Black Arrow Cyber Threat Briefing 28th July 2023

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

• Half of UK Businesses Struggle to Fill Cyber Security Skills Gap

Half of UK businesses have a cyber security skills gap that they are struggling to fill amid a challenging labour market, according to data published by the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), which found that there were more than 160,000 cyber security job postings in the last year – a 30% increase on the previous period. In all, the UK requires an additional 11,200 people with suitable cyber skills to meet the demands of the market, the report estimates.

In a separate report, it was found that a lack of executive understanding and an ever-widening talent gap is placing an unsustainable burden on security teams to prevent business-ending breaches. When asked how long it takes to fill a cyber security role, 82% of organisations report it takes three months or longer, with 34% reporting it takes seven months or more. These challenges have led one-third (33%) of organisations to believe they will never have a fully-staffed security team with the proper skills.

With such a gap, some organisations have turned to outsourcing cyber security roles, such as chief information security officers (CISOs), leading to a rise in virtual CISOs (vCISO). With outsourcing, organisations can ensure that they are easily able to pick up and use cyber security experts, greatly reducing the delay were they to hire. Black Arrow supports clients as their vCISO with specialist experience in cyber security risk management in a business context.

https://www.uktech.news/cybersecurity/uk-cybersecurity-skills-gap-20230725

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/07/26/security-teams-executive-burden/

• Deloitte Joins Fellow Big Four MOVEit victims PWC, EY as Victims Exceed 500

The global auditing and accounting firm Deloitte appeared alongside a further 55 MOVEit victims that were recently named by the Cl0p ransomware gang, making them the third Big Four accounting firm to be affected and amongst over 500 organisations in total with that number expected to continue to increase.

Research by Kroll has also uncovered a new exfiltration method used by Cl0p in their the MOVEit attacks, highlighting constant efforts by the ransomware gang. Worryingly, it has been reported that Cl0p have made between $75-100 million from ransom payments and it is expected this, along with the victim count, will rise.

https://cybernews.com/security/deloitte-big-four-moveit-pwc-ey-clop/

https://www.kroll.com/en/insights/publications/cyber/moveit-vulnerability-investigations-uncover-additional-exfiltration-method

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/clop-could-make-100m-moveit/

• Why Cyber Security Should Be Part of Your ESG Strategy

Organisations need to consider cyber security risks in their overall environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy amid growing cyber threats and regulatory scrutiny. The ESG programme is, in many ways, a form of risk management to mitigate the risks to businesses, societies and the environment, all of which can be impacted by cyber security. The investment community has been singling out cyber security as one of the major risks that ESG programmes will need to address due to the potential financial losses, reputational damage and business continuity risks posed by a growing number of cyber attacks and data breaches.

Various ESG reporting frameworks have emerged in recent years to provide organisations with guidelines on how they can operate ethically and sustainably, along with metrics that they can use to measure their progress. There are also specific IT security standards and frameworks, including ISO 27001 and government guidelines. Some regulators have gone as far as mandating the adoption of baseline security standards by critical infrastructure operators and firms in industries like financial services, but that does not mean organisations outside of regulated sectors are less pressured to shore up their cyber security posture.

https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366545432/Why-cyber-security-should-be-part-of-your-ESG-strategy

• Lawyers Take Frontline Role in Business Response to Cyber Attacks

Cyber security risk has shot to the top of general counsels’ agendas as the sophistication and frequency of attacks has grown. According to security company Sophos’s State of Ransomware 2023 report, 44% of UK businesses surveyed said they had been hit with ransomware in the past year. Of those affected, 33% said their data was encrypted and stolen and a further 6% said that their data was not encrypted but they experienced extortion.

In-house lawyers have a key role around the boardroom table when dealing with a breach including war-gaming and discussing cases in which a company will pay a ransom. The advent of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) legislation in Europe, and equivalents elsewhere, demands that businesses hit by a data breach notify a regulator, and the individuals whose data was stolen, or both, depending on certain factors. This has led to far greater exposure of cyber incidents which companies previously could have tried to deal with privately.

https://www.ft.com/content/2af44ae8-78fc-4393-88c3-0d784a850331

• Organisations Face Record $4.5M Per Data Breach Incident

In a recent report conducted by IBM, the average cost per data breach for US business in 2023 jumped to $4.45 million, a 15% increase over three years. In the UK, the average cost was found to be £3.4 million, rising to £5.3 million for financial services. It is likely that the cost per breach will maintain a continual rise, with organisations struggling to crack down on cyber crime, something threat groups like Cl0p are taking advantage of.

https://www.darkreading.com/attacks-breaches/orgs-record-4.5m-data-breach-incident

https://uk.newsroom.ibm.com/24-07-2023-IBM-Security-Report-Cost-of-a-Data-Breach-for-UK-Businesses-Averages-3-4m

• Cryptojacking Soars as Cyber Attacks Diversify

According to a recent report, a variety of attacks have increased globally, including cryptojacking (399%), IoT malware (37%) and encrypted threats (22%). This reflects the increase in actors who are changing their methods of attacks. The report found that we can expect more state-sponsored activity targeting a broader set of victims in 2023, including SMBs, government entities and enterprises.

Cryptojacking, sometimes referred to as malicious cryptomining, is where an attacker will use a victim’s device to mine cryptocurrency, giving the attacker free money at the expense of your device, network health and electricity.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/07/27/cryptojacking-attacks-rise/

• Ransomware Attacks Skyrocket in 2023

Ransomware attacks surged by 74% in Q2 2023 compared to the first three months of the year, a new report has found. The significant increase in ransomware over April, May and June 2023 suggests that attackers are regrouping. In July 2023, the blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis found that in the first half of 2023, ransomware attackers extorted $176m more than the same period in 2022, reversing a brief downward trend in 2022.

The report also observed an uptick in “pure extortion attacks,” with cyber criminals increasingly relying on the threat of data leaks rather than encrypting data to extort victims. Such schemes may not trigger any ransomware detection capability but could potentially be picked up by a robust Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solution.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/ransomware-attacks-skyrocket-q2/

• Blocking Access to ChatGPT is a Short-Term Solution to Mitigate AI Risk

Despite the mass adoption of generative AI, most companies don’t know how to assess its security, exposing them to risks and disadvantages if they don’t change their approach. A report found that for every 10,000 enterprise users, an enterprise organisation is experiencing approximately 183 incidents of sensitive data being posted to ChatGPT per month. Worryingly, despite the security issues, only 45% have an enterprise-wide strategy to ensure a secure, aligned deployment of AI across the entire organisation.

Blocking access to AI related content and AI applications is a short term solution to mitigate risk, but comes at the expense of the potential benefits that AI apps offer to supplement corporate innovation and employee productivity. The data shows that in financial services and healthcare nearly 1 in 5 organisations have implemented a blanket ban on employee use of ChatGPT, while in the technology sector, only 1 in 20 organisations have done likewise.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/07/28/chatgpt-exposure/

https://www.techradar.com/pro/lots-of-sensitive-data-is-still-being-posted-to-chatgpt

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2023/07/25/generative-ai-strategy/

• Protect Your Data Like Your Reputation Depends on It (Because it Does)

Data breaches can be incredibly costly. Be it lawsuits, regulatory fines, or a fall in stock price, the financial consequences of a breach can bring even the largest organisation to its knees. However, in the face of economic damage, it’s too easy to overlook the vast reputational impacts that often do more harm to a business. After all, it’s relatively easy to recoup monetary losses, less so to regain customer trust.

It’s important to remember that reputational damage isn’t limited to consumer perceptions. Stakeholder, shareholder, and potential buyer perception is also something that needs to be considered. By having effective defence in depth controls including robust data loss prevention (DLP) solutions in place, organisations can reduce the risk of a breach from happening.

https://informationsecuritybuzz.com/protect-your-data-like-your-reputation-depends-on-it-because-it-does/

• Why CISOs Should Get Involved with Cyber Insurance Negotiation

Generally negotiating cyber insurance policies falls to the general counsel, chief financial officer, or chief operations officer. Having the chief information security officer (CISO) at the table when negotiating with insurance brokers or carriers is a best practice for ensuring the insurers understand not only which security controls are in place, but why the controls are configured the way they are and the organisation's strategy. That said, often best practices are ignored for reasons of expediency and lack of acceptance by other C-suite executives.

Sometimes being the CISO can be a no-win position. According to a recent survey more than half of all CISOs report to a technical corporate officer rather than the business side of the organisation. This lack of recognition by the board can diminish the CISO's ability to deliver business-imperative insights and recommendations, leaving operations to have a more commanding influence on the board than cyber security. Too often the CISO gets the responsibility to protect the company without the authority and budget to accomplish their task.

https://www.darkreading.com/edge-articles/why-cisos-should-get-involved-with-cyber-insurance-negotiation

• Companies Must Have Corporate Cyber Security Experts, SEC Says

A recent report has found that only five Fortune 100 companies currently list a security professional in the executive leadership pages of their websites. This is largely unchanged from five of the Fortune 100 in 2018. One likely reason why a great many companies still don’t include their security leaders within their highest echelons is that these employees do not report directly to the company’s CEO, board of directors, or chief risk officer.

The chief security officer (CSO) or chief information security officer (CISO) position traditionally has reported to an executive in a technical role, such as the chief technology officer (CTO) or chief information officer (CIO). But workforce experts say placing the CISO/CSO on unequal footing with the organisation’s top leaders makes it more likely that cyber security and risk concerns will take a backseat to initiatives designed to increase productivity and generally grow the business.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has recently implemented new regulations necessitating publicly traded companies to report cyber attacks within four business days, once they're deemed material incidents. While the SEC is not presently advocating for the need to validate a board cyber security expert's credentials, it continues to insist that cyber security expertise within management be duly reported to them. The increased disclosure should help companies compare practices and may spur improvements in cyber defences, but meeting the new disclosure standards could be a bigger challenge for smaller companies with limited resources.

https://www.darkreading.com/edge-articles/companies-must-have-corporate-cybersecurity-experts-sec-says

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/sec-now-requires-companies-to-disclose-cyberattacks-in-4-days/

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2023/07/few-fortune-100-firms-list-security-pros-in-their-executive-ranks/

• Over 400,000 Corporate Credentials Stolen by Info-stealing Malware

Information stealers are malware that steal data stored in applications such as web browsers, email clients, instant messengers, cryptocurrency wallets, file transfer protocol (FTP) clients, and gaming services. The stolen information is packaged into archives called 'logs,' which are then uploaded back to the threat actor for use in attacks or sold on cyber crime marketplaces. Worryingly, employees use personal devices for work or access personal stuff from work computers, and this may result in many info-stealer infections stealing business credentials and authentication cookies. A report has found there are over 400,000 corporate credentials stolen, from applications such as Salesforce, Google Cloud and AWS. Additionally, there was a significant increase in the number containing OpenAI credentials; this is alarming as where AI is used without governance, the credentials may leak things such as internal business strategies and source code.

