Sodinokibi and Buran ransomware are being pushed via the RIG exploit kit and now another exploit kit has joined the ranks, although its payload is currently banking Trojans.
Exploit kits are utility programs on websites that conduct automated attacks on visitors. When a visitor lands on a page hosting the exploit kit, the user’s browser and browser-based applications are probed to determine whether vulnerabilities exist.
Exploit kits contain exploits for several vulnerabilities, only one of which is required to silently download and execute a malicious payload on a visitor’s device. Traffic to these malicious pages is generated through malvertising/malicious redirects. The exploit kit code is also commonly added to compromised high-traffic websites.
Exploit kits were once the malware delivery mechanism of choice, but they fell out following a law enforcement crackdown. The threat from exploit kits has never disappeared, but activity has been at a much-reduced level. In recent months however, exploit activity has been at an elevated level.
The new exploit kit is called Spelevo and its purpose is to deliver two banking Trojans – Dridex and IceD – via a business to business website. The exploit kit was discovered by a security researcher named Kafeine in March 2019.
The exploit kit currently hosts multiple exploits for Adobe Flash and one for Internet Explorer. A user visiting a web page hosting the Spelevo exploit kit would unlikely tell that anything untoward was occurring. A tab would be opened to the gate and the browser would appear to go through a series of redirects before landing on Google.com. The entire process from the user landing on a page hosting the exploit kit, to a vulnerably being identified, exploited, and the user redirected to Google.com takes just a few seconds.
The exploit kit could be hosted on an attacker-owned domain, but it is easy to add the exploit kit to any website. All that is required is the addition of four lines of code once a website has been compromised.
Exploit kits are an efficient, automated way of delivering a malware payload, but they are reliant on users that have not patched their browsers and plugins. If browsers and plugins are kept up to date, there are no vulnerabilities to exploit.
The Spelevo exploit kit appears to be used in a campaign targeting businesses. IT teams often struggle to keep on top of patching and have poor visibility into the devices that connect to the network. As a result, it is easy for devices to be missed and remain unpatched. If one device is compromised, an attacker can use a variety of tools to spread laterally and infect other devices and servers.
The primary defense against exploit kits is patching, but additional protections are required. To protect against attacks while patching takes place, to prevent attacks from succeeding using zero-day exploits, and to stop users from visiting websites hosting exploit kits, a web filter is required.
WebTitan is a DNS filter that provides real-time, automated threat detection and blocking and protects against exploit kits and web-based phishing attacks. The WebTitan database contains three million malicious URLs that are blocked to protect end users. More than 300,000 malware and ransomware websites are blocked every day.
If you want to improve protection against web-based threats, exercise control over the content that your employees can access, and gain visibility into what your employees are doing online, WebTitan Cloud is the answer and it can be set up in minutes.
As one ransomware-as-a-service operation shuts down, another is vying to take its place. Sodinokibi ransomware attacks are increasing and affiliates are trying to carve out their own niche in the ransomware-as-a-service operation.
Developing ransomware and staying one step ahead of security researchers is important, but what made the GandCrab operation so successful were the affiliates conducting the campaigns that generated the ransom payments. The GandCrab developers have now shut down their operation and that has left many affiliates looking for an alternative ransomware variant to push.
Sodinokibi ransomware could well fill the gap. Like GandCrab, the developers are offering their creation under the ransomware-as-a-service model. They already have a network of affiliates conducting campaigns, and attacks are on the increase.
As is the case with most ransomware-as-a-service operations, spam email is one of the most common methods of ransomware delivery. One Sodinokibi ransomware campaign has been detected that uses spoofed Booking.com notifications to lure recipients into opening a Word document and enabling macros. Doing so triggers the download and execution of the Sodinokibi payload.
Download websites are also being targeted. Access is gained the websites and legitimate software installers are replaced with ransomware installers. Managed Service Providers (MSPs) have also been targeted. The MSP attacks have exploited vulnerabilities in RDP to gain access to MSP management consoles.
Two cases have been reported where an MSP was compromised and malicious software was pushed to its clients through the client management console. In one case, the Webroot Management Console and the Kaseya VSA console in the other.
Recently, another attack method has been detected. Sodinokibi ransomware is being distributed through the RIG exploit kit. Malvertising campaigns are directing traffic to domains hosting RIG, which is loaded with exploits for several vulnerabilities.
