Monthly Archives: September 2021

Security

AA21-265A: Conti Ransomware

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This post was originally published on this site

Original release date: September 22, 2021

Summary

Immediate Actions You Can Take Now to Protect Against Conti Ransomware
• Use multi-factor authentication.
• Segment and segregate networks and functions.
• Update your operating system and software.

Note: This Alert uses the MITRE Adversarial Tactics, Techniques, and Common Knowledge (ATT&CK®) framework, version 9. See the ATT&CK for Enterprise for all referenced threat actor tactics and techniques.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have observed the increased use of Conti ransomware in more than 400 attacks on U.S. and international organizations. In typical Conti ransomware attacks, malicious cyber actors steal files, encrypt servers and workstations, and demand a ransom payment. 

To secure systems against Conti ransomware, CISA, FBI, and the National Security Agency (NSA) recommend implementing the mitigation measures described in this Advisory, which include requiring multi-factor authentication (MFA), implementing network segmentation, and keeping operating systems and software up to date.

Click here for a PDF version of this report.

Click here for indicators of compromise (IOCs) in STIX format.

Technical Details

While Conti is considered a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) model ransomware variant, there is variation in its structure that differentiates it from a typical affiliate model. It is likely that Conti developers pay the deployers of the ransomware a wage rather than a percentage of the proceeds used by affiliate cyber actors and receives a share of the proceeds from a successful attack. 

Conti actors often gain initial access [TA0001] to networks through:

  • Spearphishing campaigns using tailored emails that contain malicious attachments [T1566.001] or malicious links [T1566.002];
    • Malicious Word attachments often contain embedded scripts that can be used to download or drop other malware—such as TrickBot and IcedID, and/or Cobalt Strike—to assist with lateral movement and later stages of the attack life cycle with the eventual goal of deploying Conti ransomware. [1],[2],[3]
  • Stolen or weak Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) credentials [T1078].[4]
  • Phone calls;
  • Fake software promoted via search engine optimization;
  • Other malware distribution networks (e.g., ZLoader); and
  • Common vulnerabilities in external assets.

In the execution phase [TA0002], actors run a getuid payload before using a more aggressive payload to reduce the risk of triggering antivirus engines. CISA and FBI have observed Conti actors using Router Scan, a penetration testing tool, to maliciously scan for and brute force [T1110] routers, cameras, and network-attached storage devices with web interfaces. Additionally, actors use Kerberos attacks [T1558.003] to attempt to get the Admin hash to conduct brute force attacks.

Conti actors are known to exploit legitimate remote monitoring and management software and remote desktop software as backdoors to maintain persistence [TA0003] on victim networks.[5] The actors use tools already available on the victim network—and, as needed, add additional tools, such as Windows Sysinternals and Mimikatz—to obtain users’ hashes and clear-text credentials, which enable the actors to escalate privileges [TA0004] within a domain and perform other post-exploitation and lateral movement tasks [TA0008]. In some cases, the actors also use TrickBot malware to carry out post-exploitation tasks.

According to a recently leaked threat actor “playbook,” [6] Conti actors also exploit vulnerabilities in unpatched assets, such as the following, to escalate privileges [TA0004] and move laterally [TA0008] across a victim’s network:

  • 2017 Microsoft Windows Server Message Block 1.0 server vulnerabilities; [7]
  • “PrintNightmare” vulnerability (CVE-2021-34527) in Windows Print spooler [8] service; and
  • “Zerologon” vulnerability (CVE-2020-1472) in Microsoft Active Directory Domain Controller systems.[9]

Artifacts leaked with the playbook identify four Cobalt Strike server Internet Protocol (IP) addresses Conti actors previously used to communicate with their command and control (C2) server.

  • 162.244.80[.]235
  • 85.93.88[.]165
  • 185.141.63[.]120
  • 82.118.21[.]1

CISA and FBI have observed Conti actors using different Cobalt Strike server IP addresses unique to different victims.

Conti actors often use the open-source Rclone command line program for data exfiltration [TA0010]. After the actors steal and encrypt the victim’s sensitive data [T1486], they employ a double extortion technique in which they demand the victim pay a ransom for the release of the encrypted data and threaten the victim with public release of the data if the ransom is not paid.

MITRE ATT&CK Techniques

Conti ransomware uses the ATT&CK techniques listed in table 1.

