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October 3, 2024

Introducing real-time multi-cloud detection & response powered by AI

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03
Oct 2024
This blog announces the general availability of Microsoft Azure support for Darktrace / CLOUD, enabling real-time cloud detection and response across dynamic multi-cloud environments. Read more to discover how Darktrace is pioneering AI-led real-time cloud detection and response.

We are delighted to announce the general availability of Microsoft Azure support for Darktrace / CLOUD, enabling real-time cloud detection and response across dynamic multi-cloud environments. Built on Self-Learning AI, Darktrace / CLOUD leverages Microsoft’s new virtual network flow logs (VNet flow) to offer an agentless-first approach that dramatically simplifies detection and response within Azure, unifying cloud-native security with Darktrace’s innovative ActiveAI Security Platform.

As organizations increasingly adopt multi-cloud architectures, the need for advanced, real-time threat detection and response is critical to keep pace with evolving cloud threats. Security teams face significant challenges, including increased complexity, limited visibility, and siloed tools. The dynamic nature of multi-cloud environments introduces ever-changing blind spots, while traditional security tools struggle to provide real-time insights, often offering static snapshots of risk. Additionally, cloud security teams frequently operate in isolation from SOC teams, leading to fragmented visibility and delayed responses. This lack of coordination, especially in hybrid environments, hinders effective threat detection and response. Compounding these challenges, current security solutions are split between agent-based and agentless approaches, with agentless solutions often lacking real-time awareness and agent-based options adding complexity and scalability concerns. Darktrace / CLOUD helps to solve these challenges with real-time detection and response designed specifically for dynamic cloud environments like Azure and AWS.

Pioneering AI-led real-time cloud detection & response

Darktrace has been at the forefront of real-time detection and response for over a decade, continually pushing the boundaries of AI-driven cybersecurity. Our Self-Learning AI uniquely positions Darktrace with the ability to automatically understand and instantly adapt to changing cloud environments. This is critical in today’s landscape, where cloud infrastructures are highly dynamic and ever-changing.  

Built on years of market-leading network visibility, Darktrace / CLOUD understands ‘normal’ for your unique business across clouds and networks to instantly reveal known, unknown, and novel cloud threats with confidence. Darktrace Self-Learning AI continuously monitors activity across cloud assets, containers, and users, and correlates it with detailed identity and network context to rapidly detect malicious activity. Platform-native identity and network monitoring capabilities allow Darktrace / CLOUD to deeply understand normal patterns of life for every user and device, enabling instant, precise and proportionate response to abnormal behavior - without business disruption.

Leveraging platform-native Autonomous Response, AI-driven behavioral containment neutralizes malicious activity with surgical accuracy while preventing disruption to cloud infrastructure or services. As malicious behavior escalates, Darktrace correlates thousands of data points to identify and instantly respond to unusual activity by blocking specific connections and enforcing normal behavior.

Figure 1: AI-driven behavioral containment neutralizes malicious activity with surgical accuracy while preventing disruption to cloud infrastructure or services.

Unparalleled agentless visibility into Azure

As a long-term trusted partner of Microsoft, Darktrace leverages Azure VNet flow logs to provide agentless, high-fidelity visibility into cloud environments, ensuring comprehensive monitoring without disrupting workflows. By integrating seamlessly with Azure, Darktrace / CLOUD continues to push the envelope of innovation in cloud security. Our Self-learning AI not only improves the detection of traditional and novel threats, but also enhances real-time response capabilities and demonstrates our commitment to delivering cutting-edge, AI-powered multi-cloud security solutions.

