Microsoft Warns of Hackers Exploiting OAuth for Cryptocurrency Mining and Phishing

Microsoft Warns of Hackers Exploiting OAuth for Cryptocurrency Mining and Phishing

December 13, 2023 at 06:24AM

Microsoft warns of adversaries using OAuth applications to automate virtual machine deployment for cryptocurrency mining and phishing attacks. Threat actors compromise user accounts to modify OAuth applications and maintain access to applications even if they lose access to accounts. Organizations are advised to enforce multi-factor authentication, conditional access policies, and routine app audits to mitigate risks.

From the meeting notes provided, it appears that Microsoft has issued a warning about adversaries using OAuth applications to carry out malicious activities such as cryptocurrency mining and phishing attacks. The threat actors compromise user accounts to create or modify OAuth applications, allowing them to maintain access even if the original account is compromised. One specific group, Storm-1283, has been observed using compromised accounts to deploy virtual machines for cryptomining, while another unnamed actor created OAuth applications to maintain persistence and launch phishing attacks.

In response to these threats, Microsoft recommends organizations to enforce multi-factor authentication, enable conditional access policies, and regularly audit apps and consented permissions to mitigate the risks associated with such attacks.

The meeting notes highlight the importance of taking proactive steps to secure OAuth applications and user accounts, in order to prevent unauthorized access and misuse by threat actors.

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