The New Sophistication Of Nation-State Hacking

The renowned Russian hacker goup known as Fancy Bear has expanded its repertoire to more than 30 commands for infecting systems, executing code, and reconnaissance, researchers have found. Zebrocy malware, widely considered to be part of the infamous APT28/Fancy Bear Russian cyber-espionage group's toolset, now has more than 30 commands for reconnoitering compromised systems and spreading across networks.

Researchers from security firm ESET  have published new findings on the attack tool, which improves upon the older Sofacy backdoor, and combines downloaders and remote administration tools to allow attackers to control compromised systems. 

Both programs have been linked to the Russian cyber-espionage group that has been blamed for cyberattacks on the nation of Georgia prior to Russia's 2008 invasion and for stealing e-mail and data from the US Democratic National Committee prior to the 2016 presidential election. 

ESET used telemetry generated by systems using its security agent to observe the initial Zebrocy infection via spearphishing attacks and subsequent commands, the company stated in an analysis. 

"We were able to monitor the way they use the Zebrocy malware after they infected their target, including all the interactions they had with the infected systems, and gain some intelligence," says Alexis Dorais-Joncas, security intelligence team lead for ESET. 

"It is an updated modus operandi used by the group in the way ... they perform their initial infection."

The research sheds light on a tool that has become a major part of the operations of a long-running cyber espionage group.

While ESET does not explicitly attribute the attacks to Fancy Bear, analyses by other companies have explicitly connected the use of the tool to the group. Earlier this year, security firm Kaspersky Lab noted that Zebrocy, once a component of the Sofacy backdoor package in 2015, had rapidly become a popular tool, especially for use against government systems in Central Asia.

"Zebrocy continues to maintain a higher level of volume attacking local and remote ex-USSR republic Central Asian targets than other clusters of targeted Sofacy activity," Kaspersky Lab concluded in its analysis. "Also interesting with this Sofacy sub-group is the innovation that we continue to see within their malware development."

ESET's research, meanwhile, highlights the rapidity with which the group behind Zebrocy has innovated with its tools and techniques. APT28/Fancy Bear is one of the original Russian cyber-operations groups tracked by security firms and government intelligence. 

Known also as Sofacy, STRONTIUM, and the Sednit group, ESET's preferred name, the group has actively developed its toolbox of hacking programs.

In 2018, for example, ESET discovered that the Sednit group had successfully deployed a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) rootkit, dubbed LoJax, which infects the basic hardware operating system and can survive rebooting the system.

"Three years ago, the Sednit group unleashed new components targeting victims in various countries in the Middle East and Central Asia," ESET wrote in its analysis. "Since then, the number and diversity of components has increased drastically."

The group has mainly targeted embassies, ministries, and diplomats in Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uruguay and Zimbabwe, according to ESET.

How it Works
Zebrocy consists of two downloaders, one written in the Delphi scripting language and another in the AutoIt scripting language. Only one of the two downloaders need to run to install a backdoor, the third Zebrocy component, onto a targeted system.

Once installed, the operators would quickly perform reconnaissance on the system and gather operating system and file information, as well as other details about the system.

"The operators would quickly perform a reconnaissance phase to understand the kind of target that they just managed to infect," says Dorais-Joncas. "They get information like the operating system, even some screenshots from the infected machines, get some networking information, IT configuration, and things like that." 

In some cases, the first downloader installed another component whose purpose is currently being studied, according to ESET.

"The very short timeframe where this backdoor is on the system and operating makes it harder to retrieve....once its operators complete their evil deeds, they quickly remove it."

Finally, because the commands issued after the initial installation are the same and executed very quickly, ESET suggested that they might be automated, rather than waiting for a member of the Sednit group to manually attack the system.

"They are gathering a considerable amount of information on the compromised target and they are not worried about duplicated data," the report stated. "It shows a large gap between the development strategy and what operators do in practice.

Backdoors with custom configuration and modules are deployed very carefully, which indicates some precautions to avoid ending up in the hands of researchers."

Dark Reading:         

You Might Also Read:

Britain Hacks Back:

Israel Responds To A Cyber Attack With Bombs:

 

« The Human Cost Of Cyberwar
A Cyber Toolkit For Small Business »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

IT Governance

IT Governance

IT Governance is a leading global provider of information security solutions. Download our free guide and find out how ISO 27001 can help protect your organisation's information.

MIRACL

MIRACL

MIRACL provides the world’s only single step Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) which can replace passwords on 100% of mobiles, desktops or even Smart TVs.

Perimeter 81 / How to Select the Right ZTNA Solution

Perimeter 81 / How to Select the Right ZTNA Solution

Gartner insights into How to Select the Right ZTNA offering. Download this FREE report for a limited time only.

NordLayer

NordLayer

NordLayer is an adaptive network access security solution for modern businesses — from the world’s most trusted cybersecurity brand, Nord Security. 

BackupVault

BackupVault

BackupVault is a leading provider of automatic cloud backup and critical data protection against ransomware, insider attacks and hackers for businesses and organisations worldwide.

Splunk

Splunk

Splunk provide real-time Security Information & Event Management solutions for Enterprise Networks, Cloud and small-scale IT environments

TechInsurance

TechInsurance

TechInsurance is America's top technology insurance company offering a range of technology related products including Cyber Liability insurance.

Shape Security

Shape Security

Shape Security provide best-in-class defense against malicious automated cyberattacks on web and mobile applications.

VKANSEE

VKANSEE

VKANSEE offer the world's thinnest optical fingerprint sensor for mobile device protection.

Deep Mirror Automotive Cybersecurity

Deep Mirror Automotive Cybersecurity

Deep Mirror Automotive Cybersecurity make Cars & Infrastructures Cybersecure.

EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants

EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants

EPIC is an insuarnce broker and consultancy firm. Risk management services include risk consultancy and cybersecurity insurance.

Blue Lance

Blue Lance

Blue Lance is a global provider of cybersecurity governance solutions. Our software solutions automatically collect and store the information necessary for investigations, audit and compliance.

FAIR Institute

FAIR Institute

The FAIR Institute is a non-profit professional organization dedicated to advancing the discipline of measuring and managing information risk.

eMazzanti Technologies

eMazzanti Technologies

eMazzanti Technologies provides IT consulting services for businesses ranging from home offices to multinational corporations throughout the USA and internationally.

Prima Cyber Solutions (PCS)

Prima Cyber Solutions (PCS)

Prima Cyber Solutions is focused on protecting your business from the massive and devastating impacts that cyber-attacks may cause.

Aura

Aura

Aura is a mission driven technology company dedicated to creating a safer internet for everyone. We’re making comprehensive digital security that's simple to understand and easy to use.

GLIMPS

GLIMPS

GLIMPS-Malware automatically detects malware affecting standard computer systems, manufacturing systems, IOT or automotive domains.

VulnCheck

VulnCheck

VulnCheck helps organizations outpace adversaries with vulnerability intelligence that predicts avenues of attack with speed and accuracy.

PROVINTELL Cyber Security

PROVINTELL Cyber Security

PROVINTELL is a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) specialising in Next-Gen Cyber Defense and Response to detect and respond to threats.

Blue Goat Cyber

Blue Goat Cyber

Blue Goat stands at the forefront of cybersecurity, particularly in medical device security and penetration testing.

Amtivo Ireland

Amtivo Ireland

Amtivo Ireland (formerly Certification Europe and EQA) offers a range of certifications and related services.