  • Integration with Microsoft Virtual network flow logs for enhanced visibility
    Darktrace / CLOUD integrates seamlessly with Azure to provide agentless, high-fidelity visibility into cloud environments. VNet flow logs capture critical network traffic data, allowing Darktrace to monitor Azure workloads in real time without disrupting existing workflows. This integration significantly reduces deployment time by 95%1 and cloud security operational costs by up to 80%2 compared to traditional agent-based solutions. Organizations benefit from enhanced visibility across dynamic cloud infrastructures, scaling security measures effortlessly while minimizing blind spots, particularly in ephemeral resources or serverless functions.
  • High-fidelity agentless deployment
    Agentless deployment allows security teams to monitor and secure cloud environments without installing software agents on individual workloads. By using cloud-native APIs like AWS VPC flow logs or Azure VNet flow logs, security teams can quickly deploy and scale security measures across dynamic, multi-cloud environments without the complexity and performance overhead of agents. This approach delivers real-time insights, improving incident detection and response while reducing disruptions. For organizations, agentless visibility simplifies cloud security management, lowers operational costs, and minimizes blind spots, especially in ephemeral resources or serverless functions.
  • Real-time visibility into cloud assets and architectures
    With real-time Cloud Asset Enumeration and Dynamic Architecture Modeling, Darktrace / CLOUD generates up-to-date architecture diagrams, giving SecOps and DevOps teams a unified view of cloud infrastructures. This shared context enhances collaboration and accelerates threat detection and response, especially in complex environments like Kubernetes. Additionally, Cyber AI Analyst automates the investigation process, correlating data across networks, identities, and cloud assets to save security teams valuable time, ensuring continuous protection and efficient cloud migrations.
Figure 2: Real-time visibility into Azure assets and architectures built from network, configuration and identity and access roles.

Unified multi-cloud security at scale

As organizations increasingly adopt multi-cloud strategies, the complexity of managing security across different cloud providers introduces gaps in visibility. Darktrace / CLOUD simplifies this by offering agentless, real-time monitoring across multi-cloud environments. Building on our innovative approach to securing AWS environments, our customers can now take full advantage of robust real-time detection and response capabilities for Azure. Darktrace is one of the first vendors to leverage Microsoft’s virtual network flow logs to provide agentless deployment in Azure, enabling unparalleled visibility without the need for installing agents. In addition, Darktrace / CLOUD offers automated Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) that continuously assesses cloud configurations against industry standards.  Security teams can identify and prioritize misconfigurations, vulnerabilities, and policy violations in real-time. These capabilities give security teams a complete, live understanding of their cloud environments and help them focus their limited time and resources where they are needed most.

This approach offers seamless integration into existing workflows, reducing configuration efforts and enabling fast, flexible deployment across cloud environments. By extending its capabilities across multiple clouds, Darktrace / CLOUD ensures that no blind spots are left uncovered, providing holistic, multi-cloud security that scales effortlessly with your cloud infrastructure. diagrams, visualizes cloud assets, and prioritizes risks across cloud environments.

Figure 3: Unified view of AWS and Azure cloud posture and compliance over time.

The future of cloud security: Real-time defense in an unpredictable world

Darktrace / CLOUD’s support for Microsoft Azure, powered by Self-Learning AI and agentless deployment, sets a new standard in multi-cloud security. With real-time detection and autonomous response, organizations can confidently secure their Azure environments, leveraging innovation to stay ahead of the constantly evolving threat landscape. By combining Azure VNet flow logs with Darktrace’s AI-driven platform, we can provide customers with a unified, intelligent solution that transforms how security is managed across the cloud.

Unlock advanced cloud protection

Darktrace / CLOUD solution brief screenshot

Download the Darktrace / CLOUD solution brief to discover how autonomous, AI-driven defense can secure your environment in real-time.

  • Achieve 60% more accurate detection of unknown and novel cloud threats.
  • Respond instantly with autonomous threat response, cutting response time by 90%.
  • Streamline investigations with automated analysis, improving ROI by 85%.
  • Gain a 30% boost in cloud asset visibility with real-time architecture modeling.
  • Learn More:

    References

    1. Based on internal research and customer data

    2. Based on internal research

    Inside the SOC
    Darktrace cyber analysts are world-class experts in threat intelligence, threat hunting and incident response, and provide 24/7 SOC support to thousands of Darktrace customers around the globe. Inside the SOC is exclusively authored by these experts, providing analysis of cyber incidents and threat trends, based on real-world experience in the field.
    Author
    Adam Stevens
    Director of Product, Cloud Security
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    Darktrace Leading the Future of Network Detection and Response with Recognition from KuppingerCole

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    KuppingerCole has recognized Darktrace as an overall Leader, Product Leader, Market Leader and Innovation Leader in the KuppingerCole Leadership Compass: Network Detection and Response (2024).

    With the perimeter all but dissolved, Network Detection and Response (NDR) tools are quickly becoming a critical component of the security stack, as the main tool to span the modern network. NDRs connect on-premises infrastructure to cloud, remote workers, identities, SaaS applications, and IoT/OT – something not available to EDR that requires agents and isolates visibility to individual devices.

    KuppingerCole Analysts AG designated Darktrace an ‘Overall Leader’ position because of our continual innovation around user-led security. Self-Learning AI together with automated triage through Cyber AI Analyst and real-time autonomous response actions have been instrumental to security teams in stopping potential threats before they become a breach. With this time saved, Darktrace is leading beyond reactive security to truly harden a network, allowing the team to spend more time in preventive security measures.

    Network Detection and Response protects where others fail to reach

    NDR solutions operate at the network level, deploying inside or parallel to your network to ingest raw traffic via virtual or physical sensors. This gives them unprecedented potential to identify anomalies and possible breaches in any network - far beyond simple on-prem, into dynamic virtual environments, cloud or hybrid networks, cloud applications, and even remote devices accessing the corporate network via ZTNA or VPN.

    Rather than looking at processes level data, NDR can detect the lateral movement of an adversary across multiple assets by analyzing network traffic patterns which endpoint solutions may not be able to identify [1]. In the face of a growing, complex environment, organizations large and small, will benefit from using NDRs either in conjunction, or as the foundation for, their Extended Detection and Response (XDR) for a unified view that improves their overall threat detection, ease of investigation and faster response times.

    Today's NDR solutions are expected to include advanced ML and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms [1]

    Traditional IDS & IPS systems are labor intensive, requiring continuous rule creation, outdated signature maintenance, and manual monitoring for false positives or incorrect actions. This is no longer viable against a higher volume and changing landscape, making NDR the natural network tool to level against these evolutions. The role of AI in NDRs is designed to meet this challenge, “to reduce both the labor need for analysis and false positives, as well as add value by improving anomaly detection and overall security posture” .

    Celebrating success in leadership and innovation

    Darktrace is proud to have been recognized as an NDR “Overall Leader” in KuppingerCole Analyst AG’s Leadership Compass. The report gave further recognition to Darktrace as a ‘Product Leader”, “Innovation Leader” and “Market Leader”.

    Maximum scores were received for core product categories, in addition to market presence and financial strength. Particular attention was directed to our innovation. This year has seen several NDR updates via Darktrace’s ActiveAI Security Platform version 6.2 which has enhanced investigation workflows and provided new AI transparency within the toolset.

    Positive scores were also received for Darktrace’s deployment ecosystem and surrounding support, minimizing the need for extraneous integrations through a unique platform architecture that connects with over 90 other vendors.

    High Scores received in Darktrace’s KuppingerCole Spider Chart across Core NDR capability areas
    Figure 1: High Scores received in Darktrace’s KuppingerCole Spider Chart across Core NDR capability areas

    Darktrace’s pioneering AI approach sets it apart

    Darktrace / NETWORK’s approach is fundamentally different to other NDRs. Continual anomaly-based detection (our Self-Learning AI), understands what is normal across each of your network entities, and then examines deviations from these behaviors rather than needing to apply static rules or ML to adversary techniques. As a result, Darktrace / NETWORK can focus on surfacing the novel threats that cannot be anticipated, whilst our proactive solutions expose gaps that can be exploited and reduce the risk of known threats.    

    Across the millions of possible network events that may occur, Darktrace’s Cyber AI Analyst reduces that manual workload for SOC teams by presenting only what is most important in complete collated incidents. This accelerates SOC Level 2 analyses of incidents by 10x2, giving time back, first for any necessary response and then for preventive workflows.

    Finally, when incidents begin to escalate, Darktrace can natively (or via third-party) autonomously respond and take precise actions based on a contextual understanding of both the affected assets and incident in question so that threats can be disarmed without impacting wider operations.

    Within the KuppingerCole report, several standout strengths were listed:

    • Cyber AI Analyst was celebrated as a core differentiator, enhancing both visibility and investigation into critical network issues and allowing a faster response.
    • Darktrace / NETWORK was singled for its user benefits. Both a clear interface for analysts with advanced filtering and analytical tools, and efficient role-based access control (RBAC) and configuration options for administrators.
    • At the product level, Darktrace was recognized for complete network traffic analysis (NTA) capabilities allowing extensive analysis into components like application use/type, fingerprinting, source/destination communication, in addition to comprehensive protocol support across a range of network device types from IT, OT, IoT and mobiles and detailed MITRE ATT&CK mapping.
    • Finally, at the heart of it, Darktrace’s innovation was highlighted in relation to its intrinsic Self Learning AI, utilizing multiple layers of deep learning, neural networks, LLMs, NLP, Generative AI and more to understand network activity and filter it for what’s critical on an individual customer level.

