In the dynamic world of cybersecurity, the emergence of sophisticated threat actors like the Silent Skimmer represents a significant challenge. This article delves into the details of the Silent Skimmer campaign, a complex web-skimming operation targeting financial data across the APAC and NALA regions.
Overview of the Silent Skimmer Campaign
The Silent Skimmer, a financially motivated threat actor, has been conducting an extensive web-skimming campaign for over a year. This operation exploits vulnerabilities in internet-facing applications to steal sensitive financial data from users. Despite the unknown identity of the perpetrators, indications suggest a connection to a Chinese hacker group.
Technical Details of the Attack
The campaign commences by exploiting vulnerabilities in internet-facing applications, particularly focusing on those running ASP.NET and IIS. The threat actors utilize automated scanning tools to identify potential targets with the CVE-2019-18935 vulnerability in Progress Telerik UI for ASP.NET AJAX. This vulnerability allows remote code execution on the compromised server.
Upon breaching the security, the attackers deliver a malicious Dynamic Link Library (DLL) to the server. This DLL is crucial for the execution of unauthorized code and the deployment of various malicious tools stored on an HTTP File Server controlled by the attackers. These tools include downloader scripts, remote access scripts, webshells, exploits, and Cobalt Strike beacons.
The Exfiltration Process
The final stage of the attack focuses on exfiltrating sensitive user data, such as financial information and credit card details. To avoid detection, the data is routed through Cloudflare, concealing the data’s origin and destination.
Geographic Scope and Target Selection
Originally targeting the APAC region, the campaign has recently expanded to North America, with a strategic focus on online businesses and Point-of-Sale (PoS) providers using ASP.NET and IIS.
Recommendations for Protection
- Patch Vulnerabilities: Address the CVE-2019-18935 vulnerability promptly to prevent initial access.
- Security Monitoring: Implement advanced monitoring to detect suspicious activities on servers and applications.
- Threat Intelligence: Stay informed about the Silent Skimmer’s tactics and infrastructure through IOCs.
- Enhanced Authentication: Adopt multi-factor authentication and strong password policies.
- User Education: Train staff to recognize and report phishing attempts and unusual activities.
Conclusion
The Silent Skimmer campaign showcases the evolving nature of cyber threats, especially in the financial sector. With its expanded reach and sophisticated techniques, it poses a significant risk. Organizations must prioritize cybersecurity, update their systems, monitor their networks, and engage with the broader cybersecurity community to counteract these threats. By leveraging threat intelligence and understanding the attacker’s methodologies, companies can better protect themselves from such advanced and persistent cyber-attacks.
Also Read:
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- Understanding Event Emitters in Node.js for Effective Event Handling
- Understanding Streams in Node.js for Efficient Data Handling
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