With so many affiliates pushing Sodinokibi ransomware and the wide range of tactics being used, no single cybersecurity solution will provide full protection against attacks. The key to preventing attacks is defense in depth.
TitanHQ can help SMBs and MSPs secure the email and web channels and block the main attack vectors. Along with security awareness training and good cybersecurity best practices, it is possible to mount a formidable defense against ransomware, malware, and phishing attacks.
The excitement is building as DattoCon19 draws ever closer. Starting on June 17, 2019 in San Diego and running for three days, DattoCon19 is an unmissable event for managed service providers (MSPs).
At the conference, attendees benefit from practical advice and best practices to grow their businesses, increase sales, and boost monthly recurring revenue (MRR). A huge range of vendors will be on hand to offer information on exciting products and attendees will have the opportunity to learn strategies to increase business impact growth, boost profitability, and broaden their service stacks.
Sessions will be taken by industry experts and leading MSPs who will share tips and tricks to take back home and apply at the office. On average, attendees at DattoCon achieve 41% sales growth year-over-year as a result of attending the conference.
TitanHQ is sponsoring DattoCon19 and is excited about having the opportunity to meet new MSPs and help them grow their businesses. As a Datto Select Vendor, TitanHQ offers MSPs three cloud-based solutions that can be easily integrated into existing MSPs service stacks: Anti-phishing and anti-spam protection, DNS-based web filtering, and email archiving. All three solutions are available through the TitanShield program for MSPs.
MSPs can meet the TitanHQ team at booth 23 at DattoCon19 to find out more about the TitanShield program and the exciting opportunities for MSPs that work with TitanHQ. TitanHQ will be on hand to help MSPs that support Office 365 to improve protection against phishing attacks and malware. MSPs can also find out more about the TitanHQ threat intelligence that protects Datto DNA and D200 boxes, and how TitanHQ’s DNS filter is a direct swap out for Cisco Umbrella and the cost advantages of doing so.
TitanHQ Executive Vice President-Strategic Alliances, Rocco Donnino, is one of the panel members for the Datto Select Avendors event on Monday. The event brings together experts from different fields to help come up with solutions for some of the major problems faced by MSPs in today’s marketplace.
TitanHQ at DattoCon19
TitanHQ will be at booth 23
Special Show Pricing available
Daily TitanHQ vintage Irish whiskey raffle
TitanHQ and BVOIP are sponsoring a GasLamp District Takeover Party on Monday 6/17 and Wed, 6/19.
DattoCon19 will be taking place in San Diego, California on June 17-19, 2019. If you are not yet registered for the event you can do so here
The leading review website, G2, has published its 2019 Best Software Companies in EMEA list. This is the first time that the company has produced the list, which ranks the best software companies doing business in EMEA based on the feedback provided by users of those products.
G2 is one of the most well-respected business software review websites. Software solutions may appear to tick all the right boxes, but in practice the solutions can be time consuming and difficult to use and fail to live up to expectations. Since the G2 reviews are from registered users of the products, businesses can not only rely on the reviews but can also use them to make smarter buying decisions.
To compile the list, G2 compiled the reviews of over 66,000 users in the software category. More than 900 companies were represented, but only those that performed best in the reviews have made the cut in their respective categories.
TitanHQ has been awarded top spot in the list of the best software companies of 2019 in EMEA.
TitanHQ has developed powerful cybersecurity solutions to meet the needs of businesses and MSPs, but the solutions have also been developed to be easy to use. The solutions are versatile, flexible,and scalable, and can be managed via an intuitive web-based management console with a full reporting suite. A full range of APIs are supplied to allow the solutions to be integrated into existing management software and industry-leading customer support ensures that help is always available to resolve any customer issues.
“TitanHQ is delighted to have been included in the 2019 Best Software Companies in EMEA list. The inclusion shows the value our customers place on the uncompromised security and real-time threat detection we provide,” said Ronan Kavanagh, CEO, TitanHQ. “The overwhelmingly positive feedback from on G2 Crowd is indicative of our commitment to ensuring the highest levels of customer success.”
“With 750,000+ user reviews, 80,000+ products and 1,600+ tech and service categories on G2, TitanHQ’s recognition on the prestigious Best Software Companies in EMEA list is an exceptional achievement: One that can only be earned through the endorsement of its users,” said CEO Godard Abel.