    Going beyond reactive security

    Darktrace’s visibility and AI-enabled detection, investigation and response enable security teams to focus on hardening gaps in their network through contextual relevance & priority. Darktrace / NETWORK explicitly gives time back to security teams allowing them to focus on the bigger strategic and governance workflows that sometimes get overlooked. This is enabled through proactive solutions intrinsically connected to our NDR:

    • Darktrace / Proactive Exposure Management, which looks beyond just CVE risks to instead discover, prioritize and validate risks by business impact and how to mobilize against them early, to reduce the number of real threats security teams face.
    • Darktrace / Incident Readiness & Recovery, a solution rather than service-based approach to incident response (IR) that lets teams respond in the best way to each incident and proactively test their familiarity and effectiveness of IR workflows with sophisticated incident simulations involving their own analysts and assets.

    Together, these solutions allow Darktrace / NETWORK to go beyond the traditional NDR and shift teams to a more hardened and proactive state.

    Putting customers first

    Customers continue to sit at the forefront of Darktrace R&D, with their emerging needs and pain points being the direct inspiration for our continued innovation.

    This year Darktrace / NETWORK has protected thousands of customers against the latest attacks, from data exfil and destruction, to unapproved privilege escalation and ransomware including strains like Medusa, Qilin and AlphV BlackCat.

    In each instance, Darktrace / NETWORK was able to provide a holistic lens of the anomalies present in their traffic, collated those that were important, and either responded or gave teams the ability to take targeted actions against their threats – even when adversaries pivoted. In one example of a Gootloader compromise, Darktrace ensured a SOC went from detection to recovery within 5 days, 92.8% faster than the average containment time of 69 days.

    Results like these, focused on user-led security, have secured Darktrace’s position within the latest NDR Leadership Compass.

    To find out more about what makes Darktrace / NETWORK special, read the full KuppingerCole report.

    References

    [1] Osman Celik, KuppingerCole Leadership Compass:Network Detection and Response (2024)

    [2] Darktrace's AI Analyst customer fleet data

    [3] https://www.ibm.com/reports/data-breach

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    About the author
    Gabriel Few-Wiegratz
    Product Marketing Manager

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    November 18, 2024

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    Inside the SOC

    From Royal to BlackSuit: Understanding the Tactics and Impact of a Sophisticated Ransomware Strain

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    What is BlackSuit Ransomware?

    Since late 2023, Darktrace has detected BlackSuit ransomware infiltrating multiple customer networks in the US. This ransomware has targeted a wide range of industries, including arts, entertainment, real estate, public administration, defense, and social security.

    Emerging in May 2023, BlackSuit is believed to be a spinoff of Royal ransomware due to similarities in code and Conti, and most likely consists of Russian and Eastern European hackers [1]. Recorded Future reported that the ransomware had affected 95 organizations worldwide, though the actual number is likely much higher [2]. While BlackSuit does not appear to focus on any particular sector, it has targeted multiple organizations in the healthcare, education, IT, government, retail and manufacturing industries [3]. Employing double extortion tactics, BlackSuit not only encrypts files but also steals sensitive data to leverage ransom payments.

    BlackSuit has demanded over USD 500 million in ransoms, with the highest individual demand reaching USD 60 million [4]. Notable targets include CDK Global, Japanese media conglomerate Kadokawa, multiple educational institutions, Octapharma Plasma, and the government of Brazil [5][6][7][8].

    Darktrace’s Coverage of BlackSuit Ransomware Attack

    Case 1, November 2023

    The earliest attack on a Darktrace customer by BlackSuit was detected at the start of November 2023. The unusual network activity began on a weekend—a time commonly chosen by ransomware groups to increase their chances of success, as many security teams operate with reduced staff. Darktrace identified indicators of the attackers’ presence on the network for almost two weeks, during which a total of 15 devices exhibited suspicious behavior.

    The attack commenced with unusual internal SMB (Server Message Block) connections using a compromised service account. An internal device uploaded an executable (zzza.exe) to a domain controller (DC) and shortly after, wrote a script (socks5.ps1) to another device. According to a Cybersecurity Advisory from the CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, US), the script file was a PowerShell reverse proxy [9].

    Approximately an hour and a half later, the device to which the script was written exhibited uncommon WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) activity. Two hours after receiving the executable file, the DC was observed making an outgoing NTLM request, using PowerShell to remotely execute commands, distributing differently named executable files (<PART OF THE CUSTOMER’S NAME>.exe), and controlling services on other devices.

