October 26, 2023 at 02:21PM
Microsoft has identified the cyberattack group known as 0ktapus as one of the most dangerous financial criminal groups. The group, also referred to as Scatter Swine or Octo Tempest, uses advanced techniques such as adversary-in-the-middle tactics, social engineering, and SIM swapping. They have been involved in cryptocurrency theft, data-leak extortion, and ransomware attacks. Microsoft warns that organizations need to be prepared for the group’s evolving and sophisticated threats. Their recent techniques involve using Azure Data Factory and legitimate Microsoft 365 backup solutions for data exfiltration. Experts advise organizations to implement strong defense measures, educate employees about cyberattacks, and focus on mitigating social engineering and unpatched software risks.
Key Takeaways from Meeting Notes:
– Microsoft has assessed the 0ktapus cyberattack collective as one of the most dangerous financial criminal groups, growing in sophistication.
– The group, also known as Scatter Swine, UNC3944, or Octo Tempest, uses adversary-in-the-middle (AitM) techniques, social engineering, and SIM swapping.
– They have been involved in cryptocurrency theft, data-leak extortion, and ransomware attacks, and became a BlackCat/ALPHV affiliate in mid-2023.
– Recent attacks by the group targeted MGM and Caesars Entertainment, utilizing techniques such as compromising Okta credentials and exfiltrating sensitive data.
– 0ktapus has also been observed using Azure Data Factory and automated development pipelines for data exfiltration through attacker-controlled Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) servers.
– The group registers legitimate Microsoft 365 backup solutions to export SharePoint document libraries for data exfiltration.
– Organizations need to actively prepare for the level of sophistication demonstrated by the 0ktapus group.
– It’s important for organizations to create a defense-in-depth cyber defense plan, combining policies, technical defenses, and employee education to mitigate the risk of these attacks.
– Employees should be trained to recognize and report various cyberattack methods, with a focus on social engineering and patching software and firmware vulnerabilities.