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未知の検知:Darktraceで未分類のランサムウェアを明るみに出す

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24
Aug 2022
24
Aug 2022
At the top of every CISO’s mind sits the fear of the unknown threat. As security tools continue to improve, so do attackers. This blog explores a BlackByte ransomware incident detected by Darktrace SOC in the Summer of 2021. At the point of discovery this ransom had yet to be categorized on popular OSINT.

未分類の攻撃は頻繁に発生し、新しい脅威グループやマルウェアが絶えず明るみに出ています。新規の脅威グループも既知の脅威グループも同様に、C2ドメイン、ファイルハッシュ、その他の脅威インフラを変更しており、従来のシグネチャやルールベースの手法による検知を回避できるようになっています。また、ゼロデイのエクスプロイテーションもますます明らかになっており、最近のMandiantのレポートでは、2021年に確認されたゼロデイの数が2020年から劇的に増加したことが明らかになっています(80 vs 32)。より具体的には、ランサムウェアグループによって悪用されたゼロデイの数は、以前も、そして現在も増加傾向にあります [1]。この傾向は、2022年に入っても続いているようです。これらの攻撃の性質が未知であることを考えると、従来のシグネチャやルールベースのアプローチで防御することは困難です。ネットワークにおける正常な動作からの逸脱によって機能する異常ベースのソリューションのみが、これらの脅威を効果的に検知することができるのです。 

特に、ランサムウェアのような脅威を、暗号化という最終目標に到達する前に、企業が迅速に特定できることが重要です。ランサムウェアの種類は増加の一途をたどっており、分類されていないランサムウェアの数も増えています。ゼロデイについては、別のDarktrace ブログで最近紹介しましたが、このブログでは、2021年夏に発生し、Darktrace DETECT/Networkが、一般的なOSINTで分類・発見される前に検知した高度で新しいランサムウェア攻撃の例を見ていきます。これは、東アフリカの金融機関のネットワーク内で発生したものです。

図1:Blackbyte社による身代金要求攻撃(当時は未解決)のタイムライン 

2021年7月6日、外部に露出したVPN サーバにおいて、複数のユーザーアカウントが NTLM を介してブルートフォースされる事象が発生しました。Darktrace は、この最初のブルートフォース行為に警告を発しましたが、同様の試みが以前からサーバーに対して行われていたため、優先度の高い脅威としては扱われませんでした。

VPN上でブルートフォースに成功した後、悪意のあるアクターは新しいユーザーアカウントを作成し、それをActive Directoryサーバーの管理グループに追加しました。この新しいユーザーアカウントは、その後、内部のドメインコントローラへのRDPセッションで使用されました。Cyber AI Analystは、これらの管理接続が、これらのデバイスの通常のアクティビティと比較して異常であることを検知し、警告を発しました(図2)。

図2:AI Analystが最初のラテラルムーブメントの不審な性質を検知。VPNサーバーからドメインコントローラーへのRDP、DCE-RPC、SMB接続が、新しく作成されたアカウントで確認されました(注:このスクリーンショットは、DETECT/Network Version 5によるものです)

20分もしないうちに、新しい認証情報を持つドメインコントローラーで重要な偵察が始まりました。これは、Security Account Manager (samr) のような機密ファイルを含む様々なファイル共有にアクセスし、SMBを列挙するものでした。この後、2日間のダウンタイムがあり、脅威アクターは身を潜めていました。 

7月8日、不審なネットワークの動きが再開されました。以前見られたデフォルトのAdministrator認証が、2番目の内部ドメインコントローラーでも使用されていたのです。数時間後、このデバイスから珍しい外部IPへの接続が行われました。当時のOSINTは、これらの接続が侵入テストツール、特にProcess Hacker [2] というツールの使用に関連している可能性を示唆しました。