    Eighteen hours after the start of the unusual activity, Darktrace detected another device making repeated connections to “mystuff.bublup[.]com”, which the aforementioned CISA Advisory identifies as a domain used by BlackSuit for data exfiltration [9].

    About ten minutes after the suspicious executables were distributed across the network, and less than 24 hours after the start of the unusual activity, file encryption began. A total of ten devices were seen appending the “.blacksuit” extension to files saved on other devices using SMB, as well as writing ransom notes (readme.blacksuit.txt). The file encryption lasted less than 20 minutes.

     An example of the contents of a BlackSuit ransom note being written over SMB.
    Figure 1: An example of the contents of a BlackSuit ransom note being written over SMB.

    During this compromise, external connections to endpoints related to ConnectWise’s ScreenConnect remote management tool were also seen from multiple servers, suggesting that the tool was likely being abused for command-and-control (C2) activity. Darktrace identified anomalous connectivity associated with ScreenConnect was seen up to 11 days after the start of the attack.

    10 days after the start of the compromise, an account belonging to a manager was detected adding “.blacksuit” extensions to the customer’s Software-a-Service (SaaS) resources while connecting from 173.251.109[.]106. Six minutes after file encryption began, Darktrace flagged the unusual activity and recommended a block. However, since Autonomous Response mode was not enabled, the customer’s security team needed to manually confirm the action. Consequently, suspicious activity continued for about a week after the initial encryption. This included disabling authentication on the account and an unusual Teams session initiated from the suspicious external endpoint 216.151.180[.]147.

    Case 2, February 2024

    Another BlackSuit compromise occurred at the start of February 2024, when Darktrace identified approximately 50 devices exhibiting ransomware-related activity in another US customer’s environment. Further investigation revealed that a significant number of additional devices had also been compromised. These devices were outside Darktrace’s purview to the customer’s specific deployment configuration. The threat actors managed to exfiltrate around 4 TB of data.

    Initial access to the network was gained via a virtual private network (VPN) compromise in January 2024, when suspicious connections from a Romanian IP address were detected. According to CISA, the BlackSuit group often utilizes the services of initial access brokers (IAB)—actors who specialize in infiltrating networks, such as through VPNs, and then selling that unauthorized access to other threat actors [9]. Other initial access vectors include phishing emails, RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) compromise, and exploitation of vulnerable public-facing applications.

    Similar to the first case, the file encryption began at the end of the working week. During this phase of the attack, affected devices were observed encrypting files on other internal devices using two compromised administrator accounts. The encryption activity lasted for approximately six and a half hours. Multiple alerts were sent to the customer from Darktrace’s Security Operations Centre (SOC) team, who began reviewing the activity within four minutes of the start of the file encryption.

    Darktrace’s Cyber AI Analyst clustering together multiple events related to unusual activity on the network, including file encryption over SMB by BlackSuit.
    Figure 2: Darktrace’s Cyber AI Analyst clustering together multiple events related to unusual activity on the network, including file encryption over SMB by BlackSuit.
    Figure 3: A spike in model alerts on the day when file encryption by BlackSuit was observed in the network.

    In this case, the threat actor utilized SystemBC proxy malware for command and control (C2). A domain controller (DC) was seen connecting to 137.220.61[.]94 on the same day the file encryption took place. The DC was also observed connecting to a ProxyScrape domain around the same time, which is related to the SOCKS5 protocol used by SystemBC. During this compromise, RDP, SSH, and SMB were used for lateral movement within the network.

    Figure 4: A Cyber AI Analyst investigation alerting to a device on the VPN subnet making suspicious internal SSH connections due to malicious actors moving laterally within the network.

    Signs of threat actors potentially being on the network were observed as early as two days prior to the file encryption. This included unusual internal network scanning via multiple protocols (ICMP, SMB, RDP, etc.), credential brute-forcing, SMB access failures, and anonymous SMBv1 sessions. These activities were traced to IP addresses belonging to two desktop devices in the VPN subnet associated with two regular employee user accounts. Threat actors were seemingly able to exploit at least one of these accounts due to LDAP legacy policies being in place on the customer’s environment.

    A Cyber AI Analyst incident summary alerting to a device on the VPN subnet conducting internal reconnaissance.
    Figure 5: A Cyber AI Analyst incident summary alerting to a device on the VPN subnet conducting internal reconnaissance.
    Examples of the proposed Darktrace Autonomous Response actions on the day BlackSuit initiated file encryption.
    Figure 6: Examples of the proposed Darktrace Autonomous Response actions on the day BlackSuit initiated file encryption.

