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Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 03 May 2024
Black Arrow Cyber Threat Intelligence Briefing 03 May 2024:
-Most Attacks Impacting SMB’s Target Older, Unpatched Vulnerabilities
-91% of Ransomware Victims Paid At least One Ransom in the Past Year, as 1 in 5 Ransomware Attacks Triggers Lawsuit
-BEC and Fund Transfer Fraud Top Insurance Claims
-Correlating Cyber Investments with Business Outcomes
-Vulnerability Exploitation up 180%, 68% of Breaches involved Humans and Supply Chain Weak Link
-MOVEit & Change Healthcare Attacks Designated as Cyber Catastrophe Loss Events by Insurer
-Securing Your Organisation’s Supply Chain: Reducing the Risks of Third Parties
-Why Remote Desktop Tools are Facing an Onslaught of Cyber Threats
-95% of Organisations Revamped Cyber Security Strategies in the Last Year: Make Sure Yours is Right
-Human Factor a Significant Risk for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses.
-Microsoft CEO Says it is Putting Security Above All Else in Major Refocus
-Ending the Culture of Silence in Cyber Security; Three Ways to Empower Teams
Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.
Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week
Most Attacks Impacting SMB’s Target Older, Unpatched Vulnerabilities
Attackers continue to aggressively target small and mid-size businesses using specific high-profile vulnerabilities dating back a decade or more, network telemetry shows. Findings have shown that this is due to these vulnerabilities featuring in a wide range of products. Due to their prevalence, they can often become missed by organisations conducting patch management and therefore leave the organisation open.
For this reason it is critical that all organisations, including smaller organisations, have internal as well as external vulnerability scanning. You might believe your systems are patched up to date but there is no way to confirm without scanning , or to know which patches might have been missed.
Sources: [Infosecurity Magazine]
91% of Ransomware Victims Paid At least One Ransom in the Past Year, as 1 in 5 Ransomware Attacks Triggers Lawsuit
Ransomware attacks saw a significant surge in 2023, following a dip in 2022. The number of victims increased by 66% from 2022 to 2023, with 91% of those affected paying at least one ransom. 58% of organisations have been targeted six times or more.
The Sophos State of Ransomware 2023 report highlighted ransom payments rose by 500%; nearly two-thirds exceeded $1m or more, with an average payment of $2m. Furthermore, 30% of the demands were for over $5m.
In the US, 18% of incidents led to litigation, with 123 lawsuits filed in 2023 and 355 over five years. Data breaches, affecting 283.3 million records, primarily triggered these lawsuits, especially in healthcare and finance sectors. The resolution rate is 59%, with the highest settlement at $8.7m. Regulatory fines added nearly $10m to the financial impact. These figures underscore the significant financial implications of ransomware attacks and the urgent need for robust cyber security measures.
Sources: [ZD Net] [Infosecurity Magazine] [Security Magazine] [PrNewsWire] [Infosecurity Magazine]
BEC and Fund Transfer Fraud Top Insurance Claims
Cyber Insurer Coalition's 2024 Cyber Claims Report highlights a significant trend in cyber security threats, identifying email-based fraud as the predominant cause of insurance claims in 2023, accounting for 53% of all claims. Business email compromise (BEC) and funds transfer fraud (FTF) topped the list, contributing to 28% of claims and increasing claim amounts by 24% to an average loss exceeding $278,000. In contrast, ransomware, while less frequent at 19% of claims, also saw a rise in both frequency and severity, with average losses climbing to over $263,000. The report also notes a 13% year-on-year surge in overall claims, with substantial losses tied to compromised network security devices and a notable vulnerability in organisations using exposed remote desktop protocols.
Source: [Infosecurity Magazine]
Correlating Cyber Investments with Business Outcomes
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has implemented stringent new rules compelling organisations to report significant cyber incidents within four days and to annually disclose details concerning their cyber security risk management, strategy, and governance. These mandates are seen as giving “more teeth to the idea that cyber security is a business problem” and “bringing an element of cyber security to the boardroom” according to cyber security solutions provider SecurityGate. Highlighted in the "Cybersecurity Insights" podcast, experts argue for simplifying cyber security strategies, advocating sustained resource allocation over reactive measures, and emphasising the importance of training over expensive solutions. These steps are deemed crucial for enhancing organisational resilience and security in a landscape where cyber threats are increasingly sophisticated and pervasive.
Source: [InfoRisk Today]
Verizon: Vulnerability Exploitation up 180%, 68% of Breaches involved Humans and Supply Chain Weak Link
Verizon has released the findings of its 17th Annual Data Breach Investigations Report, which showed security incidents doubled year over year in 2023 to a record high 30,458 security events and 10,626 confirmed breaches. Some of the key takeaways from the 100-page report include zero-day attacks on unpatched systems and devices rising 180% in 2023, most breaches (68%) involving a non-malicious human element and the median time for users to fall for phishing emails falling just south of 60 seconds. In its first inclusion as a separate metric, supply chain attacks were found to contribute to 15% of all attacks.
Sources: [MSSP Alert] [Verizon]
MOVEit & Change Healthcare Attacks Designated as Cyber Catastrophe Loss Events by Insurer
Verisk’s Property Claim Services (PCS) has recently identified the MOVEit and Change Healthcare cyber attacks as significant Cyber Catastrophe Loss Events. These designations are part of PCS’s Global Cyber solution, which tracks cyber incidents and their potential impact on the insurance market. The designation indicates that each attack is anticipated to result in insurance industry losses exceeding USD 250 million.
The MOVEit attack, linked to the Russian-affiliated group Cl0p, compromised over 2,700 organisations globally, affecting up to 90 million individuals. The Change Healthcare attack, attributed to the ALPHV/Blackcat gang, notably disrupted UnitedHealth Group’s operations, with projected costs and lost revenue totalling up to USD 1.6 billion. These designations highlight the escalating scale and financial impact of cyber incidents on global markets.
Source: [Reinsurance News]
Securing Your Organisation’s Supply Chain: Reducing the Risks of Third Parties
Nearly every organisation is part of a supply chain, where a significant amount of data is transferred. When data leaves your infrastructure, its security depends on the third party. The risks of a cyber incident increases as the supply chain increases.
Organisations need to mitigate the risks that their third party brings. This requires an understanding of the supply chain actors, and performing cyber security assessments of the most critical ones. The objective is to ensure that your organisation is satisfied with the third party’s security controls, or to work together to remediate any gaps.
Source: [Help Net Security]
Why Remote Desktop Tools are Facing an Onslaught of Cyber Threats
In the era of hybrid work, remote desktop tools have become crucial yet vulnerable points within corporate networks, attracting significant cyber criminal attention. A study by Barracuda Networks underscores the challenges of securing these tools. Virtual Network Computing (VNC) is particularly susceptible; it is targeted in 98% of these types of attacks due to its use of multiple, sometimes unsecured ports. VNC attacks predominantly exploit weak password practices, notably through brute force methods. Conversely, Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) accounts for about 1.6% of these attacks but is favoured for more extensive network breaches, often involving ransomware or crypto mining. The study highlights a pressing need for robust endpoint management and heightened security measures to mitigate these threats.
Source: [ITPro]
95% of Organisations Revamped Cyber Security Strategies in the Last Year: Make Sure Yours is Right
A recent report found that 95% of companies have altered their cyber security strategies in the last twelve months. This was driven by keeping pace with the shifting regulatory landscape (98%), the need to meet customer expectations for data protection and privacy (89%), and the rise of AI-driven threats and solutions (65%). Almost half (44%) of non-security executives do not understand the regulatory requirements their organisation must adhere to.
When it came to reporting, the study found that security teams aren’t reporting on key operational metrics that define whether their security investments and strategy changes have a measurable impact. It is evident that there is a disconnect between security and non-security professionals when it comes to the business strategy.
Sources: [Business Wire] [Security Magazine]
Human Factor a Significant Risk for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses.
A survey of business and IT security in small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) conducted by LastPass found that roughly one in five business leaders admits to circumventing security policies, as do one in 10 IT security leaders. The survey found that password management is critically important to cyber security, with nearly half (47%) reporting recent breaches due to compromised passwords.
Sources: [Beta News] [Business Wire]
Microsoft CEO Says it is Putting Security Above All Else in Major Refocus
Following a series of high-profile attacks in recent months and a report by the US Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB), Microsoft’s CEO has revealed it will now focus its efforts on an increase in the commitment to security. Investigating a summer 2023 attack, Microsoft was deemed to have made a series of “avoidable errors”, including the failure to detect several compromises, the CSRB said.
Sources: [TechRadar]
Ending the Culture of Silence in Cyber Security; Three Ways to Empower Teams
A recent discussion on workplace errors highlights the significant repercussions of cyber breaches compared to typical office mistakes. In the UK, nearly a third of businesses face cyber attacks weekly, with each breach costing approximately £4,000. However, a concerning trend is that 41% of these breaches are not reported to internal leadership, often due to fears among staff about the consequences of admitting faults. A three-pronged approach has been suggested to foster a blame-free culture: providing tailored and evolving cyber training, establishing safe zones for admitting mistakes, and implementing robust recovery plans. This approach not only prepares employees to handle potential breaches more effectively but also encourages them to report incidents promptly, reducing the overall impact and aiding quicker recovery. Such strategies are essential for maintaining resilience against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.
Source: [Minute Hack]
Governance, Risk and Compliance
Verizon 2024 Data Breach Investigations Report: 5 Takeaways | MSSP Alert
Verizon DBIR: Vulnerability exploitation in breaches up 180% | TechTarget
Verizon DBIR: Basic Security Gaffes Cause Breach Surge (darkreading.com)
95% of Organisations Revamped Their Cyber Security Strategies in the Last Year | Business Wire
95% of organisations adjusted cyber security strategies this past year | Security Magazine
1 in 5 US Ransomware Attacks Triggers Lawsuit - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)
Are Enterprises Overconfident About Cyber Security Readiness? (govinfosecurity.com)
How CISOs Can Contend with Increasing Scrutiny from Regulators (informationweek.com)
Correlating Cyber Investments with Business Outcomes (inforisktoday.com)
Ending The Culture of Silence In Cyber Security – 3 Ways To Empower Teams - Minutehack
97% of security leaders have increased SaaS security budgets - Help Net Security
The rise in CISO job dissatisfaction – what’s wrong and how can it be fixed? | CSO Online
Should Cyber Security Leadership Finally be Professionalized? - SecurityWeek
What needs to change to overcome nonchalant security approaches | TechRadar
Agile by Design: Cyber Security at the Heart of Transformation (noeticcyber.com)
Threats
Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks
Q1 2024 Ransomware Report: 21% Increase in Q1 2023 Ransomware Activity (corvusinsurance.com)
91% of ransomware victims paid at least one ransom in the past year, survey finds | ZDNET
1 in 5 US Ransomware Attacks Triggers Lawsuit - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)
There was an 81% year-over-year increase in ransomware attacks | Security Magazine
Ransom recovery costs reach $2.73 million - Help Net Security
Cactus Ransomware Group Targets Qlik Sense Servers | Decipher (duo.com)
How AI and data protection intersect in today's threat era - SiliconANGLE
Better hygiene may mitigate the need to ban ransomware payments | Computer Weekly
Ukrainian REvil Hacker Sentenced to 13 Years and Ordered to Pay $16 Million (thehackernews.com)
How Businesses Should Grapple With Ransomware Threats (eetimes.eu)
Cyber security consultant arrested after allegedly extorting IT firm (bleepingcomputer.com)
Ransomware Victims
Change Healthcare breached via Citrix portal with no MFA | TechTarget
Almost all US hospitals took financial hit from Change hack, AHA says | Reuters
Another major pharmacy chain shuts following possible cyber attack | TechRadar
Hack That Paralyzed US Health Care Turns Up Scrutiny on Insurer (claimsjournal.com)
Cyber attack to cost Western Isles Council half a million pounds (holyrood.com)
LockBit publishes confidential data stolen from Cannes hospital in France (therecord.media)
French hospital CHC-SV refuses to pay LockBit extortion demand (bleepingcomputer.com)
'Cybersecurity incident' closes London Drugs' pharmacies • The Register
Phishing & Email Based Attacks
AI-driven phishing attacks deceive even the most aware users - Help Net Security
US Post Office phishing sites get as much traffic as the real one (bleepingcomputer.com)
If you receive a Shein mystery box, do not open it | TechRadar
Why the automotive sector is a target for email-based cyber attacks - Help Net Security
BEC
BEC and Fund Transfer Fraud Top Insurance Claims - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)
Other Social Engineering
FBI warns of fake verification schemes targeting dating app users (bleepingcomputer.com)
A Lot of People Are Falling for Those 'Your Package Cannot Be Delivered' Texts | PCMag
Artificial Intelligence
AI-driven phishing attacks deceive even the most aware users - Help Net Security
AI is creating a new generation of cyber attacks - Help Net Security
Combating the Rising Tide of AI-Driven Cyber Crime (cryptopolitan.com)
Businesses turn to generative AI but many don't have policies on it (betanews.com)
How AI and data protection intersect in today's threat era - SiliconANGLE
Understanding emerging AI and data privacy regulations - Help Net Security
To understand the risks posed by AI, follow the money – O’Reilly (oreilly.com)
From Risk to Resilience: Managing Data Security in AI-Driven Enterprises | Inc.com
Cyber security experts face AI risks, deepfakes, burnout | Fortune
US Government Releases New AI Security Guidelines for Critical Infrastructure (thehackernews.com)
Why Using Microsoft Copilot Could Amplify Existing Data Quality and Privacy Issues - SecurityWeek
2FA/MFA
Malware
New "Goldoon" Botnet Targets D-Link Routers With Decade-Old Flaw (thehackernews.com)
New SOHO router malware aims for cloud accounts, internal company resources - Help Net Security
Guarding the Gates: The Growing Abundance of Linux Malware - VMRay
Bogus npm Packages Used to Trick Software Developers into Installing Malware (thehackernews.com)
Millions of Malicious 'Imageless' Containers Planted on Docker Hub Over 5 Years (thehackernews.com)
ZLoader Malware Evolves with Anti-Analysis Trick from Zeus Banking Trojan (thehackernews.com)
New Cuttlefish malware infects routers to monitor traffic for credentials (bleepingcomputer.com)
Mobile
Powerful 'Brokewell' Android Trojan Allows Attackers to Takeover Devices - SecurityWeek
Google Prevented 2.28 Million Malicious Apps from Reaching Play Store in 2023 (thehackernews.com)
New Wpeeper Android malware hides behind hacked WordPress sites (bleepingcomputer.com)
Microsoft warns of "Dirty Stream" attack impacting Android apps (bleepingcomputer.com)
Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS
Internet of Things – IoT
NCSC: New UK law bans default passwords on smart devices (securityaffairs.com)
A glaring Android TV security flaw might put your Gmail at risk | Android Central
Data Breaches/Leaks
PSNI data breach: Almost 5,000 officers and staff in legal action - BBC News
Kaiser Permanente data breach may have impacted 13.4 million patients (securityaffairs.com)
FBCS data breach impacted 2M individuals (securityaffairs.com)
States shares health debt data of 5,000 in an email | Guernsey Press
Qantas app exposed sensitive traveller details to random users (bleepingcomputer.com)
Philadelphia Inquirer: Data of over 25,000 people stolen in 2023 breach (bleepingcomputer.com)
Australian pubgoers' personal info posted to leak site • The Register
Monash Health data breach exposes sexual assault and family violence claims (smh.com.au)
Panda Restaurant Group disclosed a data breach (securityaffairs.com)
Organised Crime & Criminal Actors
AI is creating a new generation of cyber attacks - Help Net Security
Combating the Rising Tide of AI-Driven Cyber Crime (cryptopolitan.com)
Router Roulette: Cyber Criminals and Nation-States Sharing Compromised Networks | Trend Micro (US)
Insider Risk and Insider Threats
How insider threats can cause serious security breaches - Help Net Security
Ex-NSA Employee Sentenced to 22 Years for Trying to Sell U.S. Secrets to Russia (thehackernews.com)
Insurance
Cyber facility in capacity raise as risk severity grows (emergingrisks.co.uk)
Hack That Paralyzed US Health Care Turns Up Scrutiny on Insurer (claimsjournal.com)
Supply Chain and Third Parties
Cloud/SaaS
New SOHO router malware aims for cloud accounts, internal company resources - Help Net Security
97% of security leaders have increased SaaS security budgets - Help Net Security
Encryption
UK's Investigatory Powers Bill approved to become law • The Register
Ten years of Heartbleed: Lessons learned | SC Media (scmagazine.com)
Linux and Open Source
Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks
Change Healthcare breached via Citrix portal with no MFA | TechTarget
Okta warns of "unprecedented" credential stuffing attacks on customers (bleepingcomputer.com)
NCSC: New UK law bans default passwords on smart devices (securityaffairs.com)
New Cuttlefish malware infects routers to monitor traffic for credentials (bleepingcomputer.com)
How to use a YubiKey to log into Windows and macOS (xda-developers.com)
Social Media
How TikTok Grew From a Fun App for Teens Into a Potential National Security Threat - SecurityWeek
Facebook at 20: Contemplating the Cost of Privacy (darkreading.com)
Training, Education and Awareness
Ending The Culture Of Silence In Cyber Security – 3 Ways To Empower Teams - Minutehack
Everyone's an Expert: How to Empower Your Employees for Cyber Security Success (thehackernews.com)
Regulations, Fines and Legislation
UK's Investigatory Powers Bill approved to become law • The Register
UK rolls out new consumer safeguards for smart devices (betanews.com)
FCC fines major wireless carriers over illegal location data sharing - Help Net Security
Understanding emerging AI and data privacy regulations - Help Net Security
CISA's incident reporting requirements go too far, trade groups and lawmakers say | CyberScoop
Data Protection
Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security
Cyber security experts face AI risks, deepfakes, burnout | Fortune
The rise in CISO job dissatisfaction – what’s wrong and how can it be fixed? | CSO Online
Agencies to turn toward ‘skill-based hiring’ for cyber and tech jobs, ONCD says | CyberScoop
Cyber Security Degrees, Are They Really Worth It? | HackerNoon
Beyond the Buzz: Rethinking Alcohol as a Cyber Security Bonding Ritual - SecurityWeek
Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs
Ukrainian REvil Hacker Sentenced to 13 Years and Ordered to Pay $16 Million (thehackernews.com)
Police shuts down 12 fraud call centres, arrests 21 suspects (bleepingcomputer.com)
Cyber security consultant arrested after allegedly extorting IT firm (bleepingcomputer.com)
CEO who sold fake Cisco devices to US military gets 6 years in prison (bleepingcomputer.com)
Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda
Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare, Cyber Espionage and Geopolitical Threats/Activity
Cyber Warfare and Cyber Espionage
Nation State Actors
China
‘Honeypots’ and influence operations: China’s spies turn to Europe (ft.com)
Philippines Pummelled by Cyber Attacks & Misinformation Tied to China (darkreading.com)
Germany grapples with wave of spying threats from Russia and China - BBC News
How TikTok Grew From a Fun App for Teens Into a Potential National Security Threat - SecurityWeek
Think tank: Tech companies spread China's propaganda • The Register
China's attacks on critical infrastructure ‘tip of the iceberg' | SC Media (scmagazine.com)
Chinese Hackers Have Been Probing DNS Networks Globally for Years: Report - SecurityWeek
Muddling Meerkat hackers manipulate DNS using China’s Great Firewall (bleepingcomputer.com)
Chinese government website security has big problems • The Register
Espionage breaches account for 25% in APAC, report reveals (securitybrief.co.nz)
Russia
Router Roulette: Cyber Criminals and Nation-States Sharing Compromised Networks | Trend Micro (US)
Russian Hackers Target Industrial Systems in North America, Europe - SecurityWeek
Pro-Russia hacktivists attacking vital tech in water and other sectors, agencies say | CyberScoop
Germany grapples with wave of spying threats from Russia and China - BBC News
Ukraine Targeted in Cyber Attack Exploiting 7-Year-Old Microsoft Office Flaw (thehackernews.com)
Germany Warns Of Consequences For Alleged Russian Cyber Attack (rferl.org)
Hackers Claim to Have Infiltrated Belarus’ Main Security Service - SecurityWeek
Military Tank Manual, 2017 Zero-Day Anchor Latest Ukraine Cyber Attack (darkreading.com)
Sweden prepares for Eurovision amidst fears of protests, cyber attacks and unrest | Euronews
Ex-NSA Employee Sentenced to 22 Years for Trying to Sell U.S. Secrets to Russia (thehackernews.com)
Two British men charged with helping Russian intelligence - BBC News
Two hackers in Ukraine accused of spreading Russian propaganda (therecord.media)
Iran
North Korea
Other Nation State Actors, Hacktivism, Extremism, Terrorism and Other Geopolitical Threat Intelligence
Vulnerability Management
When is One Vulnerability Scanner Not Enough? (thehackernews.com)
Vulnerability exploitation nearly tripled in 2023 (telecoms.com)
Vulnerabilities
Cisco devices again targeted by state-linked threat campaign - TechCentral.ie
Okta warns of "unprecedented" credential stuffing attacks on customers (bleepingcomputer.com)
1,200+ Vulnerabilities Detected In Microsoft Products In 2023 (gbhackers.com)
Most attacks affecting SMBs target five older vulnerabilities | CSO Online
Severe Flaws Disclosed in Brocade SANnav SAN Management Software (thehackernews.com)
UnitedHealth hackers took advantage of Citrix vulnerability to break in, CEO says (yahoo.com)
Palo Alto Updates Remediation for Max-Critical Firewall Bug (darkreading.com)
WordPress plugin vulnerability poses severe security risk, allows for site takeovers | TechSpot
Ukraine Targeted in Cyber Attack Exploiting 7-Year-Old Microsoft Office Flaw (thehackernews.com)
New R Programming Vulnerability Exposes Projects to Supply Chain Attacks (thehackernews.com)
Grafana Tool Vulnerability Let Attackers Inject SQL Queries (gbhackers.com)
Microsoft says April Windows updates break VPN connections (bleepingcomputer.com)
NTLM auth traffic spikes after Windows Server patch • The Register
New "Goldoon" Botnet Targets D-Link Routers With Decade-Old Flaw (thehackernews.com)
Four Critical Vulnerabilities Expose HPE Aruba Devices to RCE Attacks (thehackernews.com)
Ten years of Heartbleed: Lessons learned | SC Media (scmagazine.com)
1,400 GitLab Servers Impacted by Exploited Vulnerability - SecurityWeek
Tools and Controls
Why remote desktop tools are facing an onslaught of cyber threats | ITPro
Correlating Cyber Investments With Business Outcomes (inforisktoday.com)
When is One Vulnerability Scanner Not Enough? (thehackernews.com)
Microsoft CEO says it is "putting security above all else" in major refocus | TechRadar
Can automating security relieve CISO pressure? (techinformed.com)
10 Critical Endpoint Security Tips You Should Know (thehackernews.com)
Businesses turn to generative AI but many don't have policies on it (betanews.com)
Ending The Culture Of Silence In Cyber Security – 3 Ways To Empower Teams - Minutehack
Organisations Struggle with Zero Trust: Gartner | MSSP Alert
Tech Tip: Why Haven't You Set Up DMARC Yet? (darkreading.com)
97% of security leaders have increased SaaS security budgets - Help Net Security
DPRK's Kimsuky APT Abuses Weak DMARC Policies, Feds Warn (darkreading.com)
How to Red Team GenAI: Challenges, Best Practices, and Learnings (darkreading.com)
Chinese Hackers Have Been Probing DNS Networks Globally for Years: Report - SecurityWeek
Muddling Meerkat hackers manipulate DNS using China’s Great Firewall (bleepingcomputer.com)
Why LLMs are predicting the future of compliance and risk management | VentureBeat
Other News
Microsoft CEO says it is "putting security above all else" in major refocus | TechRadar
A Season Of Health Breaches, A Season Of Changes (forbes.com)
Bank of England tells payment firms to step up disruption mitigation plans (yahoo.com)
NCSC updates warning over hacktivist threat to CNI | Computer Weekly
The EU's Strategy for a Cyber Secure Digital Single Market | UpGuard
To Damage OT Systems, Hackers Tap USBs, Old Bugs & Malware (darkreading.com)
During National Small Business Week, Take Steps to Secure Your Business | CISA
At Microsoft, years of security debt come crashing down | Cybersecurity Dive
Sweden prepares for Eurovision amidst fears of protests, cyber attacks and unrest | Euronews
Sector Specific
Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.
Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.
· Automotive
· Construction
· Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)
· Defence & Space
· Education & Academia
· Energy & Utilities
· Estate Agencies
· Financial Services
· FinTech
· Food & Agriculture
· Gaming & Gambling
· Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)
· Health/Medical/Pharma
· Hotels & Hospitality
· Insurance
· Legal
· Manufacturing
· Maritime
· Oil, Gas & Mining
· OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems
· Retail & eCommerce
· Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)
· Startups
· Telecoms
· Third Sector & Charities
· Transport & Aviation
· Web3
As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.
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Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.
Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 23 February 2024
Black Arrow Cyber Threat Intelligence Briefing 23 February 2024:
-Despite Recent FBI Disruptions, a Rise in Ransomware Means 2024 Will be a Volatile Year for Cyber Security
-The Old, Not the New: Basic Security Issues Still the Biggest Threat to Enterprises
-Reevaluating Your Cyber Security Priorities
-Cyber Threat Environment at its Most Dangerous for SMBs, as Geopolitical Tenison, Extortion and Attacks Present Biggest Risks
-Legal Sector Grows as a Target, with Cyber Attacks on Law Firms Surging by Over a Third
-It’s Not Only Ransomware Seeing Huge Rises, Business Email Compromise (BEC) Attacks are Also Seeing a Huge Rise – is Your Business Prepared?
-Deepfake Phishing Grew by 3,000% in 2023, and it’s Just the Beginning
-Cyber Attacks are Getting Faster, More Common and More Successful, Although Detection is More Advanced Than Ever — New Report Signals the Threats to Businesses, Supply Chains, and Democracy
-Report Finds Malicious Emails Bypassing Secure Email Gateways Rose by 105%
-Rising Cyber Threats Identified Amongst Other Major Business Risks for 2024
-Huge Cyber Security Leak Lifts the Lid on China’s Hackers for Hire
-Fifth of British Kids Have Broken the Law Online
-Over 40% of Firms Struggle with Cyber Security Talent Shortage
Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.
Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week
Despite Recent NCA and FBI Disruptions, a Rise in Ransomware Means 2024 Will be a Volatile Year for Cyber Security
There has been a lot of high profile coverage this week of the infamous and prolific LockBit gang’s infrastructure having been seized by law enforcement following an international Police operation led by the UK’s National Crime Agency. Whilst the international operation shows the seriousness of the matter, and the success of the operation should be celebrated, those celebrations should be muted and organisations should not become lax. Like the Hydra of Greek mythology, when one head disappears, a few more appear in its place. Ransomware really is a case of if, not when, and your organisation needs to be prepared.
Further, a recent threat report has found that the median ransom demand rose by 20% year on year, hitting an average of $600,000 and it is expected that 2024 will be even more volatile. Ransomware groups are expanding their target lists and exploring new pressure tactics in response to increasingly effective law enforcement efforts, and this is coupled with the increasing regulatory impact on organisations.
Sources: [Sky News] [GOV Infosecurity] [Bleeping Computer] [Infosecurity Magazine] [Cyber Reason]
The Old, Not the New: Basic Security Issues Still the Biggest Threat to Enterprises
In the latest IBM X-Force Threat Intelligence Index, it was revealed that basic security issues remain the most significant threat to enterprises. Cyber criminals are increasingly turning to credential stuffing, using and exploiting valid accounts harvested from the darkweb and previous breaches, with a 266% uptick in info-stealing malware. This tactic is harder to detect and elicits a costly response from enterprises. On the other hand, it is also important to adopt an attacker mindset for effective security. Understanding the attacker’s tools, motives, and efforts can help in limiting access, compartmentalising the impact of any successful attack, and minimising the time to attack detection. In essence, while organisations continue to grapple with complex cyber threats, the biggest security problem boils down to the basic and the already known. Therefore, it is crucial to focus on strengthening basic security measures and thinking like an attacker to proactively mitigate the risk for a more secure attack surface.
Source: [Help Net Security] [Forbes]
Reevaluating Your Cyber Security Priorities
Both technology and cyber criminals are evolving, yet many companies and organisations are not. For many corporate leaders, they may not know where to begin. Organisations looking to evolve their cyber security posture should look to elevate cyber to the C-suite and board, conduct audits of their sensitive information, create or update and test their incident response plan and finally, revisit their cyber hygiene training to ensure it is doing more than just ticking boxes. Organisations doing the above will find themselves improving their cyber security posture, and mitigating their risk to threats.
Source: [Dark Reading]
Cyber Threat Environment at its Most Dangerous for SMBs, as Geopolitical Tenison, Extortion and Attacks Present Biggest Risks
A new study has found that extortion campaigns, geopolitical threats, and attacks on small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are amongst the greatest threats to cyber security defences currently. The report, conducted by Mimecast, highlights how individual ransom groups have claimed over 1,000 victims and over $300 million in payments. Regarding SMBs, the report found that these businesses encountered twice the normal number of threats, at over 30 threats per user, as compared to larger companies who saw approximately 15. Not only are SMBs at more risk, but they also do not have the same resources a large company would have to mitigate such threats. SMBs must be efficient in the way they prioritise and address their cyber risk as part of their larger risk management strategy.
Sources: [Emerging Risks] [The HR Director]
Legal Sector Grows as a Target, with Cyber Attacks on Law Firms Surging by Over a Third
A new report has found that the number of reported cyber breaches on UK law firms has increased 30% from the previous year, as attackers increasingly target the profession. As a note, this does not include firms who may be unaware that they have been breached. Law firms are an attractive target to attackers due to the sensitive information such as M&A activity, divorce information and big ticket litigation; many attackers believe that law firms will pay handsomely to have this data back.
Sources: [Emerging Risks] [Legal Cheek]
It’s Not Only Ransomware Seeing Huge Rises: Business Email Compromise (BEC) Attacks are Also Seeing a Huge Rise. Is Your Business Prepared?
A recent report found that business email compromise (BEC) saw a staggering increase of 10 time the amount compared to the previous year. BEC involves a genuine business email account being compromised by a threat actor; this could be your supplier, a client, or anyone you have legitimate contact with. With such an increase, organisations must consider if they would be able to spot and mitigate BEC in their corporate environment through robust operational controls such as callback procedures for example. Due to the rise in deep fake fraud with voice cloning and video, the efficacy of traditional safeguards such as callbacks are not providing the assurance they once did. Firms and employees need to be on their guard to these changing tactics to safeguard the business.
Source: [TechRadar]
Deepfake Phishing Grew by 3,000% in 2023, and it’s Just the Beginning
Phishing remains one of the most prevalent cyber security threats, and with the emergence of artificial intelligence it is only going to carry on getting worse. According to a recent report, the number of deepfake fraud attempts rose by 3,000%. In one instance, the CEO of an energy enterprise sent €220,000 to a supplier after getting a call from the parent company’s leader requesting the exchange; the call was a deepfake.
Source: [HackerNoon]
Cyber Attacks are Getting Faster, More Common and More Successful, Although Detection is More Advanced Than Ever. New Report Signals the Threats to Businesses, Supply Chains, and Democracy
A recent report from CrowdStrike sheds light on the increasing speed and sophistication of cyber attacks. Breakout times have plummeted to an average of 62 minutes, with a record time of just two minutes and seven seconds observed. Hackers are now targeting the cloud, exploiting its vulnerabilities and leveraging AI assistance to escalate attacks. The human factor remains a primary entry point for threat actors, with social engineering and phishing campaigns on the rise. As organisations transition to the cloud, threat actors follow suit, with cloud intrusions soaring by 75%. CrowdStrike warns of state-sponsored adversaries targeting critical elections, emphasising the need for a platform-based approach bolstered by threat intelligence to safeguard against evolving threats.
Source: [TechRadar]
Report Finds Malicious Emails Bypassing Secure Email Gateways Rose by 105%
A report by Cofense has found a 105% increase in malicious emails that successfully bypassed Secure Email Gateways (SEGs), with approximately one malicious email navigating their way past SEGs every 57 seconds. The report suggests that phishing efforts are outpacing that of SEGs, and such phishing efforts are responsible for 90% of data breaches. Whilst SEGs may be filtering out a number of malicious emails, they, like everything in cyber security, are not a silver bullet. Organisations should not fall foul of believing that they are impenetrable because they have a SEG.
Sources: [SiliconANGLE] [Security Magazine] [Help Net Security]
Rising Cyber Threats Identified as Major Business Risk for 2024
In the latest Allianz risk barometer, cyber incidents have been identified as the most significant concern for companies globally in 2024. This is particularly true for remote desktop connections, which have become a prime target for cyber attacks since the shift to a work-from-home environment. The report also highlights that the risk landscape is being shaped by digitalisation, climate change, and geopolitical uncertainties. Meanwhile, a report from Coalition reveals that the cyber attack surface has expanded due to new ways of working. The report found that smaller businesses often lack the resources to prepare for a wide range of risk scenarios, which can lead to longer recovery times after an unexpected incident. These findings underscore the importance of robust cyber security measures and the need for continuous monitoring and improvement of an organisation’s digital defences.
Sources: [Reinsurance News] [Allianz]
Huge Cyber Security Leak Lifts the Lid on China’s Hackers for Hire
A huge leak of data from a Chinese cyber security firm, iSoon, has revealed state security agents paying tens of thousands of pounds to harvest data on targets, including the likes of foreign governments, and the leak shows this has been going on for years. Since the release, CrowdStrike has drawn overlaps between the firm and multiple known Chinese threat actors who are well resourced and conduct attacks over an extended period (referred to as advanced persistent threats, APTs). Among some of the 500 leaked documents are product manuals, lists of clients and employees, and WeChat instant messages. The leaks show over 14 governments have been attacked, as well as gambling and telecommunications companies.
Sources: [Dark Reading] [The Guardian]
Fifth of British Kids Have Broken the Law Online
In a recent study by the UK National Crime Agency (NCA), one in five children aged 10 to 16 have engaged in online offences with the figure rising to 25% among online gamers. These "low-level" cyber crimes, such as attempting to access protected servers or launching distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, may not be perceived by young individuals as violating the Computer Misuse Act. The consequences, however, are severe, including potential arrest, criminal records, and restrictions on future opportunities. The NCA stresses the importance of educating both children and adults about the legal and ethical implications of such actions, highlighting the transition from minor offences to more serious cyber crimes. With a significant shortage of cyber security professionals globally, fostering positive digital skills among young individuals is crucial for meeting industry demands and deterring cyber crime. Parents, teachers, and children are encouraged to explore resources provided by the NCA's Cyber Choices website to prevent inadvertent involvement in illegal online activities.
Source: [Infosecurity Magazine]
Over 40% of Firms Struggle with Cyber Security Talent Shortage
A recent report from Kaspersky has unveiled a critical global challenge: over 40% of companies are struggling to fill essential cyber security roles, with information security research and malware analysis roles particularly affected. This scarcity is felt most acutely in Europe and Latin America. Roles within security operations centres (SOCs) and network security are also understaffed, with figures around 35% and 33% respectively. The government sector faces the most significant demand for cyber security experts, followed closely by the telecoms and media sectors. While efforts like offering competitive salaries and enhanced training are underway, the gap persists due to the rapid pace of technological advancement outstripping educational initiatives. The report emphasises the need for innovative solutions to bridge this shortfall, highlighting recruitment, training, and technological advancements as key components of a comprehensive strategy to bolster cyber security resilience in the face of evolving threats.
Source: [Infosecurity Magazine]
Governance, Risk and Compliance
Cyber security professionals admit “knowledge gaps” have led to serious security blunders | ITPro
The old, not the new: Basic security issues still biggest threat to enterprises - Help Net Security
Cyber threat environment more dangerous then ever - Mimecast (emergingrisks.co.uk)
Gartner: Three top trends in cyber security for 2024 | Computer Weekly
Coalition report reveals rising cyber threats amidst business vulnerabilities - Reinsurance News
Thinking Like An Attacker—Another Look At Enterprise Security (forbes.com)
Hackers using stolen credentials to launch attacks as info-stealing peaks | CSO Online
How CISOs Balance Business Growth, Security in Cyber Threat Landscape (darkreading.com)
Allianz Risk Barometer: Identifying the major business risks for 2024
Why cyber security can boost organisational innovation | TechRadar
4 Key Steps to Reevaluate Your Cyber Security Priorities (darkreading.com)
Cyber security success -- elevate your defence against cyber threats (betanews.com)
Threats
Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks
Ransom demands surge by 20% in 2023, hitting key industries hardest - SiliconANGLE
LockBit Attempts to Stay Afloat with a New Version (trendmicro.com)
LockBit registered nearly 200 "affiliates" over the past two years | TechRadar
2024 will be a volatile year for cyber security as ransomware groups evolve - Help Net Security
Ransomware Experts See Problems With Banning Ransom Payments (govinfosecurity.com)
Ransomware and BEC are seeing a huge rise — is your business ready? | TechRadar
ConnectWise exploit could spur ‘ransomware free-for-all,’ expert warns | SC Media (scmagazine.com)
3 trends set to drive cyber attacks and ransomware in 2024 | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)
Year-over-year, the median initial ransom has risen by 20% | Security Magazine
Alpha ransomware linked to NetWalker operation dismantled in 2021 (bleepingcomputer.com)
Akira Ransomware Exploiting Cisco Anyconnect Vulnerability (gbhackers.com)
Knight ransomware source code for sale after leak site shuts down (bleepingcomputer.com)
Stuck in cyber attack nightmare? Call the negotiators (techxplore.com)
Report: Manufacturing bears the brunt of industrial ransomware | CyberScoop
Ransomware Victims
eSentire Confirms Rhysida Ransomware Victims - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)
ALPHV ransomware claims loanDepot, Prudential Financial breaches (bleepingcomputer.com)
147 ransomware attacks on large Dutch companies, institutions last year; 18% paid ransom | NL Times
Pharmacy Delays Across US Blamed on Nation-State Hackers (darkreading.com)
Phishing & Email Based Attacks
New report warns of ongoing rise of malicious emails bypassing secure email gateways - SiliconANGLE
Deepfake Phishing Grew by 3,000% in 2023 — And It's Just Beginning | HackerNoon
Other Social Engineering
Artificial Intelligence
AI models can be weaponized to hack websites on their own • The Register
Deepfake Phishing Grew by 3,000% in 2023 — And It's Just Beginning | HackerNoon
Generative AI and elections are key focus for hackers in 2024, report warns | Evening Standard
As adversaries harness AI, tech firms peer through chat logs to catch them - Defense One
Air Canada Has to Honor a Refund Policy Its Chatbot Made Up | WIRED
36% of code generated by GitHub CoPilot contains security flaws - Help Net Security
Employees input sensitive data into generative AI tools despite the risks | ZDNET
Ransomware Declines as InfoStealers and AI Threats Gain Ground: IBM X-Force - SecurityWeek
Gartner: Three top trends in cyber security for 2024 | Computer Weekly
Malware
FBI's Most-Wanted Zeus and IcedID Malware Mastermind Pleads Guilty (thehackernews.com)
Iranian Hackers Target Middle East Policy Experts with New BASICSTAR Backdoor (thehackernews.com)
VIPRE report predicts 276% rise in malware in 2024 (securitybrief.co.nz)
Anatsa Android malware downloaded 150,000 times via Google Play (bleepingcomputer.com)
'Lucifer' Botnet Turns Up the Heat on Apache Hadoop Servers (darkreading.com)
What are Botnets and Why are MSSPs So Concerned? | MSSP Alert
New SSH-Snake malware steals SSH keys to spread across the network (bleepingcomputer.com)
Ransomware Declines as InfoStealers and AI Threats Gain Ground: IBM X-Force - SecurityWeek
Your Mac Is Not Virus Proof. It Never Has Been. (gizmodo.com)
Click: Your innocent mouse could be a cyber criminal's silent weapon - Digital Journal
Vibrator virus steals your personal information | Malwarebytes
Mobile
Meta Warns of 8 Spyware Firms Targeting iOS, Android, and Windows Devices (thehackernews.com)
New Wave of 'Anatsa' Banking Trojans Targets Android Users in Europe (darkreading.com)
New Wi-Fi Vulnerabilities Expose Android and Linux Devices to Hackers (thehackernews.com)
Zero-Click Apple Shortcuts Vulnerability Allows Silent Data Theft (darkreading.com)
Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS
Internet of Things – IoT
Wyze camera glitch gave 13,000 users a peek into other homes (bleepingcomputer.com)
As Cyber attacks Ramp Up, Electric Vehicles Are Vulnerable (autoweek.com)
Data Breaches/Leaks
Infosys subsidiary named as source of Bank of America leak • The Register
Massive Cloud Database Leak Exposes 380 Million Records (hackread.com)
UK council's sneaky insider steals 79k email addresses • The Register
Eye Care Services Firm Faces Lawsuit Over Data Breach Impacting 2.3 Million - SecurityWeek
Cyber Crime General & Criminal Actors
Fifth of British Kids Have Broken the Law Online - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)
Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain
Insider Risk and Insider Threats
Insurance
Insurers Use Claims Data to Recommend Cyber Security Technologies (darkreading.com)
Cyber Insurance Needs to Evolve to Ensure Greater Benefit (darkreading.com)
What is Cyber Insurance and Does Your Small Business Need It? (smallbiztrends.com)
Supply Chain and Third Parties
Infosys subsidiary named as source of Bank of America leak • The Register
North Korean hackers linked to defence sector supply-chain attack (bleepingcomputer.com)
Cloud/SaaS
Cyber security report reveals 75% spike in cloud attacks (securitybrief.co.nz)
Massive Cloud Database Leak Exposes 380 Million Records (hackread.com)
Six steps for stronger cloud security | SC Media (scmagazine.com)
Identity and Access Management
Why identity fraud costs organisations millions - Help Net Security
Active Directory outages can cost organisations $100,000 per day - Help Net Security
Encryption
Linux and Open Source
Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks
Hackers using stolen credentials to launch attacks as info-stealing peaks | CSO Online
How to proactively prevent password-spray attacks on legacy email accounts | CSO Online
Social Media
EU Watchdog Urged to Reject Meta 'Pay for Privacy' Scheme - SecurityWeek
Social Media Platforms Are in an ‘Information Trafficking Business’: Cyber Security Adviser | NTD
ChatGPT Used by North Korean Hackers to Scam LinkedIn Users (tech.co)
76% of Super Bowl Traffic From Elon Musk's X to Advertisers Could Be Fake (thewrap.com)
Elon Musk’s X allows China-based propaganda banned on other platforms | Ars Technica
European Union deepens its investigation of TikTok • The Register
Training, Education and Awareness
Regulations, Fines and Legislation
European Court of Human Rights rules against government backdoors in end-to-end encryption - Neowin
Hedge Funds Warn SEC Cyber Lapses Risk Exposing Trading Secrets (bloomberglaw.com)
European Union deepens its investigation of TikTok • The Register
Decoding DORA: Navigating the digital regulatory landscape | World Finance
FTC Fines Avast $16.5 Million For Selling Browsing Data Harvested by Antivirus (404media.co)
Avast settles claims of customer data peddling for $17M • The Register
Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security
The Psychology of Cyber Security Burnout (informationweek.com)
How can we adapt work practices to protect CISO mental health? | Computer Weekly
Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda
Feds deliver stark warnings to state election officials ahead of November - Iowa Capital Dispatch
UK election cyber attack warning after Putin's hackers target US (inews.co.uk)
Social Media Platforms Are in an ‘Information Trafficking Business’: Cyber Security Adviser | NTD
Elon Musk’s X allows China-based propaganda banned on other platforms | Ars Technica
Election security threats in 2024 range from AI to … anthrax • The Register
76 percent of Super Bowl LVIII traffic from Twitter dubbed 'fake' (awfulannouncing.com)
Iran and Hezbollah Hackers Launch Attacks to Influence Israel-Hamas Narrative (thehackernews.com)
Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare, Cyber Espionage and Geopolitical Threats/Activity
Cyber Warfare and Cyber Espionage
Nation State Actors
Countries fear state-sponsored cyber war | The World from PRX
Generative AI and elections are key focus for hackers in 2024, report warns | Evening Standard
Pharmacy Delays Across US Blamed on Nation-State Hackers (darkreading.com)
China
'Major Chinese hack' on Foreign Office urgently investigated by UK spies (inews.co.uk)
Leaked Chinese Hacking Files Reveal How Compromised the US Could Be (businessinsider.com)
iSoon's Secret APT Status Exposes China's Foreign Hacking Machination (darkreading.com)
Generative AI and elections are key focus for hackers in 2024, report warns | Evening Standard
Elon Musk’s X allows China-based propaganda banned on other platforms | Ars Technica
China’s Spy Agency Sees Threats Everywhere in Data Security Push - Bloomberg
Russia
FBI disrupts hacking network 'linked to Russian intelligence services' | US News | Sky News
Russian APT 'Winter Vivern' Targets European Governments, Military (darkreading.com)
Russian Cyber attackers Launch Multiphase PsyOps Campaign (darkreading.com)
Russian-Linked Hackers Target 80+ Organisations via Roundcube Flaws (thehackernews.com)
NHS hospitals ‘easy targets’ for Russian hackers (thetimes.co.uk)
Generative AI and elections are key focus for hackers in 2024, report warns | Evening Standard
Russian Turla Cyber Spies Target Polish NGOs With New Backdoor - SecurityWeek
Russian Government Software Backdoored to Deploy Konni RAT Malware (thehackernews.com)
Three terms sure to grab attention: Russia, nuclear, anti-satellite weapon | Ars Technica
Iran
Iranian Hackers Target Middle East Policy Experts with New BASICSTAR Backdoor (thehackernews.com)
Iranian APTs Dress Up As Hacktivists for Disruption, Influence Ops (darkreading.com)
Iran and Hezbollah Hackers Launch Attacks to Influence Israel-Hamas Narrative (thehackernews.com)
Iran-Backed Charming Kitten Stages Fake Webinar Platform to Ensnare Targets (darkreading.com)
North Korea
Vulnerability Management
Vulnerabilities
ConnectWise exploit could spur ‘ransomware free-for-all,’ expert warns | SC Media (scmagazine.com)
Exploiting critical ConnectWise bug is 'embarrassingly easy' • The Register
Akira Ransomware Exploiting Cisco AnyConnect Vulnerability (gbhackers.com)
Microsoft Exchange flaw CVE-2024-21410 could impact up to 97,000 servers (securityaffairs.com)
VMware Alert: Uninstall EAP Now - Critical Flaw Puts Active Directory at Risk (thehackernews.com)
VMware issues no-patch advisory for critical flaw in old SSO plugin | SC Media (scmagazine.com)
Russian-Linked Hackers Target 80+ Organisations via Roundcube Flaws (thehackernews.com)
ESET fixed high-severity local privilege escalation bug in Windows products (securityaffairs.com)
SolarWinds addressed critical RCEs in Access Rights Manager (securityaffairs.com)
Chrome 122, Firefox 123 Patch High-Severity Vulnerabilities - SecurityWeek
Critical Vulnerability in VMware vSphere Plug-in Allows Session Hijacking (darkreading.com)
Joomla XSS Bugs Open Millions of Websites to RCE (darkreading.com)
Zero-Click Apple Shortcuts Vulnerability Allows Silent Data Theft (darkreading.com)
Urgent patches available for QNAP vulnerabilities, one 0-day • The Register
Hackers exploit critical RCE flaw in Bricks WordPress site builder (bleepingcomputer.com)
Tools and Controls
Stuck in cyber attack nightmare? Call the negotiators (techxplore.com)
New Google Chrome feature blocks attacks against home networks (bleepingcomputer.com)
How Businesses Can Safeguard Their Communication Channels Against Hackers (thehackernews.com)
Limiting remote access exposure in hybrid work environments | CSO Online
Cyber Insurance Needs to Evolve to Ensure Greater Benefit (darkreading.com)
Active Directory outages can cost organisations $100,000 per day - Help Net Security
SOC Landscapes: Insights from SANS' 2023 SOC Report (trendmicro.com)
36% of code generated by GitHub CoPilot contains security flaws - Help Net Security
Microsoft expands free logging capabilities after May breach (bleepingcomputer.com)
Why ransomware gangs love using RMM tools—and how to stop them | Malwarebytes
Other News
The Power Sector’s High-Stakes Battle for Cyber-Resiliency (powermag.com)
Ways to elevate public sector cyber security | Professional Security
Increasing Europe's cyber resilience - government.lu (gouvernement.lu)
Industries most targeted by active adversaries | SC Media (scmagazine.com)
US govt shares cyber attack defence tips for water utilities (bleepingcomputer.com)
Sector Specific
Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.
Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.
· Automotive
· Construction
· Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)
· Defence & Space
· Education & Academia
· Energy & Utilities
· Estate Agencies
· Financial Services
· FinTech
· Food & Agriculture
· Gaming & Gambling
· Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)
· Health/Medical/Pharma
· Hotels & Hospitality
· Insurance
· Legal
· Manufacturing
· Maritime
· Oil, Gas & Mining
· OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems
· Retail & eCommerce
· Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)
· Startups
· Telecoms
· Third Sector & Charities
· Transport & Aviation
· Web3
As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.
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Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.
Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 02 February 2024
Black Arrow Cyber Threat Intelligence Briefing 02 February 2024:
-The Financial Sector Is Plagued by Increasingly Sophisticated Cyber Attacks That Demand a Defensive Paradigm Shift
-The $10 Billion Cyber Insurance Industry Sees a Dangerous Year in Cyber Crime Ahead. AI, Ransomware, and War are its Biggest Concerns
-Microsoft Says Russian Hackers Used Known Identified Tactics to Breach Senior Exec Emails
-Old Methods, New Tricks: Cyber Criminals Are Still Using Social Engineering to Steal Your Credentials
-UK Government Unveils New Cyber Threat Guidelines as 32% of Firms Suffer Attacks in Past Year
-94% of Organisations Would Pay a Ransom, Despite Having ‘Do Not Pay’ Policies, as 79% Faced an Attack in 2023
-Interpol Arrests More than 30 Cyber Criminals in Global Operation
-Divide and Succeed: Splitting IT and Security Makes Business Sense
-Ransomware Groups Gain Clout with False Attack Claims
-Payment Fraud is Hitting Organisations Harder Than Ever Before
-Chinese Hacking Operations Have Entered a Far More Dangerous Phase, US Warns
Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.
Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week
The Financial Sector is Plagued by Increasingly Sophisticated Cyber Attacks That Demand a Defensive Paradigm Shift
A series of interviews with senior cyber executives and decision makers around the world gave insights into the attacks seen in the financial sector. The findings include 77% of financial organisations detecting campaigns to steal non-public market information, 48% falling victim to attacks solely focused on destroying data and 45% of organisations believing they were a victim of an attack which they were unable to detect. The financial sector remains a valuable target for cyber criminals and as such, organisations within this sector must proactively protect themselves.
Source: [PR News Wire]
The $10 Billion Cyber Insurance Industry Sees a Dangerous Year in Cyber Crime Ahead. AI, Ransomware, and War are its Biggest Concerns
A recent report by insurance broker Woodruff Sawyer sheds light on pressing concerns from the perspective of the insurance industry. Amidst ongoing global conflicts and the rise of AI-driven cyber threats, the boundaries between war and cyber attacks are blurring. Insurers are increasingly wary, with many opting not to provide coverage, particularly against war-related risks. The survey reveals a grim outlook, with 56% of clients anticipating a significant increase in cyber risks in 2024, primarily driven by ransomware and war associated threats. The challenge lies in defining and navigating these evolving risks, leaving clients uncertain about their cyber security strategies. Additionally, updated US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules mandating rapid disclosure of cyber breaches add further complexity to the cyber security landscape, warranting close monitoring by insurers. As cyber threats continue to evolve in a turbulent world, the insurance industry faces unprecedented challenges in safeguarding against cyber risks.
Source: [Fortune]
Microsoft Says Russian Hackers Used Known Identified Tactics to Breach Senior Exec Emails
Hackers allegedly linked to Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) breached a legacy non-production test tenant account in Microsoft last November, before pivoting into their senior executives’ email accounts. Microsoft only discovered the incident on 12 January. In a blog post, Microsoft said that the attackers had used a password spray attack on a limited number of accounts. One of these accounts was a legacy, non-production test account that had elevated access to the Microsoft corporate environment, and the ability to create malicious OAuth applications with access to other corporate mailboxes, leading to them accessing senior executives’ emails. Microsoft has since confirmed that multi-factor authentication was not enabled. Microsoft has previously warned the public about this exact scenario, writing that attackers “compromise user accounts to create, modify, and grant high privileges to OAuth applications that they can misuse to hide malicious activity.”
Sources: [The Record] [Bleeping Computer]
Old Methods, New Tricks: Cyber Criminals Are Still Using Social Engineering to Steal Your Credentials
2023 showed us that despite all the advancements in cyber security, most threat actors are simply just logging in. To do this an attacker needs credentials, often gained through phishing, the most common social engineering tactic. The emergence and utilisation of artificial intelligence has only made this easier, the point being that now virtually anyone can conduct a sophisticated phishing campaign, and with huge success. But what can organisations do? Focus on their human firewall. Social engineering will remain, and organisations need to ensure that their staff are consistently trained to be vigilant, as well as regular updated training on current trends. Users should ensure that they don’t reuse passwords across accounts, nor use easy to guess passwords or patterns. Users should be encouraged to use password managers to enable better, and more manageable, password hygiene. Where possible, multi factor authentication should be enforced.
Sources: [Security Boulevard] [Beta News] [Security Intelligence]
UK Government Unveils New Cyber Threat Guidelines as 32% of Firms Suffer Attacks in Past Year
The UK government is urging organisations to prioritise cyber threats as a key business risk, on par with financial and legal challenges. They have released new guidelines, the Cyber Governance Code of Practice, aimed at directors and senior leaders to elevate cyber security as a focal point in business operations. The code recommends clear roles and responsibilities, customer protection, and plans to respond to cyber attacks. It also emphasises the need for employees to possess adequate cyber awareness and skills. As cyber security incidents rise, a report found that 77% of financial services organisations have experienced a cyber attack. Other figures also show that 32% of firms have suffered a cyber breach or attack in the past year alone. These guidelines align with the UK Government’s National Cyber Strategy, aiming to protect and promote online security in the country. With the financial sector experiencing underperforming cyber security providers, organisations need to strengthen their anti-fraud defences, possibly incorporating cyber risk ratings for a more robust security posture.
Source: [The Fintech Times]
94% of Organisations Would Pay a Ransom, Despite Having ‘Do Not Pay’ Policies, as 79% Faced an Attack in 2023
A recent study has found that 94% of organisations would pay a ransomware demand, even if they had a ‘do not pay’ policy, in the event of an attack. The study found that 79% had suffered a ransomware related attack in the second half of 2023. When it came to resilience, only 21% had full confidence in their organisation’s cyber resilience and ability to address today’s escalating cyber challenges and threats, and 23% reported that they would need over three weeks to recover data and restore business processes. A common theme in the study was the belief that senior and executive management do not fully understand the serious risks, with only 35% of respondents believing risks were fully understood.
Sources: [Beta News] [ Security Magazine] [MSSP Alert]
Interpol Arrests More than 30 Cyber Criminals in Global Operation
This week, international law enforcement announced that it detained 31 suspected cyber criminals and identified 1,300 malicious servers which were used to conduct phishing attacks and distribute malware. The operation, labelled “Synergia” was in response to “the clear growth, escalation and professionalisation of transnational cyber crime and the need for coordinated action against new cyber threats” Interpol said. Nearly 60 law enforcement agencies and several private companies were involved in the operation.
Sources: [The Record]
Divide and Succeed: Splitting IT and Security Makes Business Sense
Maintaining year-round security hygiene is important to protect both consumers and organisations. Cyber attacks, like the recent one on 23andMe, often exploit vulnerabilities that persist due to incomplete patching and compromised credentials. Many organisations cite time constraints as the primary reason for not updating security features. Ideally, in any organisation, and indeed in all organisations that have reached a level of maturity in this space, security and IT teams should be separate; however, this is not really achievable in many organisations and hence the responsibility to protect ultimately falls on IT teams. Overburdened IT teams, and IT teams whose primary focus is on operational IT, further compound the issue, spending significant time managing data requests and analysing data, leading to cyber security risks. As consumers become more privacy-conscious, businesses must review and adapt their data privacy policies to build trust. Additionally, the growing use of artificial intelligence poses new risks, necessitating the development of company-wide AI policies to protect data privacy. While privacy legislation remains fragmented, staying proactive by updating data privacy policies, understanding data usage, and fortifying cyber security defences is crucial for organisations.
Source: [Digital Journal]
Ransomware Groups Gain Clout with False Attack Claims
A concerning trend is on the rise: fake breach claims by ransomware groups. Cyber criminals are leveraging the dark web and social media to spread misinformation about alleged breaches, triggering unwarranted cyber investigations and generating unwanted, and unwarranted, negative publicity for the alleged victim. Recent incidents involving Technica Corp and Europcar exemplify this growing threat. While these claims often lack credible evidence, they serve as a means for ransomware operators to gain attention and clout in the cyber criminal world. These groups resort to false claims to maintain relevance. Cyber security teams must adapt to this new ransomware misinformation communication strategy and exercise caution when evaluating breach claims.
Source: [Dark Reading]
Payment Fraud is Hitting Organisations Harder Than Ever Before
According to research, 96% of companies in the US were targeted with at least one fraud attempt in the past year. 36% who suffered said the average loss they experienced was more than $1 million and for 25%, this was more than $5 million. The study found misaligned perception as despite the number falling victim, only 5% believed they could not keep up with fraud. Of concern, 75% of C-level finance leaders said they would stop doing business with an organisation that fell victim to payment fraud.
Source: [Help Net Security]
Chinese Hacking Operations Have Entered a Far More Dangerous Phase, US Warns
In the US, the directors of the FBI, the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), have stated that China’s cyber activity is moving beyond the last decade’s spying and data theft toward direct attacks on critical infrastructure. It was identified that Chinese nation-state actors were planting malware on network routers and other internet-connected devices that, if triggered, could disrupt water, power, rail and other critical services, possibly causing widespread chaos, or even injury or deaths as a result.
