A joint report published in February 2024 by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warned about the cyber threat posed by the Volt Typhoon group, also known as Bronze Silhouette. This malicious actor, linked to the Chinese government, has been active since at least 2021, focusing their efforts on gathering confidential information and spying on critical infrastructures in the U.S., including Guam.
The attack has focused on infiltrating IT networks to deploy malware with the capability of causing damage or disrupting critical operations in the event of a conflict between the U.S. and China. Volt Typhoon has been meticulous in their approach, using advanced techniques such as Living off the Land (LOTL), credential theft, and manual activities to maintain stealth.
Critical Infrastructures at Risk
The list of critical infrastructures is extensive, covering sectors such as communications, energy, transportation, manufacturing, among others. The complete description includes 16 sectors, including:
– Energy: Electricity, gas, and oil infrastructure.
– Communications: Networks supporting business, government, and public safety operations.
– Emergency services: Incident response at the local, state, and federal levels.
– Manufacturing: Production of key components for the industry.
Tactics of the Volt Typhoon Group
Volt Typhoon has already targeted multiple critical infrastructure organizations, specifically in the sectors of communications, energy, transportation systems, and water treatment. The attacks demonstrate a clear focus on infiltration and persistence in IT networks to carry out disruptive activities in the future.
The group has shown extreme patience, adapting their techniques based on the target environment. Among their methods are:
– Credential theft: Using malware to obtain passwords and then laterally move to the domain controller.
– Covert movements: Utilizing legitimate programs and PowerShell to evade detection.
– Meticulous data collection: Analyzing networks before the attack to understand their architecture.
Mitigation Recommendations
U.S. security agencies have recommended implementing a series of measures to identify and block similar attacks. It is essential for organizations to conduct proactive threat assessments to anticipate any lurking threats in their networks.
Importance of Threat Intelligence
Threat intelligence is crucial for understanding malicious actors, their methods, and motivations. Infoblox provides advanced tools to identify malicious infrastructures before actors leverage them. Through sophisticated algorithms, suspicious domains are correlated with data sources to offer a comprehensive view of the threat landscape.
Organizations can use this information to develop more unified security policies, proactively block domains, and bolster their defense strategy. One of the most effective solutions is Infoblox DNS Detection and Response (DNSDR), which aids in early threat detection to prevent harm.
The threat of Volt Typhoon serves as a stark reminder that critical infrastructures are in the sights of well-funded and highly skilled state actors. The implementation of proactive measures and effective threat intelligence are vital to counter these threats and ensure continuous operations.
Source: infoblox.