With such an array of valuable information for an attacker, it is no wonder incidents involving info stealers doubled in Q1 2023. Organisations can best protect themselves by utilising password managers, enforcing multi-factor authentication and having strict usage controls. Additionally, user awareness training can help avoid common infection channels such as malicious websites and adverts.

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/over-400-000-corporate-credentials-stolen-by-info-stealing-malware/

https://www.scmagazine.com/news/infostealer-incidents-more-than-doubled-in-q1-2023

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Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Data Breaches Cost Businesses $4.5M on Average (darkreading.com)

• Deciphering The IBM Cost Of A Data Breach Report: A Statistical Perspective For Business Leaders (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Why CISOs Should Get Involved With Cyber Insurance Negotiation (darkreading.com)

• SEC now requires companies to disclose cyber attacks in 4 days (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Companies Must Have Corporate Cyber security Experts, SEC Says (darkreading.com)

• Companies encounter months-long delays in filling critical security positions - Help Net Security

• Why Today's CISOs Must Embrace Change (darkreading.com)

• Enterprises should layer-up security to avoid legal repercussions - Help Net Security

• Aligning Risk Appetite, Tolerance, And Thresholds With Business Planning: A Comprehensive Guide To Enterprise Risk Management (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Explaining risk maturity models and how they work | TechTarget

• Why cyber security should be part of your ESG strategy | Computer Weekly

• The old “trust but verify” adage should be the motto for every CISO | CSO Online

• Companies are rushing into generative AI without a cohesive, secure strategy - Help Net Security

• Few Fortune 100 Firms List Security Pros in Their Executive Ranks – Krebs on Security

• The critical cyber security backup plan too many companies are ignoring (cnbc.com)

• Protect Your Data Like Your Reputation Depends On It (Because It Does) (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Why Computer Security Advice Is More Confusing Than It Should Be (darkreading.com)

• Why whistleblowers in cyber security are important and need support | CSO Online

• The challenge of managing unlimited threats in a limited budget: cyber security experts comment | CSO Online

• 4 Cyber security Budget Management Tips (trendmicro.com)

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• Clop now leaks data stolen in MOVEit attacks on clearweb sites (bleepingcomputer.com)

• MOVEit Vulnerability Investigations Uncover Additional Exfiltration Method (kroll.com)

• Clop Could Make $100m from MOVEit Campaign - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• The tail of the MOVEit hack may be longer than we realize | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Millions of people's healthcare files accessed by Clop gang • The Register

• Ransomware Attacks Skyrocket in Q2 2023 - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Local Governments Targeted for Ransomware – How to Prevent Falling Victim (thehackernews.com)

• New Nitrogen malware pushed via Google Ads for ransomware attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Dozens of Organisations Targeted by Akira Ransomware - SecurityWeek

• Ransomware Spotlight: Play - Security News (trendmicro.com)

• The FBI's Cynthia Kaiser on how the bureau fights ransomware | CyberScoop

• Risk & Repeat: Are data extortion attacks ransomware? | TechTarget

• ALPHV ransomware adds data leak API in new extortion strategy (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Education Sector Has Highest Ransomware Victim Count - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Ransomware: Sophos says most universities pay | Times Higher Education (THE)

Ransomware Victims

• PwC has data leaked on the clear web - Cyber Security Connect

• Deloitte joins fellow Big Four MOVEit victims PWC, EY | Cybernews

• DHL investigating MOVEit breach as number of victims surpasses 20 million (therecord.media)

• Up to 11 Million People Hit by MOVEit Hack at Government Services Firm Maximus - SecurityWeek

• Millions of people's healthcare files accessed by Clop gang • The Register

• Tampa General Hospital Says Patient Information Stolen in Ransomware Attack - SecurityWeek

• Another Cl0p victim goes public | Cybernews

• Yamaha confirms cyber attack after multiple ransomware gangs claim attacks (therecord.media)

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• Chinese Hackers Breached Ambassador’s Email - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• China’s Breach of Microsoft Cloud Email May Expose Deeper Problems | WIRED

• Stolen Microsoft key may have opened up more than inboxes • The Register

• KnowBe4 Phishing Test Results Reveal Half of Top Malicious Email Subjects Are HR Related (darkreading.com)

• The Email Threat Landscape, Q1 2023: Key Takeaways (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• How to avoid LinkedIn phishing attacks in the enterprise | TechTarget

• Windows 11 just got a big upgrade to protect you from phishing attacks — here’s how it works | Tom's Guide (tomsguide.com)

• Critical Infrastructure Workers More Likely to Detect and Report Phishing and Malicious Emails, Study Finds - MSSP Alert

BEC – Business Email Compromise

• Repeatable VEC Attacks Target Critical Infrastructure - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Artificial Intelligence

• The Dark Side of AI (darkreading.com)

• Blocking access to ChatGPT is a short term solution to mitigate risk - Help Net Security

• UN Security Council to hold first talks on AI risks | Reuters

• Companies are rushing into generative AI without a cohesive, secure strategy - Help Net Security

• ChatGPT, Other Generative AI Apps Prone to Compromise, Manipulation (darkreading.com)

• Lots of sensitive data is still being posted to ChatGPT | TechRadar

• Dark Web Markets Offer New FraudGPT AI Tool - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Top FBI officials warn of 'unparalleled' threat from China and AI | CyberScoop

• The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Generative AI - SecurityWeek

• OpenAI, Meta and other tech firms sign onto White House AI commitments | FedScoop

• Intel's deepfake detector tested on real and fake videos - BBC News

• Are AI-Engineered Threats FUD or Reality? (darkreading.com)

• How is the Dark Web Reacting to the AI Revolution? (bleepingcomputer.com)

Malware

• Over 400,000 corporate credentials stolen by info-stealing malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Infostealer incidents more than doubled in Q1 2023 | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• The Alarming Rise of Infostealers: How to Detect this Silent Threat (thehackernews.com)

• Decoy Dog: New Breed of Malware Posing Serious Threats to Enterprise Networks (thehackernews.com)

• Rust-based malware used to hack both Windows and Linux servers - Neowin

• Rust-based Realst Infostealer Targeting Apple macOS Users' Cryptocurrency Wallets (thehackernews.com)

• Lazarus hackers hijack Microsoft IIS servers to spread malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• FIN8 is rewriting its backdoor malware to avoid detection | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• New Nitrogen malware pushed via Google Ads for ransomware attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• New P2PInfect worm malware targets Linux and Windows Redis servers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• HotRat: New Variant of AsyncRAT Malware Spreading Through Pirated Software (thehackernews.com)

• Who and What is Behind the Malware Proxy Service SocksEscort? – Krebs on Security

Mobile

• Chinese-backed Hacking Group Launches Two Bugs Targeting Android Devices - MSSP Alert

• Spyhide stalkerware is spying on tens of thousands of phones | TechCrunch

• 5 steps to approach BYOD compliance policies | TechTarget

Botnets

• Hackers Target Apache Tomcat Servers for Mirai Botnet and Crypto Mining (thehackernews.com)

• Multiple DDoS Botnets Exploiting Recent Zyxel Vulnerability - SecurityWeek

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• Critical UK Infrastructures in the crosshairs of DDoS attacks (link11.com)

• Zyxel users still getting hacked by DDoS botnet emerge as public nuisance No. 1 | Ars Technica

• Anonymous Sudan DDoS strikes dominate attacks by KillNet collective | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

BYOD

• 5 steps to approach BYOD compliance policies | TechTarget

Internet of Things – IoT

• Peloton Bugs Expose Enterprise Networks to IoT Attacks (darkreading.com)

• Microsoft previews  Defender for IoT firmware analysis service (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Axis Door Controller Vulnerability Exposes Facilities to Physical, Cyber Threats - SecurityWeek

Data Breaches/Leaks

• Deciphering The IBM Cost Of A Data Breach Report: A Statistical Perspective For Business Leaders (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Capita breach class action nears 1,000 sign-ups • The Register

• VirusTotal: We're sorry for mistake that exposed 5,000 users • The Register

• Deloitte joins fellow Big Four MOVEit victims PWC, EY | Cybernews

• NATO investigating apparent breach of unclassified information sharing platform | CyberScoop

• Tampa General Hospital Data Breach Impacts 1.2 Million Patients - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Australian Home Affairs cyber survey exposed personal data of participating firms | Data and computer security | The Guardian

• Data Breach Costs Hit Record High but Fall For Some - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Hacker Claims to Have Stolen Sensitive Medical Records from Egypt's Ministry of Health - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• BreachForums database and private chats for sale in hacker data breach (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Nice Suzuki, sport: shame dealer left your data up for grabs - Security Affairs

• Johns Hopkins hit with class action lawsuit connected to data breach - CBS Baltimore (cbsnews.com)

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• The New Summer Vacation Necessity: Cyber Hygiene (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• BreachForums database and private chats for sale in hacker data breach (bleepingcomputer.com)

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• Cryptojacking soars as cyber attacks increase, diversify - Help Net Security

• Hackers Target Apache Tomcat Servers for Mirai Botnet and Crypto Mining (thehackernews.com)

• Cryptojacking: Understanding and defending against cloud compute resource abuse | Microsoft Security Blog

• Lazarus hackers linked to $60 million Alphapo cryptocurrency heist (bleepingcomputer.com)

• New Realst macOS malware steals your cryptocurrency wallets (bleepingcomputer.com)

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• Dark Web Markets Offer New FraudGPT AI Tool - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Consumers demand more from businesses when it comes to security - Help Net Security

• CISOs gear up to combat the rising threat of B2B fraud - Help Net Security

• Booz Allen Pays $377m to Settle Government Fraud Case - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• MPs launch inquiry into prosecution of Norton Motorcycles pension fraud | Crime | The Guardian

Insurance

• Why CISOs Should Get Involved With Cyber Insurance Negotiation (darkreading.com)

• Brave New World of Cyber Insurance Meets Old-World Contract Principles | New Jersey Law Journal

Dark Web

• BreachForums database and private chats for sale in hacker data breach (bleepingcomputer.com)

• How is the Dark Web Reacting to the AI Revolution? (bleepingcomputer.com)

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• Capita breach class action nears 1,000 sign-ups • The Register

• DHL investigating MOVEit breach as number of victims surpasses 20 million (therecord.media)

• The tail of the MOVEit hack may be longer than we realize | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Up to 11 Million People Hit by MOVEit Hack at Government Services Firm Maximus - SecurityWeek

• Banking Sector Targeted in Open-Source Software Supply Chain Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Strengthening the weakest links in the digital supply chain - Help Net Security

• JumpCloud hack linked to North Korea after OPSEC mistake (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Supply Chain Attack Hits NHS Ambulance Trusts - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Software Supply Chain

• Two ambulance services in UK lost access to patient records after a cyber attack on software provider - Security Affairs

Cloud/SaaS

• China’s Breach of Microsoft Cloud Email May Expose Deeper Problems | WIRED

• Microsoft 365 Breach Risk Widens to Millions of Azure AD Apps (darkreading.com)

• JumpCloud hack linked to North Korea after OPSEC mistake (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Wiz Says 62% of AWS Environments Exposed to Zenbleed Exploitation - SecurityWeek