その後2日間にわたり、複数のネットワーク機器を起点とした偵察や横移動がより大規模に行われました。この間、様々な手法が用いられました。 

- PsExec などの正規の管理サービスを悪用して、リモートでコマンドを実行すること

- SMBバージョン1など、ネットワーク上で現在も使用されているレガシープロトコルを利用すること

- Kerberos経由のログイン試行をブルートフォースすること

- MetasploitやNmapを含む他の侵入テストツールを使用すること。これらは、脆弱性を探るためのものでした。

7月10日、ランサムウェアが展開されました。ファイルの暗号化が行われ、複数のファイルに .blackbyte という拡張子が付加されました。当時、このファイル拡張子やランサムウェアのタイプに関するOSINTの参照はなかったため、シグネチャベースのソリューションでは検知に苦労したことでしょう。現在では、BlackByteランサムウェアはその数週間前に出現しただけで、それ以来、Ransomware-as-a-Serviceグループは、世界中の企業や重要なインフラを攻撃していることが明らかになっています [3]。1年経った今でも、彼らは活発な脅威を与えているのです。

攻撃者は、その場に居合わせないテクニック、一般的な侵入テストツール、新種のランサムウェアを使用することで、既知のマルウェアシグネチャによって自らの存在を示すことなく、環境内を移動することができたのです。従来のセキュリティソリューションでは、これらの行為のいくつかを特定することはできても、これらの別々の行為を関連付けることは困難でした。しかし、アノマリーベースの手法で異常な行動を検知するDarktraceの能力には、アトリビューションの欠如は関係ありませんでした。 

このお客様は、この攻撃の際にRESPONDを有効にしていましたが、マニュアル設定であったため、暗号化されているデバイスに自律対処することができませんでした。それにもかかわらず、高得点のDarktrace DETECT/Network モデルが幅広くブリーチされ、お客様の脅威トレイで簡単に確認することができました。この中には、お客様がサービスに加入していれば、Proactive Threat Notification(PTN)の警告を受けることになったであろう複数の強化モニタリングモデルも含まれていました。このケースでは攻撃を防ぐことはできませんでしたが、Darktrace アナリストは Ask the Expert (ATE) を通じてお客様をサポートし、侵害された可能性の高いデバイスと認証情報のリストを含む侵害の詳細な分析を提供することができました。これにより、お客様は侵害後の復旧に効果的に取り組むことができ、ランサムウェアがお客様の環境内で与える影響を確実に減らすことができました。 

結論 

従来のセキュリティソリューションは、既知のシグネチャを使用するランサムウェアにうまく対処できるかもしれませんが、新しいタイプの攻撃や未知の攻撃を発見するにはAIが必要です。シグネチャに依存すると、これらのタイプの攻撃を見逃してしまうことになります。  

Darktrace モデルによる侵害は、既知のIOCが関与しているかどうかにかかわらず、サイバーキルチェーンの各部分で疑わしい活動を明らかにし、お客様が侵害の領域を効率的に特定し、効果的に修復できるように支援します(図3)。  

図3:Cyber AI Analystによって特定される侵害サーバーの1つに対する攻撃の各段階の例(注:このスクリーンショットは、DETECT/Network Version 5 のものです) 

脅威アクターが新しい攻撃方法を開発し続ける限り、未分類の脅威を検知する能力は常に必要とされます。上記のように、Darktraceのアノマリーベースのアプローチは、このような新種の脅威や未分類の脅威を検知するのに最適な方法なのです。 

Max Heinemeyerの本ブログへの寄稿に感謝します。

付録

モデルブリーチ 一覧

·      Anomalous Connection / SMB Enumeration

·      Anomalous Connection / Suspicious Activity On High Risk Device

·      Anomalous Server Activity / Anomalous External Activity from Critical Network Device

·      Compliance / Default Credential Usage

·      Device / SMB Session Bruteforce

·      Anomalous Connection / Sustained MIME Type Conversion

·      Anomalous Connection / Unusual SMB Version 1 Connectivity

·      Anomalous File / Internal / Additional Extension Appended to SMB File

·      Compliance / Possible Unencrypted Password File on Server

·      Compliance / SMB Drive Write

·      Compliance / Weak Active Directory Ticket Encryption

·      Compromise / Ransomware / Possible Ransom Note Write

·      Compromise / Ransomware / Ransom or Offensive Words Written to SMB

·      Compromise / Ransomware / SMB Reads then Writes with Additional Extensions