Source: [Defense One]
Governance, Risk and Compliance
$10 billion cyber insurance sector fears war, AI, ransomware ahead | Fortune
Recognizing Security as a Strategic Component of Business (darkreading.com)
Top Five Risks Facing Corporate Boards | The Volkov Law Group - JDSupra
Improving cyber security culture: A priority in the year of the CISO | CSO Online
Top 3 Cyber Security Trends for SME Business Leaders | MSSP Alert
What the Charges Against the SolarWinds CISO Mean for Security in 2024 - Security Boulevard
Divide and succeed: Splitting IT and Security makes business sense - Digital Journal
Strengthening Cyber Security: The rise of the Security Assurance Officer (securitybrief.co.nz)
5 Cyber Security Strategies You Must Embrace to Protect Your Business | Inc.com
Threats
Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks
Ransomware Survey Shows 94% of Companies Would Pay | MSSP Alert
$10 billion cyber insurance sector fears war, AI, ransomware ahead | Fortune
Ransomware's Impact May Include Heart Attacks, Strokes & PTSD (techrepublic.com)
79% of organisations faced a ransomware attack in H2 2023 | Security Magazine
Ransomware Groups Gain Clout With False Attack Claims (darkreading.com)
LockBit remorseless in latest children's hospital attack • The Register
The Ransomware Threat in 2024 is Growing: Report - Security Week
Akira ransomware attacks linked to Cisco vuln fixed in 2020 • The Register
OpenText Cyber Security Global Ransomware Survey: The Risk Perception Gap | MSSP Alert
The evolution of ransomware: Lessons for the future (securityintelligence.com)
New strain of the Phobos ransomware discovered in VBA script | SC Media (scmagazine.com)
Canadian Man Sentenced to Prison for Ransomware Attacks - Security Week
Ransomware Research Reveals Millions Spent Despite Do Not Pay Policies - IT Security Guru
A Cyber Insurer's Perspective on How to Avoid Ransomware (darkreading.com)
Online ransomware decryptor helps recover partially encrypted files (bleepingcomputer.com)
Higher cyber defences lead to higher ransoms, study finds | Cybernews
ICS Ransomware Danger Rages Despite Fewer Attacks (darkreading.com)
Ransomware Victims
ICO confirms data breach probe as UK councils remain downed by cyber attack | TechCrunch
Pentagon investigating theft of sensitive files by ransomware group | CyberScoop
Johnson Controls says ransomware attack cost $27 million, data stolen (bleepingcomputer.com)
New Jersey School District Shut Down by Cyber Attack (darkreading.com)
Cactus ransomware gang claims the Schneider Electric hack (securityaffairs.com)
Schneider Electric Responding to Ransomware Attack, Data Breach - Security Week
Akira ransomware gang says it stole passport scans from Lush • The Register
Kansas public transportation authority hit by ransomware (bleepingcomputer.com)
Phishing & Email Based Attacks
In major gaffe, hacked Microsoft test account was assigned admin privileges | Ars Technica
AI vs. human deceit: Unravelling the new age of phishing tactics (securityintelligence.com)
Artificial Intelligence
$10 billion cyber insurance sector fears war, AI, ransomware ahead | Fortune
AI-Powered Attacks and Deepfake Technology Fuel Cyber Attack Concern - IT Security Guru
ChatGPT bug leaked conversations from others in your history (bgr.com)
AI vs. human deceit: Unravelling the new age of phishing tactics (securityintelligence.com)
Expect ‘AI versus AI’ conflict soon, Pentagon cyber leader says - Defense One
AI Companies Will Need to Start Reporting Their Safety Tests to the US Government - Security Week
AI-generated code leads to security issues for most businesses: report | CIO Dive
Assessing and quantifying AI risk: A challenge for enterprises | CSO Online
2FA/MFA
Malware
How the ZeuS Trojan Info Stealer Changed Cyber Security (securityintelligence.com)
FBI disrupts Chinese botnet by wiping malware from infected routers (bleepingcomputer.com)
AllaKore RAT Malware Targeting Mexican Firms with Financial Fraud Tricks (thehackernews.com)
Police disrupt Grandoreiro banking malware operation, make arrests (bleepingcomputer.com)
Threat Actors Using Adult Games To Launch Remcos RAT Attack - Security Boulevard
Italian Businesses Hit by Weaponized USBs Spreading Cryptojacking Malware (thehackernews.com)
More Android apps riddled with malware spotted on Google Play (bleepingcomputer.com)
Don't believe everything you read - hackers are pushing malware via media, news sites | TechRadar
Mobile
Man Sentenced to Prison for Stealing Millions in Cryptocurrency via SIM Swapping - Security Week
More Android apps riddled with malware spotted on Google Play (bleepingcomputer.com)
Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS
Internet of Things – IoT
Data Breaches/Leaks
There was a 39% surge in data exfiltration cyber attacks in 2023 | Security Magazine
Europcar denies data breach of 50 million users, says data is fake (bleepingcomputer.com)
3.5M exposed in COVID-19 e-passport leak (securityaffairs.com)
Mercedes-Benz accidentally exposed sensitive data, including source code (securityaffairs.com)
FTC orders Blackbaud to boost security after massive data breach (bleepingcomputer.com)
23andMe admits it didn’t detect cyber attacks for months | TechCrunch
Football Australia investigating 'critical data' leak - ESPN
Top 3 Data Breaches of 2023, and What Lies Ahead in 2024 (darkreading.com)
DHS employees jailed for stealing data of 200K US govt workers (bleepingcomputer.com)
Cyber criminals replace familiar tactics to exfiltrate sensitive data - Help Net Security
Data leak at fintech giant Direct Trading Technologies (securityaffairs.com)
Timex breach leaks employee Social Security numbers | SC Media (scmagazine.com)
Cloudflare hacked using auth tokens stolen in Okta attack (bleepingcomputer.com)
Keenan warns 1.5 million people of data breach after summer cyber attack (bleepingcomputer.com)
Organised Crime & Criminal Actors
ReasonLabs Releases Annual "State of Consumer Cyber Security Report" for 2024 (prnewswire.com)
Cyber criminals replace familiar tactics to exfiltrate sensitive data - Help Net Security
Smarter, Meaner, Sneakier: Security Trends for 2024 (trendmicro.com)
How businesses can tackle the cyber crime economy (siliconrepublic.com)
Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain
Insider Risk and Insider Threats
DHS employees jailed for stealing data of 200K US govt workers (bleepingcomputer.com)
Put People First When Facing Sophisticated Cyber Threats (forbes.com)
Insurance
A Cyber Insurer's Perspective on How to Avoid Ransomware (darkreading.com)
$10 billion cyber insurance sector fears war, AI, ransomware ahead | Fortune
Supply Chain and Third Parties
Supply Chain Security and NIS2: What You Need to Know - Security Boulevard
Third-party risk management best practices and why they matter - Help Net Security
Cloudflare hacked using auth tokens stolen in Okta attack (bleepingcomputer.com)
Cyber criminals embrace smarter strategies, less effort - Help Net Security
Cloud/SaaS
Microsoft Teams phishing pushes DarkGate malware via group chats (bleepingcomputer.com)
'Leaky Vessels' Cloud Bugs Allow Container Escapes Globally (darkreading.com)
Cyber Attacks, AI and Multicloud Hit Cyber Security in 2023 - The New Stack
Why DNS protection should be the first step in hybrid cloud security | TechRadar
Identity and Access Management
Microsoft tells how Russia's Cozy Bear broke into its email • The Register
In major gaffe, hacked Microsoft test account was assigned admin privileges | Ars Technica
Microsoft Shares New Guidance in the Wake of 'Midnight Blizzard' Cyber Attack (darkreading.com)
Linux and Open Source
Cyber Security in Review: The Alarming Trend of Unsupported Systems - Security Boulevard
New Glibc Flaw Grants Attackers Root Access on Major Linux Distros (thehackernews.com)
White House releases report on securing open-source software | CyberScoop
Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks
Hundreds of network operators’ credentials found circulating in Dark Web (securityaffairs.com)
US charges two more suspects with DraftKing account hacks (bleepingcomputer.com)
Social Media
A tangled mess: Government rules for social media security lack clarity | CyberScoop
Defending Against Corporate Social Media Account Takeovers (databreachtoday.co.uk)
Malvertising
Regulations, Fines and Legislation
ICO confirms data breach probe as UK councils remain downed by cyber attack | TechCrunch
SolarWinds Files Motion to Dismiss SEC Lawsuit (darkreading.com)
What the Charges Against the SolarWinds CISO Mean for Security in 2024 - Security Boulevard
A tangled mess: Government rules for social media security lack clarity | CyberScoop
AI Companies Will Need to Start Reporting Their Safety Tests to the US Government - Security Week
The SEC Won't Let CISOs Be: Understanding New SaaS Cyber Security Rules (thehackernews.com)
How to Align Your Incident Response Practices With the New SEC Disclosure Rules - Security Week
UK law could ban Apple security updates across the world in an 'unprecedented overreach' | TechRadar
Models, Frameworks and Standards
Supply Chain Security and NIS2: What You Need to Know - Security Boulevard
NIS2 Directive raises stakes for security leaders - Help Net Security
Data Protection
Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security
Wait, infosec isn't a computer science degree requirement? • The Register
The Future Of Cyber Security Is More Human Than You Think (forbes.com)
Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs
Interpol arrests more than 30 cyber criminals in global ‘Synergia’ operation (therecord.media)
US charges two more suspects with DraftKing account hacks (bleepingcomputer.com)
US sanctions 3 for supporting ISIS with cyber security expertise, money transfers - UPI.com
Canada's 'most prolific hacker' jailed for two years (bitdefender.com)
FBI disrupts Chinese botnet by wiping malware from infected routers (bleepingcomputer.com)
Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare, Cyber Espionage and Geopolitical Threats/Activity
Cyber Warfare and Cyber Espionage
$10 billion cyber insurance sector fears war, AI, ransomware ahead | Fortune
Cyber attacks as war crimes | International Bar Association (ibanet.org)
What Are State-Sponsored Cyber Attacks? - Security Boulevard
Satya Nadella Worries About Hackers Causing 'Breakdown of World Order' (businessinsider.com)
Expect ‘AI versus AI’ conflict soon, Pentagon cyber leader says - Defense One
The Cyber Warfare Option Against Hostile States and Groups | National Review
Nation State Actors
China
Chinese hacking operations have entered a far more dangerous phase, US warns - Defense One
FBI disrupts Chinese botnet by wiping malware from infected routers (bleepingcomputer.com)
Wray’s stunning warning points to a new age of US vulnerability | CNN Politics
Cyber attacks as war crimes | International Bar Association (ibanet.org)
EU economic security plan eyes China with more defence than offense (qz.com)
Russia
In major gaffe, hacked Microsoft test account was assigned admin privileges | Ars Technicac
Microsoft Shares New Guidance in the Wake of 'Midnight Blizzard' Cyber Attack (darkreading.com)
Russia hacks Microsoft: It’s worse than you think | Computerworld
Series of Cyber Attacks Hit Ukrainian Critical Infrastructure Organisations (darkreading.com)
Russian 'cyber war' could exploit divisions in Scotland | The Herald (heraldscotland.com)
Pawn Storm Uses Brute Force and Stealth Against High-Value Targets (trendmicro.com)
Russian threat actors dig in, prepare to seize on war fatigue | Security Insider (microsoft.com)
Russian spies impersonating Western researchers in ongoing hacking campaign (therecord.media)
Ukraine's POW Coordination Headquarters restores services after cyber attack (kyivindependent.com)
Ukraine Military Targeted With Russian APT PowerShell Attack (darkreading.com)
Iran
Other Nation State Actors, Hacktivism, Extremism, Terrorism and Other Geopolitical Threat Intelligence
Vulnerability Management
Does CVSS 4.0 solve the exploitability problem? - Help Net Security
Why the Right Metrics Matter When it Comes to Vulnerability Management (thehackernews.com)
Cyber Security in Review: The Alarming Trend of Unsupported Systems - Security Boulevard
Why organisations need risk-based vulnerability management | TechTarget
Vulnerabilities
Akira ransomware attacks linked to Cisco vuln fixed in 2020 • The Register
Ivanti Struggling to Hit Zero-Day Patch Release Schedule - Security Week
Ivanti releases patches for old and new VPN zero-days • The Register
45k Jenkins servers exposed to RCE attacks using public exploits (bleepingcomputer.com)
Juniper Networks Releases Urgent Junos OS Updates for High-Severity Flaws (thehackernews.com)
New Glibc Flaw Grants Attackers Root Access on Major Linux Distros (thehackernews.com)
CISA Warns of Active Exploitation of Critical Flaws in Apple iOS and macOS (thehackernews.com)
Tools and Controls
Microsoft tells how Russia's Cozy Bear broke into its email • The Register
In major gaffe, hacked Microsoft test account was assigned admin privileges | Ars Technica
Microsoft Shares New Guidance in the Wake of 'Midnight Blizzard' Cyber Attack (darkreading.com)
Multi-factor authentication suffers from three major weaknesses | TechRadar
AI-generated code leads to security issues for most businesses: report | CIO Dive
3 Best Practices to Improve Threat Hunting - Security Boulevard
Assessing and quantifying AI risk: A challenge for enterprises | CSO Online
How to Align Your Incident Response Practices With the New SEC Disclosure Rules - Security Week
Why DNS protection should be the first step in hybrid cloud security | TechRadar
What Is Cyber Threat Hunting? (Definition & How it Works) (techrepublic.com)
The Future Of Cyber Security Is More Human Than You Think (forbes.com)
Reports Published in the Last Week
Other News
How SMBs can lower their risk of cyber attacks and data breaches (bleepingcomputer.com)
FTC orders Blackbaud to boost security after massive data breach (bleepingcomputer.com)
Global critical infrastructure faces relentless cyber activity - Help Net Security
Why the healthcare industry must prioritize cyber resilience | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)
UK says Emirates-backed stake in Vodafone poses national security risk | Vodafone | The Guardian
Israeli Government: Smallest of SMBs Hit Hardest in Cyber Attacks (darkreading.com)
CISA: Vendors must secure SOHO routers against Volt Typhoon attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)
Firmware remains the soft underbelly of banking cyber defence (techmonitor.ai)
Cyber attacks on state and local governments rose in 2023, says CIS report | StateScoop
Fulton County Suffers Power Outages as Cyber Attack Continues (darkreading.com)
The Imperative for Robust Security Design in the Health Industry (darkreading.com)
National cyber security plans lack performance measures and estimated costs, GAO says | CyberScoop
Sector Specific
Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.
Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.
· Automotive
· Construction
· Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)
· Defence & Space
· Education & Academia
· Energy & Utilities
· Estate Agencies
· Financial Services
· FinTech
· Food & Agriculture
· Gaming & Gambling
· Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)
· Health/Medical/Pharma
· Hotels & Hospitality
· Insurance
· Legal
· Manufacturing
· Maritime
· Oil, Gas & Mining
· OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems
· Retail & eCommerce
· Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)
· Startups
· Telecoms
· Third Sector & Charities
· Transport & Aviation
· Web3
As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.
Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.
Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 05 January 2024
Black Arrow Cyber Threat Intelligence Briefing 05 January 2024:
-A “Ridiculously Weak“ Password Causes Disaster for Spain’s Number 2 Mobile Carrier
-Russia Kyivstar Hack Should Alarm West, Ukraine Security Chief Warns
-23andMe Tells Victim It’s Their Fault Their Data Was Breached
-Financial Sector Faces More Cyber Attacks Than Other Sectors
-An Innocent-Looking Instagram Trend Could Be a Gift to Hackers
-Cyber Criminals Shared Millions of Stolen Records During Holiday Break
-Law Firm that Handles Data Breaches was Itself Hit by Data Breach
-Nigerian Hacker Arrested for Stealing Millions from Charities
-Cyber Criminals Implemented Artificial Intelligence for Invoice Fraud
-Shadow IT Threatens Corporate Cyber Security, Study Reveals
-Escalating Cyber Threats: Bots, Fraud Farms, and Cryptojacking Surge
-Putin has Declared a Cyber War on Britain
Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.
Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week
A “Ridiculously Weak“ Password Causes Disaster for Spain’s Number 2 Mobile Carrier
Spain’s second largest mobile operator, Orange España, suffered a major outage after an unknown party obtained a “ridiculously weak” password and used it to access an account for managing the network that delivers the company’s internet traffic. The attacker had posted the account they had compromised, and researchers found that the associated system had been infected with a Raccoon type infostealer back in September of 2023. The compromised account was Orange’s RIPE administrator account, with the password “ripeadmin”. The incident led to a 50% drop in connections for a 4 hour period, and underscores the critical importance of robust cyber security measures, including strong passwords, and serves as a stark reminder that even seemingly minor oversights can lead to significant disruptions.
Source: [Ars Technica]
Russia Kyivstar Hack Should Alarm the West, Ukraine Security Chief Warns
If Ukraine's core telephone network can be taken out, organisations in the West could easily be next, Ukraine's SBU chief says. December's cyber attack on Ukrainian telecommunications operator Kyivstar by Russian-backed threat actor ‘Sandworm’ dealt a catastrophic blow to the telecoms provider, according to Illia Vitiuk, head of the Security Service of Ukraine's (SBU) cyber security department. It is believed that although the attack took place in December 2023, the threat actors likely had access to Kyivstar systems since May 2023.
Source: [Dark Reading]
23andMe Tells Victims It’s Their Fault Their Data Was Breached
A cyber incident at DNA data firm 23andMe started with credential stuffing 14,000 user accounts. Credential stuffing is the process by which a malicious actor uses previously harvested usernames and passwords from earlier unrelated breaches to break into other sites and services. Many of the 14,000 accounts had opted-in for a feature whereby information is shared with relatives, which meant that once compromised, attackers had access to 6.9 million users: nearly half of the user base.
Facing over 30 lawsuits from victims, 23andMe is now blaming victims, according to letters seen by victims. 23andMe stated “users negligently recycled and failed to update their passwords following these past security incidents, which are unrelated to 23andMe”. This has caused divide in the cyber world; on one side, recycling and failing to update passwords is poor cyber hygiene and on the other hand, there are technical controls that could have better prevented this type of well known and common attack.
Source: [TechCrunch] [The Register]
Financial Sector Faces More Cyber Attacks Than Other Sectors
A recent study found that more than three-quarters (77%) of financial organisations detected an attack on their infrastructures in 2023, compared with around two-thirds (68%) of other sectors. In particular, the study found that financial workers were at a higher than average risk of phishing compared to other workers. Despite their target attractiveness, only three-quarters (73%) of the financial sector respondents said that they have a cyber security policy in place or will do so within the next year. A separate report from Kaspersky stated that the financial sector is poised to experience an influx of artificial intelligence based attacks 2024, adding to the fire.
Sources: [SC Media] [TechRadar ]
An Innocent-Looking Instagram Trend Could Be a Gift to Hackers
A recent trend that has picked up traction at the end of December on social media apps such as Instagram and TikTok, encourages their followers to “get to know them better”. This trend gets people to answer a popular template, freely giving away personal information such as their height, date of birth, and various details that they feel strongly about including favourite food and phobias. While these questions may seem harmless, these sorts of personal details are used by companies for security questions, for example when a person wants to reset their password. Hackers can use this information to easily social engineer victims or impersonate them to get access to their accounts.
Source: [Business Insider]
Cyber Criminals Shared Millions of Stolen Records During Holiday Break
While many people unwind and enjoy their time off during the festive season, cyber criminals remain active. In fact, they leaked approximately 50 million records containing sensitive personal information during this period. These data breaches were not limited to the West; they had a global impact, affecting individuals in various countries such as Peru, Australia, South Africa, and more. It is important to note that not all the data leaks were recent; some appeared to be remnants of older incidents. For instance, some of the leaked data belonged to customers of the credit company Klarna, which was rumoured to have experienced a breach back in 2022, although it was never publicly confirmed. This ‘Free Leaksmas’ event, as it’s been dubbed, underscores the extensive global reach and serious consequences of these cyber criminal activities.
Sources: [Security Affairs] [Dark Reading]
Law Firm that Handles Data Breaches was Itself Hit by Data Breach
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, a law firm specialising in managing security incidents for other companies, has disclosed more details of the cyber attack it itself experienced in March 2023. The breach compromised the sensitive health and personal information of over 637,000 individuals. The stolen data was linked to client organisations and included the names of individuals alongside their social security numbers, medical details, and financial information. Despite the firm's expertise in cyber security, the attack highlights the pervasive risk of data breaches, even among those who advise on such matters. Orrick's delayed response and subsequent legal settlements underscore the importance of proactive security measures and swift action in the wake of a breach. This incident serves as a stark reminder to all organisations of the need for robust cyber defences and transparent communication strategies in today's digital landscape. The law firm has recently settled in principle to resolve four class action lawsuits that accused Orrick of failing to inform victims of the breach until months after the incident.
Source: [TechCrunch]
Nigerian Hacker Arrested for Stealing Millions from Charities
A Nigerian national, Olusegun Samson Adejorin, has been arrested for charges relating to business email compromise attacks that caused a charitable organisation in the US to lose more than $7.5 million. Adejorin had purchased a credential harvesting tool to steal login credentials, which were used to send emails to the charity’s financial service provider. The emails requested and authorised a transfer of $7.5 million, which the investment services provider believed it was paying to the charity whereas it was paying into a bank account controlled by the attacker.
Source: [Bleeping Computer]
Cyber Criminals Implemented Artificial Intelligence for Invoice Fraud
A cyber criminal gang known as GXC Team has been seen selling an artificial intelligence tool for creating fraudulent invoices. The tool, known as Business Invoice Swapper, scrutinises compromised emails that are fed to it, looking for emails which mention invoices or include invoice attachments. It then alters the details of the intended recipient to details specified by the perpetrator. This altered invoice then either replaces the compromised one, or is sent to a predetermined set of contacts.
Source: [Security Affairs]
Shadow IT Threatens Corporate Cyber Security, Study Reveals
With remote working becoming more and more prevalent, organisations are finding themselves at risk of cyber threats due to what is known as shadow IT; this is any software, hardware or IT resource used without the IT department’s approval, knowledge or oversight. A study by Kaspersky found of the 77% of companies that had suffered from cyber incidents over the past two years, 11% of these were directly caused by the unauthorised use of shadow IT.
Source: [Security Brief]
Escalating Cyber Threats: Bots, Fraud Farms, and Cryptojacking Surge
In the constantly evolving cyber threat landscape, 2023 has witnessed a notable surge in the use of bots, fraud farms, and cryptojacking. A new report found that 73% of web and app traffic this year has been attributed to malicious bots and fraud farms, indicating a significant shift towards automated cyber attacks. This trend poses a heightened risk to the ecommerce sector, where cyber criminals exploit API connections and third-party dependencies.
Furthermore, the surge in cryptojacking, marked by a 399% increase, reveals a diversifying strategy among cyber criminals, targeting critical infrastructure with sophisticated methods. These developments serve as a crucial reminder for organisations to bolster their cyber defences and adopt a proactive stance against these emerging and increasingly automated threats.
Source: [Help Net Security]
Putin has Declared a Cyber War on Britain
This year over 2 billion people will vote for new governments across the world, and it is crucial to be aware of upcoming threats to these elections from foreign powers. In particular, Russia is notorious for deploying bots, trolls, and deepfakes, which are techniques used to manipulate information and influence public opinion. These malicious actors are adept at spreading misinformation and disinformation, often with the goal of interfering in elections. With the upcoming UK General Election in 2024 and the US Presidential Election also falling this year, it is imperative to exercise caution and discernment when consuming online content. Not everything we see can be taken at face value.
