Persistence is Key: Advanced Persistent Threats

Persistence is Key:

Advanced Persistent

Threats

By: Sameer Thadani

Objectives

What is an APT

What is an AET

Past targets

What to look for in the future

Advanced Persistent Threats

Advanced

Higher levels of sophistication

Has access to Zero-Day exploits

Adapts to the victims defenses

Persistent

Attacks are specific

Continue until the specific goals are met

Intend to maintain communication with victim

compromised systems

Threats

Real power players behind attacks such as nation-states

Not your mom and pop hacking job

APT Malware Anatomy

APT Attack Flow

Step 1 • Reconnaissance

Step 2 • Initial Intrusion into the Network

Sep 3 • Establish a Backdoor into the Network

Step 5 • Install Various Utilities

Step 6 • Lateral Movement and Data Exfiltration

Reconnaissance

First stage of an APT

Learning about the victims business

processes and technology

Tools

Whois

Nmap

Netcraft.com

Social Media Searching

Acting SKILLZ

Network Access

Spear-Phishing = #1 Way

Targeting specific high value people

Sending highly realistic email addresses

with attachments

Attachments include remote trojans or

malware

BUT WAIT, how does my malware get

passed IDS/IPS, Firewalls, and Email

Filters?

ADVANCED EVASION TECHNIQUES

Advance Evasion Techniques

Key techniques used to disguise threats to evade and bypass security systems

Why are they advanced?

They combine multiple evasion techniques that focus on multiple protocol layers.

Evasions change during the attack

They allow malicious payloads or exploits, such as malware to look normal

A wide variety of techniques

Combinations are endless

Polymorphic Shellcode

Constantly changing packet injected

code… using ADMmutate

Polymorphic Shellcode

Packet Splitting

Establish Backdoors

Establish backdoors

Backdoors allow attackers to stay in

constant contact with the compromised

machine. Ex. Poison Ivy

Install Utilities

Install key-logger

Ex: iSam

Lateral Movement Compromise more machines on the network and setup more

back doors, this allows for lateral movement and persistence

Ex. TRiAD Botnet Control System

EXFILTRATE DATA!

Why is this happening?

Nation-State intelligence to aid in wartime

strategy and exploitation

Diminish competition and improve strategic

advantage by stealing intellectual property

To extort or ruin VIP

To gain $$$$ and gain economic power

Learning from the past…

Google - Hydraq

RSA SecureID

Iran’s Nuclear Plant - Stuxnet

All targeted attacks on huge companies

Anyone can be targeted.

Preparing for the Future..

Keep your eyes open

Elevated log-ons at unexpected times

Finding any backdoor Trojans

Look for any anomalies for information flow

Look for HUGE data bundles

Questions?

Sources

http://www.infoworld.com/article/2615666/security/5-signs-you-ve-been-hit-with-an-advanced-persistent-threat.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugXyzkkYN9E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9MmrqatA1w

http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/advanced-persistent-threat-APT

http://www.symantec.com/theme.jsp?themeid=apt-infographic-1

http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/advanced-evasion-technique-AET

http://www.csoonline.com/article/2138125/what-are-advanced-evasion-techniques-dont-expect-cios-to-know-says-mcafee.html

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