Daily Brief

Cacti has patched 12 security issues, including two critical vulnerabilities allowing arbitrary code execution. Flaws primarily affect all Cacti versions up to and including 1.2.26, resolved in the recently released version 1.2.27. The two most severe vulnerabilities involve potential SQL injection and file inclusion attacks. Additional critical vulnerabilities previously identified have led to active exploitations, enabling attackers to use Cacti servers to distribute botnet malware. Users are urged to upgrade to the latest version to prevent exploitation, particularly due to publicly available proof-of-concept exploits. The ongoing vulnerability management underscores the importance of regular updates and monitoring in safeguarding network frameworks from emerging threats.

Organizations often skip conducting comprehensive risk assessments before implementing advanced authentication, leaving vulnerabilities unaddressed. Failure to integrate authentication systems properly with existing infrastructure, especially legacy systems, can lead to compatibility issues and security gaps. Reliance on single-factor authentication does not meet current security standards; multifactor authentication is necessary for adequate protection. Overlooking the user experience in authentication design can lead to frustration and poor compliance, jeopardizing the system's effectiveness. Regular monitoring of authentication activities and user behavior is crucial, but often neglected, which hinders the detection of potential threats. Educational programs for users on the importance and use of advanced authentication methods are inadequate, increasing the risk of security breaches. Implementing role-based access controls (RBAC) to ensure that users access only the data and applications necessary for their roles helps in minimizing insider threats.

Cybersecurity researchers have identified an ongoing social engineering scam aimed at enterprise environments. The attackers bombard potential victims with spam emails and follow up with phone calls, posing as the company’s IT support. Impacted users are tricked into installing remote desktop software supposedly to resolve email issues, granting attackers remote access. Once in, threat actors download additional malicious payloads including scripts to establish links with command-and-control servers. The campaign has involved tools like AnyDesk, ConnectWise ScreenConnect, and NetSupport RAT, referencing overlaps with known ransomware groups like Black Basta and FIN7. Although no deployment of ransomware was observed in the studied incidents, the tactics align with those used in broader ransomware and malvertising campaigns. Also mentioned in related research, a new LockBit Black ransomware campaign leverages the Phorpiex botnet to spread high volumes of malicious emails.

Chris Cheyne, SOC Director at SecurityHQ, draws parallels between medieval castle defenses and modern cybersecurity strategies. Cheyne emphasizes the importance of breaking down cyber risks into their components to effectively identify weaknesses. Many organizations fail to fully grasp the scope and potential impact of cybersecurity risks on their operations. The need for a data-driven strategy in cybersecurity risk management is highlighted as being crucial for today's fast-evolving threat environment. Cheyne advocates for quantifying risks, understanding their actual impacts, and determining specific adversary threats. He proposes using a "risk centre" as a central platform to manage and prioritize actions to mitigate cybersecurity risks. SecurityHQ offers round-the-clock managed services including defense, risk management, and security to address these needs.

NHS Digital has issued a warning about active exploits targeting Arcserve UDP software vulnerabilities. Proof of Concept (PoC) code for these vulnerabilities was released by Tenable a day after their initial disclosure in March. The vulnerabilities include a critical authentication bypass, path traversal bug, and a denial of service issue, with CVSS scores up to 9.8. Arcserve UDP is extensively used for data protection and disaster recovery, raising significant concerns about the impact of these vulnerabilities. Despite the urgency, specific details about the observed exploitations or the timing of attacks remain undisclosed. NHS has strongly recommended that organizations patch their systems as advised in Arcserve's published security advisory. The Centre for Cybersecurity Belgium has labeled the threats as critical, urging immediate action to patch and monitor systems for potential intrusions. There has been no response from Arcserve regarding whether their customers have been notified about these exploit attempts.

Google urgently updated Chrome to address a high-severity zero-day vulnerability, CVE-2024-4761, affecting its V8 JavaScript engine. This vulnerability, an out-of-bounds write issue, could allow unauthorized data access or arbitrary code execution. The flaw was publicly disclosed as being actively exploited in the wild. This is the sixth zero-day vulnerability in Chrome reported and patched in 2024. Google has already provided fixes via Chrome versions 124.0.6367.207/.208 for Mac/Windows and 124.0.6367.207 for Linux. Chrome users are urged to verify they are using the latest version by checking in the browser's settings and applying updates if needed. Details on the bug and the exploit remain restricted to prevent widespread misuse and allow users time to update. An anonymous researcher initially reported this specific vulnerability to Google on May 9, 2024.

