Infostealer Kits
In cybersecurity, infostealer kits are pre-packaged tools and software designed to automate and simplify stealing sensitive information from infected devices or systems. They exploit various techniques to achieve their goals.
Here's a breakdown of the key characteristics:
Pre-packaged Tools: Infostealer kits typically include various components needed to carry out an infostealer attack, such as:
Malware code: The core program that steals information.
Exploits: Code that takes advantage of software vulnerabilities to gain access to systems.
Payload delivery mechanisms are tools for delivering malware, such as phishing email attachments or exploit code for web browsers.
Command-and-control (C2) communication tools: Software to enable attackers to control infected devices and retrieve stolen data.
Automation and Simplification: Infostealer kits are designed to make it easier for individuals, even those with limited technical skills, to launch infostealer attacks. They often provide user-friendly interfaces and automate many of the technical aspects of the attack.
Customization: Many infostealer kits offer customization options, allowing attackers to:
Target specific types of information.
Modify the malware to evade detection.
Configure how the stolen data is collected and exfiltrated.
Exploitation of Vulnerabilities and Techniques: Infostealer kits target key areas to compromise systems and steal data:
Software Vulnerabilities: Infostealers often exploit vulnerabilities in software applications, operating systems, and web browsers to gain initial access to a device. These vulnerabilities might include:
Buffer overflows
Use-after-free errors
Zero-day exploits (newly discovered vulnerabilities that are not yet patched)
Human Factors (Social Engineering): Infostealers heavily rely on social engineering tactics to trick users into installing malware or revealing their credentials. Common techniques include:
Phishing: Deceptive emails or messages that lure users into clicking malicious links or downloading infected attachments.
Malvertising: Distributing malware through malicious advertisements on legitimate websites.
Social media scams: Using fake profiles or impersonating trusted entities to deceive users.
Weak Security Practices: Infostealers take advantage of weak security practices to gain access to systems and data. These include:
Weak or reused passwords: Users who use weak passwords or reuse the same password across multiple accounts are more vulnerable to infostealer attacks.
Lack of multi-factor authentication (MFA): MFA adds an extra layer of security and can prevent infostealers from accessing accounts even if they have stolen the password.
Unpatched software: Failure to keep software up to date with the latest security patches leaves systems vulnerable to exploitation.
Web Browser Weaknesses: Infostealers often target web browsers to steal stored credentials, cookies, and browsing history. They may use:
Browser exploits: Exploiting vulnerabilities in the browser software itself.
Malicious browser extensions: Tricking users into installing extensions that can steal data or inject malicious code into web pages.
Man-in-the-browser attacks: Injecting code into the browser to intercept user input and steal data in real-time.
System Misconfigurations: Infostealers may exploit system misconfigurations to gain elevated privileges or access sensitive data. These can include:
Weak file permissions: Allowing unauthorized access to sensitive files.
Open ports and services: Exposing unnecessary ports and services, which attackers can exploit.
Default credentials: Failure to change default usernames and passwords on systems and devices.
Commercialization: Infostealer kits are often sold or traded on underground forums and dark web marketplaces, contributing to the proliferation of infostealer attacks.
ThreatNG's Role in Countering Infostealer Kits
ThreatNG delivers capabilities that address the risks associated with infostealer kits by focusing on their components and how they're used:
1. Pre-packaged Tools
ThreatNG helps organizations counter the use of pre-packaged tools in infostealer kits:
Malware Code:
ThreatNG reduces the effectiveness of infostealer malware by identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities and attack vectors on which the malware relies.
For example, ThreatNG helps organizations harden their systems against infostealer infections by discovering software vulnerabilities and system misconfigurations.
Exploits:
ThreatNG addresses the risk of exploits by identifying software vulnerabilities.
ThreatNG's vulnerability detection capabilities inform organizations about weaknesses in their systems that infostealer kits could exploit, allowing them to patch or mitigate those vulnerabilities.
Payload Delivery Mechanisms:
ThreatNG helps organizations counter payload delivery, particularly phishing, a standard method for delivering infostealer malware.
ThreatNG assesses BEC & Phishing Susceptibility, providing organizations with insights into their vulnerability to phishing attacks and enabling them to take preventive measures.
Command-and-Control (C2) Communication Tools:
ThreatNG provides information that helps detect and respond to potential C2 activity.
For example, ThreatNG can detect malicious activity involving C2 communication by monitoring for suspicious domain name permutations.
2. Exploitation of Vulnerabilities and Techniques
ThreatNG helps organizations defend against the exploitation of vulnerabilities and techniques used by infostealer kits:
Software Vulnerabilities:
ThreatNG helps organizations identify and address software vulnerabilities that infostealer kits exploit.
By discovering vulnerabilities in web applications, operating systems, and other software, ThreatNG enables organizations to patch these weaknesses and reduce the risk of infostealer infections.
Human Factors (Social Engineering):
ThreatNG provides capabilities that help organizations mitigate the risk of social engineering attacks used to distribute infostealers.
ThreatNG assesses BEC & Phishing Susceptibility, directly addressing a key social engineering technique.
Weak Security Practices:
ThreatNG helps organizations identify and address weak security practices that infostealers exploit.
For example, by discovering exposed ports and services and identifying potential misconfigurations, ThreatNG enables organizations to improve their security posture.
Web Browser Weaknesses:
ThreatNG provides information to help organizations reduce their risk from browser exploits or malicious extensions.
For example, by providing insights into potential phishing attacks, ThreatNG can help organizations educate users about the risks of malicious extensions and phishing websites that might try to exploit browser weaknesses.
System Misconfigurations:
ThreatNG actively helps organizations identify and remediate system misconfigurations that infostealers exploit.
ThreatNG enables organizations to harden their systems by discovering weak file permissions, open ports and services, and potential default credentials.
How ThreatNG Helps - Highlighting Key Capabilities
External Discovery: ThreatNG's external discovery allows organizations to see their systems as an attacker would, identifying potential entry points and vulnerabilities that infostealer kits could exploit.
External Assessment: ThreatNG's assessments directly address the risks associated with infostealer kits:
It assesses BEC & Phishing Susceptibility.
It discovers software vulnerabilities and system misconfigurations.
It monitors for compromised credentials.
Reporting: ThreatNG provides reports highlighting vulnerabilities, exposures, and other risks that infostealer kits could exploit.
Continuous Monitoring: ThreatNG's continuous monitoring helps organizations stay aware of emerging threats and new vulnerabilities that could increase their risk to infostealer attacks.
Investigation Modules: ThreatNG's investigation modules provide detailed information that is valuable for defending against infostealer kits:
Domain Intelligence aids in understanding and mitigating phishing risks.
Sensitive Code Exposure helps discover exposed credentials.
Intelligence Repositories: ThreatNG uses intelligence repositories that include dark web data, compromised credentials, and known vulnerabilities, all critical for defending against infostealer kits.
Working with Complementary Solutions: ThreatNG works with other security solutions to provide a more comprehensive defense against infostealer kits:
SIEM Systems: ThreatNG provides SIEM systems with data on vulnerabilities, exposed credentials, and phishing activity for centralized analysis and alerting.
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) Solutions: ThreatNG's insights into potential entry points and vulnerabilities complement EDR solutions by providing context for potential infostealer activity on endpoints.