·      Compromise / Ransomware / Suspicious SMB Activity

·      Device / Attack and Recon Tools in SMB

·      Device / Multiple Lateral Movement Model Breaches

·      Device / New or Unusual Remote Command Execution

·      Device / SMB Lateral Movement

·      Device / Suspicious File Writes to Multiple Hidden SMB Shares

·      Device / Suspicious Network Scan Activity

·      Unusual Activity / Anomalous SMB Read & Write

·      Unusual Activity / Anomalous SMB to Server

·      User / Kerberos Password Bruteforce

参考文献

[1] https://www.mandiant.com/resources/zero-days-exploited-2021

[2] https://www.virustotal.com/gui/ip-address/162.243.25.33/relations

[3] https://www.zscaler.com/blogs/security-research/analysis-blackbyte-ransomwares-go-based-variants

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Darktrace cyber analysts are world-class experts in threat intelligence, threat hunting and incident response, and provide 24/7 SOC support to thousands of Darktrace customers around the globe. Inside the SOC is exclusively authored by these experts, providing analysis of cyber incidents and threat trends, based on real-world experience in the field.
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Inside the SOC

PurpleFox in a Henhouse: How Darktrace Hunted Down a Persistent and Dynamic Rootkit

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27
Nov 2023

Versatile Malware: PurpleFox

As organizations and security teams across the world move to bolster their digital defenses against cyber threats, threats actors, in turn, are forced to adopt more sophisticated tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) to circumvent them. Rather than being static and predictable, malware strains are becoming increasingly versatile and therefore elusive to traditional security tools.

One such example is PurpleFox. First observed in 2018, PurpleFox is a combined fileless rootkit and backdoor trojan known to target Windows machines. PurpleFox is known for consistently adapting its functionalities over time, utilizing different infection vectors including known vulnerabilities (CVEs), fake Telegram installers, and phishing. It is also leveraged by other campaigns to deliver ransomware tools, spyware, and cryptocurrency mining malware. It is also widely known for using Microsoft Software Installer (MSI) files masquerading as other file types.

The Evolution of PurpleFox

The Original Strain

First reported in March 2018, PurpleFox was identified to be a trojan that drops itself onto Windows machines using an MSI installation package that alters registry values to replace a legitimate Windows system file [1]. The initial stage of infection relied on the third-party toolkit RIG Exploit Kit (EK). RIG EK is hosted on compromised or malicious websites and is dropped onto the unsuspecting system when they visit browse that site. The built-in Windows installer (MSIEXEC) is leveraged to run the installation package retrieved from the website. This, in turn, drops two files into the Windows directory – namely a malicious dynamic-link library (DLL) that acts as a loader, and the payload of the malware. After infection, PurpleFox is often used to retrieve and deploy other types of malware.  

Subsequent Variants

Since its initial discovery, PurpleFox has also been observed leveraging PowerShell to enable fileless infection and additional privilege escalation vulnerabilities to increase the likelihood of successful infection [2]. The PowerShell script had also been reported to be masquerading as a .jpg image file. PowerSploit modules are utilized to gain elevated privileges if the current user lacks administrator privileges. Once obtained, the script proceeds to retrieve and execute a malicious MSI package, also masquerading as an image file. As of 2020, PurpleFox no longer relied on the RIG EK for its delivery phase, instead spreading via the exploitation of the SMB protocol [3]. The malware would leverage the compromised systems as hosts for the PurpleFox payloads to facilitate its spread to other systems. This mode of infection can occur without any user action, akin to a worm.

The current iteration of PurpleFox reportedly uses brute-forcing of vulnerable services, such as SMB, to facilitate its spread over the network and escalate privileges. By scanning internet-facing Windows computers, PurpleFox exploits weak passwords for Windows user accounts through SMB, including administrative credentials to facilitate further privilege escalation.