Table 1: Conti ATT&CK techniques for enterprise
Initial Access
Technique Title ID Use
Valid Accounts T1078 Conti actors have been observed gaining unauthorized access to victim networks through stolen Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) credentials. 
Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment  T1566.001 Conti ransomware can be delivered using TrickBot malware, which is known to use an email with an Excel sheet containing a malicious macro to deploy the malware.
Phishing: Spearphishing Link  T1566.002 Conti ransomware can be delivered using TrickBot, which has been delivered via malicious links in phishing emails.
Execution
Technique Title ID Use
Command and Scripting Interpreter: Windows Command Shell  T1059.003 Conti ransomware can utilize command line options to allow an attacker control over how it scans and encrypts files.
Native Application Programming Interface (API)  T1106 Conti ransomware has used API calls during execution.
Persistence
Technique Title ID Use
Valid Accounts T1078 Conti actors have been observed gaining unauthorized access to victim networks through stolen RDP credentials. 
External Remote Services T1133 Adversaries may leverage external-facing remote services to initially access and/or persist within a network. Remote services such as virtual private networks (VPNs), Citrix, and other access mechanisms allow users to connect to internal enterprise network resources from external locations. There are often remote service gateways that manage connections and credential authentication for these services. Services such as Windows Remote Management can also be used externally.
Privilege Escalation
Technique Title ID Use
Process Injection: Dynamic-link Library Injection T1055.001 Conti ransomware has loaded an encrypted dynamic-link library (DLL) into memory and then executes it. 
Defense Evasion
Technique Title ID Use
Obfuscated Files or Information  T1027 Conti ransomware has encrypted DLLs and used obfuscation to hide Windows API calls.
Process Injection: Dynamic-link Library Injection T1055.001 Conti ransomware has loaded an encrypted DLL into memory and then executes it.
Deobfuscate/Decode Files or Information  T1140 Conti ransomware has decrypted its payload using a hardcoded AES-256 key.
Credential Access
Technique Title ID Use
Brute Force T1110 Conti actors use legitimate tools to maliciously scan for and brute force routers, cameras, and network-attached storage devices with web interfaces.
Steal or Forge Kerberos Tickets: Kerberoasting T1558.003 Conti actors use Kerberos attacks to attempt to get the Admin hash.
System Network Configuration Discovery  T1016 Conti ransomware can retrieve the ARP cache from the local system by using the GetIpNetTable() API call and check to ensure IP addresses it connects to are for local, non-internet systems.
System Network Connections Discovery  T1049 Conti ransomware can enumerate routine network connections from a compromised host.
Process Discovery T1057 Conti ransomware can enumerate through all open processes to search for any that have the string sql in their process name.
File and Directory Discovery  T1083 Conti ransomware can discover files on a local system.
Network Share Discovery T1135 Conti ransomware can enumerate remote open server message block (SMB) network shares using NetShareEnum().
Lateral Movement
Technique Title ID Use
Remote Services: SMB/Windows Admin Shares  T1021.002 Conti ransomware can spread via SMB and encrypts files on different hosts, potentially compromising an entire network.
Taint Shared Content T1080 Conti ransomware can spread itself by infecting other remote machines via network shared drives.
Impact
Technique Title ID Use
Data Encrypted for Impact T1486 Conti ransomware can use CreateIoCompletionPort(), PostQueuedCompletionStatus(), and GetQueuedCompletionPort() to rapidly encrypt files, excluding those with the extensions of .exe, .dll, and .lnk. It has used a different AES-256 encryption key per file with a bundled RAS-4096 public encryption key that is unique for each victim. Conti ransomware can use “Windows Restart Manager” to ensure files are unlocked and open for encryption.
Service Stop T1489 Conti ransomware can stop up to 146 Windows services related to security, backup, database, and email solutions through the use of net stop.
Inhibit System Recovery T1490 Conti ransomware can delete Windows Volume Shadow Copies using vssadmin.

Mitigations

CISA, FBI, and NSA recommend that network defenders apply the following mitigations to reduce the risk of compromise by Conti ransomware attacks.

Use multi-factor authentication.

Implement network segmentation and filter traffic.

  • Implement and ensure robust network segmentation between networks and functions to reduce the spread of the ransomware. Define a demilitarized zone that eliminates unregulated communication between networks.
  • Filter network traffic to prohibit ingress and egress communications with known malicious IP addresses. 
  • Enable strong spam filters to prevent phishing emails from reaching end users. Implement a user training program to discourage users from visiting malicious websites or opening malicious attachments. Filter emails containing executable files to prevent them from reaching end users.
  • Implement a URL blocklist and/or allowlist to prevent users from accessing malicious websites.

Scan for vulnerabilities and keep software updated. 

