June 12, 2024 at 05:15AM
China-backed threat actors accessed 20,000 Fortinet FortiGate systems globally by exploiting a critical vulnerability, with the operation impacting Western governments, international organizations, and defense companies. The attackers deployed a backdoor to maintain remote access and spread malware, highlighting the increasing trend of targeting edge devices for cyber attacks. For more content, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Key takeaways from the meeting notes:
1. State-sponsored threat actors backed by China exploited a known critical security flaw in Fortinet FortiGate systems, gaining access to 20,000 systems worldwide between 2022 and 2023.
2. The campaign targeted Western governments, international organizations, and companies within the defense industry.
3. The attackers breached a computer network used by the Dutch armed forces by exploiting CVE-2022-42475, enabling the installation of a backdoor codenamed COATHANGER.
4. The attackers opted to install the malware long after obtaining initial access to retain control over the devices.
5. The ongoing trend of cyber attacks targeting edge appliances to breach networks of interest was highlighted.
6. Edge devices are popular targets for malicious actors due to their security challenges and direct connection to the internet.
Please let me know if you need further details or analysis on any specific aspect of the meeting notes.