Darktrace detection of PurpleFox

In July 2023, Darktrace observed an example of a PurpleFox infection on the network of a customer in the healthcare sector. This observation was a slightly different method of downloading the PurpleFox payload. An affected device was observed initiating a series of service control requests using DCE-RPC, instructing the device to make connections to a host of servers to download a malicious .PNG file, later confirmed to be the PurpleFox rootkit. The device was then observed carrying out worm-like activity to other external internet-facing servers, as well as scanning related subnets.

Darktrace DETECT™ was able to successfully identify and track this compromise across the cyber kill chain and ensure the customer was able to take swift remedial action to prevent the attack from escalating further.

While the customer in question did have Darktrace RESPOND™, it was configured in human confirmation mode, meaning any mitigative actions had to be manually applied by the customer’s security team. If RESPOND had been enabled in autonomous response mode at the time of the attack, it would have been able to take swift action against the compromise to contain it at the earliest instance.

攻撃の概要

Figure 1: Timeline of PurpleFox malware kill chain.

Initial Scanning over SMB

On July 14, 2023, Darktrace detected the affected device scanning other internal devices on the customer’s network via port 445. The numerous connections were consistent with the aforementioned worm-like activity that has been reported from PurpleFox behavior as it appears to be targeting SMB services looking for open or vulnerable channels to exploit.

This initial scanning activity was detected by Darktrace DETECT, specifically through the model breach ‘Device / Suspicious SMB Scanning Activity’. Darktrace’s Cyber AI Analyst™ then launched an autonomous investigation into these internal connections and tied them into one larger-scale network reconnaissance incident, rather than a series of isolated connections.

Figure 2: Cyber AI Analyst technical details summarizing the initial scanning activity seen with the internal network scan over port 445.

As Darktrace RESPOND was configured in human confirmation mode, it was unable to autonomously block these internal connections. However, it did suggest blocking connections on port 445, which could have been manually applied by the customer’s security team.

Figure 3: The affected device’s Model Breach Event Log showing the initial scanning activity observed by Darktrace DETECT and the corresponding suggested RESPOND action.

特権昇格

The device successfully logged in via NTLM with the credential, ‘administrator’. Darktrace recognized that the endpoint was external to the customer’s environment, indicating that the affected device was now being used to propagate the malware to other networks. Considering the lack of observed brute-force activity up to this point, the credentials for ‘administrator’ had likely been compromised prior to Darktrace’s deployment on the network, or outside of Darktrace’s purview via a phishing attack.

Exploitation

Darktrace then detected a series of service control requests over DCE-RPC using the credential ‘admin’ to make SVCCTL Create Service W Requests. A script was then observed where the controlled device is instructed to launch mshta.exe, a Windows-native binary designed to execute Microsoft HTML Application (HTA) files. This enables the execution of arbitrary script code, VBScript in this case.

Figure 4: PurpleFox remote service control activity captured by a Darktrace DETECT model breach.
Figure 5: The infected device’s Model Breach Event Log showing the anomalous service control activity being picked up by DETECT.

There are a few MSIEXEC flags to note:

  • /i : installs or configures a product
  • /Q : sets the user interface level. In this case, it is set to ‘No UI’, which is used for “quiet” execution, so no user interaction is required

Evidently, this was an attempt to evade detection by endpoint users as it is surreptitiously installed onto the system. This corresponds to the download of the rootkit that has previously been associated with PurpleFox. At this stage, the infected device continues to be leveraged as an attack device and scans SMB services over external endpoints. The device also appeared to attempt brute-forcing over NTLM using the same ‘administrator’ credential to these endpoints. This activity was identified by Darktrace DETECT which, if enabled in autonomous response mode would have instantly blocked similar outbound connections, thus preventing the spread of PurpleFox.

Figure 6: The infected device’s Model Breach Event Log showing the outbound activity corresponding to PurpleFox’s wormlike spread. This was caught by DETECT and the corresponding suggested RESPOND action.