Apple and Google introduced a new feature across iOS and Android platforms to alert users about unauthorized Bluetooth tracking devices. The feature, called "Detecting Unwanted Location Trackers" (DULT), is aimed at enhancing user privacy by preventing the misuse of Bluetooth trackers such as AirTags. Users will receive notifications if any unidentified Bluetooth tracking devices are detected moving with them over time, with options to identify and disable these devices. The initiative also includes guidelines and best practices for manufacturers to integrate similar safety features in their products. This development responds to increasing concerns and legal actions regarding the use of such trackers for malicious purposes like stalking. Additionally, this rollout coincides with Apple’s implementation of security updates, including a backported fix for a critical vulnerability (CVE-2024-23296) affecting kernel memory protections. Both tech giants emphasized the industry-first nature of this cross-platform solution and its design that incorporates community and industry input.

Apple has updated older iPhone and iPad models with security patches to address an exploited iOS Kernel zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2024-23296). The zero-day is a memory corruption issue within Apple's RTKit OS, giving attackers expansive kernel access to bypass memory protections. Originally fixed in March for newer devices, the patches are now backported to models including iPhone 8, iPhone X, and certain iPad generations. Although explicit details of the attacks using this vulnerability are undisclosed, such zero-days are often leveraged in state-sponsored espionage against high-risk individuals. Users of older devices are urged to update immediately to prevent potential exploits. In total, Apple has addressed three zero-days so far in 2024, with additional WebKit vulnerabilities patched earlier in the year. The latest iOS update also introduces alerts to inform users of potentially unwanted Bluetooth device tracking.

A new malicious package on the Python Package Index (PyPI) mimics the popular 'requests' library to deliver the Sliver C2 framework to macOS systems. The package, named 'requests-darwin-lite,' uses steganography in a PNG file to covertly install the Sliver payload, which was designed for red team operations and is increasingly adopted by hackers. The attack checks the system's UUID during installation to ensure the payload is delivered to specific targeted macOS devices. Once confirmed, the malicious PNG file executes, releasing the Sliver framework that then runs in the background of the system. Sliver was essentially used for red team operations but has seen a rise in criminal use for network breaches and ransomware attacks since 2022. Following detection by Phylum, the harmful versions of the package were removed from PyPI, although newer versions appeared clean, suggesting targeted rather than widespread attacks. The use of Sliver and techniques like steganography highlights the growing sophistication of cyber threats targeting various operating systems and platforms.

The FCC has designated "Royal Tiger" as its first official robocall threat actor, striving to enhance tracking and legal action against the group. Royal Tiger operates in multiple countries, including India, the UK, UAE, and the US, and has been involved in robocall scams impersonating government bodies and offering fake services. Led by Prince Jashvantlal Anand and Kaushal Bhavsar, this group controls several entities that manage illegal robocall operations in the US. Royal Tiger routed its calls through Great Choice Telecom in Texas, a firm previously hit with heavy fines and regulatory actions for illegal activities. The group's activities are part of a broader FCC initiative, the 'Consumer Communications Information Services Threat' system, which aims to identify and diminish telecom abuse. Enforcement measures might include cease-and-desist orders, removal from databases, and forfeiture orders, depending on the severity of offenses. The FCC encourages reporting of any violations tied to Royal Tiger through new communication channels to improve regulatory responses. Scams like those propagated by Royal Tiger resulted in massive financial losses, particularly hitting the military personnel and senior citizens hard in impostor scams.

