Symantec Misses on Dropper

A malicious Microsoft Word File w/associated macro is making its way across the Internet this morning.  How do we know?  Our Forcepoint Sandbox detected it... report here.

Unfortunately, and as is the case all too often, Symantec is not detecting this malware as proven by VirusTotal:

What makes us so certain that this file is indeed malicious?  Per below, it's pulling another file down via HTTP:

What does that prove you may ask?  Per below, that file is detected as another Dropper by our Forcepoint ACE Engine which is resident on our proxies:

In summary, AntiVirus is a commodity.  Do not buy into the pitch that it will solve your security problems.  Reduce your security spend on AV and insert Next Gen Security Solutions.  Call ESPO Systems for a free consultation/demonstration.

Control-as-a-Service (CaaS)

Anyone tired of hearing that the following architectures solve all the world's problems - SaaS, IaaS, Cloud?  Here's a novel concept, why don't we take "control" of our solutions, from a security perspective, and leave our fate in our own hands.  Case in point - MedStar Health:

- Per this Computerworld Article, MedStar was attacked over the weekend with the same ransomware that hit the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in mid-February.  Per the report, the organization lost "control" of files and their system.  Does that sound like a potential HIPAA issue to you?

- Per this earlier ESPO Systems Blog, the Locky Ransomware is leveraging holes in our security controls.  To be precise, the malware authors know we dare not block Microsoft Attachments... even if they have malicious macros.  They also know AV Signatures are too slow to provide value.  As such, the only answer is Sandboxing... ala Forcepoint's Solution.

- So, you likely are asking, what does the MedStar Health Organization use to protect against these threats?  Well... they've bought into the Cloud Saves Everything dogma and have given "control" of their security to Google/Postini:

One final question, considering MedStar has given up "control" of their email security, is there much of a chance that outbound email is being monitored for PII or PHI?  It may be time to take back control of our security solutions.

Comprehensive Threat Protection?

With the RSA Security Conference coming to a close, we suspect a lot of Security Pros are asking the same questions as us regarding all the dollars thrown at marketing, "really"?  That's not to say this intangible expense isn't needed.  If the products perform as advertised... we need to get-the-word-out.  However, when the marketing is nothing other than an attempt to obfuscate what is happening in the real word, as is the case currently with McAfee, it is our obligation to shed light on this.  Case in point:

McAfee is proclaiming to the world that they provide "Comprehensive Threat Protection"

However, as is often the case, malware is currently propagating across the internet via Microsoft Word Documents with Malicious Macros in which McAfee is not providing the protection their Mkting Dept claims.  Per below, only 3 of 55 AV Engines currently find a problem with this file:

Need further proof that the file is indeed malicious?  Note that files are dropped locally, processes are affected and outbound HTTP calls to Mother Russia are occurring:

In summary, and as is often stated on this blog, AV is a commodity.  Improve your security posture by implementing Next Gen Solutions with the cost savings found by reducing your spend on AV.

Malicious Excel File

Around 7:30amCST an Excel Spreadsheet w/macro began propagating across the Internet.  If you trust your security to the Anti Virus Vendors, you're likely sipping on a cup of coffee expecting to have an easy day heading into the weekend... as neither McAfee nor Symantec are currently detecting a problem:

However, per this Forcepoint File Sandbox Report, your day is about to change as this file is indeed malicious.  Per the report, it attempts to modify 21 Files, 2 Processes and 412 Registry Entries.  If that isn't bad enough, this Dropper File will also communicate to sites in Russia and Vietnam to pull down additional malware:

Additionally, if you've entrusted your Web Security to Cisco Ironport and are hoping the phone home to uggs-fashion.ru is blocked... you'll be disappointed.  Per below, the site name implies it's a fashion site, and, the Senderbase Reputation System unfortunately agrees:

In summary, security is moving far too fast to rely upon AV Signatures.  Contact ESPO Systems for a free consultation regarding how you can protect your IT Assets across the entire Kill Chain.

Locky Ransomware on the Loose

It appears the Dridex Crew has expanded their Cyber Crime Portfolio from the stealing of login credentials to your favorite Financial Institution... to Ransomware.  Case in point:

- M$ Word Documents with malicious macros are being distributed via email attachments (sound familiar).

First Question - Will your users allow you to block all inbound Microsoft Word attachments?  Likely not...

Second Question - Are your spam prevention techniques 100% effective?  Ummm... no.

Third Question - Should we therefore feel confident that your Anti Virus Solution has your back and will detect the file at the gateway or desktop?  PLEASE!!!

- Thankfully, the Forcepoint File Sandboxing feature will detect this Ransomware.  On the other hand, if you are using an inferior solution, you are likely seeing Help Desk Tickets describe something looking like this:

- Anyone care to know the current AV Detection Rate?  Currently only 5 of 54 AV Engines are detecting the file properly.  How long do you think it will take before McAfee and Symantec get their act together?

In summary, this is the same crew who took down the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center over the weekend.  Do you wish to stay out of the news?  Need help from an organization who performed over 600 Security Projects in 2015??  Contact ESPO Systems here.

AS57389 ZNET-Mikronet Kft

OK... lets follow the bouncing ball again:

1. Microsoft Word doc is being propagated this morning that leverages a naming convention along the lines of "ReportforInvoicexxx.doc".  We strongly recommend you block this file from being downloaded as it contains a malicious macro that modifies 24 Files, 2 Processes and 417 Registry Entries.  Forcepoint File Sandbox Report here.

2. As is typically the case, the Anti-Virus Vendors are slow in responding as only 5 of 54 companies are accurately detecting the file as malware:

3. So... what does the malware do besides the aforementioned modifications?  Per below, it makes an HTTP call outbound to download an additional file:

4.  Whats happens when the 65fg67n file is downloaded?  Per this Forcepoint File Sandbox Report, the malware author downloads updates from Microsoft (how nice of them to patch our boxes) and additionally phones home to the botnet via TCP Port 843 to a server in Hungary (AS # 57389).  Hence the title of our post.

In summary, if you see outbound connections to 87.229.86.20 on your firewall... you have problems.  Call ESPO Systems for a free consultation in regards to IT Controls across the entire Kill Chain.

Symantec AWOL Again

Another day, another threat missed by the "Premium" AV/Security companies.  Case in point:

- As of 7amCST a Microsoft Word Document w/Malicious Macro began propagating across the internet.  Are we sure it's malicious?  Yeah... pretty sure:

Forcepoint File Sandbox Report

- As seen above, the malware affects 2 Processes, 24 Files and 418 Registry Entries.  If that isn't enough to convince you of it's malicious nature, how about the fact that it also phones home to a known Botnet, and, pulls down an additional executable via HTTP:

- Lastly, if you are hoping your Symantec Security Solution is going to protect you against this Dridex Attack (which is gunning for the login credentials to your bank)... your hope is misplaced as only 4 of 53 AV Companies are currently detecting this threat:

In summary, it's time to reduce your security spend on legacy security solutions (AV) and adopt Next Generation Solutions.  Request a free ESPO Systems Consultation here.