• The 4 Keys to Building Cloud Security Programs That Can Actually Shift Left (thehackernews.com)

• Ubuntu Linux Cloud Workloads Face Rampant Root Take Takeovers (darkreading.com)

Shadow IT

• NCSC Publishes New Guidance on Shadow IT - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Encryption

• The UK Government Is Very Close To Eroding Encryption Worldwide  | Electronic Frontier Foundation (eff.org)

• Apple could opt to stop iMessage and FaceTime services due to the government's surveillance demands - Security Affairs

• Hacking police radios: 30-year-old crypto flaws in the spotlight – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• Researchers Find ‘Backdoor’ in Encrypted Police and Military Radios (vice.com)

API

• Reining in API sprawl | TechCrunch

• ALPHV ransomware adds data leak API in new extortion strategy (bleepingcomputer.com)

Open Source

• New OpenSSH Vulnerability Exposes Linux Systems to Remote Command Injection (thehackernews.com)

• Rust-based malware used to hack both Windows and Linux servers - Neowin

• Banking Sector Targeted in Open-Source Software Supply Chain Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• New P2PInfect worm malware targets Linux and Windows Redis servers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Ubuntu Linux Cloud Workloads Face Rampant Root Take Takeovers (darkreading.com)

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• CISA: Most cyber attacks on gov’ts, critical infrastructure involve valid credentials (therecord.media)

Social Media

• How to avoid LinkedIn phishing attacks in the enterprise | TechTarget

• Stanford researchers find Mastodon has a massive child abuse material problem - The Verge

Training, Education and Awareness

• Why are computer security guidelines so confusing? - Help Net Security

Travel

• The New Summer Vacation Necessity: Cyber Hygiene (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

Parental Controls and Child Safety

• Amazon agrees to $25 million fine for Alexa children privacy violations (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Stanford researchers find Mastodon has a massive child abuse material problem - The Verge

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• SEC now requires companies to disclose cyber attacks in 4 days (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Companies Must Have Corporate Cyber security Experts, SEC Says (darkreading.com)

• Amazon agrees to $25 million fine for Alexa children privacy violations (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Apple could opt to stop iMessage and FaceTime services due to the government's surveillance demands - Security Affairs

• OpenAI, Meta and other tech firms sign onto White House AI commitments | FedScoop

• EU Agrees On Common Position For Cyber Resilience Act To Enhance Security Of Digital Products (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

Data Protection

• More US States are ramping up data privacy laws in 2023 (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Protect Your Data Like Your Reputation Depends On It (Because It Does) (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• Companies encounter months-long delays in filling critical security positions - Help Net Security

• UK Government Report Finds Cyber security Skills Gap Stagnant - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Bridging the cyber security skills gap through cyber range training - Help Net Security

• Overcoming the cyber security talent shortage with upskilling initiatives - Help Net Security

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• The FBI's Cynthia Kaiser on how the bureau fights ransomware | CyberScoop

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• More US States are ramping up data privacy laws in 2023 (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Amazon agrees to $25 million fine for Alexa children privacy violations (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Companies Need to Prove They Can Be Trusted with Technology (hbr.org)

• Ryanair Hit With Lawsuit Over Use of Facial Recognition Technology (darkreading.com)

Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda

• China Propaganda Spreads via US News Sites, Freelancers, Times Square (darkreading.com)

• Russia ‘using disinformation’ to imply Sweden supported Qur’an burnings | Sweden | The Guardian

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Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare and Cyber Espionage

Russia

• Anonymous Sudan DDoS strikes dominate attacks by KillNet collective | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Russian court jails cyber security executive for 14 years in treason case | Reuters

• Russia ‘using disinformation’ to imply Sweden supported Qur’an burnings | Sweden | The Guardian

• 69% of Russian gamers are pirating after Ukraine invasion pushback | Ars Technica

China

• Top FBI officials warn of 'unparalleled' threat from China and AI | CyberScoop

• China’s Breach of Microsoft Cloud Email May Expose Deeper Problems | WIRED

• Stolen Microsoft key may have opened up more than inboxes • The Register

• Chinese Hackers Breached Ambassador’s Email - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• The Chinese groups accused of hacking the US and others | Reuters

• Industrial Organisations in Eastern Europe Targeted by Chinese Cyber spies - SecurityWeek

• Chinese-backed Hacking Group Launches Two Bugs Targeting Android Devices - MSSP Alert

• China Propaganda Spreads via US News Sites, Freelancers, Times Square (darkreading.com)

• China-backed hackers suspected in NetScaler RCE attacks | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• US Senator Wyden Accuses Microsoft of ‘Cyber security Negligence’ - SecurityWeek

• China’s Wuhan Earthquake Center Suffers Cyber Attack - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

North Korea

• North Korean Cyber spies Target GitHub Developers (darkreading.com)

• JumpCloud hack linked to North Korea after OPSEC mistake (bleepingcomputer.com)

• GitHub warns of Lazarus hackers targeting devs with malicious projects (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Lazarus hackers hijack Microsoft IIS servers to spread malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Lazarus hackers linked to $60 million Alphapo cryptocurrency heist (bleepingcomputer.com)

• APT “Mysterious Elephant” Emerges in Q2 2023, Kaspersky Reports - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Misc/Other/Unknown

• Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs): Detection and Mitigation (blueteamresources.in)

• Part 1: Historic To 2022 – The APT And Logical Threats (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

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Vulnerability Management

• Google: 41 zero-day vulnerabilities exploited in 2022 | TechTarget

• CVSS 4.0 Is Here, But Prioritizing Patches Still a Hard Problem (darkreading.com)

• Want to live dangerously? Try running Windows XP in 2023 • The Register

• A step-by-step guide for patching software vulnerabilities - Help Net Security

Vulnerabilities

• Over 20,000 Citrix Appliances Vulnerable to New Exploit - SecurityWeek

• A flaw in OpenSSH forwarded ssh-agent allows remote code execution-Security Affairs

• Apple fixes new zero-day used in attacks against iPhones, Macs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Shadowserver reported that +15K Citrix servers are likely vulnerable to attacks exploiting the flaw CVE-2023-3519 - Security Affairs

• NetScaler RCE bug abused to pilfer critical infrastructure Active Directory data | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Ivanti patches MobileIron zero-day bug exploited in attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Zyxel users still getting hacked by DDoS botnet emerge as public nuisance No. 1 | Ars Technica

• Apache OpenMeetings Wide Open to Account Takeover, Code Execution (darkreading.com)

• Super Admin elevation bug puts 900,000 MikroTik devices at risk (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Norwegian government IT systems hacked using zero-day flaw (bleepingcomputer.com)

• VMware fixes bug exposing CF API admin credentials in audit logs (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Major Security Flaw Discovered in Metabase BI Software – Urgent Update Required (thehackernews.com)

• Cyber security Agencies Warn Against IDOR Bugs Exploited for Data Breaches (thehackernews.com)

• Critical Zero-Days in Atera Windows Installers Expose Users to Privilege Escalation Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Atlassian RCE Bugs Plague Confluence, Bamboo (darkreading.com)

• Zenbleed attack leaks sensitive data from AMD Zen2 processors (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Microsoft shares fix for some Outlook hyperlinks not opening (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Critical Flaws Found in Microsoft Message Queuing Service - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• China-backed hackers suspected in NetScaler RCE attacks | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Study reveals silent Python package security fixes • The Register

• Windows 10 KB5028244 update released with 19 fixes, improved security (bleepingcomputer.com)

• VMware Patches Vulnerability Exposing Admin Credentials - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Wiz Says 62% of AWS Environments Exposed to Zenbleed Exploitation - SecurityWeek

• Multiple DDoS Botnets Exploiting Recent Zyxel Vulnerability - SecurityWeek

• Zimbra patches zero-day vulnerability exploited in XSS attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• WordPress Ninja Forms plugin flaw lets hackers steal submitted data (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Two flaws in Linux Ubuntu affect 40% of Ubuntu users - Security Affairs

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Tools and Controls

• Aligning Risk Appetite, Tolerance, And Thresholds With Business Planning: A Comprehensive Guide To Enterprise Risk Management (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Why cyber security should be part of your ESG strategy | Computer Weekly

• Lawyers take frontline role in business response to cyber attacks | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Explaining risk maturity models and how they work | TechTarget

• Microsoft enhances Windows 11 Phishing Protection with new features (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Shadow Coding Is An Intoxicating Shortcut—And A Security Landmine (forbes.com)

• Zero trust rated as highly effective by businesses worldwide - Help Net Security

• 50% of Zero Trust Programs Risk Failure According to PlainID Survey (darkreading.com)

• Google Chrome to offer 'Link Previews' when hovering over links (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Why are computer security guidelines so confusing? - Help Net Security

• Threat Intelligence Is Growing — Here's How SOCs Can Keep Up (darkreading.com)

• The challenge of managing unlimited threats in a limited budget: cyber security experts comment | CSO Online

• Shaping the future of digital identity - Help Net Security

• How to Put the Sec in DevSecOps (darkreading.com)

• Designing a Security Strategy for Defending Multicloud Architectures (darkreading.com)

• How Microsoft Defender Experts for XDR helps triage, investigate, and respond to cyberthreats | Microsoft Security Blog

• Converging networking and security with SASE - Help Net Security

• 5 steps to approach BYOD compliance policies | TechTarget

• KnowBe4 Phishing Test Results Reveal Half of Top Malicious Email Subjects Are HR Related (darkreading.com)

• Windows 11 just got a big upgrade to protect you from phishing attacks — here’s how it works | Tom's Guide (tomsguide.com)

• Artificial Intelligence Continues To Revolutionize Cyber security (forbes.com)

• Key factors for effective security automation - Help Net Security

• Microsoft previews Defender for IoT firmware analysis service (bleepingcomputer.com)

• The 4 Keys to Building Cloud Security Programs That Can Actually Shift Left (thehackernews.com)

• CISOs consider zero trust a hot security ticket - Help Net Security

• How a Cyber Security Platform Addresses the 3 “S” (trendmicro.com)

• 4 Cyber security Budget Management Tips (trendmicro.com)

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Reports Published in the Last Week

• The Email Threat Landscape, Q1 2023: Key Takeaways (informationsecuritybuzz.com)

• Cost of a data breach 2023 | IBM

• Internet Organised Crime Threat Assessment (IOCTA) | Europol (europa.eu)

• Q1 Report: Email Threat Trends Discover Q1 trends and stay ahead of email based threats. - VIPRE

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Other News

• Maritime Cyber attack Database Launched by Dutch University - SecurityWeek

• Google’s new security pilot program will ban employee Internet access | Ars Technica

• Inspiring secure coding: Strategies to encourage developers' continuous improvement - Help Net Security

• macOS Under Attack: Examining the Growing Threat and User Perspectives (thehackernews.com)

• Why whistleblowers in cyber security are important and need support | CSO Online

• Cyber crime as a Public Health Crisis (darkreading.com)

• 7 in 10 MSPs Name Data Security and Network Security As Their Top IT Priorities for 2023 (darkreading.com)

• TETRA Radio Code Encryption Has a Flaw: A Backdoor | WIRED

• World's most internetty firm tries life off the net • The Register

• Exam board cyber attack investigation: Teenager arrested (schoolsweek.co.uk)

• Companies Need to Prove They Can Be Trusted with Technology (hbr.org)

• Heart monitor manufacturer hit by cyber attack, takes systems offline (bitdefender.com)

• How do companies protect customer data? | TechTarget

• Cyber security Agencies Warn Against IDOR Bugs Exploited for Data Breaches (thehackernews.com)

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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

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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 21 July 2023

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 Reach Two-Year High Amid Ransomware Resurgence as Financial Service Firms Lose $32 Billion in 5 Years

The average weekly volume of cyber attacks reached a two-year high in the second quarter of 2023 amid a spike in activity among ransomware groups according to Check Point Research, with healthcare in particular facing a significant year-on-year increase. The impact of ransomware hits every organisation, with separate research finding global financial services organisations having lost over $32bn in downtime since 2018 due to ransomware breaches.