Installation

On August 9, Darktrace observed the device making initial attempts to download a malicious .PNG file. This was a notable change in tactics from previously reported PurpleFox campaigns which had been observed utilizing .MOE files for their payloads [3]. The .MOE payloads are binary files that are more easily detected and blocked by traditional signatured-based security measures as they are not associated with known software. The ubiquity of .PNG files, especially on the web, make identifying and blacklisting the files significantly more difficult.

The first connection was made with the URI ‘/test.png’.  It was noted that the HTTP method here was HEAD, a method similar to GET requests except the server must not return a message-body in the response.

The metainformation contained in the HTTP headers in response to a HEAD request should be identical to the information sent in response to a GET request. This method is often used to test hypertext links for validity and recent modification. This is likely a way of checking if the server hosting the payload is still active. Avoiding connections that could possibly be detected by antivirus solutions can help keep this activity under-the-radar.

Figure 7: Packet Capture from an affected customer device showing the initial HTTP requests to the payload server.
Figure 8: Packet Capture showing the HTTP requests to download the payloads.

The server responds with a status code of 200 before the download begins. The HEAD request could be part of the attacker’s verification that the server is still running, and that the payload is available for download. The ‘/test.png’ HEAD request was sent twice, likely for double confirmation to begin the file transfer.

Figure 9: PCAP from the affected customer device showing the Windows Installer user-agent associated with the .PNG file download.

Subsequent analysis using a Packet Capture (PCAP) tool revealed that this connection used the Windows Installer user agent that has previously been associated with PurpleFox. The device then began to download a payload that was masquerading as a Microsoft Word document. The device was thus able to download the payload twice, from two separate endpoints.

By masquerading as a Microsoft Word file, the threat actor was likely attempting to evade the detection of the endpoint user and traditional security tools by passing off as an innocuous text document. Likewise, using a Windows Installer user agent would enable threat actors to bypass antivirus measures and disguise the malicious installation as legitimate download activity.  

Darktrace DETECT identified that these were masqueraded file downloads by correctly identifying the mismatch between the file extension and the true file type. Subsequently, AI Analyst was able to correctly identify the file type and deduced that this download was indicative of the device having been compromised.

In this case, the device attempted to download the payload from several different endpoints, many of which had low antivirus detection rates or open-source intelligence (OSINT) flags, highlighting the need to move beyond traditional signature-base detections.

Figure 10: Cyber AI Analyst technical details summarizing the downloads of the PurpleFox payload.
Figure 11 (a): The Model Breach generated by the masqueraded file transfer associated with the PurpleFox payload.
Figure 11 (b): The Model Breach generated by the masqueraded file transfer associated with the PurpleFox payload.

If Darktrace RESPOND was enabled in autonomous response mode at the time of the attack it would have acted by blocking connections to these suspicious endpoints, thus preventing the download of malicious files. However, as RESPOND was in human confirmation mode, RESPOND actions required manual application by the customer’s security team which unfortunately did not happen, as such the device was able to download the payloads.

結論

The PurpleFox malware is a particularly dynamic strain known to continually evolve over time, utilizing a blend of old and new approaches to achieve its goals which is likely to muddy expectations on its behavior. By frequently employing new methods of attack, malicious actors are able to bypass traditional security tools that rely on signature-based detections and static lists of indictors of compromise (IoCs), necessitating a more sophisticated approach to threat detection.  

Darktrace DETECT’s Self-Learning AI enables it to confront adaptable and elusive threats like PurpleFox. By learning and understanding customer networks, it is able to discern normal network behavior and patterns of life, distinguishing expected activity from potential deviations. This anomaly-based approach to threat detection allows Darktrace to detect cyber threats as soon as they emerge.  

By combining DETECT with the autonomous response capabilities of RESPOND, Darktrace customers are able to effectively safeguard their digital environments and ensure that emerging threats can be identified and shut down at the earliest stage of the kill chain, regardless of the tactics employed by would-be attackers.