Source: [Telegraph]
Governance, Risk and Compliance
Thoughts for Boards: Key Issues in Corporate Governance for 2024 (harvard.edu)
Legal, compliance and privacy leaders anxious about rapid GenAI adoption - Help Net Security
Navigating the New Age of Cyber Security Enforcement (darkreading.com)
Facts and misconceptions about cyber security budgets - Help Net Security
Budget cuts take a toll on IT decision makers' mental health - Help Net Security
Consumers prepared to ditch brands after cyber security issues - Help Net Security
Threats
Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks
Firms urged to stop ransomware payments as attacks become “astronomical” (emergingrisks.co.uk)
How ransomware could cripple countries, not just companies (economist.com)
New Black Basta decryptor exploits ransomware flaw to recover files (bleepingcomputer.com)
Sophos reports spike in ransomware groups using remote encryption (securitybrief.co.nz)
Cactus RANSOMWARE gang hit the Swedish retail and grocery provider Coop (securityaffairs.com)
Police locate missing Chinese student who was victim of ‘cyber kidnapping’ (msn.com)
Kai Zhuang: Cyber kidnapping in US illustrates growing crime trend - BBC News
Ban on ransomware payments? The alternative isn't working • The Register
December ransomware attacks disrupt healthcare organisations | TechTarget
Study: Ransomware Is Actually Killing One American Per Month (tech.co)
Zeppelin ransomware source code sold for $500 on hacking forum (bleepingcomputer.com)
Ransomware Victims
Hospitals ask courts to force cloud storage firm to return stolen data (bleepingcomputer.com)
Software Used by Hundreds of Museums Taken Down by Ransomware Attack (pcmag.com)
CTS cyber attack: Disruption to home sales now over - BBC News
Xerox says subsidiary XBS US breached after ransomware gang leaks data (bleepingcomputer.com)
Cyber attackers breach trove of Victoria court recordings • The Register
Estes refuses to pay off ransomware crew, says data stolen • The Register
Phishing & Email Based Attacks
Numerous backdoors deployed in new Kimsuky spear-phishing attacks | SC Media (scmagazine.com)
Russia's APT28 used new malware in a recent phishing campaign (securityaffairs.com)
SMTP Smuggling: New Flaw Lets Attackers Bypass Security and Spoof Emails (thehackernews.com)
CERT-UA Uncovers New Malware Wave Distributing OCEANMAP, MASEPIE, STEELHOOK (thehackernews.com)
UAC-0050 Group Using New Phishing Tactics to Distribute Remcos RAT (thehackernews.com)
Crypto phishing scams took almost $300M from 324K victims in 2023: Report (cointelegraph.com)
Artificial Intelligence
Cyber Criminals Implemented Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Invoice Fraud (securityaffairs.com)
The Imperative of Cyber Security in the Era of AI (thefastmode.com)
Finance orgs to face increasingly prevalent AI cyber attacks | SC Media (scmagazine.com)
Enterprise cyber security in 2024: The AI play comes to the fore - Verdict
NIST Identifies Types of Cyber Attacks That Manipulate Behaviour of AI Systems | NIST
Use of generative AI in the legal profession accelerating despite accuracy concerns | ITPro
A New Kind of AI Copy Can Fully Replicate Famous People. The Law Is Powerless. - POLITICO
CISO Planning for 2024 May Struggle When It Comes to AI (darkreading.com)
Legal, compliance and privacy leaders anxious about rapid GenAI adoption - Help Net Security
AI Is Driving a Silent Cyber Security Arms Race (govtech.com)
Malware
Google accounts may be vulnerable to new hack, changing password won’t help | Cybernews
Malware abuses Google OAuth endpoint to ‘revive’ cookies, hijack accounts (bleepingcomputer.com)
Microsoft patches critical vulnerability used to install malware on Windows PCs - MSPoweruser
Microsoft disables Windows app installation, again • The Register
New Version of Meduza Stealer Released in Dark Web (securityaffairs.com)
Weak password and infostealer blamed for Orange Spain outage • The Register
Russia's APT28 used new malware in a recent phishing campaign (securityaffairs.com)
Russian Military Intelligence Blamed for Blitzkrieg Hacks (inforisktoday.com)
CERT-UA Uncovers New Malware Wave Distributing OCEANMAP, MASEPIE, STEELHOOK (thehackernews.com)
Kimsuky Hackers Deploying AppleSeed, Meterpreter, and TinyNuke in Latest Attacks (thehackernews.com)
Activity of Rugmi malware loader spikes | SC Media (scmagazine.com)
Kronos Malware Reemerges with Increased Functionality (securityintelligence.com)
Malware attacks exploiting app installation protocol prompt deactivation | SC Media (scmagazine.com)
New Variant of DLL Search Order Hijacking Bypasses Windows 10 and 11 Protections (thehackernews.com)
29 malware families target 1,800 banking apps worldwide - Help Net Security
Google password resets not enough to stop this malware • The Register
UAC-0050 Group Using New Phishing Tactics to Distribute Remcos RAT (thehackernews.com)
New Bandook RAT Variant Resurfaces, Targeting Windows Machines (thehackernews.com)
Mobile
Europe's Largest Parking App Provider Informs Customers of Data Breach - Security Week
How to prevent hackers from breaking into your Android, stealing bank info (nypost.com)
QR code hacking: How to protect yourself from rogue QR codes (androidpolice.com)
29 malware families target 1,800 banking apps worldwide - Help Net Security
Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS
Internet of Things – IoT
Study Finds IoT Cyber Security Risk Increased 400 Percent Last Year - RFID JOURNAL
4 essential smart home cameras tips to protect your sensitive data
Ukraine says Russia hacked web cameras to spy on targets in Kyiv (therecord.media)
Data Breaches/Leaks
23andMe tells victims it’s their fault that their data was breached | TechCrunch
Law firm that handles data breaches was hit by data breach | TechCrunch
Europe's Largest Parking App Provider Informs Customers of Data Breach - Security Week
Here we go again: 2023’s badly handled data breaches | TechCrunch
Over 900k Impacted by Data Breach at Defunct Boston Ambulance Service - Security Week
Data breach at healthcare tech firm impacts 4.5 million patients (bleepingcomputer.com)
'Cyber Toufan' Hacktivists Leaked 100-Plus Israeli Orgs in One Month (darkreading.com)
Cyber Attacks Are Back in Hollywood. Did Sony Hack Teach Us Nothing? (variety.com)
Accounting Firm Battling Cyber Security Lawsuit Seeks Dismissal (bloomberglaw.com)
Organised Crime & Criminal Actors
Nigerian hacker arrested for stealing $7.5M from charities (bleepingcomputer.com)
Hackers employ nuanced tactics to evade detection - Help Net Security
The law enforcement operations targeting cyber crime in 2023 (bleepingcomputer.com)
What’s It Like to Be the Victim of Cyber Crimes? (govtech.com)
Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain
Crypto phishing scams took almost $300M from 324K victims in 2023: Report (cointelegraph.com)
Cryptocurrency wallet CEO loses $125,000 in wallet-draining scam | Tripwire
Cyber criminals set their sights on crypto markets - Help Net Security
Orbit Chain loses $86 million in the last fintech hack of 2023 (bleepingcomputer.com)
Crypto-crook Sam Bankman-Fried spared a second trial • The Register
Bitconned review — Netflix documentary about a fortune built on brazen lies
Hackers hijack govt and business accounts on X for crypto scams (bleepingcomputer.com)
Insurance
Supply Chain and Third Parties
Online museum collections down after cyber attack on service provider (bleepingcomputer.com)
A new framework for third-party risk in the European Union | ITPro
Cloud/SaaS
Identity and Access Management
The password identity crisis: Evolving authentication methods in 2024 and beyond | VentureBeat
Active Directory Infiltration Methods Employed by Cyber Criminals (gbhackers.com)
Encryption
Quantum Risks and Rewards: Forward-Defending Cyber Security (govinfosecurity.com)
Saving Schrödinger’s Cat: Getting serious about post-quantum encryption in 2024 - Breaking Defence
Nearly 11 million SSH servers vulnerable to new Terrapin attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)
Linux and Open Source
Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks
A “ridiculously weak“ password causes disaster for Spain’s No. 2 mobile carrier | Ars Technica
23andMe tells victims it’s their fault that their data was breached | TechCrunch
The password identity crisis: Evolving authentication methods in 2024 and beyond | VentureBeat
Social Media
Instagram Trend Could Be a Gift to Hackers (businessinsider.com)
Cyber Attackers Target Nuclear Waste Company via LinkedIn (darkreading.com)
Cyber Criminals Flood Dark Web with X (Twitter) Gold Accounts (darkreading.com)
Hackers hijack govt and business accounts on X for crypto scams (bleepingcomputer.com)
Mandiant's Twitter Account Restored After Six-Hour Crypto Scam Hack (thehackernews.com)
Malvertising
Regulations, Fines and Legislation
New risk management framework helps with SEC mandate compliance | CSO Online
A new framework for third-party risk in the European Union | ITPro
Navigating the New Age of Cyber Security Enforcement (darkreading.com)
Models, Frameworks and Standards
Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security
Cyber security skills gap poses threat to business protection measures (securitybrief.co.nz)
Many cyber security workers feel burnt out and worry about understaffing | TechRadar
Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs
Police investigate virtual sex assault on girl's avatar - BBC News
The law enforcement operations targeting cyber crime in 2023 (bleepingcomputer.com)
Additional cyber agents to be deployed by FBI | SC Media (scmagazine.com)
Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda
Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare, Cyber Espionage and Geopolitical Threats/Activity
Cyber Warfare and Cyber Espionage
Nation State Actors
China
BT Miss Deadline to Remove All Huawei Kit from UK Core Network UPDATE - ISPreview UK
Three Chinese balloons float near Taiwanese airbase • The Register
Russia
Russia Kyivstar Hack Should Alarm West, Ukraine Security Chief Warns (darkreading.com)
Russian hackers were inside Ukraine telecoms giant for months – cyber spy chief – Euractiv
Ukraine says Russia hacked web cameras to spy on targets in Kyiv (therecord.media)
UK exposes Russia for attempted political interference (ukdefencejournal.org.uk)
Vladimir Putin has declared a cyber war on Britain (telegraph.co.uk)
Russia's APT28 used new malware in a recent phishing campaign (securityaffairs.com)
Russian Military Intelligence Blamed for Blitzkrieg Hacks (inforisktoday.com)
CERT-UA Uncovers New Malware Wave Distributing OCEANMAP, MASEPIE, STEELHOOK (thehackernews.com)
Massive missile strike disrupts Kyiv's internet and power supply (therecord.media)
The "Tallinn Mechanism" is Designed to Enhance Civilian Cyber Assistance to Ukraine
UAC-0050 Group Using New Phishing Tactics to Distribute Remcos RAT (thehackernews.com)
Iran
Multiple organisations in Iran breached by a mysterious hacker (securityaffairs.com)
Israel Battles Spike in Wartime Hacktivist, OT Cyber Attacks (darkreading.com)
Pilfered Data From Iranian Insurance and Food Delivery Firms Leaked Online (darkreading.com)
North Korea
Kimsuky Hackers Deploying AppleSeed, Meterpreter, and TinyNuke in Latest Attacks (thehackernews.com)
Numerous backdoors deployed in new Kimsuky spear-phishing attacks | SC Media (scmagazine.com)
Other Nation State Actors, Hacktivism, Extremism, Terrorism and Other Geopolitical Threat Intelligence
Vulnerability Management
Apache ERP Zero-Day Underscores Dangers of Incomplete Patches (darkreading.com)
Vulnerability management remains a moving target | SC Media (scmagazine.com)
Vulnerabilities
Microsoft patches critical vulnerability used to install malware on Windows PCs - MSPoweruser
Google Patches Six Vulnerabilities With First Chrome Update of 2024 - Security Week
Apache ERP Zero-Day Underscores Dangers of Incomplete Patches (darkreading.com)
Ivanti warns critical EPM bug lets hackers hijack enrolled devices (bleepingcomputer.com)
Vulnerabilities in Google Kubernetes Engine Could Allow Cluster Takeover - Security Week
Malware attacks exploiting app installation protocol prompt deactivation | SC Media (scmagazine.com)
Qualcomm chip vulnerability enables remote attack by voice call | SC Media (scmagazine.com)
Nearly 11 million SSH servers vulnerable to new Terrapin attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)
WordPress Google Fonts Plugin Vulnerability Affects Up To +300,000 Sites (searchenginejournal.com)
January Android Security Bulletin Arrives, So Does Pixel Update (droid-life.com)
Tools and Controls
Why training LLMs with endpoint data will strengthen cyber security | VentureBeat
Cyber security challenges emerge in the wake of API expansion - Help Net Security
Are Security Appliances fit for Purpose in a Decentralized Workplace? - Security Week
Guarding against DDoS attacks during high-traffic periods | CSO Online
8 Hybrid Cloud Security Challenges and How to Manage Them (techtarget.com)
Active Directory Infiltration Methods Employed by Cyber Criminals (gbhackers.com)
Other News
IT and OT cyber security: A holistic approach (securityintelligence.com)
The FBI is adding more cyber focused agents to US embassies | CyberScoop
Hackers hit Australian state's court recording database | Reuters
Cyber Attacks Are Back in Hollywood. Did Sony Hack Teach Us Nothing? (variety.com)
Healthcare breach costs soar requiring new thinking for safeguarding data (securityintelligence.com)
Sector Specific
Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.
Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.
· Automotive
· Construction
· Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)
· Defence & Space
· Education & Academia
· Energy & Utilities
· Estate Agencies
· Financial Services
· FinTech
· Food & Agriculture
· Gaming & Gambling
· Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)
· Health/Medical/Pharma
· Hotels & Hospitality
· Insurance
· Legal
· Manufacturing
· Maritime
· Oil, Gas & Mining
· OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems
· Retail & eCommerce
· Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)
· Startups
· Telecoms
· Third Sector & Charities
· Transport & Aviation
· Web3
As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.
Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.
Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 08 December 2023
Black Arrow Cyber Threat Intelligence Briefing 08 December 2023:
-Cyber Attacks More Likely Than Fire or Theft, as Fifth of UK Businesses Fallen Victim To Cyber Attack in Past Year
-Russia Hacking: 'FSB in Years-Long Cyber Attacks on UK', Says Government
-NCSC CTO Cyber Security is Essential, Not Optional
-69% of Organisations Paid Ransoms, contributing to Inflation as Firms Increase Costs
-75% of Sports Related Passwords are Reused Across Accounts
-Ransomware in 2024: Anticipated Impact, Targets, and Landscape Shift
-Ransomware, Vendor Hacks Push Breach Number to Record High
-Nuclear Hack Creates Rising Fears of Cyber Vulnerability in Critical Infrastructure
-Thousands of House Purchases Frozen by Cyber Attack; Will They Complete Before Christmas?
-US Government Agency Was Hacked Thanks to 'End of Life' Software
-Digital Transformation, Security Implications, and their Effects on The Modern Workplace
-Third Party Breaches Shake up Energy Sector, with 90% Suffering from Third-Party Breach
-Report Reveals Sorry State of Cyber Security at UK Football Clubs
Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.
Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week
Cyber Attacks More Likely Than Fire or Theft, as Fifth of UK Businesses Fallen Victim To Cyber Attack in Past Year
A survey of more than 1,200 UK businesses of all sizes across multiple industries conducted by Aviva found that a fifth of UK businesses were victims to cyber attacks in the past year. The report found that businesses were 67% more likely to have experienced a cyber incident than a physical theft and five times more likely to have experienced a cyber attack than a fire.
When it came to the fallout from a cyber attack, 31% of businesses experienced operational disruption and 20% admit to not being confident in knowing what to do should this happen. This lack of confidence rises to more than a quarter (27%) for small businesses, who appear to be the most vulnerable to such a risk. Financially, the average incident was found to cost £21,000, however this figure is likely to be more given the further implications that result from a cyber attack.
Sources: [Insurance Age] [theHRD] [Infosecurity Magazine]
Russia Hacking: 'FSB in Years-Long Cyber Attacks on UK', Says UK Government
The UK government has accused Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), successor to the KGB, of conducting a prolonged cyber hacking campaign since at least 2015, targeting politicians, journalists, academics, and others through sophisticated attacks that included the creation of false accounts. This accusation, part of a coordinated effort with the US, aims to disrupt FSB operations and raise awareness ahead of major elections. This comes as a recent report by Palo Alto Networks' Unit 42 found that the Russia-linked APT28 group, also known as “Forest Blizzard” or “Fancybear,” has exploited a Microsoft Outlook vulnerability to target European NATO members. Active since 2007 and linked to the Russian military, APT28's recent campaigns have focused on government, energy, transportation, and NGOs in the US, Europe, and the Middle East. These incidents highlight the critical need for enhanced cyber security measures and international cooperation to counter sophisticated and evolving cyber threats, ensuring the security of sensitive sectors and the integrity of global democratic processes.
Sources: [BBC News] [ Security Affairs]
NCSC CTO: Cyber Security is Essential, Not Optional
Ollie Whitehouse, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of the UK’s NCSC has argued in a recent keynote that extra security features should not be a premium feature, highlighting the importance of vendors adopting a secure-by-design method, rather than implementing security upcharges where vendors charge extra for users to secure their product.
The speech also noted that organisations should utilise the tools that are already available to them, on top of maintaining a focus on user awareness.
Sources: [Infosecurity Magazine] [Dark Reading]
69% of Organisations Paid Ransoms, contributing to Inflation as Firms Increase Costs
According to a survey, 75% of respondents reported being targeted by ransomware in the past year, and of those, 69% paid the ransom. 54% of those who paid the ransom, suffered financial ramifications of $100,000 or more. It is unclear whether the research includes further implications such as regulatory fines, loss of work, reputational damage, and cost of down-time.
A separate study found that ransomware attacks costs are directly contributing to rising inflation in the UK, as businesses face an average increase of 17% to their costs following an attack. Cumulatively, 68% of the companies represented in the survey reported they had increased prices by at least 11% as a direct result of suffering an attack. In addition, of those falling victim to ransomware, 70% believed their business would have to close if they suffered another attack. When it came to the time lost to dealing with ransomware, companies took an average of two months to recover from an attack and 16% took between three and six months.
Sources: [ITPro] [Beta News] [Security Magazine]
75% of Sports Related Passwords are Reused Across Accounts
According to a recent Bitwarden report, 33% of Americans have used a sports-themed password. This figure rose to 49% for those ages 18-34. Of those, 75% admitted to using it across multiple accounts. Password re-use a common issue globally: by re-using passwords, users are multiplying the likelihood of being breached by an attacker. Additionally, this can crossover to the corporate environment, where users’ personal breached credentials can be utilised to get into their corporate account.
Sources: [Security Magazine] [Help Net Security]
Ransomware in 2024: Anticipated Impact, Targets, and Landscape Shift
As ransomware continues to rise, we can expect groups to evolve their attacks, operating on a larger scale for bigger profits, especially following large-scale supply chain attacks in the past 12 months. Ransomware has solidified its position as the predominant security threat in 2023, with a record number of victims. A recent report highlighted a 46% increase in cyber extortion and ransomware attacks compared to previous years. This trend shows ransomware evolving into a profitable microcosm, akin to a startup ecosystem, with more groups emerging as disruptors and newcomers. In response, organisations are increasingly turning to services that lend-out cryptocurrency, a frequent ransomware payment method. With changing tactics and the formation of new groups, it's crucial for leaders to prepare their 2024 security strategies now, ensuring they have a robust plan in place to counter ransomware threats to their organisations.
Sources: [Barrons] [Help Net Security] [Computer Weekly]
Ransomware, Vendor Hacks Push Breach Number to Record High
The world is experiencing a significant rise in data breaches, reaching a record high with more than 360 million individuals affected in the first eight months of 2023 in the US alone, according to a joint report from Apple and an MIT researcher. This alarming increase includes a notable surge in ransomware attacks, which have escalated by nearly 70% compared to 2022. The healthcare sector is particularly vulnerable, with 60% of organisations reporting ransomware attacks in 2023, an increase from 34% in 2021. The largest health data breach this year impacted 11 million people at HCA Healthcare. A critical factor in these breaches is the exploitation of third-party vendors, as seen in attacks on Progress Software's MOVEit and Fortra's GoAnywhere applications. These incidents highlight the urgent need for organisations to prioritise data security, especially in managing relationships with vendors, to protect sensitive information and mitigate the growing threat of cyber attacks.
Source: [Info Risk Today]
Nuclear Hack Creates Rising Fears of Cyber Vulnerability in Critical Infrastructure
News of one of the UK’s most high profile nuclear power stations, Sellafield, being hacked, with fears that highly sensitive information has been accessible for years, has led to new calls for the UK to tighten up security of its vital infrastructure. Rather worryingly, The Guardian have added that it discovered that authorities were unaware of its first compromise, but it has been detected as far back as 2015.
Sources: [Emerging Risks]
Thousands of House Purchases Frozen by Cyber Attack; Will They Complete Before Christmas?
Conveyancing firms across the UK faced significant disruption when they discovered blank screens on their computers due to a problem originating from CTS, a cloud hosting provider widely used for legal applications. This unexpected issue led many within these affected firms to hastily purchase new laptops to regain partial access to emails and documents, but their case management systems remained largely inaccessible. Firms had to devise manual workarounds to keep transactions moving, amidst concerns about the safety of client data and funds. While most firms have found ways to progress with exchanges and completions, the reliance on cumbersome manual processes and limited access to client data and financial systems has more than doubled the workload. This situation raises several questions about the preparedness and resilience of paperless (or paper-light) office environments, the adequacy of backup systems, and potential compensation for those inconvenienced. The immediate focus, however, is on collaborative efforts to ensure as many clients as possible can move into their new homes before Christmas.
Source: [Property Industry Eye]
US Government Agency Was Hacked Thanks to 'End of Life' Software
The US Cyber security and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recently issued a warning about two cyber attacks on an undisclosed federal agency, exploiting a vulnerability in outdated Adobe ColdFusion software. This software, now end-of-life, no longer receives updates, leaving the agency vulnerable and unable to apply security patches. The attacks, which occurred in June and July, appeared to be reconnaissance efforts to map the agency's network, with no evidence of malware installation or data exfiltration. However, it's unclear if the same hackers were behind both incidents. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint detected and limited the hackers' activities. This situation underscores the significant risks associated with running end-of-life software, highlighting the need for organisations to update or replace such software to protect against potential cyber threats.
Source:[ TechCrunch]
Digital Transformation, Security Implications, and their Effects on The Modern Workplace
The vast majority of digital transformation projects will have implications for your cyber security, yet too often this is overlooked with the focus on delivery of the project or the functionality it will bring. Thinking about security after the fact is not only more expensive and less efficient, but can also mean dangerous gaps remaining open in the meantime. In this era, where remote work and public network access are prevalent, the lack of a robust cyber security framework significantly undermines the digital transformation process. Continuous employee education on digital threats and proactive cyber security measures are not just add-ons but essential components of a successful digital transformation. As businesses move towards 2024, integrating advanced cyber security practices is as crucial as adopting new technologies for a truly effective and secure digital transformation.
Source:[ Forbes]
Third Party Breaches Shake up Energy Sector, with 90% Suffering from Third-Party Breach
With 90% of the largest energy companies globally experiencing a third-party breach in the past 12 months, it is no wonder the sector is shaken. In the US, 100% of the top 10 US energy providers suffered a breach and in total, 98% of the organisations in the research used at least one third party vendor that had experienced a breach in the last two years.
Third-party breaches are a concern for any organisation. It is important to know who has access to your organisation’s data, and what security controls they have in place to protect it. Organisations can benefit from firstly identifying who has their information and then conducting supply chain risk assessments to understand what information is held and how it is protected.
Sources: [Help Net Security]
Report Reveals Sorry State of Cyber Security at UK Football Clubs
A new report reveals a concerning lack of cyber resilience within UK football clubs, extending from the Premier League downwards. The industry, increasingly targeted by cyber attacks, suffers from a disconnect between the perceived and actual risk levels. Key findings include a general lack of cyber maturity, outdated approaches to cyber security, and a scarcity of dedicated IT and cyber security roles, including Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs). Despite significant financial investments in players, there's reluctance from club boards to allocate sufficient resources for cyber security. The report underscores the need for comprehensive training, increased awareness of security risks across all levels of club operations, and the hiring of dedicated cyber security professionals. This situation calls for an industry-wide standard for cyber security budgets, scaled according to the club's size and turnover, to adequately address these emerging digital threats.