A recent report found that the ransomware gangs LockBit and Cl0p alone accounted for nearly 40% of all recorded ransomware attacks across June 2023. The impact from Cl0p’s MOVEit attack alone has been felt by over 400 organisations since May 2023. One of the key takeaways from the MOVEit attack is that no matter the sector, any organisation can be a victim and as such it is essential to have effective controls in place, incorporating defence-in-depth. It’s worth considering how many organisations are still running vulnerable instances of MOVEit, or have someone in their supply chain who is.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/ransomware-costs-financial-32bn/

https://www.itpro.com/security/ransomware/weekly-cyber-attacks-reach-two-year-high-amid-ransomware-resurgence

• MOVEit Body Count Closes in on 400 Organisations, 20M+ Individuals

The number of victims and the costs tied to the MOVEit file transfer hack continues to climb as the fallout from the massive supply chain attack enters week seven. In late May 2023, Russian ransomware gang Cl0p exploited a security hole in Progress Software's MOVEit product suite to steal documents from vulnerable networks. As of last week, the number of affected organisations was closing in on 400 and individual victims exceed 20 million.

The attack highlights the need for organisations to have policies and procedures in place for third parties, and to be aware of the data which a third party supplier has on them. It will be the organisation who will need to let their customers know in the event of a breach.

https://www.theregister.com/2023/07/20/moveit_victim_count/

• IT Worker Jailed for Impersonating Ransomware Gang to Extort Employer

28-year-old Ashley Liles, a former IT employee, has been sentenced to over three years in prison for attempting to blackmail his employer during a ransomware attack. Liles, an IT security analyst at an Oxford-based company in the UK, exploited his position to intercept a ransomware payment following an attack suffered by his employer. To deceive the company, he impersonated the ransomware gang extorting them. He tried to redirect the ransomware payments by switching the cyber criminals' cryptocurrency wallet to one under his control. He also accessed a board member's private emails over 300 times.

Insider threat is a risk that organisations need to be aware of and, although it was malicious in this case, it can also come from employee negligence. Organisations looking to achieve a strong level of cyber resilience should incorporate insider risk into their training and controls.

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/it-worker-jailed-for-impersonating-ransomware-gang-to-extort-employer/

• Stabilising the Cyber Security Landscape: The CISO Exodus and the Rise of vCISOs

In today's evolving digital landscape, the role of a chief information security officer (CISO) is critical. These professionals defend against the rising tide of daily cyber threats. Yet many CISOs are leaving or considering leaving their jobs; this trend seems to reflect the intense pressure CISOs endure. They face a constant stream of complex cyber threats, manage compliance issues and struggle with a talent deficit in cyber security. Paired with high expectations, many reconsider their roles which can lead to a leadership gap.

A virtual CISO (vCISO) is an outsourced security practitioner who offers their expertise to businesses on a part-time or contractual basis. These professionals provide many of the same services as a traditional CISO, such as developing and implementing security strategies, ensuring compliance with regulations, training staff and managing a company's cyber security posture. vCISOs, such as from Black Arrow, are often part of a larger team and can bring a wide range of experiences and skills. They are exposed to diverse security landscapes across industries, and can provide a fresh perspective and innovative solutions to your security challenges. The vCISO model may not replace the need for a full-time CISO in all cases, but it can certainly add a flexible and cost-effective tool to the arsenal of businesses looking to bolster their cyber security posture.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2023/07/14/stabilizing-the-cybersecurity-landscape-the-ciso-exodus-and-the-rise-of-vcisos/

• Risk is Driving Medium-Sized Business Decisions

Small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) have long lacked the tools, expertise, staff and budget to make major cyber security investments. However, as threats become more mainstream and more advanced, the focus is shifting, so SMBs need to take the threats seriously and evaluate their cyber security controls.

In a survey of 140 SMBs, it was found that 40% of respondents believe they are very likely or extremely likely to experience a cyber security attack target in the next 12 months. That fear is founded, as 34% of organisations stated they experienced a malware attack in the past year, and 29% experienced a phishing or spear phishing incident. SMBs are putting their time, energy, and budget toward risk management. When it came to budgeting, 67% list their primary budgeting method as “risk-based”, and only 32% as “ad hoc/following an attack or breach”. It was found that over two-thirds of businesses would rather spend money now than pay a ransom later.

https://www.msspalert.com/cybersecurity-guests/risk-is-driving-small-and-medium-sized-businesses-smb-decisions/

• Talent and Governance, Not Technology, are Key to Drive Change Around Cyber Security

For the last 20 years, large organisations have been spending significant amounts of money on cyber security products and solutions, on managed services, or with consultancies large and small. Yet maturity levels remain elusive: a report found that 70% of firms surveyed had yet to fully advance to a mature-based approach. Cyber security good practices have been well established for the best part of the last 20 years and continue to provide, in most industries, an acceptable level of protection against most threats and an acceptable level of compliance against most regulations.

However cyber security is often viewed as something external to the business. This perspective leads to talent alienation and execution failures because the employees who should be invested in maintaining and improving cyber security may feel disconnected from these efforts. To make genuine progress, cyber security needs to be intrinsically linked to business values as a visible priority, owned and directed from the highest levels of an organisation.

This approach underlines the importance of governance in setting effective cyber security policies and procedures. It also highlights the crucial role of nurturing talent within the organisation to ensure active involvement in maintaining and improving cyber security measures. While technology is undoubtedly an essential element of cyber security, prioritising talent and governance can lead to lasting progress.

https://technative.io/talent-and-governance-not-technology-are-key-to-drive-change-around-cyber-security/

• Hybrid Work, Digital Transformation can Exploit Security Gaps

A new study showed that larger organisations generally recognise malware threats but they lack protection against malicious actors and ways to properly remediate infections. The report revealed security leaders are concerned about attacks that leverage malware-exfiltrated authentication data. 53% say they are extremely concerned about attacks, with 1% of security leaders saying they weren’t concerned at all. 98% said that better visibility into at-risk applications would significantly improve their security posture.

The most overlooked entry points for malware include 57% of organisations allowing employees to sync browser data between personal and corporate devices. 54% of organisations struggle with shadow IT, due to employees’ unsanctioned adoption of applications and systems, creating gaps not only in visibility but also in basic security controls and corporate policies.

https://www.msspalert.com/cybersecurity-research/digital-transformation-hybrid-work-models-create-perfect-setting-for-cybercriminals-to-exploit-security-gaps-study-finds/

• Human Cyber Risk Can Be Demonstrably Mitigated by Behaviour Changing Training

The process of encouraging secure cyber habits in end users is evolving from traditional awareness training toward changing end user behaviour. It reflects a growing acceptance that traditional methods haven’t worked. While traditional security awareness teaches users how to recognise social engineering, new behaviour changing trains the brain – almost pre-programs it – on the correct recognition and response to phishing.

What is considered a standard phishing email today may not be tomorrow, and changes in user behaviour will help to combat this. It is simply not enough to be shown one phishing email and be told to follow procedures. Training should instead be focused on going beyond; this should look to change how the user approaches things such as phishing, and gamifying the recognition and reporting of it.

https://www.securityweek.com/human-cyber-risk-can-be-demonstrably-mitigated-by-behavior-changing-training-analysis/

• AI Tool WormGPT Enables Convincing Fake Emails For BEC Attacks

A generative AI tool, WormGPT, has emerged as a powerful weapon in the hands of cyber criminals, specifically for launching business email compromise (BEC) attacks, according to new findings. The tool is designed for malicious purposes and has no restrictions on what a user can request. Such a tool allows for impeccable grammar in emails to reduce suspicion and allows sophistication with no restrictions on prompts. The lowered entry threshold enables cyber criminals with limited skills to execute sophisticated attacks, democratising the use of this technology.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/wormgpt-fake-emails-bec-attacks/

https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/chatgpt-dark-web-wormgpt-hack-b2376627.html

• Pro-Russian Hacktivists Increase Focus on Western Targets

‘Anonymous Sudan’, apparent pro-Russian hacktivists, claimed a one-hour distributed denial of service attack on the social platform OnlyFans last week. This was the latest in a string of operations aimed at targets in the US and Europe. The group’s digital assaults coincide with attacks coming from a broader network of hackers aligned with Moscow that seek attention by taking down high-profile victims and strategic targets; many of the targets support Ukraine in its ongoing war against Russia.

The pro-Russian group appears to be affiliated with Killnet, a pro-Russian hacktivist group that emerged in late 2021 or early 2022 and has claimed distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, data theft and leaks on perceived adversaries of the Russian government, according to an analysis from Google’s Mandiant released earlier this week. The collective’s apparent significant growth in capabilities, demonstrated by Microsoft’s confirmation that Anonymous Sudan was responsible for the outages they experienced, potentially indicates a significant increase in outside investment in the collective, further suggesting a potential tie to the Russian state.

https://cyberscoop.com/anonymous-sudan-killnet-russia-onlyfans/

• Infosec Doesn't Know What AI Tools Organisations Are Using

With the marketplace awash in new artificial intelligence (AI) tools and new AI features being added to existing tools, organisations are finding themselves lacking visibility into what AI tools are in use, how they are used, who has access, and what data is being shared. As businesses try, adopt, and abandon new generative AI tools, it falls on enterprise IT, risk, and security leaders to govern and secure their use without hindering innovation. While developing security policies to govern AI use is important, it is not possible without knowing what tools are being used in the first place.

Enterprise security teams have to consider how to handle discovery, learning which generative AI tools have been introduced into the environment and by whom, as well as risk assessment.

https://www.darkreading.com/tech-trends/infosec-doesnt-know-what-ai-tools-orgs-are-using

• Google Restricting Internet Access to Some Employees to Reduce Cyber Attack Risk

In a bid to shrink the attack surface of its employees, and thus boost security, Google is taking an experimental, and some might say extreme, approach: cutting some of their workstations off from the internet. The company originally selected more than 2,500 employees to participate and will disable internet access on the selected desktops, except for internal web-based tools and Google owned websites like Google Drive and Gmail. Some workers who need the internet to do their job will get exceptions, the company stated in materials.