  • Set antivirus/antimalware programs to conduct regular scans of network assets using up-to-date signatures. 
  • Upgrade software and operating systems, applications, and firmware on network assets in a timely manner. Consider using a centralized patch management system. 

Remove unnecessary applications and apply controls.

  • Remove any application not deemed necessary for day-to-day operations. Conti threat actors leverage legitimate applications—such as remote monitoring and management software and remote desktop software applications—to aid in the malicious exploitation of an organization’s enterprise. 
  • Investigate any unauthorized software, particularly remote desktop or remote monitoring and management software.
  • Implement application allowlisting, which only allows systems to execute programs known and permitted by the organization’s security policy. Implement software restriction policies (SRPs) or other controls to prevent programs from executing from common ransomware locations, such as temporary folders supporting popular internet browsers or compression/decompression programs.
  • Implement execution prevention by disabling macro scripts from Microsoft Office files transmitted via email. Consider using Office Viewer software to open Microsoft Office files transmitted via email instead of full Microsoft Office suite applications.
  • See the joint Alert, Publicly Available Tools Seen in Cyber Incidents Worldwide—developed by CISA and the cybersecurity authorities of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom—for guidance on detection and protection against malicious use of publicly available tools.

Implement endpoint and detection response tools. 

  • Endpoint and detection response tools allow a high degree of visibility into the security status of endpoints and can help effectively protect against malicious cyber actors. 

Limit access to resources over the network, especially by restricting RDP. 

  • After assessing risks, if RDP is deemed operationally necessary, restrict the originating sources and require multi-factor authentication.

Secure user accounts.

  • Regularly audit administrative user accounts and configure access controls under the principles of least privilege and separation of duties.
  • Regularly audit logs to ensure new accounts are legitimate users.

Review CISA’s APTs Targeting IT Service Provider Customers guidance for additional mitigations specific to IT Service Providers and their customers.

Use the Ransomware Response Checklist in case of infection.

If a ransomware incident occurs at your organization, CISA, FBI, and NSA recommend the following actions:

CISA, FBI, and NSA strongly discourage paying a ransom to criminal actors. Paying a ransom may embolden adversaries to target additional organizations, encourage other criminal actors to engage in the distribution of ransomware, and/or may fund illicit activities. Paying the ransom also does not guarantee that a victim’s files will be recovered.

Additional Resources

Free Cyber Hygiene Services

CISA offers a range of no-cost cyber hygiene services to help organizations assess, identify, and reduce their exposure to threats, including ransomware. By requesting these services, organizations of any size could find ways to reduce their risk and mitigate attack vectors.

StopRansomware.gov 

The StopRansomware.gov webpage is an interagency resource that provides guidance on ransomware protection, detection, and response. This includes ransomware alerts, reports, and resources from CISA and other federal partners, including:

Rewards for Justice Reporting

The U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program offers a reward of up to $10 million for reports of foreign government malicious activity against U.S. critical infrastructure. See the RFJ website for more information and how to report information securely.

Contact Information

To report suspicious or criminal activity related to information found in this Joint Cybersecurity Advisory, contact your local FBI field office at www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices, or the FBI’s 24/7 Cyber Watch (CyWatch) at (855) 292-3937 or by e-mail at CyWatch@fbi.gov. When available, please include the following information regarding the incident: date, time, and location of the incident; type of activity; number of people affected; type of equipment used for the activity; the name of the submitting company or organization; and a designated point of contact. If you have any further questions related to this Joint Cybersecurity Advisory, or to request incident response resources or technical assistance related to these threats, contact CISA at CISAServiceDesk@cisa.dhs.gov. For NSA client requirements or general cybersecurity inquiries, contact the NSA Cybersecurity Requirements Center at 410-854-4200 or Cybersecurity_Requests@nsa.gov.

References

Revisions

  • September 22, 2021: Initial Version

This product is provided subject to this Notification and this Privacy & Use policy.

Security

AA21-259A: APT Actors Exploiting Newly Identified Vulnerability in ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus

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This post was originally published on this site

Original release date: September 16, 2021

Summary

This Joint Cybersecurity Advisory uses the MITRE Adversarial Tactics, Techniques, and Common Knowledge (ATT&CK®) framework, Version 8. See the ATT&CK for Enterprise for  referenced threat actor tactics and for techniques.

This joint advisory is the result of analytic efforts between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), United States Coast Guard Cyber Command (CGCYBER), and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to highlight the cyber threat associated with active exploitation of a newly identified vulnerability (CVE-2021-40539) in ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus—a self-service password management and single sign-on solution.

