January 11, 2024 at 10:53AM
GitHub’s widespread usage in IT has made it an attractive option for threat actors to host and deliver malicious content, acting as dead drop resolvers, command-and-control, and data exfiltration points. The platform is used for various malicious activities, including payload delivery and phishing, presenting challenges for traditional security defenses. Recorded Future recommends a mix of detection strategies to address GitHub abuse.
Key takeaways from the meeting notes on Newsroom Cybersecurity / Software Security:
1. GitHub’s widespread usage in IT environments has made it an attractive choice for threat actors to host and deliver malicious payloads, act as dead drop resolvers, command-and-control, and data exfiltration points.
2. “Living-off-trusted-sites” (LOTS) is a technique used by threat actors to conceal rogue activity on GitHub, blending in with legitimate network traffic and bypassing traditional security defenses.
3. GitHub has been abused for payload delivery, command-and-control (C2) obfuscation, dead drop resolver usage, and potential data exfiltration.
4. The platform has been utilized for various purposes including phishing hosts, traffic redirectors, and backup C2 channels.
5. GitHub is part of a broader trend where legitimate internet services are exploited by threat actors, including other source code and version control platforms like GitLab, BitBucket, and Codeberg.
6. Detection strategies for GitHub abuse require a mix of approaches tailored to specific environments, service usage patterns, organization structure, and risk tolerance, among other factors.
These takeaways highlight the vulnerability of GitHub to malicious activities and the need for comprehensive detection strategies to address this ongoing risk.