Trellix Insights: Geopolitical tensions increase risk of attacks
Technical Articles ID:
KB92498
Last Modified: 2022-08-15 14:21:36 Etc/GMT
Last Modified: 2022-08-15 14:21:36 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
Government-backed cyberthreat groups have been known to attack multiple sectors to deliver a range of malware includingShamoon, Dustman, and ZeroCleare . The malware is used to perform multiple actions including disk/content wiping and service disruption. Several adversaries have been linked to similar attacks in the past including OilRig, APT34, MuddyWater, APT39, and Chafer .
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 - Advanced Threat Protection:Rule ID: 2 Use Enterprise file reputation to identify trusted or malicious files
Rule ID: 4 Use GTI file reputation to identify trusted or malicious files
Endpoint Security - Exploit Prevention:Rule ID: 6087 PowerShell Command Restriction – EncodedCommand
Host Intrusion Prevention:Rule ID: 6087 PowerShell Command Restriction – EncodedCommand
Endpoint Security - Access Protection Custom Rules:Rule: 1
Executables (Include): excel.exe
Subrules:
Subrule Type: Files
Operations: Create
Targets (Include):
?:\users\*\appdata\local\temp\*.exe
?:\users\*\appdata\local\temp\zdrqgswu
?:\users\*\appdata\local\temp\coouwfne
?:\users\*\appdata\local\temp\imswvayi
Rule: 2
Executables (Include): *
Subrules:
Subrule Type: FIles
Operations: Create
Targets (Include):
?:\users\*\appdata\local\temp\smsc.exe
Rule: 3
Executables (Include): powershell.exe
Subrules:
Subrule Type: Execute
Operations: Create
Targets (Include): ipconfig.exe
VirusScan Enterprise - Access Protection Custom Rules:Rule: 1
Rule Type: File
Process to include: excel.exe
File or folder name to block: *\users\*\appdata\local\temp\*.exe
Actions to prevent: Create
Rule: 2
Rule Type: File
Process to include: excel.exe
File or folder name to block: *\users\*\appdata\local\temp\zdrqgswu
File actions to prevent: Create
Rule: 3
Rule Type: File
Process to include: excel.exe
File or folder name to block: *\users\*\appdata\local\temp\coouwfne
File actions to prevent: Create
Rule: 4
Rule Type: File
Process to include: excel.exe
File or folder name to block: *\users\*\appdata\local\temp\imswvayi
File actions to prevent: Create
Rule: 5
Rule Type: File
Process to include: *
File or folder name to block: *\users\*\appdata\local\temp\smsc.exe
File actions to prevent: Create
Rule: 6
Rule Type: File
Process to include: powershell.exe
File or folder name to block: ipconfig.exe
File actions to prevent: Terminate
Virusscan Enterprise - Access Protection Rules:Protect Internet Explorer favorites and settings
Prevent programs registering to autorun
Aggressive set of Manual Rules to improve protection to block this campaign
Host Intrusion Prevention:Rule ID: 6010 Generic Application Hooking Protection
Rule ID: 6081 PowerShell Command Restriction - NoProfile
Rule ID: 1020 Windows Agent Shielding - File Access
Rule ID: 6085 PowerShell Command Restriction - File
Rule ID: 6082 PowerShell Command Restriction - ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted
Rule ID: 1148 CMD Tool Access by a Network Aware Application
Rule ID: 6011 Generic Application Invocation Protection
Rule ID: 344 New Startup Program Creation
Government-backed cyberthreat groups have been known to attack multiple sectors to deliver a range of malware including
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
Type | 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 |
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.
Endpoint Security - Advanced Threat Protection:
Rule ID: 4 Use GTI file reputation to identify trusted or malicious files
Endpoint Security - Exploit Prevention:
Host Intrusion Prevention:
Endpoint Security - Access Protection Custom Rules:
Executables (Include): excel.exe
Subrules:
Subrule Type: Files
Operations: Create
?:\users\*\appdata\local\temp\coouwfne
?:\users\*\appdata\local\temp\imswvayi
Subrules:
Subrule Type: FIles
Operations: Create
Subrules:
Subrule Type: Execute
Operations: Create
Targets (Include): ipconfig.exe
VirusScan Enterprise - Access Protection Custom Rules:
Rule Type: File
File or folder name to block: *\users\*\appdata\local\temp\*.exe
Actions to prevent: Create
Rule: 2
Rule Type: File
File or folder name to block: *\users\*\appdata\local\temp\zdrqgswu
File actions to prevent: Create
Rule: 3
Rule Type: File
File or folder name to block: *\users\*\appdata\local\temp\coouwfne
File actions to prevent: Create
Rule: 4
Rule Type: File
File or folder name to block: *\users\*\appdata\local\temp\imswvayi
File actions to prevent: Create
Rule: 5
Rule Type: File
Process to include: *
File actions to prevent: Create
Rule: 6
Rule Type: File
File or folder name to block: ipconfig.exe
File actions to prevent: Terminate
Virusscan Enterprise - Access Protection Rules:
Prevent programs registering to autorun
Aggressive set of Manual Rules to improve protection to block this campaign
Host Intrusion Prevention:
Rule ID: 6081 PowerShell Command Restriction - NoProfile
Rule ID: 1020 Windows Agent Shielding - File Access
Rule ID: 6085 PowerShell Command Restriction - File
Rule ID: 6082 PowerShell Command Restriction - ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted
Rule ID: 1148 CMD Tool Access by a Network Aware Application
Rule ID: 6011 Generic Application Invocation Protection
Rule ID: 344 New Startup Program Creation