Source: [Computer Weekly]
Governance, Risk and Compliance
A fifth of UK businesses victims of cyber attacks in past year - Insurance Age
Cyber Attacks More Likely Than Fire or Theft - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)
Digital Transformation And Its Effects On The Modern Workplace (forbes.com)
UK Cyber CTO: Vendors' Security Failings Are Rampant (darkreading.com)
Record-breaking 2023 highlights constant cyber threat (emergingrisks.co.uk)
2024 will see wave after wave of cyber attacks | theHRD (thehrdirector.com)
Doing More With Less: Cyber Security Tools And Budget Efficiency (forbes.com)
Why Invest? Building a Case for Increasing Cyber Security Budgets | UpGuard
SolarWinds lawsuit by SEC puts CISOs in the hot seat | SC Media (scmagazine.com)
CISOs are getting more help after cyber attacks, but often it isn't helping | TechRadar
Cyber and remote working: How Covid moved the cursor | Computer Weekly
Why effective cyber security is more important than ever for European family offices | Campden FB
Building cyber-resilience: Security, compliance, governance, and privacy - Digital Journal
Massive Consolidated Lawsuit Blazes Trail for Hacking Litigation (bloomberglaw.com)
Threats
Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks
69% of organisations facing ransomware attacks paid the ransom | Security Magazine
2023 may have seen highest ransomware ‘body count’ yet | Computer Weekly
Cyber attacks surge in 2023, as millions fall victim to ransomware: Report (yahoo.com)
Ransomware attack costs are driving up inflation in the UK | ITPro
Ransomware ramped up against private sector in November | TechTarget
BlackCat threatens to directly extort vendor's customers • The Register
New wave of ransomware attacks plague US critical infrastructure post-Thanksgiving (axios.com)
How Ransomware Gangs Are Fueling a New Cyber Security Arms Race - Barron's (barrons.com)
Ransomware, Vendor Hacks Push Breach Number to Record High (inforisktoday.com)
Expert warns of Turtle macOS ransomware (securityaffairs.com)
Microsoft Warns of Malvertising Scheme Spreading CACTUS Ransomware (thehackernews.com)
Linux version of Qilin ransomware focuses on VMware ESXi (bleepingcomputer.com)
LockBit Remains Top Global Ransomware Threat - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)
Wanted: top three most prolific ransomware gangs revealed! (techinformed.com)
Russian pleads guilty to running crypto-exchange used by ransomware gangs (bleepingcomputer.com)
Ransomware, Data Breaches Inundate OT & Industrial Sector (darkreading.com)
Ransomware Victims
60 US credit unions offline after cloud ransomware infection • The Register
'Thousands' affected by cyber attack on conveyancing platform (thenegotiator.co.uk)
Western Isles Council 'counting cost' of November's cyber attack - BBC News
Austal USA Investigates Cyber Attack Claimed by Ransomware Group (darkreading.com)
Almost 440K individuals affected by cyber attack on Proliance Surgeons (WA) | HealthLeaders Media
Phishing & Email Based Attacks
Black Friday phishing attacks, and other cyber security news | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)
US aerospace firm downed by spearphishing attack | SC Media (scmagazine.com)
Booking.com users angry at firm's response to hacks - BBC News
Hershey warns of data breach following phishing attack (therecord.media)
This huge Russian phishing campaign is hitting targets across the world | TechRadar
ChatGPT builder helps create scam and hack campaigns - BBC News
Artificial Intelligence
ChatGPT builder helps create scam and hack campaigns - BBC News
Artificial Intelligence: How It Can Target Your Firm’s Cyber Security Defences - Above the Law
Bank of England Will Review the Risks That AI Poses to UK Financial Stability - SecurityWeek
How do security leaders view AI and cyber risk insurance? • Foundry (foundryco.com)
Exploring the impact of generative AI in the 2024 presidential election - Help Net Security
Put guardrails around AI use to protect your org, but be open to changes - Help Net Security
Major Organisations Using 'Hugging Face' AI Tools Put at Risk by Leaked API Tokens - SecurityWeek
Proliferation of AI-driven Attacks Anticipated in 2024 (itsecuritywire.com)
Artificial Intelligence: How It Can Target Your Firm’s Cyber Security Defences - Above the Law
Researchers automated jailbreaking of LLMs with other LLMs - Help Net Security
Malware
Fake WordPress security advisory pushes backdoor plugin (bleepingcomputer.com)
Russian Hacker Vladimir Dunaev Convicted for Creating TrickBot Malware (thehackernews.com)
Critical 'LogoFAIL' Bugs Offer Secure Boot Bypass for Millions of PCs (darkreading.com)
Agent Racoon Backdoor Targets Organisations in Middle East, Africa, and US (thehackernews.com)
Mac users are being targeted again with dangerous malware - here's what to know | TechRadar
Russian hacker pleads guilty to Trickbot malware conspiracy (bitdefender.com)
New Stealthy 'Krasue' Linux Trojan Targeting Telecom Firms in Thailand (thehackernews.com)
Hackers switch from email attacks to downloads (therecord.com)
Microsoft Warns of COLDRIVER's Evolving Evading and Credential-Stealing Tactics (thehackernews.com)
Mobile
Android users warned about new threat after one victim loses $280K - PhoneArena
December Android updates fix critical zero-click RCE flaw (bleepingcomputer.com)
94 Vulnerabilities Patched in Android with December 2023 Security Updates - SecurityWeek
Top mobile password managers could be exposing user details | TechRadar
Apple Commissions Data Breach Study to Highlight Need for End-to-End Encryption - SecurityWeek
Russian Hackers’ Lawsuit Reveals Weaknesses In Apple’s iOS 16 (forbes.com)
SpyLoan Android malware on Google Play downloaded 12 million times (bleepingcomputer.com)
Vulns in Android WebView, Password Managers Can Leak User Credentials (darkreading.com)
New Bluetooth Flaw Let Hackers Take Over Android, Linux, macOS, and iOS Devices (thehackernews.com)
Apple and some Linux distros are open to Bluetooth attack • The Register
Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS
Internet of Things – IoT
EU gets tough on cyber threat with sweeping security agreement (emergingrisks.co.uk)
Customizing Cyber Security For Critical Infrastructure In Smart Cities (forbes.com)
Data Breaches/Leaks
23andMe to Book Up to $2M in Cyber Security Breach Expenses - MarketWatch
After hack, 23andMe gives users 30 days to opt out of class-action waiver | Ars Technica
23andMe updates user agreement to prevent data breach lawsuits (bleepingcomputer.com)
23andMe confirms hackers stole ancestry data on 6.9 million users | TechCrunch
23andMe: Data Breach Was a Credential-Stuffing Attack (darkreading.com)
Data breach debacle hits yet another UK public sector org • The Register
Fortune-telling website WeMystic exposes 13M+ user records (securityaffairs.com)
Hackers Claim to Have Stolen Data From Naval Shipyard Austal USA (maritime-executive.com)
Hershey warns of data breach following phishing attack (therecord.media)
Nissan is investigating cyber attack and potential data breach (bleepingcomputer.com)
GST Invoice Billing Inventory exposes sensitive data to threat actors (securityaffairs.com)
Ransomware, Data Breaches Inundate OT & Industrial Sector (darkreading.com)
Organised Crime & Criminal Actors
Record-breaking 2023 highlights constant cyber threat (emergingrisks.co.uk)
Police Arrests 1000 Suspected Money Mules - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)
Online crime risks are doubling: Are cyber criminal groups starting to merge? - Digital Journal
Russian pleads guilty to running crypto-exchange used by ransomware gangs (bleepingcomputer.com)
Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain
North Korea's state hackers stole $3 billion in crypto since 2017 (bleepingcomputer.com)
Platypus exploiters walk free after claiming to be ‘ethical hackers’ (cointelegraph.com)
Russian pleads guilty to running crypto-exchange used by ransomware gangs (bleepingcomputer.com)
Insider Risk and Insider Threats
Insurance
Cyber Attacks More Likely Than Fire or Theft - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)
How do security leaders view AI and cyber risk insurance? • Foundry (foundryco.com)
Brokers urged to deliver cyber threat message (emergingrisks.co.uk)
Hot Topics to Consider for 2024 D&O Questionnaires | Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner - JDSupra
Supply Chain and Third Parties
Third-party breaches shake the foundations of the energy sector - Help Net Security
Ransomware, Vendor Hacks Push Breach Number to Record High (inforisktoday.com)
60 US credit unions offline after cloud ransomware infection • The Register
Tipalti investigates claims of data stolen in ransomware attack (bleepingcomputer.com)
Major Organisations Using 'Hugging Face' AI Tools Put at Risk by Leaked API Tokens - SecurityWeek
BlackCat threatens to directly extort vendor's customers • The Register
Cloud/SaaS
60 US credit unions offline after cloud ransomware infection • The Register
Make a Fresh Start for 2024: Clean Out Your User Inventory to Reduce SaaS Risk (thehackernews.com)
Alert: Threat Actors Can Leverage AWS STS to Infiltrate Cloud Accounts (thehackernews.com)
More oversight needed for cloud in banking, say regulators - Tech Monitor
Encryption
Cracking Weak Cryptography Before Quantum Computing Does (darkreading.com)
HSBC tests protecting FX trading from quantum computer attacks (yahoo.com)
Apple Commissions Data Breach Study to Highlight Need for End-to-End Encryption - SecurityWeek
Linux and Open Source
New Bluetooth Flaw Let Hackers Take Over Android, Linux, macOS, and iOS Devices (thehackernews.com)
Apple and some Linux distros are open to Bluetooth attack • The Register
Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks
75% of sports-related passwords are reused across accounts | Security Magazine
New Relic admits attack on staging systems, user accounts • The Register
After hack, 23andMe gives users 30 days to opt out of class-action waiver | Ars Technica
23andMe: Data Breach Was a Credential-Stuffing Attack (darkreading.com)
Vulns in Android WebView, Password Managers Can Leak User Credentials (darkreading.com)
Top mobile password managers could be exposing user details | TechRadar
Malvertising
Training, Education and Awareness
Regulations, Fines and Legislation
EU gets tough on cyber threat with sweeping security agreement (emergingrisks.co.uk)
More oversight needed for cloud in banking, say regulators - Tech Monitor
Bank of England Will Review the Risks That AI Poses to UK Financial Stability - SecurityWeek
SolarWinds lawsuit by SEC puts CISOs in the hot seat | SC Media (scmagazine.com)
Models, Frameworks and Standards
Data Protection
Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security
Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs
Russian Hacker Vladimir Dunaev Convicted for Creating TrickBot Malware (thehackernews.com)
Interpol Arrests Smuggler With New Biometric Screening Database (darkreading.com)
Russian pleads guilty to running crypto-exchange used by ransomware gangs (bleepingcomputer.com)
Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda
Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare, Cyber Espionage and Geopolitical Threats/Activity
Cyber Warfare and Cyber Espionage
Nation State Actors
China
Sellafield nuclear site 'hit by cyber attacks from Russian and Chinese hackers' - Tech Monitor
Sellafield nuclear site under ‘robust scrutiny’ over cyber security fears (telegraph.co.uk)
UK government denies China/Russia nuke plant hack claim • The Register
Russia
Russia hacking: 'FSB in years-long cyber attacks on UK', says government - BBC News
NCSC exposes Russian cyber attacks on UK political processes | Computer Weekly
UK names FSB unit behind hack-and-leak campaigns, summons Russian ambassador (therecord.media)
2 Russian intel officers charged with hacking into US and British government agencies (nbcnews.com)
Russia's APT8 exploited Outlook 0day to target EU NATO members (securityaffairs.com)
Fancy Bear goes phishing in US, European high-value networks • The Register
This huge Russian phishing campaign is hitting targets across the world | TechRadar
Russian hacker pleads guilty to Trickbot malware conspiracy (bitdefender.com)
Microsoft Warns of COLDRIVER's Evolving Evading and Credential-Stealing Tactics (thehackernews.com)
Russian Hackers’ Lawsuit Reveals Weaknesses In Apple’s iOS 16 (forbes.com)
Iran
Breaches by Iran-Affiliated Hackers Spanned Multiple US States, Federal Agencies Say - SecurityWeek
US, Israel Warn of Iranian-Linked Cyber Attacks on Water Systems - Bloomberg
North Korea
Vulnerability Management
CISA says US government agency was hacked thanks to ‘end of life’ software | TechCrunch
CISA's Goldstein wants to ditch 'patch faster, fix faster' model | CyberScoop
Key drivers of software security for financial services - Help Net Security
Vulnerabilities
Sticking With Windows 10 Instead Of Upgrading? Get Ready To Pay For Security Updates (slashgear.com)
Quick: Update iPhones and Macs – WebKit security hole found • The Register
VMware Patches Critical Authentication Bypass Bug | Decipher (duo.com)
Critical 'LogoFAIL' Bugs Offer Secure Boot Bypass for Millions of PCs (darkreading.com)
Notepad++ Input Validation Flaw Leads Search Path Vulnerability (cybersecuritynews.com)
December Android updates fix critical zero-click RCE flaw (bleepingcomputer.com)
94 Vulnerabilities Patched in Android With December 2023 Security Updates - SecurityWeek
Adobe ColdFusion flaw exploited in US government agency attacks (stackdiary.com)
Qualcomm Releases Details on Chip Vulnerabilities Exploited in Targeted Attacks (thehackernews.com)
Dangerous vulnerability in fleet management software seemingly ignored by vendor | CyberScoop
Future Intel, AMD and Arm CPUs Vulnerable to New 'SLAM' Attack: Researchers - SecurityWeek
Tools and Controls
Cyber Attacks More Likely Than Fire or Theft - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)
How to recover systems in the event of a cyber attack | Computer Weekly
How Financial Institutions Can Navigate the ‘Operational Resilience' imperative (finextra.com)
How to solve 2 MFA challenges: SIM swapping and MFA fatigue | TechTarget
Why you should create a physical security standard for your company (securitybrief.co.nz)
Why Invest? Building a Case for Increasing Cyber Security Budgets | UpGuard
New 'Pool Party' Process Injection Techniques Undetected by EDR Solutions - SecurityWeek
Best 10 Best Cyber Attack Maps - 2024 (cybersecuritynews.com)
Brokers urged to deliver cyber threat message (emergingrisks.co.uk)
Proactive, not reactive: the path to ensuring operational resilience in cyber security | CSO Online
Cyber Security: How to Demonstrate Resilience and Hygiene - Techopedia
Cyber Security Insurance: Once Optional, Now Essential (informationweek.com)
When Should You Replace A Cyber Security Vendor? (forbes.com)
Are companies falling behind on cyber security awareness training? | CTV News
Other News
NATO’s Flagship Cyber Exercise Concludes In Estonia – Eurasia Review
Ofcom publishes UK age verification proposals • The Register
Microsoft Hires New CISO in Major Security Shakeup - SecurityWeek
US aerospace companies are facing dangerous new cyber attacks | TechRadar
Report reveals sorry state of cyber security at UK football clubs | Computer Weekly
2023’s Dark Horse Cyber Story: Critical Infrastructure Attacks (govtech.com)
Nuclear hack creates rising fears of cyber vulnerability in critical services (emergingrisks.co.uk)
The World Depends on 60-Year-Old Code No One Knows Anymore | PCMag
Public sector has misplaced confidence in cyber security (securitybrief.co.nz)
Sector Specific
Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.
Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.
· Automotive
· Construction
· Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)
· Defence & Space
· Education & Academia
· Energy & Utilities
· Estate Agencies
· Financial Services
· FinTech
· Food & Agriculture
· Gaming & Gambling
· Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)
· Health/Medical/Pharma
· Hotels & Hospitality
· Insurance
· Legal
· Manufacturing
· Maritime
· Oil, Gas & Mining
· OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems
· Retail & eCommerce
· Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)
· Startups
· Telecoms
· Third Sector & Charities
· Transport & Aviation
· Web3
As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.
Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.
Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 01 December 2023
Black Arrow Cyber Threat Intelligence Briefing 01 December 2023:
-Law Firms Face Surge in Targeted Attacks as Hundreds Impacted by Single Attack
-Approach Cyber Security Awareness Training by Engaging People at All Levels
-Board Support Remains Critical as Majority of CISOs Experience Repeat Cyber Attacks
-Ransomware Attacks Surge 81% in October as New Threat Actors Emerge
-Hacked Microsoft Word Documents Being Used to Trick Windows Users
-Mitigating Deepfake Threats in The Corporate World
-Black Basta Ransomware Made Over $100 Million From Extortion Alone
-Long Recovery Times After Cyber Attacks Could Annihilate Your Organisation
-Booking.com Customers Scammed in Novel Social Engineering Campaign
-Stop Panic Buying Your Security Products and Start Prioritising
-A Fifth of UK SMBs Unable to Spot Scams
Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber threat intelligence experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.
Top Strategic Cyber Stories of the Last Week
Law Firms Face Surge in Targeted Attacks as Hundreds Impacted by Single Attack
An estimated 80 to 200 law firms across the UK were impacted by a cyber attack on a third party firm in their supply chain. The attack was on managed service supplier CTS, who provide services to hundreds of law firms across the UK, especially those with conveyancing departments, and many property sales were impacted nationwide as a result of the attack.
This is against a sharp increase in the number of law firms being singled out by cyber threat actors; only recently, magic circle firm Allen & Overy confirmed themselves as a victim of ransomware.
Sources: [SC Media] [Lawyer Monthly] [Scottish Legal News] [Law Gazette] [Dark Reading]
Approach Cyber Security Awareness Training by Engaging People at All Levels
In the cyber security landscape, human-related factors like social engineering, compromised credentials, and errors are the top causes of breaches. Increased investment in threat detection doesn't guarantee foolproof security. Organisations need a proactive strategy focusing on human risks, a security mindset in employees, and a security culture. According to IBM’s latest data security report, high levels of security training can significantly reduce the impact, cost, and frequency of data breaches.
However, most employee training programmes fail due to staff resistance and lack of management support. The key is convincing leadership of its value. To achieve a successful and impactful security awareness programme, it is important that security teams understand their audiences (leaders, managers, and employees), address their requirements, and effectively communicate the benefits of security training.
Source: [CPO Magazine]
Board Support Remains Critical as Majority of CISOs Experience Repeat Cyber Attacks
A recent report found that despite 95% of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) receiving budgetary and other support from their organisation after a cyber attack, this largely fails to prevent future incidents, with over half admitting they have experienced multiple “major cyber security incidents” in the last five years.
The report revealed that after an attack 46% of CISOs were given a bigger tech budget, 42% revised their security strategy, 41% adopted new frameworks, and 38% created new roles. However, incidents come with hidden consequences such as revenue loss, rising insurance premiums and declining reputation. CISOs need to have support from the board and executives from the start so that investments can be made in the right technology, processes, and tools. In doing so, a culture of security and vigilance can be instilled from the top down to help protect organisations against evolving threats.
Sources: [Business Wire] [Silicon UK]
Ransomware Attacks Surge 81% in October as New Threat Actors Emerge
The NCC Group revealed that ransomware attacks have surged by 81% in October 2023, compared to the same period in the previous year. Ransomware gangs have already victimised over 50% more individuals and enterprises in 2023 than during the entirety of 2022. As artificial intelligence, phishing kits and ransomware-as-a-service has improved, so too has the number of threat actors; those who were previously stunted by their technical know-how are now able to gain access to sophisticated attacks.
Source: [Security Brief]
Hacked Microsoft Word Documents Being Used to Trick Windows Users
Active campaigns carried out by cyber criminals are again using macros within Word documents to deploy malware, in spite of Microsoft’s efforts to stop these types of attacks. Most of the time the actor delivers the Word document via phishing emails, with the aim of convincing the user to click and run the macro. Once run, the malware has then achieved its goal of establishing itself on the victims’ machine and executing its malicious payload.
Source: [TechRadar]
Mitigating Deepfake Threats in The Corporate World
Deepfakes are synthetic media that are created or manipulated with the desired outcome of convincing the recipient of their legitimacy; and it’s entering the corporate world. Deepfake technology has already been used to impersonate Presidents and financial experts, however there has been an uprise in the number of these attacks. This has left the corporate world questioning existing operational procedures such as callbacks and how they will need to adjust to encompass the changing landscape.
Some of the ways a corporation can mitigate this, is to promote awareness within the workplace, adjust operational procedures to reflect the current landscape, and utilise advanced detection tools.
Source: [MSSP Alert]
Black Basta Ransomware Made Over $100 Million From Extortion Alone
The cyber crime operator “Black Basta” has raked in at least $100 million in ransom payments from more than 90 victims since it first surfaced in April 2022. In total, 329 victims worldwide were targeted and research has estimated that at least 35% paid a ransom, with multiple payments over $1 million. Black Basta uses double extortion techniques, where data is both ransomed and exfiltrated. This way, victims are forced to pay to get their data back and not have it published online; the latter itself can lead to regulatory fines.
Source: [Bleeping Computer]
Long Recovery Times After Cyber Attacks Could Annihilate Your Organisation
In the evolving cyber security landscape, organisations are increasingly investing in detection and prevention measures. However, there's a growing trend of neglecting post-attack recovery. While advanced security tools and technologies are crucial, recent ransomware incidents have shown that recovery is equally vital. Organisations have faced substantial downtime and financial losses due to attacks. Cyber resilience, the ability to bounce back quickly after an attack, is crucial, especially with the rise of remote work.