Google is running the programme to reduce the risk of cyber attacks, according to internal materials. If a Google employee’s device is compromised, the attackers may have access to user data and infrastructure code, which could result in a major incident and undermine user trust. The program comes as companies face increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks. Just last week, Microsoft said Chinese intelligence hacked into company email accounts belonging to two dozen government agencies in the US and Western Europe, including the US State Department, in a “significant” breach.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/07/18/google-restricting-internet-access-to-some-employees-for-security.html

https://www.theregister.com/2023/07/19/google_cuts_internet/

• Unlocking Business Potential: How CISOs are Transforming Cyber Security into a Strategic Asset

Enterprises are responding to growing cyber security threats by working to make the best use of tools and services to ensure business resilience, according to a recent report. Chief information security officers (CISOs) and virtual CISOs (vCISOS) in particular, want more solutions and services that help them align security measures with enterprise objectives and C-level executives have become more aware of the need for cyber resilience. As a result, security investments have expanded beyond detection and response to include rapid recovery and business continuity.

The report found that amongst other things, enterprises are investing in risk assessments and outsourcing more services. In some cases, where a CISO cannot be hired, organisations may look to hire a vCISO. It is important that the vCISO is able to understand cyber in context to the business and help to align security objectives with the organisations objectives. Black Arrow supports clients as their vCISO with specialist experience in cyber security risk management in a business context.

https://www.blackarrowcyber.com/blog/threat-briefing-14-july-2023

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Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Risk is Driving Small and Medium-Sized Businesses (SMB) Decisions - MSSP Alert

• Stabilising The Cyber security Landscape: The Rise Of vCISOs (forbes.com)

• Talent and Governance, not Technology, are Key to Drive Change around Cyber Security - TechNative

• Hybrid Work, Digital Transformation Can Exploit Security Gaps, Study Finds - MSSP Alert

• Human Cyber Risk Can Be Demonstrably Mitigated by Behaviour Changing Training: Analysis - SecurityWeek

• Stress, data privacy, zero trust to shape cyber security trends | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• CISOs under pressure: Protecting sensitive information in the age of high employee turnover - Help Net Security

• Network, IAM, cloud are 2023's top cyber security spend priorities | VentureBeat

• CISOs are making cyber security a business problem - Help Net Security

• Top Information Security Threats for Businesses 2023 (cybersecuritynews.com)

• How to Build a Cyber Resilient Company | Entrepreneur

• Best practices for an effective cyber security strategy | CSO Online

• Exploring the macro shifts in enterprise security - Help Net Security

• Google Cloud CISO Phil Venables On Cyber security, Cloud Adoption And The Boardroom (forbes.com)

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Threats

Ransomware, Extortion and Destructive Attacks

• Ransomware Costs Financial Services $32bn in Five Years - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• MOVEit victim count closes in on 400 orgs, 20M+ individuals • The Register

• Weekly cyber attacks reach two-year high amid ransomware resurgence | ITPro

• Ransomware attacks are on the rise—and so are ransom payments (fastcompany.com)

• IT worker jailed for impersonating ransomware gang to extort employer (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Security Patch Management Strengthens Ransomware Defence (trendmicro.com)

• The rise in ransomware attacks this year may be related to Russia's war in Ukraine : NPR

• Who are the ransomware gangs wreaking havoc on the world’s biggest companies? | Renee Dudley | The Guardian

• Cyber security firm Sophos impersonated by new SophosEncrypt ransomware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Trends in ransomware-as-a-service and cryptocurrency to monitor - Help Net SecurityFIN8 deploys ALPHV ransomware using Sardonic malware variant (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Linux Ransomware Poses Significant Threat to Critical Infrastructure (darkreading.com)

• Financial cyber crime syndicate deploys reworked backdoor malware | CyberScoop

• Ransomware attackers getting more sophisticated: Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (yahoo.com)

• SophosEncrypt Ransomware Fools Security Researchers (darkreading.com)

• Mallox Ransomware Exploits Weak MS-SQL Servers to Breach Networks (thehackernews.com)

• New Ransomware With RAT Capabilities Impersonating Sophos - SecurityWeek

• Google’s Bard poses ransomware risk, say researchers | Cybernews

• Ransomware review: July 2023 (malwarebytes.com)

• FIN8 Group spotted delivering the BlackCat Ransomware - Security Affairs

• What is Cyber Extortion? | Definition from TechTarget

• Cyber insurers adapting to data-centric ransomware threats | TechTarget

• Shutterfly says Clop ransomware attack did not impact customer data (bleepingcomputer.com)

Ransomware Victims

• MOVEit victim count closes in on 400 orgs, 20M+ individuals • The Register

• Ofcom says it won’t pay ransom, as new MOVEit hack victims come forward | TechCrunch

• MOVEit Transfer vulnerability: New Cl0p 'victims' include Discovery (techmonitor.ai)

• BlackCat and Clop gangs both claim cyber attack on Estée Lauder | Computer Weekly

• Iron ore giant Fortescue Metals targeted by Russian ransomware group | Cybercrime | The Guardian

• Russian medical lab suspends some services after ransomware attack (therecord.media)

• Recycling Giant Tomra Takes Systems Offline Following Cyber attack - SecurityWeek

• Shutterfly says Clop ransomware attack did not impact customer data (bleepingcomputer.com)

Phishing & Email Based Attacks

• Typo leaks millions of US military emails to Mali web operator | Financial Times (ft.com)

• AI Tool WormGPT Enables Convincing Fake Emails For BEC Attacks - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Microsoft Exchange servers compromised by Turla APT - Help Net Security

• Microsoft takes pains to obscure role in 0-days that caused email breach | Ars Technica

• Analysis of Storm-0558 techniques for unauthorised email access | Microsoft Security Blog

• Only a handful of hackers are responsible for all email extortion attacks | TechRadar

• Microsoft Tops List of the Most Impersonated Brand for Phishing Scams in Q2 2023 - MSSP Alert

• Enhanced Monitoring to Detect APT Activity Targeting Outlook Online | CISA

• Sorillus RAT and Phishing Attacks Exploit Google Firebase Hosting - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Gmail encouraging users to enable Enhanced Safe Browsing (9to5google.com)

BEC – Business Email Compromise

• AI Tool WormGPT Enables Convincing Fake Emails For BEC Attacks - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Only a handful of hackers are responsible for all email extortion attacks | TechRadar

• Nigerian Man Sentenced to 8 Years in US Prison for $8 Million BEC Scheme - SecurityWeek

Other Social Engineering; Smishing, Vishing, etc

• Meta's Threads app used as a lure - Help Net Security

Artificial Intelligence

• ChatGPT rival WormGPT with ‘no ethical boundaries’ sold to hackers on dark web | The Independent

• Infosec Doesn't Know What AI Tools Orgs Are Using (darkreading.com)

• One in 12 victims of rise in AI scams (telegraph.co.uk)

• AI models must be reconciled with data protection laws • The Register

• UK Financial Regulator Urges Banks to Tackle AI-Based Fraud - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• 1 in 4 Brits play with generative AI and some believe it too • The Register

• OpenAI credentials stolen by the thousands for sale on the dark web (bleepingcomputer.com)

• AI must have better security, says top cyber official - BBC News

• Google Categorises 6 Real-World AI Attacks to Prepare for Now (darkreading.com)

• How to Use Generative AI Tools While Still Protecting Your Privacy | WIRED

• Google’s Bard poses ransomware risk, say researchers | Cybernews

Malware

• Microsoft: Hackers turn Exchange servers into malware control centers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Malicious USB Drives Targeting Global Targets with SOGU and SNOWYDRIVE Malware (thehackernews.com)

• Financial cyber crime syndicate deploys reworked backdoor malware | CyberScoop

• New SOHO Router Botnet AVrecon Spreads to 70,000 Devices Across 20 Countries (thehackernews.com)

• LokiBot Malware Targets Windows Users in Office Document Attacks - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Hackers Target Gamers With Microsoft-Signed Rootkit (darkreading.com)

• Source code of the BlackLotus UEFI Bootkit was leaked on GitHub - Security Affairs

• Are Viruses Still a Threat to Cyber security? (makeuseof.com)

• Black Hat Hacker Exposes Real Identity After Infecting Own Computer With Malware - SecurityWeek

• Pernicious Rootkits Pose Growing Blight On Threat Landscape (darkreading.com)

• Sorillus RAT and Phishing Attacks Exploit Google Firebase Hosting - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Mobile

• Apple slams UK surveillance-bill proposals - BBC News

• Hackers Exploit WebAPK to Deceive Android Users into Installing Malicious Apps (thehackernews.com)

• Meta confirms WhatsApp is down worldwide (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Chinese APT41 Hackers Target Mobile Devices with New WyrmSpy and DragonEgg Spyware (thehackernews.com)

Botnets

• New SOHO Router Botnet AVrecon Spreads to 70,000 Devices Across 20 Countries (thehackernews.com)

• Ukraine's cyber police dismantled a massive bot farm - Security Affairs

Denial of Service/DoS/DDOS

• Cloudflare reports 'alarming surge' in DDoS sophistication, escalation in recent months | CyberScoop

• Attackers intensify DDoS attacks with new tactics - Help Net Security

• Zyxel Vulnerability Exploited by DDoS Botnets on Linux Systems - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Internet of Things – IoT

• How your internet-connected domestic devices can be a critical tool of cyber attack (mid-day.com)

• US preparing Cyber Trust Mark for more secure smart devices (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Seven new gadgets added to riskiest connected devices list | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

Data Breaches/Leaks

• MOVEit Hack: Number of Impacted Organisations Exceeds 340 - SecurityWeek

• Data compromises on track to set a new record - Help Net Security

• Virustotal data leak exposed data of some registered customers - Security Affairs

• What to do (and what not to do) after a data breach - Help Net Security

• HWL Ebsworth hack: Queensland says its files were taken after criminals release Victorian documents | Cybercrime | The Guardian

• CISOs under pressure: Protecting sensitive information in the age of high employee turnover - Help Net Security

• Thousands of images on Docker Hub leak auth secrets, private keys (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Met Police ‘passed victims’ data to Facebook via online tracking tool’ | Evening Standard

• LastPass: The lessons we learnt from our devastating breach | TechRadar

• JumpCloud, an IT firm serving 200,000 orgs, says it was hacked by nation-state | Ars Technica

• Rogue Azure AD Guests Can Steal Data via Power Apps (darkreading.com)

• FIA World Endurance Championship driver passports leaked - Security Affairs

• Typo leaks millions of US military emails to Mali web operator | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Old Roblox Data Leak Resurfaces, 4000 Users' Personal Information Exposed - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Colorado State University says data breach impacts students, staff (bleepingcomputer.com)

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• Only a handful of hackers are responsible for all email extortion attacks | TechRadar

• Nigerian Man Sentenced to 8 Years in US Prison for $8 Million BEC Scheme - SecurityWeek

