration and additional persistence mechanisms, as well as the numerous detection and protection opportunities for network defenders. Qakbot is delivered via email, often downloaded by malicious macros in an Office document. June 2022 update More details in the Threat actors and campaigns section, including recently observed activities from DEV-0193 (Trickbot LLC), DEV-0504, DEV-0237, DEV-0401, and a new section on Qakbot campaigns that lead to ransomware deployments. To further facilitate the achievement of their goals, they remove legitimate admins and delete cloud resources and server infrastructure, resulting in destructive attacks. . The cybercriminal economy is a continuously evolving connected ecosystem of many players with different techniques, goals, and skillsets. Public scanning interfaces, such as RiskIQ, can be used to augment data. If a user account might have been created by an attacker, disable the account. However, the human-operated nature of these actions means that variations in attacksincluding objectives and pre-ransom activityevolve depending on the environment and the unique opportunities identified by the attackers. While ransomware attacks can come from any cybercriminal, large ransomware gangs such as LockBit continue to be a big concern for the public and law enforcement alike. For user accounts whose credentials were potentially compromised, reset the account passwords, and require the users to sign in again. For organizations to successfully respond to evict an active attacker, its important to understand the active stage of an ongoing attack. Microsoft experts have been tracking multiple human operated ransomware groups. Ensure rapid detection and remediation of common attacks on VMs, SQL Servers, Web applications, and identity. On July 26, 2022, Microsoft researchers discovered the FakeUpdates malware being delivered via existing Raspberry Robin infections. Many administrators know tools like Mimikatz and LaZagne, and their capabilities to steal passwords from interactive logons in the LSASS process. They take advantage of similar security weaknesses, highlighting a few key lessons in security, notably that these attacks are often preventable and detectable. Enforce strong. It suspects the attackers already had privileged credentials from previous compromises. 06:07 AM. "Most ransomware operators develop a preferred set of tradecraft for their payload deployment and execution, and this tradecraft tends to be consistent across victims, unless a security configuration prevents their preferred method," MSTIC explains. A ransomware organization known as the Hive has claimed responsibility for the incident. In line with the recently announced expansion into a new service category called Microsoft Security Experts, were introducing the availability of Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting for public preview. Check excessive failed authentication attempts (Windows security event ID 4625). DEV-0504 appears to rely on access brokers to enter a network, using Cobalt Strike Beacons they have possibly purchased access to. Notably, however,. Be mindful that managing ransomware incidents may require actions taken by multiple IT and security teams. The use of Cobalt Strike beacon or a PowerShell Empire payload gives operators more maneuverability and options for lateral movement on a network. If you dont have an MFA gateway, enable network-level authentication (NLA). Based on our investigations, these campaigns appear unconcerned with stealth and have shown that they could operate unfettered in networks. DEV-0504 shifts payloads when a RaaS program shuts down, for example the deprecation of REvil and BlackMatter, or possibly when a program with a better profit margin appears. If IT staff identified the initial threatsuch as noticing backups being deleted, antivirus alerts, endpoint detection and response (EDR) alerts, or suspicious system changesit is often possible to take quick decisive measures to thwart the attack, typically by the containment actions described in this article. The earlier steps involve activities like commodity malware infections and credential theft that Microsoft Defender ATP detects and raises alerts on. DEV-0243 falls under activities tracked by the cyber intelligence industry as EvilCorp, The custom Cobalt Strike loaders are similar to those seen in publicly documented Blister malwares inner payloads. The group often utilizes BITSadmin /transfer to stage their payloads. Unique among human-operated ransomware threat actors tracked by Microsoft, DEV-0401 is confirmed to be a China-based activity group. In many networks, Trickbot, which can be distributed directly via email or as a second-stage payload to other Trojans like Emotet, is often considered a low-priority threat, and not remediated and isolated with the same degree of scrutiny as other, more high-profile malware. Some of these attacks involved large ransom demands, with attackers asking for millions of dollars in some cases. The abuse of malicious macros and MSDT can be blocked by preventing Office from creating child processes, which we detail in the hardening guidance below. Differing from the other RaaS developers, affiliates, and access brokers profiled here, DEV-0401 appears to be an activity group involved in all stages of their attack lifecycle, from initial access to ransomware development. Attacks using ransomware pose a risk to patient security. In addition, PARINACOTA utilizes administrative privileges gained via stolen credentials to turn off or stop any running services that might lead to their detection. Improving defenses against human-operated ransomware. Ransomware deployment is ultimately performed from a batch file in a share and Group Policy, usually written to the NETLOGON share on a Domain Controller, which requires the attackers to have obtained highly privileged credentials like Domain Administrator to perform this action. Many organizations struggle to fix this issue even if they know about it, because they fear they might break applications. In some instances, a ransomware associate threat actor may have an implant on a network and never convert it to ransom activity. Cloud computing is now a business essential, but keeping your data and applications secure is vital. Monitor for EventID 4625 (Logon Failed events) in Windows Event Forwarding when removing accounts from privileged groups. The ransomware deployment often occurs weeks or even months after the attackers begin activity on a network. Heres a quick table of contents: With ransomware being the preferred method for many cybercriminals to monetize attacks, human-operated ransomware remains one of the most impactful threats to organizations today, and it only continues to evolve.