Budgets often prioritise prevention, leaving organisations ill-prepared for recovery. In 2023, a significant number of companies paid ransoms to regain data. To achieve true cyber resilience, a rebalance in approach is essential, focusing on preparation, response, and recovery alongside detection and prevention, ensuring rapid recovery and safeguarding of valuable assets.
Source: [TechRadar]
Booking.com Customers Scammed in Novel Social Engineering Campaign
According to new research by SecureWorks, Booking.com customers are being targeted by a novel social engineering campaign that is “paying serious dividends” for cyber criminals. Researchers believe the campaign has gone on for at least a year and it begins by deploying the Vidar infostealer to gain access partner hotels’ Booking.com credentials. This information is then used to send phishing emails to Booking.com customers and trick them into handing over their payment details, in many cases leading to money being stolen. The scam is proving so fruitful that sales of Booking.com portal credentials are commanding sale prices of up to $2,000 in two cyber crime forums.
Source: [Infosecurity Magazine]
Stop Panic Buying Your Security Products and Start Prioritising
In the cyber security landscape, impulse buying can lead to costly mistakes. Breaches are now more expensive than ever, underscoring the need to assess cyber security investments. Fear-driven tactics and the quest for a "silver bullet" solution can push organisations, especially smaller ones, into impulsive investments. These decisions may introduce even more risk by failing to integrate with existing systems, or buying systems but failing to configure them properly or utilising them to the fullest extent, leading to a false sense of security. The consequences can be severe, with breaches now costing organisations millions. To navigate this landscape, organisations must assess the real value of cyber security investments. Calculating risk by evaluating likelihood and impact can guide us in making informed decisions. Instead of impulse buying, assign a monetary value to cyber risks for strategic budget decisions in these economic times, ensuring investments align with security and business goals.
Source: [Help Net Security]
A Fifth of UK SMBs Unable to Spot Scams
New data from UK Finance reveals that 17% of UK small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) struggle to identify online fraud and scam indicators. This is particularly alarming given the rise in authorised push payment (APP) scams in the UK, where fraudsters impersonate trusted entities to deceive victims into transferring money to controlled accounts. In the first half of 2023 alone, criminals stole a reported £42.6 million through such scams, with total losses including consumer impacts reaching £239 million. SMBs are increasingly targeted due to typically fewer anti-fraud and other countermeasures and controls, compared to larger and better protected larger firms. It is important for SMBs to be vigilant and verify payment details directly with suppliers to help avoid these types of scams.
Source: [Infosecurity Magazine]
Governance, Risk and Compliance
Approach Cyber Security Awareness Training by Engaging People at All Levels - CPO Magazine
40% of Cyber Security Departments Want More Budget to Upskill Employees - IT Security Guru
Board Support Remains Critical as Majority of CISOs Experience Repeat Cyber Attacks | Business Wire
When does it make sense to pay the ransom? | SC Media (scmagazine.com)
Former Uber CISO Speaks Out, After 6 Years, on Data Breach, SolarWinds (darkreading.com)
Enterprises prepare for the inevitable cyber attack - Help Net Security
Board Support Critical For Cyber Security Defence | Silicon UK
3 Simple Ways to Teach Your Teammates to Have a Security-First Mindset Today | Inc.com
Long recovery times after cyber attacks could annihilate your organisation | TechRadar
The Role of the CISO in Digital Transformation (darkreading.com)
Stop panic buying your security products and start prioritizing - Help Net Security
Bridging the risk exposure gap with strategies for internal auditors - Help Net Security
Threats
Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks
The rise of Ransomware attacks within the Legal Industry (lawyer-monthly.com)
Ransomware attacks surge 81% in October, new threat actors emerge (securitybrief.co.nz)
Black Basta ransomware made over $100 million from extortion (bleepingcomputer.com)
Why the MOVEit breach still lives rent free in the minds of IT leaders | ITPro
DJVU Ransomware's Latest Variant 'Xaro' Disguised as Cracked Software (thehackernews.com)
How a Teenage Saudi Hacker Went From Lockpicking to Ransomware (darkreading.com)
When does it make sense to pay the ransom? | SC Media (scmagazine.com)
CACTUS Ransomware Exploits Qlik Sense Vulnerabilities in Targeted Attacks (thehackernews.com)
Ransomware Attacks Strike South Africa, Decline in UAE (darkreading.com)
Ransomware Victims
Law firm A&O silent on whether it paid ransom to cyber criminals | Law Gazette
Allen & Overy Removed From Ransomware Website With One Day Remaining | Law.com International
Potentially hundreds of UK law firms affected by cyber attack on IT provider CTS (therecord.media)
Cyber Attack Disrupts UK Property Deals - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)
London & Zurich ransomware attack sparks financial crisis for businesses (computing.co.uk)
British Library contacts users after Rhysida leaks data • The Register
Ransomware attacks hit Stanford University and Nassau Bay in Texas - NotebookCheck.net News
Slovenia's largest power provider HSE hit by ransomware attack (bleepingcomputer.com)
GCHQ investigates cyber attack on hospital to the royals after data stolen (telegraph.co.uk)
English council spent £1.1 million recovering from ransomware attack (therecord.media)
Healthcare giant Henry Schein hit twice by BlackCat ransomware (bleepingcomputer.com)
Qilin ransomware claims attack on automotive giant Yanfeng (bleepingcomputer.com)
New cyber criminal group outed after British Library attack - Emerging Risks Media Ltd
Cyber attack closes hospital emergency rooms in three US states | US healthcare | The Guardian
Two Hackensack Meridian hospital ERs diverting patients after a ransomware attack (msn.com)
DP World confirms data stolen in cyber attack, no ransomware used (bleepingcomputer.com)
Top instant money provider service hacked, over a million users possibly affected | TechRadar
Staples confirms cyber attack behind service outages, delivery issues (bleepingcomputer.com)
Phishing & Email Based Attacks
Black Friday: Phishing Emails Soar 237% - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)
AI like ChatGPT is creating huge increase in malicious phishing email (cnbc.com)
Organisations can't ignore the surge in malicious web links - Help Net Security
How Hackers Phish for Your Users' Credentials and Sell Them (thehackernews.com)
What custom GPTs mean for the future of phishing - Help Net Security
A reality check on email security threats in healthcare (securitybrief.co.nz)
Artificial Intelligence
Released: AI security guidelines backed by 18 countries - Help Net Security
4 key takeaways from new global AI security guidelines | SC Media (scmagazine.com)
CISA and NCSC lead efforts to raise AI security standards • The Register
Security leaders on high alert as GenAI poses privacy and security risks - Help Net Security
AI like ChatGPT is creating huge increase in malicious phishing email (cnbc.com)
A year after ChatGPT’s debut, is GenAI a boon or the bane of the CISO’s existence? | CSO Online
Unpatched Critical Vulnerabilities Open AI Models to Takeover (darkreading.com)
Mitigating Deepfake Threats in the Corporate World | MSSP Alert
4 key takeaways from new global AI security guidelines | SC Media (scmagazine.com)
Securing generative AI across the technology stack | TechCrunch
Critical Vulns Found in Ray Open Source Framework for AI/ML Workloads (darkreading.com)
What custom GPTs mean for the future of phishing - Help Net Security
8 Tips on Leveraging AI Tools Without Compromising Security (darkreading.com)
Malware
Implications of “malware free” attacks on SMBs (databreaches.net)
SysJoker Malware Attacking Windows, Linux and Mac Users Abusing OneDrive - Cyber Security News
Hacked Microsoft Word documents being used to trick Windows users | TechRadar
N. Korean Hackers 'Mixing' macOS Malware Tactics to Evade Detection (thehackernews.com)
Volume of unique malware samples threatens to overwhelm defenders | Computer Weekly
A New, Spookier Gh0st RAT Malware Haunts Global Cyber Targets (darkreading.com)
LogoFAIL bugs in UEFI code allow planting bootkits via images (bleepingcomputer.com)
Mobile
NameDrop in iOS 17 is not a privacy nightmare – here’s how to control it (msn.com)
200+ Malicious Android Apps Targeting Iranian Banks: Experts Warn (thehackernews.com)
Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS
Internet of Things – IoT
Cyber pros avoid smart devices: there is a good reason | Cybernews
IoT Security Labeling Improving, But More Collaboration Needed - EE Times
Data Breaches/Leaks
App used by hundreds of schools leaking children's data (securityaffairs.com)
Warning: 3 Critical Vulnerabilities Expose ownCloud Users to Data Breaches (thehackernews.com)
Gulf Air exposed to data breach, 'vital operations not affected' | Reuters
General Electric investigates claims of cyber attack, data theft (bleepingcomputer.com)
Hackers spent 2+ years looting secrets of chipmaker NXP before being detected | Ars Technica
DP World confirms data stolen in cyber attack, no ransomware used (bleepingcomputer.com)
Former Uber CISO Speaks Out, After 6 Years, on Data Breach, SolarWinds (darkreading.com)
Dollar Tree hit by third-party data breach impacting 2 million people (bleepingcomputer.com)
Organised Crime & Criminal Actors
Leader of Killnet 'unmasked' by Russian state media • The Register
A Fifth of UK SMBs Can’t Spot Scams - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)
Ex-Motorola tech pleads guilty to cyber crime, passport fraud • The Register
How a Teenage Saudi Hacker Went From Lockpicking to Ransomware (darkreading.com)
Founder of spyware maker Hacking Team arrested for attempted murder: local media | TechCrunch
US imprisons Ukrainian SSNDOB administrator for 8 years • The Register
Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain
KyberSwap Says Hackers Stole $55m in Crypto - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)
US Treasury Sanctions Sinbad Cryptocurrency Mixer Used by North Korean Hackers (thehackernews.com)
Insurance
Global Cyber Security Insurance Market Size To Exceed USD (globenewswire.com)
Is cyber insurance worth the effort? | SC Media UK (scmagazineuk.com)
Supply Chain and Third Parties
Cyber Attack Disrupts UK Property Deals - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)
Telecom Industry Association Advances Supply Chain Security | MSSP Alert
Cloud/SaaS
SysJoker Malware Attacking Windows, Linux and Mac Users Abusing OneDrive - Cyber Security News
Top file-sharing service hit with embarrassing security bug that reveals admin passwords | TechRadar
Kubernetes Secrets of Fortune 500 Companies Exposed in Public Repositories (thehackernews.com)
Warning: 3 Critical Vulnerabilities Expose ownCloud Users to Data Breaches (thehackernews.com)
Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks
How Hackers Phish for Your Users' Credentials and Sell Them (thehackernews.com)
Top file-sharing service hit with embarrassing security bug that reveals admin passwords | TechRadar
Weak & Strong Password Examples: Study Reveals Most Hackable Words (tech.co)
Despite Hype, the Password-Free Workplace Is Still a Long Way Off (darkreading.com)
Navigating the Stormy Seas of Cyber security: The Power of High-Entropy Passwords | HackerNoon
Social Media
Training, Education and Awareness
Approach Cyber Security Awareness Training by Engaging People at All Levels - CPO Magazine
8 Cyber Security Topics to Include in Your Training Program | Proofpoint US
40% of Cyber Security Departments Want More Budget to Upskill Employees - IT Security Guru
3 Simple Ways to Teach Your Teammates to Have a Security-First Mindset Today | Inc.com
Regulations, Fines and Legislation
European Commission Failing to Tackle Spyware, Lawmakers Say (inforisktoday.com)
Released: AI security guidelines backed by 18 countries - Help Net Security
EU considers widening scope of cyber security regulation (finextra.com)
Thought GDPR Compliance Was Hard? Buckle Up (darkreading.com)
5 resolutions to prepare for SEC's new cyber disclosure rules - Help Net Security
False Claims Act Meets Cyber security Compliance in Government Contracting - ClearanceJobs
Models, Frameworks and Standards
Data Protection
Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security
Information overload puts cyber security at risk (betanews.com)
Volume of unique malware samples threatens to overwhelm defenders | Computer Weekly
More than half admit to ignoring cyber security alerts (itsecuritywire.com)
Fewer cyber pros are getting fired immediately after an incident: Trellix survey (axios.com)
Unhappy network professionals juggling more with less - Help Net Security
Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs
Police dismantle ransomware group behind attacks in 71 countries (bleepingcomputer.com)
CoLP launches strategy for fraud, economic and cyber crime | UK Police News - Police Oracle
Los Angeles SIM Swapper Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison - Security Week
New York Fines First American $1 Million for Cyber Breach (1) (bloomberglaw.com)
Ex-Motorola tech pleads guilty to cyber crime, passport fraud • The Register
Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda
Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare, Cyber Espionage and Geopolitical Threats/Activity
Cyber Warfare and Cyber Espionage
Nation State Actors
China
Russia
Russian hackers pose ‘high’ threat level to EU, bloc’s cyber team warns – POLITICO
North Korea-linked Konni APT uses Russian-language documents (securityaffairs.com)
Ukraine says it hacked Russian aviation agency, leaks data (bleepingcomputer.com)
Leader of Killnet 'unmasked' by Russian state media • The Register
Iran
Pennsylvania water facility hit by Iran-linked hackers | CyberScoop
North Texas water utility serving 2 million hit with cyber attack (therecord.media)
Iranian Mobile Banking Malware Campaign Threat Continues | Zimperium
North Korea
North Korean hackers are carrying out even more cyber attacks than previously thought | TechRadar
North Korea-linked Konni APT uses Russian-language documents (securityaffairs.com)
N. Korean Hackers 'Mixing' macOS Malware Tactics to Evade Detection (thehackernews.com)
US Treasury Sanctions Sinbad Cryptocurrency Mixer Used by North Korean Hackers (thehackernews.com)
Other Nation State Actors, Hacktivism, Extremism, Terrorism and Other Geopolitical Threat Intelligence
Vulnerability Management
Vulnerabilities
Apple fixes two new iOS zero-days in emergency updates (bleepingcomputer.com)
Zero-Day Alert: Google Chrome Under Active Attack, Exploiting New Vulnerability (thehackernews.com)
Design flaw leaves Google Workspace vulnerable for takeover - Help Net Security
Major Security Flaws in Zyxel Firewalls, Access Points, NAS Devices - Security Week
Zoom Vulnerability Allowed Hackers to Take Over Meetings, Steal Data (hackread.com)
Why the MOVEit breach still lives rent free in the minds of IT leaders | ITPro
Hackers start exploiting critical ownCloud flaw, patch now (bleepingcomputer.com)
Warning: 3 Critical Vulnerabilities Expose ownCloud Users to Data Breaches (thehackernews.com)
PoC for Splunk Enterprise RCE flaw released (CVE-2023-46214) - Help Net Security
Unpatched Critical Vulnerabilities Open AI Models to Takeover (darkreading.com)
Critical Vulns Found in Ray Open Source Framework for AI/ML Workloads (darkreading.com)
CACTUS Ransomware Exploits Qlik Sense Vulnerabilities in Targeted Attacks (thehackernews.com)
Tools and Controls
Approach Cyber Security Awareness Training by Engaging People at All Levels - CPO Magazine
8 Cyber Security Topics to Include in Your Training Program | Proofpoint US
40% of Cyber Security Departments Want More Budget to Upskill Employees - IT Security Guru
3 Simple Ways to Teach Your Teammates to Have a Security-First Mindset Today | Inc.com
Long recovery times after cyber attacks could annihilate your organisation | TechRadar
Stop panic buying your security products and start prioritizing - Help Net Security
Enable 256-bit Bitlocker encryption on Windows 11 to boost security - gHacks Tech News
Building cyber resilience for tomorrow’s threats - Help Net Security
Volume of unique malware samples threatens to overwhelm defenders | Computer Weekly
Global Cyber Security Insurance Market Size To Exceed USD (globenewswire.com)
AI Boosts Malware Detection Rates by 70% - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)
Is cyber insurance worth the effort? | SC Media UK (scmagazineuk.com)
What cyber security pros can learn from first responders (securityintelligence.com)
Why are Organisations Failing to Detect Cyber security Threats? | MSSP Alert
Vulnerability disclosure: Legal risks and ethical considerations for researchers - Help Net Security
Researcher flags OpenCart security issue, founder rages • The Register
Bridging the risk exposure gap with strategies for internal auditors - Help Net Security
Reports Published in the Last Week
Other News
Cyber attack On A&O Highlights Perils Of Law Firm Mergers - Law360
Law Firms & Legal Departments Singled Out for Cyber attacks (darkreading.com)
Hacktivism: What’s in a Name… It May be More Than You Expect - Security Week
Implications of “malware free” attacks on SMBs (databreaches.net)
Reading Borough Council apologises for dodgy infosec advice • The Register
Only 1 in 6 Brits are concerned about cyberthreats at home - Home of Direct Commerce
Paris water agency targeted in cyber attack - Emerging Risks Media Ltd
Why Utilities Need to Supercharge Their Approach to Cyber security (powermag.com)
No plain sailing: modern pirates hack superyachts' cyber security | Euronews
Hackers Hijack Industrial Control System at US Water Utility - Security Week
Estate agents warned to have measures in place to prevent cyber attacks (thenegotiator.co.uk)
CISA to Congress: US Under Threat of Chemical Attacks (darkreading.com)
New BLUFFS attack lets attackers hijack Bluetooth connections (bleepingcomputer.com)
Sector Specific
Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.
Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.
· Automotive
· Construction
· Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)
· Defence & Space
· Education & Academia
· Energy & Utilities
· Estate Agencies
· Financial Services
· FinTech
· Food & Agriculture
· Gaming & Gambling
· Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)
· Health/Medical/Pharma
· Hotels & Hospitality
· Insurance
· Legal
· Manufacturing
· Maritime
· Oil, Gas & Mining
· OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems
· Retail & eCommerce
· Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)
· Startups
· Telecoms
· Third Sector & Charities
· Transport & Aviation
· Web3
As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.
Look out for our ‘Cyber Tip Tuesday’ video blog and on our YouTube channel.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.
Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 12 May 2023
Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 12 May 2023:
-79% of Cyber Pros Make Decisions Without Threat Intelligence
-61% of Business Leadership Overlook the Role of Cyber Security as a Business Enabler and as being Key to Business Success
-Risk Managers Warn Cyber Insurance Could Become ‘Unviable Product’
-Small and Medium-Sized Businesses: Don’t Give up on Cyber Security
-AI Has Been Dubbed a 'Nuclear' Threat to Cyber Security, but It Can Also Be Used for Defence
-Paying Cyber Hijackers’ Ransoms Doubles Cost of Recovery, Sophos Study Shows
-Majority of US, UK CISOs Unable to Protect Company 'Secrets'
-Company Executives Can’t Afford to Ignore Cyber Security Anymore
-BEC Campaign via Israel Spotted Targeting Multinational Companies
-CISOs Worried About Personal Liability for Breaches
-UK, US and International Allies Uncover Russian Snake Malware Network in 50+ Countries
-Plug-and-Play Microsoft 365 Phishing Tool 'Democratizes' Attack Campaigns
Welcome to this week’s Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing – a weekly digest, collated and curated by our cyber experts to provide senior and middle management with an easy to digest round up of the most notable threats, vulnerabilities, and cyber related news from the last week.
Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week
79% of Cyber Pros Make Decisions Without Threat Intelligence
In a recent report, 79% of security pros say they make decisions without adversary insights “at least the majority of the time.” Why aren’t companies effectively leveraging threat intelligence? And does the C-Suite know this is going on?
Threat intelligence helps organisations stay informed about the latest cyber threats and vulnerabilities. By gathering and analysing information about potential attacks, threat intelligence can provide organisations with valuable insights into the tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) used by cyber criminals.
Given the deep value provided by threat intelligence, why aren’t more cyber pros taking advantage of it?
61% of Business Leadership Overlook the Role of Cyber Security as a Business Enabler and as being Key to Business Success
A recent report found only 39% of respondents think their company's leadership has a sound understanding of cyber security's role as a business enabler. Cyber security can be a huge business enabler; executive leaders need to think of cyber security in terms of the value it can deliver at a more strategic level.
Risk Managers Warn Cyber Insurance Could Become ‘Unviable Product’
The Federation of European Risk Management Associations (FERMA), an umbrella body representing 22 trade associations, said the cyber insurance market is “evolving in isolation from the industries it serves”.
It highlighted a move by Lloyd’s of London, the specialist insurance market and hub for cyber insurance, demanding that standard cyber policies have an exemption for big state-backed attacks.
“Without a more collaborative approach to cyber balancing the risk appetite of the insurance market with the coverage requirements of the corporate buyers, there is a risk that cyber insurance becomes an unviable product for many organisations,” FERMA said in a statement shared with the Financial Times.
The intervention is the strongest yet by the business lobby over the controversial exemption and wider concerns about cyber insurance.
https://www.ft.com/content/401629cc-e68a-41a4-8d50-e7c0d3e27835
Small and Medium-Sized Businesses: Don’t Give up on Cyber Security
In today’s increasingly hostile environment, every enterprise, big or small, should be concerned about cyber security and have access to protection from hackers, scammers, phishers, and all the rest of the host of bad actors who seem to be sprouting up around the world.
Yet time and again, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are left out in the cold, an unaddressed market segment that finds real protection either too expensive or far too complex to adopt. Thus, cyber security becomes an “afterthought” or “add when we can” kind of service that leaves SMBs far more vulnerable than the corporate giants — just reading the news every day shows even they aren’t immune to ransomware, intrusions, and data theft. If you haven’t already, start thinking about security now.