• NCA: Nation States Using Cyber crime Groups as Proxies - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Owner of BreachForums Pleads Guilty to Cyber crime and Child Pornography Charges (thehackernews.com)

• Genesis Market infrastructure and inventory sold on hacker forum (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Black Hat Hacker Exposes Real Identity After Infecting Own Computer With Malware - SecurityWeek

• Police arrests Ukrainian scareware developer after 10-year hunt (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Taking the Fight to the Cyber Criminals (trendmicro.com)

• Russian Charged with Tech Smuggling and Money Laundering - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Extremist-friendly tech company closes after fine for securities fraud | Technology | The Guardian

• Hacker Conversations: Inside the Mind of Daniel Kelley, ex-Blackhat - SecurityWeek

• Go Beyond the Headlines for Deeper Dives into the Cyber criminal Underground (thehackernews.com)

• SA on the brink of being Africa's capital of cyber crime, say digital experts | City Press (news24.com)

• What’s the NCA doing about cyber crime? - Tech Monitor

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking/NFTs/Blockchain

• Trends in ransomware-as-a-service and cryptocurrency to monitor - Help Net Security

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• IT worker jailed for impersonating ransomware gang to extort employer (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Former contractor accused of remotely accessing town's water treatment facility | Tripwire

• Insider Risk Management Starts With SaaS Security (darkreading.com)

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• One in 12 victims of rise in AI scams (telegraph.co.uk)

• A Twitter user found scam numbers for major airlines on Google Maps. Google is working to fix it | CNN Business

• UK Financial Regulator Urges Banks to Tackle AI-Based Fraud - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Growing scam activity linked to social media and automation - Help Net Security

• A fresh look at the current state of financial fraud - Help Net Security

• Tech support scammers now accepting cash via snail mail • The Register

• Half of UK company directors struck off linked to alleged Covid loan fraud | Coronavirus | The Guardian

• Extremist-friendly tech company closes after fine for securities fraud | Technology | The Guardian

• The cruel new holiday scams you need to know about | This is Money

• Airbnb-Related Scams Surge: Beware Of ‘Too Good To Be True’ Offers (forbes.com)

AML/CFT/Sanctions

• Russian Charged with Tech Smuggling and Money Laundering - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Insurance

• Cyber insurers adapting to data-centric ransomware threats | TechTarget

• Strengthening Password Security may Lower Cyber Insurance Premiums (bleepingcomputer.com)

Dark Web

• Genesis Market infrastructure and inventory sold on hacker forum (bleepingcomputer.com)

• OpenAI credentials stolen by the thousands for sale on the dark web (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Exploring the Dark Side: OSINT Tools and Techniques for Unmasking Dark Web Operations (thehackernews.com)

Supply Chain and Third Parties

• JumpCloud, an IT firm serving 200,000 orgs, says it was hacked by nation-state | Ars Technica

• Google Cloud Build bug lets hackers launch supply chain attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Supply chain executives unaware of growing customer trust issues - Help Net Security

• Possible Supply Chain Attack Targeting Pakistani Government Delivers Shadowpad (trendmicro.com)

Cloud/SaaS

• Microsoft makes cloud security logs available for free • The Register

• Microsoft Expands Cloud Logging to Counter Rising Nation-State Cyber Threats (thehackernews.com)

• Top 5 Cloud Security Threats in 2023 (analyticsinsight.net)

• Network, IAM, cloud are 2023's top cyber security spend priorities | VentureBeat

• Google Cloud Build bug lets hackers launch supply chain attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Reducing Security Debt in the Cloud (darkreading.com)

• Three key unanswered questions about the Chinese breach of Microsoft cloud services | CyberScoop

• TeamTNT's Cloud Credential Stealing Campaign Now Targets Azure and Google Cloud (thehackernews.com)

• How to manage cloud exploitation at the edge | CIO

• Sorillus RAT and Phishing Attacks Exploit Google Firebase Hosting - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Hybrid/Remote Working

• Hybrid Work, Digital Transformation Can Exploit Security Gaps, Study Finds - MSSP Alert

• Securing The Hybrid Workforce Begins With Browsing (forbes.com)

Attack Surface Management

• How to Manage Your Attack Surface? (thehackernews.com)

• What is attack surface management? | Intruder

Identity and Access Management

• Attacker exploits vulnerability in Active Directory Certificate Services to take control of domain (securityintelligence.com)

• Network, IAM, cloud are 2023's top cyber security spend priorities | VentureBeat

• The rise of hassle-free and secure authentication | CyberScoop

Encryption

• Real-world examples of quantum-based attacks - Help Net Security

• EU Urged to Prepare for Quantum Cyber Attacks - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Signal president rejects ‘mass surveillance’ UK law | Fortune

API

• Docker Leaks API Secrets & Private Keys, as Cyber criminals Pounce (darkreading.com)

• API keys: Weaknesses and security best practices | TechTarget

Open Source

• Linux Ransomware Poses Significant Threat to Critical Infrastructure (darkreading.com)

• Half of AI Open Source Projects Reference Buggy Packages - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Zyxel Vulnerability Exploited by DDoS Botnets on Linux Systems - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Passwords, Credential Stuffing & Brute Force Attacks

• LastPass: The lessons we learnt from our devastating breach | TechRadar

• Millions of Keyboard Walk Patterns Found in Compromised Passwords - IT Security Guru

• TeamTNT's Cloud Credential Stealing Campaign Now Targets Azure and Google Cloud (thehackernews.com)

• Strengthening Password Security may Lower Cyber Insurance Premiums (bleepingcomputer.com)

Social Media

• Growing scam activity linked to social media and automation - Help Net Security

• Met Police ‘passed victims’ data to Facebook via online tracking tool’ | Evening Standard

• Meta's Threads app used as a lure - Help Net Security

• TechScape: ‘Lives are ruined in an afternoon’ – social media and the Huw Edwards story | Technology | The Guardian

Training, Education and Awareness

• Human Cyber Risk Can Be Demonstrably Mitigated by Behavior Changing Training: Analysis - SecurityWeek

• Security Awareness Training Isn’t Working - How Can We Improve It? - SecurityWeek

• Companywide Cyber security Training: 20 Tips To Make It ‘Stick’ (forbes.com)

Digital Transformation

• Hybrid Work, Digital Transformation Can Exploit Security Gaps, Study Finds - MSSP Alert

Travel

• The cruel new holiday scams you need to know about | This is Money

• Airbnb-Related Scams Surge: Beware Of ‘Too Good To Be True’ Offers (forbes.com)

• A Twitter user found scam numbers for major airlines on Google Maps. Google is working to fix it | CNN Business

Regulations, Fines and Legislation

• AI models must be reconciled with data protection laws • The Register

• UK Financial Regulator Urges Banks to Tackle AI-Based Fraud - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Apple slams UK surveillance-bill proposals - BBC News

• Online Safety Bill Last chance for Lords to stop surveillance | Evening Standard

Models, Frameworks and Standards

• OWASP ZAP 2.13.0 Released – What’s New! (gbhackers.com)

Data Protection

• AI models must be reconciled with data protection laws • The Register

Careers, Working in Cyber and Information Security

• Career Benefits of Learning Ethical Hacking (analyticsinsight.net)

• Should You Be Using a Cyber security Careers Framework? (darkreading.com)

Law Enforcement Action and Take Downs

• Nigerian Man Sentenced to 8 Years in US Prison for $8 Million BEC Scheme - SecurityWeek

• Owner of BreachForums Pleads Guilty to Cyber crime and Child Pornography Charges (thehackernews.com)

• What’s the NCA doing about cyber crime? - Tech Monitor

• Police arrests Ukrainian scareware developer after 10-year hunt (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Russian Charged with Tech Smuggling and Money Laundering - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Ukraine's cyber police dismantled a massive bot farm - Security Affairs

Privacy, Surveillance and Mass Monitoring

• Apple slams UK surveillance-bill proposals - BBC News

• Online Safety Bill Last chance for Lords to stop surveillance | Evening Standard

• Stress, data privacy, zero trust to shape cyber security trends | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• How to Use Generative AI Tools While Still Protecting Your Privacy | WIRED

Misinformation, Disinformation and Propaganda

• Ukraine's cyber police dismantled a massive bot farm - Security Affairs

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Nation State Actors, Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), Cyber Warfare and Cyber Espionage

Russia

• The rise in ransomware attacks this year may be related to Russia's war in Ukraine : NPR

• Gamaredon hackers start stealing data 30 minutes after a breach (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Analysis of Storm-0558 techniques for unauthorised email access | Microsoft Security Blog

• Microsoft Exchange servers compromised by Turla APT - Help Net Security

• Pro-Russian hacktivists increase focus on Western targets. The latest is OnlyFans. | CyberScoop

• Elon Musk’s Starlink is putting our soldiers at risk, Ukraine warns (telegraph.co.uk)

• New Threat Actor Launches Cyber attacks on Ukraine and Poland - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• 1st Case Of Online Killing? Russian Submarine Commander Falls Prey To Fitness Tracking App (eurasiantimes.com)

• Thousands of Russian officials to give up iPhones over US spying fears | Financial Times (ft.com)

• Ukraine innovates on cyber defence | Financial Times (ft.com)

China

• Three key unanswered questions about the Chinese breach of Microsoft cloud services | CyberScoop

• Chinese APT Favourite Backdoor Found in Pakistani Government App - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• China Espionage Operatives Left Empty Handed in Email Heist, White House Official Says - MSSP Alert

• Xi wants to make the Great Firewall of China even greater • The Register

• Chinese APT41 Hackers Target Mobile Devices with New WyrmSpy and DragonEgg Spyware (thehackernews.com)

North Korea

• JumpCloud breach traced back to North Korean state hackers (bleepingcomputer.com)

• North Korean hackers breached a US tech company to steal crypto | Reuters

Misc/Other/Unknown

• JumpCloud, an IT firm serving 200,000 orgs, says it was hacked by nation-state | Ars Technica

• NCA: Nation States Using Cyber crime Groups as Proxies - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• APT Protection: The Key to Safeguarding Your Business (ts2.space)

• How to Secure Your OT Network Against Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) (ts2.space)

• Microsoft Expands Cloud Logging to Counter Rising Nation-State Cyber Threats (thehackernews.com)

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Vulnerability Management

• CVSS 4.0 released, to help assess real-time threat and impact of vulnerabilities - Help Net Security

• Security Patch Management Strengthens Ransomware Defence (trendmicro.com)

• What is Vulnerability Assessment In Cyber security? (gbhackers.com)

• Half of AI Open Source Projects Reference Buggy Packages - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

Vulnerabilities

• Windows Users Urged To Update As Microsoft Confirms New Zero-Day Exploits (forbes.com)

• Microsoft Bug Allowed Hackers to Breach Over Two Dozen Organisations via Forged Azure AD Tokens (thehackernews.com)

• Microsoft still unsure how hackers stole Azure AD signing key (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Microsoft takes pains to obscure role in 0-days that caused email breach | Ars Technica