Credit to Piramol Krishnan, Cyber Analyst, Qing Hong Kwa, Senior Cyber Analyst & Deputy Team Lead, Singapore

付録

Darktraceによるモデル検知

  • Device / Increased External Connectivity
  • Device / Large Number of Connections to New Endpoints
  • Device / SMB Session Brute Force (Admin)
  • Compliance / External Windows Communications
  • Anomalous Connection / New or Uncommon Service Control
  • Compromise / Unusual SVCCTL Activity
  • Compromise / Rare Domain Pointing to Internal IP
  • Anomalous File / Masqueraded File Transfer

RESPOND Models

  • Antigena / Network / Significant Anomaly / Antigena Breaches Over Time Block
  • Antigena / Network / External Threat / Antigena Suspicious Activity Block
  • Antigena / Network / Significant Anomaly / Antigena Significant Anomaly from Client Block
  • Antigena / Network / Significant Anomaly / Antigena Enhanced Monitoring from Client Block
  • Antigena / Network / External Threat / Antigena Suspicious File Block
  • Antigena / Network / External Threat / Antigena File then New Outbound Block

IoC一覧

IoC - Type - Description

/C558B828.Png - URI - URI for Purple Fox Rootkit [4]

5b1de649f2bc4eb08f1d83f7ea052de5b8fe141f - File Hash - SHA1 hash of C558B828.Png file (Malware payload)

190.4.210[.]242 - IP - Purple Fox C2 Servers

218.4.170[.]236 - IP - IP for download of .PNG file (Malware payload)

180.169.1[.]220 - IP - IP for download of .PNG file (Malware payload)

103.94.108[.]114:10837 - IP - IP from Service Control MSIEXEC script to download PNG file (Malware payload)

221.199.171[.]174:16543 - IP - IP from Service Control MSIEXEC script to download PNG file (Malware payload)

61.222.155[.]49:14098 - IP - IP from Service Control MSIEXEC script to download PNG file (Malware payload)

178.128.103[.]246:17880 - IP - IP from Service Control MSIEXEC script to download PNG file (Malware payload)

222.134.99[.]132:12539 - IP - IP from Service Control MSIEXEC script to download PNG file (Malware payload)

164.90.152[.]252:18075 - IP - IP from Service Control MSIEXEC script to download PNG file (Malware payload)

198.199.80[.]121:11490 - IP - IP from Service Control MSIEXEC script to download PNG file (Malware payload)

MITRE ATT&CK マッピング

Tactic - Technique

Reconnaissance - Active Scanning T1595, Active Scanning: Scanning IP Blocks T1595.001, Active Scanning: Vulnerability Scanning T1595.002

Resource Development - Obtain Capabilities: Malware T1588.001

Initial Access, Defense Evasion, Persistence, Privilege Escalation - Valid Accounts: Default Accounts T1078.001

Initial Access - Drive-by Compromise T1189

Defense Evasion - Masquerading T1036

Credential Access - Brute Force T1110

Discovery - Network Service Discovery T1046

Command and Control - Proxy: External Proxy T1090.002

参考文献

  1. https://blog.360totalsecurity.com/en/purple-fox-trojan-burst-out-globally-and-infected-more-than-30000-users/
  2. https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/19/i/purple-fox-fileless-malware-with-rookit-component-delivered-by-rig-exploit-kit-now-abuses-powershell.html
  3. https://www.akamai.com/blog/security/purple-fox-rootkit-now-propagates-as-a-worm
  4. https://www.foregenix.com/blog/an-overview-on-purple-fox
  5. https://www.trendmicro.com/en_sg/research/21/j/purplefox-adds-new-backdoor-that-uses-websockets.html
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著者について
Piramol Krishnan
Cyber Security Analyst

$70 Million in Cyber Security Funding for Electric Cooperatives & Utilities

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22
Nov 2023

What is the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal?

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed by congress in 2021 aimed to upgrade power and infrastructure to deliver clean, reliable energy across the US to achieve zero-emissions. To date, the largest investment in clean energy, the deal will fund new programs to support the development and deployment of clean energy technology.

Why is it relevant to electric municipalities?