"Salfetka," a cybercriminal, is reportedly selling the INC Ransom source code for $300,000 on prominent hacking forums. INC Ransomware, launched in August 2023, has attacked major organizations including the U.S. division of Xerox Business Solutions and Scotland's National Health Service. The sale includes both Windows and Linux/ESXi versions, with purchase limited to three buyers, according to details from KELA via BleepingComputer. The source code's advanced encryption techniques (AES-128 in CTR mode, Curve25519 Donna) match those in public analyses of INC samples. INC Ransom's operational changes and the establishment of a new data leak site suggest potential shifts in leadership or strategy within the ransomware group. KELA analysts suggest that the new site and victim discrepancies indicate a possible split or leadership change within the INC operation. The new extortion page's design similarity to Hunters International raises questions about affiliations between ransomware operations. Private sale of uncrackable ransomware source code could pose increased threats globally, especially the sophisticated Linux/ESXi version.

Christie's auction house website became inaccessible following a "technology security issue" identified last Thursday, days before hosting an auction showcasing $840 million worth of art. The incident, described as a cyberattack, prompted Christie's to redirect visitors to a temporary website while efforts to restore the main site continue. There's currently no evidence that customer data was compromised. Despite the cyberattack, Christie's confirmed that their high-profile art auction would proceed as scheduled using in-person and telephone bidding methods. This cybersecurity issue follows less than a year after Christie's faced criticism for inadvertently exposing location data of high-end art owners through their website. The broader context includes a spike in cyberattacks globally, targeting diverse organizations from Europol to the Ohio Lottery. Such incidents were a significant topic at the recent RSA Conference, emphasizing the need for enhanced product security. US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Jen Easterly highlighted the importance of holding technology manufacturers accountable to reduce the frequency and impact of cyberattacks.

A significant LockBit Black ransomware campaign has been initiated through the Phorpiex botnet, dispersing millions of phishing emails. The campaign started in April and utilizes ZIP file attachments that contain malware executables to deliver the LockBit Black payload. These emails are misleadingly titled with common phrases such as "your document" and "photo of you???" sent from aliases like Jenny Brown and Jenny Green, originating from over 1,500 unique IP addresses globally. Upon executing the malware, it attempts to steal sensitive data, terminate various services, and encrypts files which could lead to potential data loss and service disruption. Proofpoint discovered this vast scale attack, noting its uniqueness due to the volume of emails sent and the utilization of ransomware as its primary payload. The Phorpiex botnet, which has facilitated these attacks, has been involved in various cybercriminal activities over a decade, adapting over time to include more sophisticated criminal tools. NJCCIC advises businesses to implement strong ransomware mitigation and endpoint security strategies, including the use of effective email filtering to preclude these phishing attempts.

Since April, millions of phishing emails have been used to distribute LockBit Black ransomware via the Phorpiex botnet. New Jersey's Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell (NJCCIC) identified ZIP attachments in emails as the primary method for delivering the ransomware. Attackers used fake sender names and targeted global victims, employing over 1,500 unique IP addresses from multiple countries. The LockBit Black campaign uses a builder leaked in September 2022 and is not affiliated with the official LockBit ransomware operation. The ransomware encrypts and steals data, and terminates services on infected systems upon execution. Proofpoint observed this "spray-and-pray" tactic intensely over a week, noting these were the first observed instances of LockBit Black linked to Phorpiex. Phorpiex botnet, known for over a decade, has evolved significantly, affecting over 1 million devices and recently engaging in cryptocurrency theft. NJCCIC recommends implementing risk mitigation strategies and using endpoint and email filtering solutions to defend against such phishing attacks.

Multiple US security agencies issued advisories on Black Basta after it claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on Ascension. Ascension's operations have been severely disrupted, causing ambulance diversions and reliance on manual systems. The ransomware has targeted over 500 organizations since April 2022, including many within critical infrastructure sectors. The advisories urge healthcare and other critical infrastructure sectors to implement mitigation strategies to reduce the risk of ransomware attacks. Attack vectors for Black Basta include spearphishing, exploiting vulnerabilities, and using initial access brokers to obtain valid credentials. CISA and other agencies recommend implementing multifactor authentication, securing remote access software, and educating staff about phishing. Restoration of Ascension's systems is ongoing, with a focus on safety and a coordinated approach across their care sites. No specifics about ransom demands or negotiations have been disclosed publicly, but historical interactions suggest high-figure demands.