• CVE-2023-38408: Remote Code Execution in OpenSSH’s forwarded ssh-agent | Qualys Security Blog

• New critical Citrix ADC and Gateway flaw exploited as zero-day (bleepingcomputer.com)

• OpenSSH Addresses Remote Code Execution Vulnerability: CVE-2023-38408 - VULNERA

• New AMI BMC Flaws Allowing Takeover and Physical Damage Could Impact Millions of Devices - SecurityWeek

• Adobe Rolls Out New Patches for Actively Exploited ColdFusion Vulnerability (thehackernews.com)

• Cisco fixed a critical flaw in SD-WAN vManage - Security Affairs

• Hacking campaign targets sites using WordPress WooCommerce Payments Plugin - Security Affairs

• Microsoft hit by Storm season – a tale of two semi-zero days – Naked Security (sophos.com)

• Chrome 115 Patches 20 Vulnerabilities - SecurityWeek

• 'METIOR' Defence Blueprint Against Side-Channel Vulnerabilities Debuts | Tom's Hardware (tomshardware.com)

• 5 Major Takeaways From Microsoft's July Patch Tuesday (darkreading.com)

• Two Jira Plugin Vulnerabilities in Attacker Crosshairs - SecurityWeek

• Zyxel Vulnerability Exploited by DDoS Botnets on Linux Systems - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Google says Apple employee found a zero-day but did not report it | TechCrunch

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Tools and Controls

• Human Cyber Risk Can Be Demonstrably Mitigated by Behaviour Changing Training: Analysis - SecurityWeek

• CISOs under pressure: Protecting sensitive information in the age of high employee turnover - Help Net Security

• Network, IAM, cloud are 2023's top cyber security spend priorities | VentureBeat

• Stress, data privacy, zero trust to shape cyber security trends | SC Media (scmagazine.com)

• Reducing Security Debt in the Cloud (darkreading.com)

• Leverage Threat Intelligence, AI, and Data at Scale to Boost Cyber Defences (darkreading.com)

• A Few More Reasons Why RDP is Insecure (Surprise!) (thehackernews.com)

• Enterprise communication security a growing risk, priority | TechTarget

• SBOMs Still More Mandate Than Security (darkreading.com)

• MIT’s Cyber security Metior: A Secret Weapon Against Side-Channel Attacks (scitechdaily.com)

• NCSC Shares Alternatives to Using a SOC - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Building resilience through DevSecOps - Help Net Security

• Microsoft's security roadmap: Protect Azure DevOps secrets • The Register

• CISA shares free tools to help secure data in the cloud (bleepingcomputer.com)

• What is the new Enhanced Safe Browsing for Gmail (and should you enable it)? | ZDNET

• Insider Risk Management Starts With SaaS Security (darkreading.com)

• What is Real-Time Monitoring? | Definition from TechTarget

• How to Manage Your Attack Surface? (thehackernews.com)

• What is attack surface management? | Intruder

• 67% of daily security alerts overwhelm SOC analysts - Help Net Security

• Technical Aspects Of Modern SIEM Systems (forbes.com)

• Gmail encouraging users to enable Enhanced Safe Browsing (9to5google.com)

• Microsoft Expands Cloud Logging to Counter Rising Nation-State Cyber Threats (thehackernews.com)

• 3 Ways AI Could Improve Authentication (darkreading.com)

• Microsoft makes cloud security logs available for free • The Register

• Security Awareness Training Isn’t Working - How Can We Improve It? - SecurityWeek

• The XDR Payoff: Better Security Posture (trendmicro.com)

• API keys: Weaknesses and security best practices | TechTarget

• 10 Steps to Help Secure Your APIs - SecurityWeek

• Threat Actors are Targeting Your Web Applications – Here’s How To Protect Them (bleepingcomputer.com)

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Other News

• Google restricting internet access to some employees for security (cnbc.com)

• Enterprise communication security a growing risk, priority | TechTarget

• Healthcare organisations in the crosshairs of cyber attackers - Help Net Security

• Broadband consumers demand security and sustainability - Help Net Security

• Microsoft Exchange Online hit by new outage blocking emails (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Famed Hacker Kevin Mitnick Dead at 59 - SecurityWeek

• Most CNI Firms Think Climate Tech is Increasing Cyber Risk - Infosecurity Magazine (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Cyber security measures SMBs should implement - Help Net Security

• Satellites Are Rife With Basic Security Flaws | WIRED

• How Hackers Can Hijack a Satellite (darkreading.com)

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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

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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 21 January 2022

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.

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Top Cyber Stories of the Last Week

Cyber Risks Top Worldwide Business Concerns In 2022

Cyber perils are the biggest concern for companies globally in 2022, according to the Allianz Risk Barometer. The threat of ransomware attacks, data breaches or major IT outages worries companies even more than business and supply chain disruption, natural disasters or the COVID-19 pandemic, all of which have heavily affected firms in the past year.

Cyber incidents tops the Allianz Risk Barometer for only the second time in the survey’s history (44% of responses), Business interruption drops to a close second (42%) and Natural catastrophes ranks third (25%), up from sixth in 2021. Climate change climbs to its highest-ever ranking of sixth (17%, up from ninth), while Pandemic outbreak drops to fourth (22%).

The annual survey incorporates the views of 2,650 experts in 89 countries and territories, including CEOs, risk managers, brokers and insurance experts. View the full global and country risk rankings.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2022/01/20/cyber-concern-2022/

Bosses Think That Security Is Taken Care Of: CISOs Aren't So Sure

The World Economic Forum warns about a significant gap in understanding between C-suites and information security staff - but it's possible to close the gap.

Organisations could find themselves at risk from cyberattacks because of a significant gap between the views of their own security experts and the boardroom.

The World Economic Forum's new report, The Global Cyber Security Outlook 2022, warns there are big discrepancies between bosses and information security personnel when it comes to the state of cyber resilience within organisations.

According to the paper, 92% of business executives surveyed agree that cyber resilience is integrated into enterprise risk management strategies – or in other words, protecting the organisation against falling victim to a cyberattack, or mitigating the incident so it doesn't result in significant disruption.

However, only 55% of security-focused executives believe that cyber resilience is integrated into risk management strategies – indicating a significant divide in attitudes to cyber security.

This gap can leave organisations vulnerable to cyberattacks, because boardrooms believe enough has been done in order to mitigate threats, while in reality there could be unconsidered vulnerabilities or extra measures put in place.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/managers-think-their-systems-are-unbreakable-cybersecurity-teams-arent-so-sure/

Fraud Is On the Rise, and It's Going to Get Worse

The acceleration of the digital transformation resulted in a surge of online transactions, greater adoption of digital payments, and increased fraud.

As more daily activities — work, education, shopping, and entertainment — shift online, fraud is also on the rise. A trio of recent reports paint a bleak picture, highlighting concerns that companies are experiencing increasing losses from fraud and that the situation will get worse over the coming year.

In KPMG's survey of senior risk executives, 67% say their companies have experienced external fraud in the past 12 months, and 38% expect the risk of fraud committed by external perpetrators to somewhat increase in the next year. External fraud, which includes credit card fraud and identity theft, is specifically referring to incidents perpetuated by individuals outside the company. For most of these respondents, there was a financial impact: Forty-two percent say their organisations experienced 0.5% to 1% of loss as a result of fraud and cybercrime.

https://www.darkreading.com/edge-articles/fraud-is-on-the-rise-and-its-going-to-get-worse

Two-Fifths of Ransomware Victims Still Paying Up

Two-fifths (39%) of ransomware victims paid their extorters over the past three years, with the majority of these spending at least $100,000, according to new Anomali research.

The security vendor hired The Harris Poll to complete its Cyber Resiliency Survey – interviewing 800 security decision-makers in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, India, New Zealand, the UAE, Mexico and Brazil.

Some 87% said their organisation had been the victim of a successful attack resulting in damage, disruption, or a breach since 2019. However, 83% said they’d experienced more attacks since the start of the pandemic.

Over half (52%) were ransomware victims, with 39% paying up. Of these, 58% gave their attackers between $100,000 and $1m, while 7% handed over more than $1m.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/two-fifths-ransomware-victims/

Less Than a Fifth of Cyber Leaders Feel Confident Their Organisation is Cyber-Resilient

Less than one-fifth (17%) of cyber leaders feel confident that their organisations are cyber-resilient, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s inaugural Global Cyber Security Outlook 2022 report.

The study, written in collaboration with Accenture, revealed there is a wide perception gap between business executives and security leaders on the issue of cyber security. For example, 92% of businesses believe cyber-resilience is integrated into their enterprise risk-management strategies, compared to just 55% of cyber leaders.

This difference in attitude appears to be having worrying consequences. The WEF said that many security leaders feel that they are not consulted in security decisions, and only 68% believe cyber-resilience forms a major part of their organisation’s overall corporate risk management.

In addition, over half (59%) of all cyber leaders admitted they would find it challenging to respond to a cyber security incident due to a shortage of skills within their team.

Supply chain security was another major concern among cyber leaders, with almost nine in 10 (88%) viewing SMEs as a key threat to supply chains.

Interestingly, 59% of cyber leaders said cyber-resilience and cyber security are synonymous, with the differences not well understood.

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/cyber-leaders-organisation/

Endpoint Malware And Ransomware Detections Hit All-Time High

Endpoint malware and ransomware detections surpassed the total volume seen in 2020 by the end of Q3 2021, according to researchers at the WatchGuard Threat Lab. In its latest report, WatchGuard also highlights that a significant percentage of malware continues to arrive over encrypted connections.

While zero-day malware increased by just 3% to 67.2% in Q3 2021, the percentage of malware that arrived via Transport Layer Security (TLS) jumped from 31.6% to 47%. Data shows that many organisations are not decrypting these connections and therefore have poor visibility into the amount of malware hitting their networks.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2022/01/20/endpoint-malware-ransomware-detections-q3-2021/

End Users Remain Organisations' Biggest Security Risk

With the rapid adoption of hybrid working environments and increased attacks, IT and security professionals worry that future data breaches will most likely be the result of end users who are negligent of or break security policy, according to a recent Dark Reading survey. The percentage of respondents in Dark Reading's 2021 Strategic Security Survey who perceive users breaking policy as the biggest risk fell slightly, however, from 51% in 2020 to 48% in 2021. Other potential issues involving end users showed improvements as well, with social engineering falling in concern from 20% to 15% and remote work worries halving from 26% to 13%.

While this trend is positive, it's unclear where the increased confidence comes from, since more people now report ineffective end-user security awareness training (11%, to 2020's 7%).

Respondents shared their heightened concern about well-funded attacks. In 2021, 25% predicted an attack targeted at their organisations (a rise from 2020, when 20% said the same), and fear of a nation-state-sponsored action rose to 16% from 9% the year before. Yet only 16% reported sophisticated, automated malware as a top concern, a 10% drop from 2020, and fear of a gap between security and IT advances only merited 9%. A tiny 3% worried that their security tools wouldn't work well together, dropping from the previous year's 10%.

https://www.darkreading.com/edge-threat-monitor/despite-rise-of-third-party-concerns-end-users-still-the-biggest-security-risk

Supply Chain Disruptions Rose In 2021

56% of businesses experienced more supply chain disruptions in 2021 than 2020, a Hubs report reveals.