    Case 3, August 2024

    The most recently observed BlackSuit compromise occurred in August 2024, when a device was observed attempting to brute-force the credentials of an IT administrator. This activity continued for 11 days.

    Once the admin’s account was successfully compromised, network scanning, unusual WMI, and SAMR (Security Account Manager Remote protocol) activity followed. A spike in the use of this account was detected on a Sunday—once again, the attackers seemingly targeting the weekend—when the account was used by nearly 50 different devices.

    The compromised admin’s account was exploited for data gathering via SMB, resulting in the movement of 200 GB of data between internal devices in preparation for exfiltration. The files were then archived using the naming convention “*.part<number>.rar”.

    Around the same time, Darktrace observed data transfers from 19 internal devices to “bublup-media-production.s3.amazonaws[.]com,” totaling just over 200 GB—the same volume of data gathered internally. Connections to other Bublup domains were also detected. The internal data download and external data transfer activity took approximately 8-9 hours.

    Unfortunately, Darktrace was not configured in Autonomous Response mode at the time of the attack, meaning any mitigative actions to stop the data gathering or exfiltration required human confirmation.  

    One of the compromised devices was seen sending 80 GB of data to bublup-media-production.s3.amazonaws[.]com within a span of 4 hours.
    Figure 7: One of the compromised devices was seen sending 80 GB of data to bublup-media-production.s3.amazonaws[.]com within a span of 4 hours.

    Once the information was stolen, the threat actor moved on to the final stage of the attack—file encryption. Five internal devices, using either the compromised admin account or connecting via anonymous SMBv1 sessions, were seen encrypting files and writing ransom notes to five other devices on the network. The attempts at file encryption continued for around two hours, but Darktrace’s Autonomous Response capability was able to block the activity and prevent the attack from escalating.

    Conclusion

    The persistent and evolving threat posed by ransomware like BlackSuit underscores the critical importance of robust cybersecurity measures across all sectors. Since its emergence in 2023, BlackSuit has demonstrated a sophisticated approach to infiltrating networks, leveraging double extortion tactics, and demanding substantial ransoms. The cases highlighted above illustrate the varied methods and persistence of BlackSuit attackers, from exploiting VPN vulnerabilities to abusing remote management tools and targeting off-hours to maximize impact.

    Although many similar connection patterns, such as the abuse of Bublup services for data exfiltration or the use of SOCKS5 proxies for C2, were observed during cases investigated by Darktrace, BlackSuit actors are highly sophisticated and tailors their attacks to each target organization. The consequences of a successful attack can be highly disruptive, and remediation efforts can be time-consuming and costly. This includes taking the entire network offline while responding to the incident, restoring encrypted files from backups (if available), dealing with damage to the organization’s reputation, and potential lawsuits.

    These BlackSuit ransomware incidents emphasize the need for continuous vigilance, timely updates to security protocols, and the adoption of autonomous response technologies to swiftly counteract such attacks. As ransomware tactics continue to evolve, organizations must remain agile and informed to protect their critical assets and data. By learning from these incidents and enhancing their cybersecurity frameworks, organizations can better defend against the relentless threat of ransomware and ensure the resilience of their operations in an increasingly digital world.

    Credit to Signe Zaharka (Principal Cyber Analyst) and Adam Potter (Senior Cyber Analyst)

    Insights from Darktrace’s First 6: Half-year threat report for 2024

    First 6: half year threat report darktrace screenshot

    Darktrace’s First 6: Half-Year Threat Report 2024 highlights the latest attack trends and key threats observed by the Darktrace Threat Research team in the first six months of 2024.

    • Focuses on anomaly detection and behavioral analysis to identify threats
    • Maps mitigated cases to known, publicly attributed threats for deeper context
    • Offers guidance on improving security posture to defend against persistent threats