CVE-2021-40539, rated critical by the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS), is an authentication bypass vulnerability affecting representational state transfer (REST) application programming interface (API) URLs that could enable remote code execution. The FBI, CISA, and CGCYBER assess that advanced persistent threat (APT) cyber actors are likely among those exploiting the vulnerability. The exploitation of ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus poses a serious risk to critical infrastructure companies, U.S.-cleared defense contractors, academic institutions, and other entities that use the software. Successful exploitation of the vulnerability allows an attacker to place webshells, which enable the adversary to conduct post-exploitation activities, such as compromising administrator credentials, conducting lateral movement, and exfiltrating registry hives and Active Directory files.

Zoho ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus build 6114, which Zoho released on September 6, 2021, fixes CVE-2021-40539. FBI, CISA, and CGCYBER strongly urge users and administrators to update to ADSelfService Plus build 6114. Additionally, FBI, CISA, and CGCYBER strongly urge organizations ensure ADSelfService Plus is not directly accessible from the internet.

The FBI, CISA, and CGCYBER have reports of malicious cyber actors using exploits against CVE-2021-40539 to gain access [T1190] to ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus, as early as August 2021. The actors have been observed using various tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), including:

  • Frequently writing webshells [T1505.003] to disk for initial persistence
  • Obfuscating and Deobfuscating/Decoding Files or Information  [T1027 and T1140]
  • Conducting further operations to dump user credentials [T1003]
  • Living off the land by only using signed Windows binaries for follow-on actions [T1218]
  • Adding/deleting user accounts as needed [T1136]
  • Stealing copies of the Active Directory database (NTDS.dit) [T1003.003] or registry hives
  • Using Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) for remote execution [T1047]
  • Deleting files to remove indicators from the host [T1070.004]
  • Discovering domain accounts with the net Windows command [1087.002]
  • Using Windows utilities to collect and archive files for exfiltration [T1560.001]
  • Using custom symmetric encryption for command and control (C2) [T1573.001]

The FBI, CISA, and CGCYBER are proactively investigating and responding to this malicious cyber activity.

  • FBI is leveraging specially trained cyber squads in each of its 56 field offices and CyWatch, the FBI’s 24/7 operations center and watch floor, which provides around-the-clock support to track incidents and communicate with field offices across the country and partner agencies.
  • CISA offers a range of no-cost cyber hygiene services to help organizations assess, identify, and reduce their exposure to threats. By requesting these services, organizations of any size could find ways to reduce their risk and mitigate attack vectors.
  • CGCYBER has deployable elements that provide cyber capability to marine transportation system critical infrastructure in proactive defense or response to incidents.

Sharing technical and/or qualitative information with the FBI, CISA, and CGCYBER helps empower and amplify our capabilities as federal partners to collect and share intelligence and engage with victims while working to unmask and hold accountable, those conducting malicious cyber activities. See the Contact section below for details.

Click here for a PDF version of this report.

Technical Details

Successful compromise of ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus, via exploitation of CVE-2021-40539, allows the attacker to upload a .zip file containing a JavaServer Pages (JSP) webshell masquerading as an x509 certificate: service.cer. Subsequent requests are then made to different API endpoints to further exploit the victim’s system.

After the initial exploitation, the JSP webshell is accessible at /help/admin-guide/Reports/ReportGenerate.jsp. The attacker then attempts to move laterally using Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI), gain access to a domain controller, dump NTDS.dit and SECURITY/SYSTEM registry hives, and then, from there, continues the compromised access.

Confirming a successful compromise of ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus may be difficult—the attackers run clean-up scripts designed to remove traces of the initial point of compromise and hide any relationship between exploitation of the vulnerability and the webshell.

Targeted Sectors

APT cyber actors have targeted academic institutions, defense contractors, and critical infrastructure entities in multiple industry sectors—including transportation, IT, manufacturing, communications, logistics, and finance. Illicitly obtained access and information may disrupt company operations and subvert U.S. research in multiple sectors.

