CISA and Partners Release Cybersecurity Advisory Guidance detailing PRC state-sponsored actors evading detection by “Living off the Land”
Today, CISA joined the National Security Agency (NSA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and international partners in releasing a joint cybersecurity advisory highlighting recently discovered activities conducted by a People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-sponsored cyber threat actor.
This advisory highlights how PRC cyber actors use techniques called “living off the land” to evade detection by using built-in networking administration tools to compromise networks and conduct malicious activity. This enables the cyber actor to blend in with routine Windows system and network activities, limit activity and data captured in default logging configurations, and avoid endpoint detection and response (EDR) products that could alert to the introduction of third-party applications on the host or network. Private sector partners have identified that this activity affects networks across U.S. critical infrastructure sectors, and the authoring agencies believe the actor could apply the same techniques against these and other sectors worldwide.
The authoring agencies have identified potential indicators associated with these techniques. To hunt for this activity, CISA and partners encourage network defenders to use the actor’s commands and detection signatures provided in this advisory. CISA and partners further encourage network defenders to view the indicators of compromise (IOCs) and mitigations summaries to detect this activity.
CISA and Partners Update the #StopRansomware Guide, Developed through the Joint Ransomware Task Force (JRTF)
Today, CISA, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National Security Agency (NSA), and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) published an updated version of the #StopRansomware Guide, as ransomware actors have accelerated their tactics and techniques since its initial release in 2020. The update incorporates lessons learned from the past two years and includes additional recommended actions, resources, and tools to maximize its relevancy and effectiveness and to further help reduce the prevalence and impacts of ransomware.
The #StopRansomware Guide serves as a one-stop resource to help organizations reduce the risk of ransomware incidents through best practices to detect, prevent, respond, and recover, including step-by-step approaches to address potential attacks. The authoring organizations recommend that entities review this joint guide to prepare and protect their facilities, personnel, and customers from the impacts of ransomware and data exfiltration. For more information and to access the latest resources about how to stop ransomware, please visit stopransomware.gov.
This joint guide was developed through the Joint Ransomware Task Force (JRTF), an interagency collaborative effort to reduce the prevalence and impact of ransomware attacks. JRTF was established by Congress in 2022 and is co-chaired by CISA and FBI. For additional information about the JRTF, please visit CISA’s newly launched Joint Ransomware Task Force (JRTF) webpage.
CISA Adds Three Known Exploited Vulnerabilities to Catalog
CISA has added three new vulnerabilities to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, based on evidence of active exploitation.
CVE-2023-32409 Apple Multiple Products WebKit Sandbox Escape Vulnerability
CVE-2023-28204 Apple Multiple Products WebKit Out-of-Bounds Read Vulnerability
CVE-2023-32373 Apple Multiple Products WebKit Use-After-Free Vulnerability
These types of vulnerabilities are frequent attack vectors for malicious cyber actors and pose significant risks to the federal enterprise. Note: To view other newly added vulnerabilities in the catalog, click on the arrow in the “Date Added to Catalog” column—which will sort by descending dates.
Binding Operational Directive (BOD) 22-01: Reducing the Significant Risk of Known Exploited Vulnerabilities established the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog as a living list of known Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) that carry significant risk to the federal enterprise. BOD 22-01 requires Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) agencies to remediate identified vulnerabilities by the due date to protect FCEB networks against active threats. See the BOD 22-01 Fact Sheet for more information.
Although BOD 22-01 only applies to FCEB agencies, CISA strongly urges all organizations to reduce their exposure to cyberattacks by prioritizing timely remediation of Catalog vulnerabilities as part of their vulnerability management practice. CISA will continue to add vulnerabilities to the catalog that meet the specified criteria.
Cisco Releases Security Advisory for Small Business Series Switches
Cisco released a security advisory to address multiple vulnerabilities affecting the web-based user interface of certain Cisco Small Business Series Switches. A remote attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities to cause a denial-of-service condition or execute arbitrary code with root privileges on an affected device.
CISA encourages users and administrators to review the following advisory and apply the necessary updates:
• Cisco Small Business Series Switches Buffer Overflow Vulnerabilities
For updates addressing lower severity vulnerabilities, see the Cisco Security Advisories page.
CISA and Partners Release BianLian Ransomware Cybersecurity Advisory
CISA, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) have released a joint Cybersecurity Advisory (CSA) with known BianLian ransomware and data extortion group technical details. Microsoft and Sophos contributed to the advisory.
To reduce the likelihood and impact of BianLian and other ransomware incidents, CISA encourages organizations to implement mitigations recommended in this advisory. Mitigations align with the Cross-Sector Cybersecurity Performance Goals (CPGs) developed by CISA and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
This joint CSA is part of CISA’s ongoing #StopRansomware effort.
CISA Adds Seven Known Exploited Vulnerabilities to Catalog
CISA has added seven new vulnerabilities to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, based on evidence of active exploitation.
CVE-2023-25717 Multiple Ruckus Wireless Products CSRF and RCE Vulnerability
CVE-2021-3560 Red Hat Polkit Incorrect Authorization Vulnerability
CVE-2014-0196 Linux Kernel Race Condition Vulnerability
CVE-2010-3904 Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation Vulnerability
CVE-2015-5317 Jenkins User Interface (UI) Information Disclosure Vulnerability
CVE-2016-3427 Oracle Java SE and JRockit Unspecified Vulnerability
CVE-2016-8735 Apache Tomcat Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
These types of vulnerabilities are frequent attack vectors for malicious cyber actors and pose significant risks to the federal enterprise. Note: To view other newly added vulnerabilities in the catalog, click on the arrow in the “Date Added to Catalog” column—which will sort by descending dates.
Binding Operational Directive (BOD) 22-01: Reducing the Significant Risk of Known Exploited Vulnerabilities established the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog as a living list of known Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) that carry significant risk to the federal enterprise. BOD 22-01 requires Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) agencies to remediate identified vulnerabilities by the due date to protect FCEB networks against active threats. See the BOD 22-01 Fact Sheet for more information.
Although BOD 22-01 only applies to FCEB agencies, CISA strongly urges all organizations to reduce their exposure to cyberattacks by prioritizing timely remediation of Catalog vulnerabilities as part of their vulnerability management practice. CISA will continue to add vulnerabilities to the catalog that meet the specified criteria.