    Appendices

    Darktrace Model Detections

    Anomalous Connection / Data Sent to Rare Domain

    Anomalous Connection / High Volume of New or Uncommon Service Control

    Anomalous Connection / New or Uncommon Service Control

    Anomalous Connection / Rare WinRM Outgoing

    Anomalous Connection / SMB Enumeration

    Anomalous Connection / Suspicious Activity On High Risk Device

    Anomalous Connection / Suspicious Read Write Ratio

    Anomalous Connection / Suspicious Read Write Ratio and Unusual SMB

    Anomalous Connection / Sustained MIME Type Conversion

    Anomalous Connection / Uncommon 1 GiB Outbound

    Anomalous Connection / Unusual Admin SMB Session

    Anomalous File / Internal / Additional Extension Appended to SMB File

    Anomalous File / Internal / Executable Uploaded to DC

    Anomalous File / Internal / Unusual SMB Script Write

    Anomalous Server Activity / Anomalous External Activity from Critical Network Device

    Anomalous Server Activity / Outgoing from Server

    Anomalous Server Activity / Rare External from Server

    Anomalous Server Activity / Write to Network Accessible WebRoot

    Compliance / Outgoing NTLM Request from DC

    Compliance / Remote Management Tool On Server

    Compliance / SMB Drive Write

    Compromise / Beacon to Young Endpoint

    Compromise / Beaconing Activity To External Rare

    Compromise / Ransomware / Possible Ransom Note Read

    Compromise / Ransomware / Possible Ransom Note Write

    Compromise / Ransomware / SMB Reads then Writes with Additional Extensions

    Compromise / Ransomware / Suspicious SMB Activity

    Device / Anomalous RDP Followed By Multiple Model Breaches

    Device / EXE Files Distributed to Multiple Devices

    Device / Internet Facing Device with High Priority Alert

    Device / Large Number of Model Breaches

    Device / Large Number of Model Breaches from Critical Network Device

    Device / Multiple Lateral Movement Model Breaches

    Device / Network Scan

    Device / New or Uncommon WMI Activity

    Device / New or Unusual Remote Command Execution

    Device / New User Agent To Internal Server

    Device / SMB Lateral Movement

    Device / SMB Session Brute Force (Admin)

    Device / Suspicious SMB Scanning Activity

    Device / Unusual LDAP Query For Domain Admins

    SaaS / Access / Teams Activity from Rare Endpoint

    SaaS / Resource / SaaS Resources With Additional Extensions

    SaaS / Unusual Activity / Disabled Strong Authentication

    SaaS / Unusual Activity / Multiple Unusual SaaS Activity Scores

    SaaS / Unusual Activity / Unusual SaaS Activity Score

    SaaS / Unusual Activity / Unusual Volume of SaaS Modifications

    Unusual Activity / Anomalous SMB Delete Volume

    Unusual Activity / Anomalous SMB Move & Write

    Unusual Activity / High Volume Client Data Transfer

    Unusual Activity / High Volume Server Data Transfer

    Unusual Activity / Internal Data Transfer

    Unusual Activity / SMB Access Failures

    Unusual Activity / Sustained Anomalous SMB Activity

    Unusual Activity / Unusual External Data to New Endpoint

    User / New Admin Credentials on Client

    User / New Admin Credentials on Server

    User/ Kerberos Password Bruteforce

    Autonomous Response Models

    Antigena / Network / External Threat / Antigena File then New Outbound Block

    Antigena / Network / External Threat / Antigena Ransomware Block

    Antigena / Network / External Threat / Antigena Suspicious Activity Block

    Antigena / Network / External Threat / SMB Ratio Antigena Block

    Antigena / Network / Insider Threat / Antigena Internal Anomalous File Activity

    Antigena / Network / Insider Threat / Antigena Internal Data Transfer Block

    Antigena / Network / Insider Threat / Antigena Large Data Volume Outbound Block

    Antigena / Network / Insider Threat / Antigena Network Scan Block

    Antigena / Network / Insider Threat / Antigena Unusual Privileged User Activities Block

    Antigena / Network / Insider Threat / Antigena Unusual Privileged User Activities Pattern of Life Block

    Antigena / Network / Significant Anomaly / Antigena Breaches Over Time Block

    Antigena / Network / Significant Anomaly / Antigena Controlled and Model Breach

    Antigena / Network / Significant Anomaly / Antigena Enhanced Monitoring from Client Block

    Antigena / Network / Significant Anomaly / Antigena Enhanced Monitoring from Server Block

    Antigena / Network / Significant Anomaly / Antigena Significant Anomaly from Client Block

    Antigena / Network / Significant Anomaly / Antigena Significant Server Anomaly Block

    Antigena / Network / Significant Anomaly / Repeated Antigena Breaches

    Antigena / SaaS / Antigena Unusual Activity Block

    List of Indicators of Compromise (IoCs)