Indicators of Compromise

Hashes:

068d1b3813489e41116867729504c40019ff2b1fe32aab4716d429780e666324
49a6f77d380512b274baff4f78783f54cb962e2a8a5e238a453058a351fcfbba

File paths:

C:ManageEngineADSelfService Pluswebappsadssphelpadmin-guidereportsReportGenerate.jsp
C:ManageEngineADSelfService Pluswebappsadssphtmlpromotionadap.jsp
C:ManageEngineADSelfService PlusworkCatalinalocalhostROOTorgapachejsphelp
C:ManageEngineADSelfService PlusjrebinSelfSe~1.key (filename varies with an epoch timestamp of creation, extension may vary as well)
C:ManageEngineADSelfService PluswebappsadsspCertificatesSelfService.csr
C:ManageEngineADSelfService Plusbinservice.cer
C:UsersPubliccustom.txt
C:UsersPubliccustom.bat
C:ManageEngineADSelfService PlusworkCatalinalocalhostROOTorgapachejsphelp (including subdirectories and contained files)

Webshell URL Paths:

/help/admin-guide/Reports/ReportGenerate.jsp

/html/promotion/adap.jsp

Check log files located at C:ManageEngineADSelfService Pluslogs for evidence of successful exploitation of the ADSelfService Plus vulnerability:

  • In access* logs:
    • /help/admin-guide/Reports/ReportGenerate.jsp
    • /ServletApi/../RestApi/LogonCustomization
    • /ServletApi/../RestAPI/Connection
  • In serverOut_* logs:
    • Keystore will be created for "admin"
    • The status of keystore creation is Upload!
  • In adslog* logs:
    • Java traceback errors that include references to NullPointerException in addSmartCardConfig or getSmartCardConfig

TTPs:

  • WMI for lateral movement and remote code execution (wmic.exe)
  • Using plaintext credentials acquired from compromised ADSelfService Plus host
  • Using pg_dump.exe to dump ManageEngine databases
  • Dumping NTDS.dit and SECURITY/SYSTEM/NTUSER registry hives
  • Exfiltration through webshells
  • Post-exploitation activity conducted with compromised U.S. infrastructure
  • Deleting specific, filtered log lines

Yara Rules:

rule ReportGenerate_jsp {
   strings:
      $s1 = “decrypt(fpath)”
      $s2 = “decrypt(fcontext)”
      $s3 = “decrypt(commandEnc)”
      $s4 = “upload failed!”
      $s5 = “sevck”
      $s6 = “newid”
   condition:
      filesize < 15KB and 4 of them
}

 

rule EncryptJSP {
   strings:
      $s1 = “AEScrypt”
      $s2 = “AES/CBC/PKCS5Padding”
      $s3 = “SecretKeySpec”
      $s4 = “FileOutputStream”
      $s5 = “getParameter”
      $s6 = “new ProcessBuilder”
      $s7 = “new BufferedReader”
      $s8 = “readLine()”
   condition:
      filesize < 15KB and 6 of them
}

Mitigations

Organizations that identify any activity related to ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus indicators of compromise within their networks should take action immediately.

Zoho ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus build 6114, which Zoho released on September 6, 2021, fixes CVE-2021-40539. FBI, CISA, and CGCYBER strongly urge users and administrators to update to ADSelfService Plus build 6114. Additionally, FBI, CISA, and CGCYBER strongly urge organizations ensure ADSelfService Plus is not directly accessible from the internet.

Additionally, FBI, CISA, and CGCYBER strongly recommend domain-wide password resets and double Kerberos Ticket Granting Ticket (TGT) password resets if any indication is found that the NTDS.dit file was compromised.

Actions for Affected Organizations

Immediately report as an incident to CISA or the FBI (refer to Contact Information section below) the existence of any of the following:

  • Identification of indicators of compromise as outlined above.
  • Presence of webshell code on compromised ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus servers.
  • Unauthorized access to or use of accounts.
  • Evidence of lateral movement by malicious actors with access to compromised systems.
  • Other indicators of unauthorized access or compromise.

Contact Information

Recipients of this report are encouraged to contribute any additional information that they may have related to this threat.

For any questions related to this report or to report an intrusion and request resources for incident response or technical assistance, please contact:

  • To report suspicious or criminal activity related to information found in this Joint Cybersecurity Advisory, contact your local FBI field office at https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices, or the FBI’s 24/7 Cyber Watch (CyWatch) at (855) 292-3937 or by e-mail at CyWatch@fbi.gov. When available, please include the following information regarding the incident: date, time, and location of the incident; type of activity; number of people affected; type of equipment used for the activity; the name of the submitting company or organization; and a designated point of contact.
  • To request incident response resources or technical assistance related to these threats, contact CISA at Central@cisa.gov.
  • To report cyber incidents to the Coast Guard pursuant to 33 CFR Subchapter H, Part 101.305 please contact the USCG National Response Center (NRC) Phone: 1-800-424-8802, email: NRC@uscg.mil.

Revisions

  • September 16, 2021: Initial Version

This product is provided subject to this Notification and this Privacy & Use policy.