Equifax Breach, a Hack of 27 Crypto Companies, and the Arrest of a Department of State IT Contractor
Sep 28, 2023
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This podcast covers interesting topics like the Equifax breach, the potential vulnerability of Google Authenticator, an iPhone exploit chain, and the arrest of a Department of State IT contractor on espionage charges. They also discuss the excitement of breaching a system, hacker motivations, asset management in cybersecurity, segmentation and risk assessment in online services, and the importance of following rules and not engaging in illegal activities.
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Quick takeaways
The Equifax breach highlights the importance of effective asset management and regular patching to prevent long-term infiltrations.
The hack of 27 crypto companies raises concerns about relying solely on MFA for security and the need for business to ensure segmentation between personal and work-related accounts.
The arrest of a Department of State IT contractor highlights the significance of implementing robust security protocols for external contractors with access to sensitive information.
Deep dives
Equifax Breach and Web Shells
The Equifax breach in 2017 resulted in the exfiltration of personal identifiable information (PII) of 163 million customers. Attackers exploited a vulnerability in Apache Struts software, an open source framework for building Java web applications. The breach occurred due to a system update on a Saturday night, which alerted the security engineer to the presence of the hacker. Attackers used web shells, scripts uploaded to the file system, to maintain access and control of the web server. The attackers also found credentials in a network file share, enabling lateral movement within the network and access to a table containing the PII of millions of people.
Google Authenticator and Crypto Company Hacks
Google Authenticator's MFA Cloud Sync feature has raised concerns following a hack of 27 crypto companies. Attackers targeted employees and used SMS phishing to trick one employee into providing an additional MFA code, ultimately gaining access to the target's account. This hack exploited the synchronization of MFA codes with Google accounts. While Google stated that the sync feature can be disabled, the incident highlights the need for businesses to ensure segmentation between personal and work-related accounts. Additionally, the attack raises the potential risks of relying solely on MFA for security.
In the Wild Zero-Day Exploit for iPhones
The Google Threat Analysis Group discovered an in-the-wild zero-day exploit chain for iPhones. The exploit was developed by a commercial surveillance vendor and used to install the predator software. It targeted users via a man-in-the-middle attack, intercepting HTTP traffic and redirecting to a different website. Apple has released patches for the exploit, but the incident emphasizes the risks of using unencrypted HTTP websites and the importance of updating to secure HTTPS connections.
The Equifax breach was likely part of a long-term engagement for persistent access
The Equifax breach was not a one-time event but rather part of a long-term engagement by attackers. It is believed that the attackers wanted to maintain access to the Equifax systems to maintain persistence and have the ability to query sensitive information on demand. The exfiltration of data was done through web servers in small chunks, generating numerous log entries and raising noise levels. The attackers' methodology for exfiltration was deemed outdated and noisy, suggesting a lack of sophistication. The breach highlights the importance of effective asset management and regular patching to prevent such long-term infiltrations.
A Department of State IT contractor arrested for alleged espionage
A federal IT contractor working for the State Department and the Department of Justice has been arrested on charges of espionage. The contractor allegedly unlawfully accessed secret and top-secret information and shared it with an undisclosed African country. The incident raises concerns about the vetting and security protocols for external contractors with access to sensitive information. It also underscores the significance of implementing robust asset management practices, rigorous patching processes, and effective intrusion detection systems to prevent insider threats and unauthorized access to classified information.
This week on Hacker And The Fed we break down how Equifax was breached, is Google Authenticator MFA Cloud Sync feature responsible for a hack into 27 crypto companies? Google’s Threat Analysis Group announces an in-the-wild 0-day exploit chain for iPhones, the year of the insider threat continues with the arrest of a Department of State IT Contractor on espionage charges.