AI Has Been Dubbed a 'Nuclear' Threat to Cyber Security, but It Can Also Be Used for Defence
Hackers using ChatGPT are faster and more sophisticated than before, and cyber security analysts who don’t have access to similar tools can very quickly find themselves outgunned and outsmarted by these AI-assisted attackers. However, corporations are stumbling to figure out governance around AI, and while they do so, their employees are clearly defying rules and possibly jeopardising company operations. According to a study of 1.6 million workers, 3.1% input confidential company information into ChatGPT. Although the number seems small, 11% of users' questions include private information. This is a fatal flaw for corporate use considering how hackers can manipulate the system into giving them previously hidden information. In another study, it was found that 80% of security professionals used AI, with 46% of these giving specialised capabilities as a reason.
Paying Cyber Hijackers’ Ransoms Doubles Cost of Recovery, Sophos Study Shows
In three out of four cyber attacks, the hijackers succeeded in encrypting victims’ data, cyber security provider Sophos said in its newly released State of Ransomware 2023 report.
The rate of data encryption amounted to the highest from ransomware since Sophos first issued the report in 2020. Overall, roughly two-thirds of the 3,000 cyber security/IT leaders’ organisations were infected by a ransomware attack in the first quarter of 2023, or the same percentage as last year.
Much advice has been doled out by cyber security providers and law enforcement urging organisations to not pay a ransom. According to Sophos’ survey, the data shows that when organisations paid a ransom to decrypt their data, they ended up doubling their recovery costs. On average, those organisations paying ransoms for decryption forked out $750,000 in recovery costs versus $375,000 for organisations that used backups to recover their data.
Moreover, paying the ransom usually meant longer recovery times, with 45% of those organisations that used backups recovering within a week, compared to 39% of those that paid the ransom.
Majority of US, UK CISOs Unable to Protect Company 'Secrets'
A recent study found 75% of organisations have experienced a data leak involving company secrets, including API keys, usernames, passwords, and encryption keys, in the past. It was found that about 52% of chief information and security officers (CISOs) in the US and UK organisations are unable to fully secure their company secrets. The study showed that a huge chunk of the IT sector realises the danger of exposed secrets. Seventy-five percent said that a secret leak has happened in their organisation in the past, with 60% acknowledging it caused serious issues for the company, employees, or both. The report has pointed out that even though secrets management practice across the US and the UK has seen some maturity, it still needs to go a long way.
Company Executives Can’t Afford to Ignore Cyber Security Anymore
In a recent survey, when asked about the Board and C-Suite‘s understanding of cyber security across the organisation, only 36% of respondents believe that it is considered important only in terms of compliance and regulatory demands, while 17% said it is not seen as a business priority. The disconnect between business and security goals appears to have caused at least one negative consequence to 89% of respondents’ organisations, with 26% also reporting it resulted in an increased number of successful cyber attacks at their company. On the misalignment of cyber security goals, respondents believed it contributed to delays in investments (35%), delays in strategic decision making (34%), and unnecessary increases in spending (27%).
https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/05/10/cybersecurity-business-goals-alignment/
BEC Campaign via Israel Spotted Targeting Multinational Companies
An Israel-based threat group was discovered carrying out a business email compromise (BEC) campaign primarily targeting large and multinational enterprises. The group has conducted 350 BEC campaigns since February 2021, with email attacks targeting employees from 61 countries across six continents. The group operate through two personas — a CEO and an external attorney and spoofed email addresses using real domains.
CISOs Worried About Personal Liability for Breaches
Over three-fifths (62%) of global CISOs are concerned about being held personally liable for successful cyber attacks that occur on their watch, and a similar share would not join an organisation that fails to offer insurance to protect them, according to Proofpoint annual ‘Voice of the CISO’ survey for 2023. The security vendor polled 1600 CISOs from organisations of 200 employees or more across different industries in 16 countries to compile the report.
It revealed that CISOs in sectors with high volumes of sensitive data and/or heavy regulation such as retail (69%), financial services (65%) and manufacturing (65%) are most likely to demand insurance coverage.
Such concerns only add to the mental load on corporate IT security bosses. A combination of high-stress working environments, shrinking budgets and personal liability could be harming CISOs’ quality of life. Some 60% told Proofpoint they’ve experienced burnout in the past 12 months.
CISOs are most likely to experience burnout in the retail (72%) and IT, technology and telecoms (66%) industries.
https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/cisos-worried-personal-liability/
UK, US and International Allies Uncover Russian Snake Malware Network in 50+ Countries
The UK NCSC along with the US National Security Agency (NSA) and various international partner agencies have discovered infrastructure connected with the sophisticated Russian cyber-espionage tool Snake in over 50 countries worldwide. Snake operations have been attributed to a specific unit within Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), Center 16.
Cyber criminals reportedly used Snake to retrieve and remove confidential documents related to international relations and diplomatic communications.
According to an advisory published by the agencies on Tuesday, the FSB targeted various industries, including education, small businesses, media, local government, finance, manufacturing and telecommunications. The Snake malware is installed on external infrastructure nodes for further exploitation.
According to the NSA Russian government actors have used this tool for years for intelligence collection and it is hoped that the technical details shared in the advisory will help many organisations find and shut down the malware globally.
https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/nsa-uncovers-russian-snake-malware/
Plug-and-Play Microsoft 365 Phishing Tool 'Democratizes' Attack Campaigns
A new phishing-as-a-service tool called "Greatness" is being used in attacks targeting manufacturing, healthcare, technology, and other sectors.
Researchers at Cisco Talos detailed their findings on "Greatness," a one-stop-shop for all of a cyber criminal's phishing needs. With Greatness, anyone with even rudimentary technical chops can craft compelling Microsoft 365-based phishing lures, then carry out man-in-the-middle attacks that steal authentication credentials — even in the face of multifactor authentication (MFA) — and much more.
The tool has been in circulation since at least mid-2022 and has been used in attacks against enterprises in manufacturing, healthcare, and technology, among other sectors. Half of the targets thus far have been concentrated in the US, with further attacks occurring around Western Europe, Australia, Brazil, Canada, and South Africa.
https://www.darkreading.com/cloud/plug-and-play-microsoft-365-phishing-tool-democratizes-attacks
Threats
Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks
Make them pay: Hackers devise new tactics to ensure ransomware payment | CSO Online
Ransomware gangs display ruthless extortion tactics in April | TechTarget
Our appetite for data increases the risk of being held to ransom (thetimes.co.uk)
Paying Cyber Hijackers’ Ransoms Doubles Cost of Recovery, Sophos Study Shows - MSSP Alert
Refined methodologies of ransomware attacks - Help Net Security
Ranking ransomware: The gangs, the malware and the ever-present risks | CyberScoop
Ransomware Encryption Rates Reach New Heights - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)
UK ‘increasingly concerned’ ransomware victims are keeping incidents secret (therecord.media)
Royal ransomware gang quickly expands reign | SC Media (scmagazine.com)
Legitimate Software Abuse: A Disturbing Trend in Ransomware Attacks (darkreading.com)
Ransomware attack confirmed at Rochester Public Schools, FBI alerted - Bring Me The News
Constellation Struck By Ransomware Attack, ALPHV Lays Claim (informationsecuritybuzz.com)
New Ransomware Strain 'CACTUS' Exploits VPN Flaws to Infiltrate Networks (thehackernews.com)
New Akira Ransomware Operation Hits Corporate Networks | Black Hat Ethical Hacking
Babuk code used by 9 ransomware gangs to encrypt VMWare ESXi servers (bleepingcomputer.com)
$1.1M Paid to Resolve Ransomware Attack on California County - SecurityWeek
Western Digital store offline due to March breach - Help Net Security
Western Digital Confirms Ransomware Group Stole Customer Information - SecurityWeek
Former Conti members are behind latest Royal ransomware hacking spree, report finds (axios.com)
Hackers Contacted Dragos CEO’s Son, Wife in Extortion Attempt - Bloomberg
Multiple Ransomware Groups Adapt Babuk Code to Target ESXi VMs (darkreading.com)
Australian software giant won’t say if customers affected by hack | TechCrunch
Multinational tech firm ABB hit by Black Basta ransomware attack (bleepingcomputer.com)
Phishing & Email Based Attacks
Gmail gets blue verification checks to protect against spoofing and phishing | ZDNET
Phishing Ring Bust, Spanish Police Have Arrested 40 People (informationsecuritybuzz.com)
BEC – Business Email Compromise
2FA/MFA
Malware
Chrome users, stay alert: Malware may be just one click away - gHacks Tech News
Microsoft issues optional fix for Secure Boot zero-day used by malware (bleepingcomputer.com)
56,000+ cloud-based apps at risk of malware exfiltration - Help Net Security
Millions of mobile phones come pre-infected with malware • The Register
Severe Ruckus RCE Flaws Utilized By Fresh DDoS Botnet Malware (informationsecuritybuzz.com)
Fake system update drops Aurora stealer via Invalid Printer loader (malwarebytes.com)
Stealthier version of Linux BPFDoor malware spotted in the wild (bleepingcomputer.com)
Mobile
Millions of mobile phones come pre-infected with malware • The Register
Mobile hacking and spyware – understanding the risks - TechHQ
Google Announces New Privacy, Safety, and Security Features Across Its Services (thehackernews.com)
Google Improves Android Security With New APIs - SecurityWeek
New Android FluHorse malware steals your passwords, 2FA codes (bleepingcomputer.com)
New Android updates fix kernel bug exploited in spyware attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)
Botnets
Fortinet warns of a spike of the activity linked to AndoryuBot botnet- Security Affairs
RapperBot DDoS malware adds cryptojacking as new revenue stream (bleepingcomputer.com)
Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS
FBI seizes 13 more domains linked to DDoS-for-hire services (bleepingcomputer.com)
Severe Ruckus RCE Flaws Utilized By Fresh DDoS Botnet Malware (informationsecuritybuzz.com)
Fortinet warns of a spike of the activity linked to AndoryuBot botnet- Security Affairs
RapperBot DDoS malware adds cryptojacking as new revenue stream (bleepingcomputer.com)
Internet of Things – IoT
Data Breaches/Leaks
Security researcher finds trove of Capita data exposed online | TechCrunch
In a new hacking crime wave, more personal data is being held hostage (cnbc.com)
Western Digital says hackers stole customer data in March cyber attack (bleepingcomputer.com)
Leak of MSI UEFI signing keys stokes fears of “doomsday” supply chain attack | Ars Technica
Boot Guard Keys From MSI Hack Posted, Many PCs Vulnerable | Tom's Hardware(tomshardware.com)
1 Million Impacted by Data Breach at NextGen Healthcare - SecurityWeek
Twitter admits 'security incident' broke Circle privacy • The Register
Food distribution giant Sysco warns of data breach after cyber attack (bleepingcomputer.com)
North Korean Hackers Stole 830K Data From Seoul's Top Hospital (informationsecuritybuzz.com)
Brightly warns of SchoolDude data breach exposing credentials (bleepingcomputer.com)
Simplify data hack cost the firm almost £7m - Property Industry Eye
Organised Crime & Criminal Actors
In a new hacking crime wave, more personal data is being held hostage (cnbc.com)
The Team of Sleuths Quietly Hunting Cyber attack-for-Hire Services | WIRED
Phishing Ring Bust, Spanish Police Have Arrested 40 People (informationsecuritybuzz.com)
Former Ubiquiti Employee Who Posed as Hacker Sentenced to Prison - SecurityWeek
UK cops score another legal win in EncroChat spying case • The Register
Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain
Insider Risk and Insider Threats
Human Error Drives Most Cyber Incidents. Could AI Help? (hbr.org)
Overlooking These 4 Critical Measures Expose Your Company to Cyber Attacks | Entrepreneur
Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime
UK’s new fraud strategy too weak to tackle soaring crime, say experts | Financial Times (ft.com)
Your voice could be your biggest vulnerability - Help Net Security
QR codes used in fake parking tickets, surveys to steal your money (bleepingcomputer.com)
Deepfakes
Insurance
Dark Web
Supply Chain and Third Parties
Security researcher finds trove of Capita data exposed online | TechCrunch
Cyber hack to cost UK outsourcer Capita up to $25 mln | Reuters
Leak of MSI UEFI signing keys stokes fears of “doomsday” supply chain attack | Ars Technica
Software Supply Chain
Cloud/SaaS
56,000+ cloud-based apps at risk of malware exfiltration - Help Net Security
How to reduce risk with cloud attack surface management | TechTarget
ENISA leans into EU clouds with draft cyber security label • The Register
Hybrid/Remote Working
Attack Surface Management
Identity and Access Management
Top 3 trends shaping the future of cyber security and IAM - Help Net Security
Review your on-prem ADCS infrastructure before attackers do it for you | CSO Online
Why the FTX Collapse Was an Identity Problem (darkreading.com)
Asset Management
CISOs confront mounting obstacles in tracking cyber assets - Help Net Security
How Attack Surface Management Supports Continuous Threat Exposure Management (thehackernews.com)
Encryption
API
Open Source
India bans open source messaging apps on security grounds • The Register
Stealthier version of Linux BPFDoor malware spotted in the wild (bleepingcomputer.com)
Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks
83% of Americans’ Passwords Can Be Hacked in Less Than a Second, Study Shows (thedailybeast.com)
Top 5 Password Cracking Techniques Used by Hackers (bleepingcomputer.com)
Social Media
Twitter admits 'security incident' broke Circle privacy • The Register
TikTok tracked UK journalist via her cat's account - BBC News
Parental Controls and Child Safety
Regulations, Fines and Legislation
UK’s new fraud strategy too weak to tackle soaring crime, say experts | Financial Times (ft.com)
EU parliament report calls for tighter regulation of spyware | Surveillance | The Guardian
India bans open source messaging apps on security grounds • The Register
PEGA committee calls for EU level regulation of spyware • The Register
ENISA leans into EU clouds with draft cyber security label • The Register
Europe’s Moral Crusader Lays Down the Law on Encryption | WIRED
Scanning Plans On Europe's CSAM May Violate International Law (informationsecuritybuzz.com)
Governance, Risk and Compliance
Risk managers warn cyber insurance could become ‘unviable product’ | Financial Times (ft.com)
79% of Cyber Pros Make Decisions Without Threat Intelligence (securityintelligence.com)
Company executives can't afford to ignore cyber security anymore - Help Net Security
Majority of US, UK CISOs unable to protect company 'secrets': Report | CSO Online
Small- and medium-sized businesses: don’t give up on cyber security | CSO Online
(ISC)² Calls for Global Cyber security Standards, Collaboration, Frameworks - MSSP Alert
Organisations Reliant on Social Media For Threat Intelligence - TechRound
Recognizing Cyberthreat Trends For Effective Defence (forbes.com)
Digital trust can make or break an organisation - Help Net Security
Why more transparency around cyber attacks is good for everyone - NCSC
CISOs face mounting pressures, expectations post-pandemic | TechTarget
CISOs' confidence in post-pandemic security landscape fades - Help Net Security
Overlooking These 4 Critical Measures Expose Your Company to Cyber Attacks | Entrepreneur
NCSC and ICO Dispel Incident Reporting Myths - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)
Models, Frameworks and Standards
(ISC)² Calls for Global Cyber security Standards, Collaboration, Frameworks - MSSP Alert
ENISA leans into EU clouds with draft cyber security label • The Register
Data Protection
Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security
Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs
FBI seizes 13 more domains linked to DDoS-for-hire services (bleepingcomputer.com)
Phishing Ring Bust, Spanish Police Have Arrested 40 People (informationsecuritybuzz.com)
UK cops score another legal win in EncroChat spying case • The Register
Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring
The (Security) Cost of Too Much Data Privacy (darkreading.com)
Twitter admits 'security incident' broke Circle privacy • The Register
TikTok tracked UK journalist via her cat's account - BBC News
Artificial Intelligence
Top US cyber official warns AI may be the 'most powerful weapon of our time' | CyberScoop
Amazon Is Being Flooded With Books Entirely Written by AI (futurism.com)
Your voice could be your biggest vulnerability - Help Net Security
The security and privacy risks of large language models - Help Net Security
Spyware, Cyber Espionage & Cyber Warfare, including Russian Invasion of Ukraine
EU parliament report calls for tighter regulation of spyware | Surveillance | The Guardian
China targets foreign consulting companies in anti-spying raids | China | The Guardian
Mobile hacking and spyware – understanding the risks - TechHQ
New Android updates fix kernel bug exploited in spyware attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)
CERT-UA Warns of SmokeLoader and RoarBAT Malware Attacks Against Ukraine (thehackernews.com)
PEGA committee calls for EU level regulation of spyware • The Register
FBI-led Operation Medusa kills Russian FSB malware network • The Register
How one of Vladimir Putin’s most prized hacking units got pwned by the FBI | Ars Technica
Nation State Actors
Microsoft warns Iran increasing its cyber-enabled influence operations | SC Media (scmagazine.com)
China labels USA ‘Empire of hacking’ citing old WikiLeaks • The Register
CERT-UA Warns of SmokeLoader and RoarBAT Malware Attacks Against Ukraine (thehackernews.com)
LinkedIn shuts service in China, lays off employees | Fortune
Microsoft: Iranian hacking groups join Papercut attack spree (bleepingcomputer.com)
FBI-led Operation Medusa kills Russian FSB malware network • The Register
China targets foreign consulting companies in anti-spying raids | China | The Guardian
Beijing raids consultancy firm Capvision, promises more • The Register
SideWinder Strikes Victims in Pakistan, Turkey in Multiphase Polymorphic Attack (darkreading.com)
North Korean Hackers Stole 830K Data From Seoul's Top Hospital (informationsecuritybuzz.com)
People’s Republic of China State-Sponsored Cyber Actors Exploit Network Providers and Devices | CISA
Vulnerability Management
Vulnerabilities
Microsoft's May Patch Tuesday Fixes 38 Flaws, Including Active Zero-Day Bug (thehackernews.com)
Microsoft warns of two bugs under active exploit • The Register
Light May Patch Tuesday will weigh heavily on Windows admins | TechTarget
Fortinet fixed two severe issues in FortiADC and FortiOS-Security Affairs
New PaperCut RCE exploit created that bypasses existing detections (bleepingcomputer.com)
Microsoft issues optional fix for Secure Boot zero-day used by malware (bleepingcomputer.com)
Adobe Patches 14 Vulnerabilities in Substance 3D Painter - SecurityWeek
Severe Ruckus RCE Flaws Utilized By Fresh DDoS Botnet Malware (informationsecuritybuzz.com)
CyberGhost VPN patches command injection vulnerability | SC Media (scmagazine.com)
A Linux NetFilter kernel flaw allows escalating privileges to 'root'-Security Affairs
SAP Patches Critical Vulnerabilities With May 2023 Security Updates - SecurityWeek
Fortinet warns of a spike of the activity linked to AndoryuBot botnet-Security Affairs
Tools and Controls
Risk managers warn cyber insurance could become ‘unviable product’ | Financial Times (ft.com)
79% of Cyber Pros Make Decisions Without Threat Intelligence (securityintelligence.com)
Human Error Drives Most Cyber Incidents. Could AI Help? (hbr.org)
Identifying Compromised Data Can Be a Logistical Nightmare (darkreading.com)
Organisations Reliant on Social Media For Threat Intelligence - TechRound
Recognizing Cyberthreat Trends For Effective Defence (forbes.com)
Digital trust can make or break an organisation - Help Net Security
Prevent attackers from using legitimate tools against you - Help Net Security
How to implement principle of least privilege in Azure AD | TechTarget
What is Digital Forensics? Tools, Types, Phases & History (cybersecuritynews.com)
Microsoft enforces number matching to fight MFA fatigue attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)
AI Will Take Many Cyber security Jobs, But It's Not a Complete Disaster | PCMag
Google Broadens Dark Web Monitoring To Track All Gmail Users (informationsecuritybuzz.com)
5 SBOM tools to start securing the software supply chain | TechTarget
The Industrywide Consequences of Making Security Products Inaccessible (darkreading.com)
Top 3 trends shaping the future of cyber security and IAM - Help Net Security
Other News
The Team of Sleuths Quietly Hunting Cyber attack-for-Hire Services | WIRED
Why Should You Take IT Security Seriously? - IT Security Guru
To enable ethical hackers, a law reform is needed - Help Net Security
How datacentre operators can fend off cyber attacks | Computer Weekly
'Windows for Gamers' Rolls Dice With Your Security (vice.com)
Risk of cyber attack is main Eurovision worry, says BBC executive | Eurovision 2023 | The Guardian
Sector Specific
Industry specific threat intelligence reports are available.
Contact us to receive tailored reports specific to the industry/sector and geographies you operate in.
· Automotive
· Construction
· Critical National Infrastructure (CNI)
· Defence & Space
· Education & Academia
· Energy & Utilities
· Estate Agencies
· Financial Services
· FinTech
· Food & Agriculture
· Gaming & Gambling
· Government & Public Sector (including Law Enforcement)
· Health/Medical/Pharma
· Hotels & Hospitality
· Insurance
· Legal
· Manufacturing
· Maritime
· Oil, Gas & Mining
· OT, ICS, IIoT, SCADA & Cyber-Physical Systems
· Retail & eCommerce
· Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs)
· Startups
· Telecoms
· Third Sector & Charities
· Transport & Aviation
· Web3
As usual, contact us to help assess where your risks lie and to ensure you are doing all you can do to keep you and your business secure.
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Links to articles are for interest and awareness and linking to or reposting external content does not endorse any service or product, likewise we are not responsible for the security of external links.