Last year was marked by a number of challenges, including computer chip shortages, port congestion, the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, logistics impediments, and energy crises, though with every hurdle faced, solutions are being sought. It is increasingly clear that while certain risks are hard to anticipate and difficult to plan for, it is possible to mitigate the effects of supply chain disruptions by establishing a robust and agile supply chain.

Over 98% of global companies are now planning to boost the resilience of their manufacturing supply chains, however, 37% have yet to implement any measures. As businesses develop long term strategies, over 57% of companies say diversification of their supply chains is the most effective way of building resilience. This report explores last year’s most disruptive events, how disruptions have changed over time, industry trends and strategies for strengthening manufacturing supply chains.

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2022/01/19/supply-chain-disruptions-2021/

Red Cross Begs Attackers Not to Leak Stolen Data for 515K People

A cyber attack forced the Red Cross to shut down IT systems running the Restoring Family Links system, which reunites families fractured by war, disaster or migration. UPDATE: The ICRC says it’s open to confidentially communicating with the attacker.

The Red Cross is imploring threat actors to show mercy by abstaining from leaking data belonging to 515,000+ “highly vulnerable” people. The data was stolen from a program used to reunite family members split apart by war, disaster or migration.

“While we don’t know who is responsible for this attack, or why they carried it out, we do have this appeal to make to them,” Robert Mardini, the director general of the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC), said in a release on Wednesday. “Your actions could potentially cause yet more harm and pain to those who have already endured untold suffering. The real people, the real families behind the information you now have are among the world’s least powerful. Please do the right thing. Do not share, sell, leak or otherwise use this data.”

https://threatpost.com/red-cross-begs-attackers-not-to-leak-515k-peoples-stolen-data/177799/

DHL Dethrones Microsoft As Most Imitated Brand In Phishing Attacks

DHL was the most imitated brand in phishing campaigns throughout Q4 2021, pushing Microsoft to second place, and Google to fourth.

This isn't surprising considering that the final quarter of every year includes the Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas shopping season, so phishing lures based on package deliveries naturally increase.

DHL is an international package delivery and express mail service, delivering over 1.6 billion parcels per year.

As such, phishing campaigns impersonating the brand have good chances of reaching people who are waiting for a DHL package to arrive during the holiday season.

The specific lures range from a package that is stuck at customs and requires action for clearance to supposed tracking numbers that hide inside document attachments or embedded links.

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/dhl-dethrones-microsoft-as-most-imitated-brand-in-phishing-attacks/

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Threats

Ransomware

• New White Rabbit Ransomware Linked To FIN8 Hacking Group (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Conti Ransomware Gang Started Leaking Files Stolen From Bank Indonesia - Security Affairs

• This New Ransomware Comes With A Small But Dangerous Payload | ZDNet

• FBI Warning: This New Ransomware Makes Demands Of Up To $500,000 | ZDNet

• Experts Warn Of Attacks Using A New Linux Variant Of SFile Ransomware - Security Affairs

• SEC Filing Reveals Fortune 500 Firm Targeted in Ransomware Attack | Threatpost

• FBI Warns Organisations of Diavol Ransomware Attacks | SecurityWeek.Com

• Marketing Giant RRD Confirms Data Theft In Conti Ransomware Attack (bleepingcomputer.com)

• After Ransomware Arrests, Some Dark Web Criminals Are Getting Worried | ZDNet

BEC – Business Email Compromise

• Nigerian Authorities Arrest 11 Members of Prolific BEC Fraud Group | SecurityWeek.Com

Phishing

• Phishing Impersonates Shipping Giant Maersk To Push STRRAT Malware (bleepingcomputer.com)

• #COVID19 Phishing Emails Surge 500% on Omicron Concerns - Infosecurity Magazine

• Financially Motivated Earth Lusca Threat Actors Targets Orgs Worldwide - Security Affairs

Malware

• Microsoft Details Recent Damaging Malware Attacks on Ukrainian Organisations (darkreading.com)

• Custom-Written Malware Discovered Across Windows, MacOS, And Linux Systems | TechSpot

• Backdoor RAT for Windows, macOS, and Linux went undetected until now | Ars Technica

• Ukraine: Wiper Malware Masquerading As Ransomware Hits Government Organisations - Help Net Security

• Russian Hackers Heavily Using Malicious Traffic Direction System to Distribute Malware (thehackernews.com)

• Linux Malware Is On The Rise. Here Are Three Top Threats Right Now | ZDNet

• Malware That Can Survive OS Reinstalls Strikes Again, Likely for Cyber Espionage | PCMag

• New MoonBounce UEFI Malware Used By Apt41 In Targeted Attacks (bleepingcomputer.com)

Data Breaches/Leaks

• Exposed Records Exceeded 40 Billion In 2021 - Help Net Security

• European Regulators Hand Out €1.1bn in GDPR Fines - Infosecurity Magazine

Organised Crime & Criminal Actors

• Financially Motivated Earth Lusca Threat Actors Targets Orgs Worldwide - Security Affairs

• A Hacker Is Negotiating With Victims on the Blockchain After $1.4M Heist (vice.com)

• FBI & European Police Take Down Computer Servers Used In Major Cyberattacks Worldwide - CNNPolitics

• Europol Shuts Down VPNLab, Cyber Criminals' Favourite VPN Service (thehackernews.com)

Cryptocurrency/Cryptomining/Cryptojacking

• 2FA Bypassed in $34.6M Crypto.com Heist | Threatpost

• Cyber Criminals Actively Target VMware vSphere with Cryptominers | Threatpost

• New BHUNT Password Stealer Malware Targeting Cryptocurrency Wallets (thehackernews.com)

• Cheap Malware Is Behind A Rise In Attacks On Cryptocurrency Wallets | ZDNet

Insider Risk and Insider Threats

• Research: Why Employees Violate Cyber Security Policies (hbr.org)

• What CISOs Can Learn About Insider Threats From Iran's Human Espionage Tactics | CSO Online

Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime

• How Buy Now, Pay Later Is Being Targeted By Fraudsters - Help Net Security

• Romance Scammer Who Targeted 670 Women Gets 28 Months In Jail – Naked Security (sophos.com)

Insurance

• Merck Awarded $1.4B Insurance Payout over NotPetya Attack | Threatpost

CNI, OT, ICS, IIoT and SCADA

• UK Mulls Making MSPs Subject To Mandatory Security Standards • The Register

• ‘Anomalous’ Spyware Stealing Credentials In Industrial Firms (bleepingcomputer.com)

• European Union Simulated A Cyber Attack On A Fictitious Finnish Power Company - Security Affairs

Nation State Actors

• Ukraine: Recent Cyber Attacks Part of Wider Plot to Sabotage Critical Infrastructure (thehackernews.com)

• Ukraine Cyber Attack Timeline: Microsoft, CISA, White House and Kyiv Statements - MSSP Alert

• Chinese Hackers Spotted Using New UEFI Firmware Implant in Targeted Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Security Scanners Across Europe Tied To China Govt, Military | AP News

Cloud

• Attackers Use Public Cloud Providers To Spread RATs | CSO Online

Privacy

• UK.Gov's No Place To Hide campaign flops on launch • The Register

Passwords & Credential Stuffing

• Your Keyboard Walking Password Isn’t Complex Or Secure – Review Geek

• Box Flaw Allowed To Bypass MFA And Takeover Accounts - Security Affairs

Spyware, Espionage & Cyber Warfare

• Malware That Can Survive OS Reinstalls Strikes Again, Likely for Cyber Espionage | PCMag

Vulnerabilities

• CISA Adds 13 Exploited Vulnerabilities To List, 9 with Feb. 1 Remediation Date | ZDNet

• Microsoft RDP Vulnerability Makes It A Breeze For Attackers To Become Men-In-The-Middle - TechRepublic

• High-Severity Vulnerabilities Patched in McAfee Enterprise Product | SecurityWeek.Com

• Cisco Releases Patch for Critical Bug Affecting Unified CCMP and Unified CCDM (thehackernews.com)

• A bug in McAfee Agent allows to run code with SYSTEM privileges - Security Affairs

• Zoho Fixes A Critical Vulnerability (CVE-2021-44757) in Desktop Central - Security Affairs

• Ubuntu Patch For Heap Buffer Overflow Vulnerability • The Register

• Google Details Two Zero-Day Bugs Reported in Zoom Clients and MMR Servers (thehackernews.com)

• Hackers Attempt to Exploit New SolarWinds Serv-U Bug in Log4Shell Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• F5 Patches Two Dozen Vulnerabilities in BIG-IP | SecurityWeek.Com

• McAfee Bug Can Be Exploited to Gain Windows SYSTEM Privileges | Threatpost

• Oracle Critical Patch Update for January 2022 will fix 483 new flaws - Security Affairs

• 20K WordPress Sites Exposed by Insecure Plugin REST-API | Threatpost

• Nasty Linux Kernel Bug Found And Fixed | ZDNet

• Cisco Issues Patch for Critical RCE Vulnerability in RCM for StarOS Software (thehackernews.com)

• Critical Bugs in Control Web Panel Expose Linux Servers to RCE Attacks (thehackernews.com)

• Critical SAP Vulnerability Allows Supply Chain Attacks | SecurityWeek.Com

• Zoho Plugs Another Critical Security Hole In Desktop Central (bleepingcomputer.com)

• Safari Exploit Can Leak Browser Histories And Google Account Info | Engadget

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Sector Specific

Financial Services Sector

• Singapore Pushed To Introduce Security Measures Amidst Online Banking Scams | ZDNet

Health/Medical/Pharma Sector

• More Than Half Of Medical Devices Found To Have Critical Vulnerabilities | ZDNet

• Additional Healthcare Firms Disclose Impact From Netgain Ransomware Attack | SecurityWeek.Com

Retail

• PCI SSC Updates Card Security Standards To Secure The Card Production Process - Help Net Security

Education and Academia

• Kids Won’t Stop Launching DDoS Attacks Against Their Schools | TechRadar

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Other News

• Biggest MSP Takeaways From The Apache Log4j Vulnerability - MSSP Alert

• The Emotional Stages Of A Data Breach: How To Deal With Panic, Anger, And Guilt | CSO Online

• The Log4j Vulnerability Puts Pressure on the Security World | Threatpost

• Hackers Planted Secret Backdoor in Dozens of WordPress Plugins and Themes (thehackernews.com)

• BadUSB explained: How rogue USBs threaten your organisation | CSO Online

• Millions of UK Wi-Fi Routers Vulnerable To Security Threats - IT Security Guru

• NATO, Ukraine Sign Deal to 'Deepen' Cyber Cooperation | SecurityWeek.Com

• UK Umbrella Company Parasol Group Confirms Cyber Attack • The Register

• MPs Criticise Cyber Agency For Not Aiding China Rights Group After It Was Hacked | China | The Guardian

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