Date: 4/4/2022
A remote access trojan or RAT has been identified a phishing campaign that spoofs the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to download malware onto user systems.
This campaign leverages Netsupport Manager, a troubleshooting and screen control program, as a malicious remote access trojan (RAT) the threat actor employs to remotely enter user systems. The PDC has seen tax related campaigns in the past that have been used to steal employee credentials; however this attack is unique in that it is installing malware.
Sources
Cofense Phishing Defense Center (PDC): https://cofense.com/blog/rat-campaign-looks-to-take-advantage-of-the-tax-season
Security teams around the world got another shock on Thursday when news of disclosure of a PoC for an unauthenticated RCE zero-day vulnerability in Spring Core, a massively popular framework for building modern Java-based enterprise applications. Unlike Log4Shell, this new flaw – CVE 2022-22965 — Spring4Shell – seems to only be exploitable in certain configurations.
A Java Springcore RCE 0 day exploit has been leaked. It was leaked by a Chinese security researcher who, since sharing and/or leaking it, has deleted their Twitter account.
Spring4Shell is a bypass of an incomplete patch for CVE-2010-1622, an old code injection vulnerability in the Spring Core Framework, and affects Spring Core on Java Development Kit (JDK) version 9 or later.
The existence of the vulnerability was made public when a Chinese-speaking researcher released PoC exploit code for it on GitHub and told the world about it on Twitter (the post and the tweets have been deleted soon after).
Several PoCs for Spring4Shell have since appeared online, and the effectiveness of some of them have been confirmed.
Sources
Rapid 7 : https://www.rapid7.com/blog/post/2022/03/30/spring4shell-zero-day-vulnerability-in-spring-framework/
HelpNet Security : https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2022/04/01/cve-2022-22965/
Mitre.org: https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=2022-22965
Details about the online identity management service Okta were revealed last week, indicating that Okta was very slow in revealing the extent of the malicious activity it experienced.
How do you know if you are vulnerable?
Okta has reached out to its customers who are known to have been affected. Considering the slow release of information from Okta, there may be more to come. As of this morning (April 4, 2022), Okta states that it is still investigating the breach.
For affected customers, it is possible that attackers could have taken over some accounts.
If Okta customers are concerned about the potential impact of this breach, resetting credentials for any users who have changed their passwords since January should ensure that threats stemming from this breach are mitigated. Companies should remind employees to pay careful attention when approving multi-factor authentication prompts.
Sophos has reported that attacker groups, specifically Initial Access Brokers, have been actively exploiting Log4Shell vulnerabilities on unpatched Internet-facing VMware Horizon servers.
Initial Access Brokers aim to establish backdoor access within targeted networks and later sell access to groups wanted to deploy ransomware. Post-exploitation activity might include deploying Remote Monitoring and Management tools (RMM), PowerShell based scripts, or cryptomining software.
Review VMware Horizon services and update Log4j components as soon as possible. Internet facing servers should be priority. Ensure endpoint security tools are properly functioning on such systems.
Android users may be spied on by an application that disguises itself as “Process Manager” but is instead spyware. The application then removes its icon and continuously runs in the background appearing as a system service to further hide. Users are at risk if they see the notification remains and is constantly running in the background.
From the first time the application launches, 18 permissions are allowed, including access to fine and coarse locations, network and Wi-Fi state, the camera and microphone, the internet, call log access, contacts, messages, external storage, and the device’s wake log. Considering that threat actors have access to many components of people’s personal lives, this poses a great privacy risk to individuals and the nation.
To ensure security, Android users are directed to assess application permissions they have granted and change the permissions that are not necessary. Users running Android 12 can pay attention to the alert notifications when the camera and microphones are on. Users operating older versions should update their software and be mindful that threat actors may install other suspicious applications for their benefit, such as applications that earn “wallet cash”.
Sources
Newly found Android malware records audio, tracks your location (bleepingcomputer.com)
For strategic clients, your vCISO will add this to your next Office Hours for further discussion. However, if you have an immediate need, concern, or question, please reach out to them directly.
For non-strategic clients, please reach out to your Advisor for further discussion.
Offerings
Industries
Compliance
Copyright © 2023 GreyCastle Security. All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2022 GreyCastle Security. All Rights Reserved
Ho Chin is Chief Financial Officer at GreyCastle Security. In this role, Ho leads Finance, HR, IT and Professional Development. As part of the executive leadership team, Ho works to establish the company’s overall strategy and ensure proper execution of the supporting initiatives pertaining to the above areas of responsibility.
Prior to joining GreyCastle Security, Ho led finance and administrative functions at multiple private equity and venture-backed portfolio companies across multiple industries. Ho holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Pennsylvania State University in Centre County, Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in Business Administration from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Dan Kalil is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Board Chairman at GreyCastle Security. In this role, Dan provides vision, leadership and strategies that drive GreyCastle Security’s position as an industry leader. With an emphasis on customer success, Dan’s profitable growth model leverages a customer-centric business approach that balances employee wellbeing and social responsibility.
