France says Russian state hackers breached numerous critical networks

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Antivirus 2009 Uninstall InstructionsppHow to remove Google Redirects or the TDSS TDL3 or Alureon rootkit using TDSSKillerppLocky Ransomware Information Help Guide and FAQppCryptoLocker Ransomware Information Guide and FAQppCryptorBit and HowDecrypt Information Guide and FAQppCryptoDefense and HowDecrypt Ransomware Information Guide and FAQppHow to enable Kernelmode Hardwareenforced Stack Protection in Windows 11ppHow to use the Windows Registry EditorppHow to backup and restore the Windows RegistryppHow to open a Windows 11 Command Prompt as AdministratorppHow to start Windows in Safe ModeppHow to remove a Trojan Virus Worm or other MalwareppHow to show hidden files in Windows 7ppHow to see hidden files in WindowsppeLearningppIT Certification CoursesppGear GadgetsppSecurityppppThe Russian APT28 hacking group aka Strontium or Fancy Bear has been targeting government entities businesses universities research institutes and think tanks in France since the second half of 2021ppThe threat group which is considered part of Russias military intelligence service GRU was recently linked to the exploitation of CVE202338831 a remote code execution vulnerability in WinRAR and CVE202323397 a zeroday privilege elevation flaw in Microsoft OutlookppThe Russian hackers have been compromising peripheral devices on critical networks of French organizations and moving away from utilizing backdoors to evade detectionppThis is according to a newly published report from ANSSI Agence Nationale de la sécurité des systèmes dinformation the French National Agency for the Security of Information Systems that conducted investigations on the activities of the cyberespionage groupppANSSI has mapped the TTPs techniques tactics and procedures of APT28 reporting that the threat group uses bruteforcing and leaked databases containing credentials to breach accounts and Ubiquiti routers on targeted networksppIn one case from April 2023 the attackers ran a phishing campaign that tricked the recipients into running PowerShell that exposed their system configuration running processes and other OS detailsppBetween March 2022 and June 2023 APT28 sent emails to Outlook users that exploited the then zeroday vulnerability now tracked as CVE202323397 placing the initial exploitation a month earlier than what was recently reportedppDuring this period the attackers also exploited CVE202230190 aka Follina in the Microsoft Windows Support Diagnostic Tool and CVE202012641 CVE202035730 CVE202144026 in the Roundcube applicationppThe tools used in the first stages of the attacks include the Mimikatz password extractor and the reGeorg traffic relaying tool as well as the Mockbin and Mocky opensource servicesppANSSI also reports that APT28 uses a range of VPN clients including SurfShark ExpressVPN ProtonVPN PureVPN NordVPN CactusVPN WorldVPN and VPNSecureppAs a cyberespionage group data access and exfiltration are at the core of Strontiums operational goalsppANSSI has observed the threat actors retrieving authentication information using native utilities and stealing emails containing sensitive information and correspondenceppSpecifically the attackers exploit CVE202323397 to trigger an SMB connection from the targeted accounts to a service under their control allowing the retrieval of the NetNTLMv2 authentication hash which can be used on other services tooppAPT28s command and control server C2 infrastructure relies on legitimate cloud services such as Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive to make the exchange less likely to raise any alarms by traffic monitoring toolsppFinally ANSSI has seen evidence that the attackers collect data using the CredoMap implant which targets information stored in the victims web browser such as authentication cookiesppMockbin and the Pipedream service are also involved in the data exfiltration processppANSSI emphasizes a comprehensive approach to security which entails assessing risks In the case of the APT28 threat focusing on email security is crucialppThe agencys key recommendations around email security includeppFor more details on ANSSIs findings and defense tips check out the full report hereppCanada bans WeChat and Kaspersky products on govt devicesppEuropean govt email servers hacked using Roundcube zerodayppWomen Political Leaders Summit targeted in RomCom malware phishingppToddyCat hackers use disposable malware to target Asian telecomsppChinalinked cyberspies backdoor semiconductor firms with Cobalt StrikeppNot a member yet Register NowppIranian hackers launch malware attacks on Israels tech sectorppLockBit ransomware leaks gigabytes of Boeing datappTerms of Use Privacy Policy Ethics Statement Affiliate DisclosureppCopyright 2003 2023 Bleeping Computer LLC All Rights ReservedppNot a member yet Register NowppRead our posting guidelinese to learn what content is prohibitedp