Section 40124 of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocates $250 million over a 5-year period to create the Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity (RMUC) Program to help electric cooperative, municipal, and small investor-owned utilities protect against, detect, respond to, and recover from cybersecurity threats.1 This act illuminates the value behind a full life-cycle approach to cyber security. Thus, finding a cyber security solution that can provide all aspects of security in one integrated platform would enhance the overall security posture and ease many of the challenges that arise with adopting multiple point solutions.

On November 16, 2023 the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) released the Advanced Cybersecurity Technology (ACT) for electric utilities offering a $70 million funding opportunity that aims to enhance the cybersecurity posture of electric cooperative, municipal, and small investor-owned utilities.

Funding Details

10 projects will be funded with application submissions due November 29, 2023, 5:00 pm ET with $200,000 each in cash prizes in the following areas:

  1. Direct support for eligible utilities to make investments in cybersecurity technologies, tools, training, and improvements in utility processes and procedures;
  2. Funding to strengthen the peer-to-peer and not-for-profit cybersecurity technical assistance ecosystem currently serving eligible electric utilities; and
  3. Increasing access to cybersecurity technical assistance and training for eligible utilities with limited cybersecurity resources. 2

To submit for this award visit: https://www.herox.com/ACT1Prize

How can electric municipalities utilize the funding?

While the adoption of hybrid working patterns increase cloud and SaaS usage, the number of industrial IoT devices also continues to rise. The result is decrease in visibility for security teams and new entry points for attackers. Particularly for energy and utility organizations.

Electric cooperatives seeking to enhance their cyber security posture can aim to invest in cyber security tools that provide the following:

Compliance support: Consider finding an OT security solution that maps out how its solutions and features help your organization comply with relevant compliance mandates such as NIST, ISA, FERC, TSA, HIPAA, CIS Controls, and more.

Anomaly based detection: Siloed security solutions also fail to detect attacks that span
the entire organization. Anomaly-based detection enhances an organization’s cyber security posture by proactively defending against potential attacks and maintaining a comprehensive view of their attack surface.

Integration capabilities: Implementation of several point solutions that complete individual tasks runs the risk of increasing workloads for operators and creates additional challenges with compliance, budgeting, and technical support. Look for cyber security tools that integrate with your existing technologies.

Passive and active asset tracking: Active Identification offers accurate enumeration, real time updates, vulnerability assessment, asset validation while Passive Identification eliminates the risk of operational disruption, minimizes risk, does not generate additional network traffic. It would be ideal to find a security solution that can do both.

Can secure both IT and OT in unison: Given that most OT cyber-attacks actually start in IT networks before pivoting into OT, a mature security posture for critical infrastructure would include a single solution for both IT and OT. Separate solutions for IT and OT present challenges when defending network boundaries and detecting incidents when an attacker pivots from IT to OT. These independent solutions also significantly increase operator workload and materially diminish risk mitigation efforts.

Darktrace/OT for Electric Cooperatives and Utilities

For smaller teams with just one or two dedicated employees, Darktrace’s Cyber AI Analyst and Investigation features allow end users to spend less time in the platform as it compiles critical incidents into comprehensive actionable event reports. AI Analyst brings all the information into a centralized view with incident reporting in natural language summaries and can be generated for compliance reports specific to regulatory requirements.  

For larger teams, Darktrace alerts can be forwarded to 3rd party platforms such as a SIEM, where security team decision making is augmented. Additionally, executive reports and autonomous response reduce the alert fatigue generally associated with legacy tools. Most importantly, Darktrace’s unique understanding of normal allows security teams to detect zero-days and signatureless attacks regardless of the size of the organization and how alerts are consumed.

Key Benefits of Darktrace/OT

Figure 1: Darktrace/OT stops threats moving from IT to OT by providing a unified view across both systems

参考文献

1. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/11/06/fact-sheet-the-bipartisan-infrastructure-deal/

2. https://www.energy.gov/ceser/rural-and-municipal-utility-advanced-cybersecurity-grant-and-technical-assistance-rmuc

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著者について
Jeff Cornelius
EVP, Cyber-Physical Security

Good news for your business.
Bad news for the bad guys.

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