Prior to becoming CEO, Dan served as the company’s Chief Strategy Officer, during which he supported multiple acquisitions and helped the organization achieve substantial sales growth. In addition to serving as CEO at GreyCastle Security, Dan continues to hold the position of Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Assured information Security (AIS) in Rome, New York, a company he co-founded in 2001.
Over the course of the last 22 years, Dan has been committed to advancing the state of cybersecurity and has played an instrumental role in the identification and development of critical, next-generation cyber capabilities. He has held positions in almost every facet of cybersecurity, beginning as a computer forensic examiner and progressing through the management and executive leadership ranks. In addition to co-founding AIS, Dan has facilitated multiple cybersecurity startups, raised investment capital and has served in various lead and support roles toward the acquisition of five companies in the last eight years.
Dan has a bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity and a master’s degree in Cybersecurity from Utica College in Utica, New York.
Michael Stamas is an entrepreneur, board member, Vice President and a founder of GreyCastle Security. With more than two decades of experience in the technology sector, Mike pairs his management and business development skills with a deep understanding of cybersecurity. Mike brings a unique brand of risk-based advising to GreyCastle clients and prospects.
Mike holds certifications in numerous security and technology related areas, including the Department of Homeland Security and other security technologies like Symantec, Cisco and Microsoft.
Mike plays an active role in his community and serves as a board member and Vice President of InfraGard Albany as well as an advisory board position with the Capital Region YMCA.
Mike has been recognized for his numerous achievements through various honors including the Albany Business Review’s prestigious 40 Under 40 award.
Dan Maynard serves as GreyCastle Security’s Chief Operating Officer, where he currently leads Sales, Marketing and Legal.
Dan has enjoyed a 30+ year career in the Information Technology and Telecommunications industry, during which time he has held various leadership positions for organizations such as Rochester Tel/RCI, Citizens Communications (Frontier), PAETEC Communications, IntegraOptics, tw telecom/Level3 and Centurylink.
In addition to various voice and data technology platforms, he possesses a strong background in leadership development, sales and marketing leadership, transformational leadership and strategic planning. Dan has a thirst for knowledge and as a committed lifelong learner, he encourages and supports professional development initiatives for his teams and continues his involvement with Vistage International.
Dan holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, where he was selected as a member of their Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016.
When not at work, Dan enjoys traveling, golfing, attending Utica Comets hockey games and relaxing in the Adirondacks on beautiful Canada Lake with family and friends.
Dan Didier is the Vice President of Solutions and board member at GreyCastle Security.
Dan has been a cybersecurity practitioner for more than 20 years and uses his knowledge and experience to develop cybersecurity solutions that ensure readiness and preparedness.
Dan received his bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications from SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Utica, New York, and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a master’s degree in Information Assurance from Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont.
Our Computer Incident Response Teams (CIRTs) have responded to hundreds of breaches, intrusions, malware infections, thefts, employee investigations, fraud cases and other incidents. Our highly-certified experts have extensive experience in command, coordination and correction of incidents in nearly every industry throughout North America, from local businesses to Fortune 500 international conglomerates.
Francesca LoPorto-Brandow is Director of Culture at GreyCastle Security. In this role, Francesca leads all social responsibility efforts and partnerships and develops effective strategies that promote organizational-wide behaviors and attitudes consistent with a culture of safety, inclusion, teamwork, motivation and high-performance.
Prior to this role, Francesca was Director of People & Culture at GreyCastle and with her leadership, the company’s culture has been recognized by Inc. Magazine as a Nationally recognized Best Workplace, Albany Business Review Best Places to Work and Albany Times Union Top Workplaces.
Before joining GreyCastle Security, Francesca worked as an OD consultant and focused on strategic culture change at The Kaleel Jamison Consulting Group, Inc. for more than six years. There, she facilitated client education sessions, coached leaders and teams, developed and executed consulting interventions and served as strategy project leader on various client engagements. Her work has taken her into Fortune 100 companies and across borders including Panama, Singapore and beyond.
Francesca is a Lean Six Sigma–certified Green Belt, a proud YWCA-GCR board member and in 2013, she coordinated and emceed the inaugural TEDx Troy—a livestream of TEDCity 2.0. Since 2012, she has coordinated and emceed the Troy 100 Forum, a biannual forum for government, religious and community leaders to discuss issues vital to the future of Troy, New York.
Bilingual in English and Italian, Francesca holds a bachelor’s degree in Management and Technology from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Lally School of Management & Technology. She was awarded Cybersecurity Recruiter of the year North America in 2017 by the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards.
Jamie Aiello is Senior Vice President of Services and Product Management at GreyCastle Security. In this position, Jamie is responsible for leading a high performing and well-balanced team that is ultimately responsible for the identification, selection, execution and successful performance of our company’s diverse portfolio of cybersecurity offerings.
Prior to joining GreyCastle Security, Jamie has held leadership positions with Annese and Associates, ConvergeOne and BlueSky IT Partners with a focus on delivering cost effective information technology solutions for companies across multiple verticals.
Jamie holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York, a master’s degree in Business Administration from Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, North Carolina and a master’s degree in Computer Information Systems from University of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona.