Trellix Insights: APT 41: A dual espionage and cybercrime operation
Technical Articles ID:
KB92410
Last Modified: 2022-08-10 18:29:05 Etc/GMT
Last Modified: 2022-08-10 18:29:05 Etc/GMT
Environment
IMPORTANT: This Knowledge Base article discusses a specific threat that is being automatically tracked by Trellix Insights technology. The content is intended for use by Trellix Insights users, but is provided for general knowledge to all customers. Contact us for more information about Trellix Insights.
Summary
Description of Campaign
The threat group behind the campaign has been in operation since at least 2012 and initially focused on attacking the video game industry. Over time the group expanded their attacks to other sectors around the world including telecom, automotive, education, and travel. Some attacks are financially motivated while others focus on stealing sensitive information.
How to use this article:
Campaign IOC
Minimum Content Versions:
Detection Summary
Minimum set of Manual Rules to improve protection to block this campaign
IMPORTANT: When you implement new rules or signatures, always first set them to Report mode before setting them to Block.
Mitigate against triggering false positives when enabling new rules and signatures by always following best practices. For best practices for Endpoint Security Dynamic Application Containment rules, see: KB87843 - Dynamic Application Containment rules and best practices.
Endpoint Security - Access Protection Custom Rules:Rule: 1
Executables (Include): svchost.exe
Subrules:
Subrule Type: Files
Operations: Create
Targets (Include):
?:\windows\fonts\*.log
Rule: 2
Executables (Include): *
Subrules:
Subrule Type: Files
Operations: Create
Targets (Include):
?:\windows\system32\tsvipsrv.dll
Endpoint Security - Advanced Threat Protection
Rule ID: 2 Use Enterprise file reputation to identify trusted or malicious files
Endpoint Security - Dynamic Application Containment:
Endpoint Security - Exploit Prevention:Rule ID: 413 Suspicious Double File Extension Execution
VirusScan Enterprise - Access Protection Custom Rules:Rule:
Rule Type: File
Process to include: svchost.exe
File or folder name to block: *\windows\fonts\*.log
File actions to prevent: Create
Virusscan Enterprise - Access Protection Rules:
Protect Internet Explorer favorites and settings
Prevent creation of new executable files in the Windows folder
Aggressive set of Manual Rules to improve protection to block this campaign
IMPORTANT: When you implement new rules or signatures, always first set them to Report mode before setting them to Block.
Mitigate against triggering false positives when enabling new rules and signatures by always following best practices. For best practices for Endpoint Security Dynamic Application Containment rules, see: KB87843 - Dynamic Application Containment rules and best practices.
Endpoint Security - Access Protection Rules:
Endpoint Security - Dynamic Application Containment:
Virusscan Enterprise - Access Protection Rules:
Host Intrusion Prevention:Rule ID: 6011 Generic Application Invocation Protection
Rule ID: 6010 Generic Application Hooking Protection
The threat group behind the campaign has been in operation since at least 2012 and initially focused on attacking the video game industry. Over time the group expanded their attacks to other sectors around the world including telecom, automotive, education, and travel. Some attacks are financially motivated while others focus on stealing sensitive information.
How to use this article:
- If a Threat Hunting table has been created, use the rules contained to search for malware related to this campaign.
- Review the product detection table and confirm that your environment is at least on the specified content version.
To download the latest content versions, go to the Security Updates page. - Scroll down and review the "Product Countermeasures" section of this article. Consider implementing them if they are not already in place.
- Review
KB91836 - Countermeasures for entry vector threats . - Review KB87843 - Dynamic Application Containment rules and best practices.
- Review KB82925 - Identify what rule corresponds to an Adaptive Threat Protection and Threat Intelligence Exchange event.
Campaign IOC
IOC | Value |
Minimum Content Versions:
Content Type | Version |
Detection Summary
IOC | Scanner | Detection |
IOC | Scanner | Detection |
IOC | Scanner | Detection |
IOC | Scanner | Detection |
IOC | Scanner | Detection |
IOC | Scanner | Detection |
IOC | Scanner | Detection |
IOC | Scanner | Detection |
IOC | Scanner | Detection |
IOC | Scanner | Detection |
IOC | Scanner | Detection |
IOC | Scanner | Detection |
IOC | Scanner | Detection |
IOC | Scanner | Detection |
IOC | Scanner | Detection |
IOC | Scanner | Detection |
Minimum set of Manual Rules to improve protection to block this campaign
IMPORTANT: When you implement new rules or signatures, always first set them to Report mode before setting them to Block.
Mitigate against triggering false positives when enabling new rules and signatures by always following best practices. For best practices for Endpoint Security Dynamic Application Containment rules, see: KB87843 - Dynamic Application Containment rules and best practices.
Endpoint Security - Access Protection Custom Rules:
Executables (Include):
Subrules:
Subrule Type: Files
Operations: Create
Targets (Include):
Rule: 2
Executables (Include): *
Subrules:
Subrule Type: Files
Operations: Create
Targets (Include):
Endpoint Security - Advanced Threat Protection
Endpoint Security - Dynamic Application Containment:
Modifying the Services registry location
Executing any child process
Executing any child process
Endpoint Security - Exploit Prevention:
VirusScan Enterprise - Access Protection Custom Rules:
Rule Type: File
Process to include: svchost.exe
File or folder name to block: *\windows\fonts\*.log
File actions to prevent: Create
Virusscan Enterprise - Access Protection Rules:
Protect Internet Explorer favorites and settings
Prevent creation of new executable files in the Windows folder
IMPORTANT: When you implement new rules or signatures, always first set them to Report mode before setting them to Block.
Mitigate against triggering false positives when enabling new rules and signatures by always following best practices. For best practices for Endpoint Security Dynamic Application Containment rules, see: KB87843 - Dynamic Application Containment rules and best practices.
Endpoint Security - Access Protection Rules:
Running files from common user folders
Endpoint Security - Dynamic Application Containment:
Modifying files with the .bat extension
Creating files with the .exe extension
Creating files with the .exe extension
Virusscan Enterprise - Access Protection Rules:
Prevent programs registering to autorun
Block read and write access to all shares
Block read and write access to all shares
Host Intrusion Prevention:
Rule ID: 6010 Generic Application Hooking Protection