    IoC - Type - Description + Confidence

    .blacksuit - File extension – When encrypting the files, this extension is appended to the filename – High

    readme.blacksuit.txt – ransom note - A file demanding cryptocurrency payment in exchange for decrypting the victim's files and not leaking the stolen data – High

    mystuff.bublup[.]com, bublup-media-production.s3.amazonaws[.]com – data exfiltration domains related to an organization and project management app that has document sharing functionality – High

    137.220.61[.]94:4001 – SystemBC C2 related IP address (this tool is often used by other ransomware groups as well) - Medium

    173.251.109[.]106 – IP address seen during a SaaS BlackSuit compromise (during file encryption) – Medium

    216.151.180[.]147 – IP address seen during a SaaS BlackSuit compromise (during an unusual Teams session) - Medium

    MITRE ATT&CK Mapping

    Tactic - Technqiue

    Account Manipulation - PERSISTENCE - T1098

    Alarm Suppression - INHIBIT RESPONSE FUNCTION - T0878

    Application Layer Protocol - COMMAND AND CONTROL - T1071

    Automated Collection - COLLECTION - T1119

    Block Command Message - INHIBIT RESPONSE FUNCTION - T0803

    Block Reporting Message - INHIBIT RESPONSE FUNCTION - T0804

    Browser Extensions - PERSISTENCE - T1176

    Brute Force I/O - IMPAIR PROCESS CONTROL - T0806

    Brute Force - CREDENTIAL ACCESS - T1110

    Client Configurations - RECONNAISSANCE - T1592.004 - T1592

    Cloud Accounts - DEFENSE EVASION, PERSISTENCE, PRIVILEGE ESCALATION, INITIAL ACCESS - T1078.004 - T1078

    Data Destruction - IMPACT - T1485

    Data Destruction - INHIBIT RESPONSE FUNCTION - T0809

    Data Encrypted for Impact - IMPACT - T1486

    Data from Cloud Storage Object - COLLECTION - T1530

    Data Staged - COLLECTION - T1074

    Domain Groups - DISCOVERY - T1069.002 - T1069

    Email Collection - COLLECTION - T1114

    Exfiltration Over C2 Channel - EXFILTRATION - T1041

    Exfiltration to Cloud Storage - EXFILTRATION - T1567.002 - T1567

    Exploit Public - Facing Application - INITIAL ACCESS - T1190

    Exploitation for Privilege Escalation - PRIVILEGE ESCALATION - T0890

    Exploitation of Remote Services - LATERAL MOVEMENT - T1210

    File and Directory Discovery - DISCOVERY - T1083

    File Deletion - DEFENSE EVASION - T1070.004 - T1070

    IP Addresses - RECONNAISSANCE - T1590.005 - T1590

    Lateral Tool Transfer - LATERAL MOVEMENT - T1570

    LLMNR/NBT - NS Poisoning and SMB Relay - CREDENTIAL ACCESS, COLLECTION - T1557.001 - T1557

    Modify Alarm Settings - INHIBIT RESPONSE FUNCTION - T0838

    Modify Control Logic - IMPAIR PROCESS CONTROL, INHIBIT RESPONSE FUNCTION - T0833

    Modify Parameter - IMPAIR PROCESS CONTROL - T0836

    Network Service Scanning - DISCOVERY - T1046

    Network Share Discovery - DISCOVERY - T1135

    Pass the Hash - DEFENSE EVASION, LATERAL MOVEMENT - T1550.002 - T1550

    RDP Hijacking - LATERAL MOVEMENT - T1563.002 - T1563

    Remote Access Software - COMMAND AND CONTROL - T1219

    Remote Desktop Protocol - LATERAL MOVEMENT - T1021.001 - T1021

    Remote System Discovery - DISCOVERY - T1018

    Rename System Utilities - DEFENSE EVASION - T1036.003 - T1036

    Scanning IP Blocks - RECONNAISSANCE - T1595.001 - T1595

    Scheduled Transfer - EXFILTRATION - T1029

    Service Execution - EXECUTION - T1569.002 - T1569

    Service Stop - IMPACT - T1489

    SMB/Windows Admin Shares - LATERAL MOVEMENT - T1021.002 - T1021

    Stored Data Manipulation - IMPACT - T1565.001 - T1565

    Taint Shared Content - LATERAL MOVEMENT - T1080

    Valid Accounts - DEFENSE EVASION, PERSISTENCE, PRIVILEGE ESCALATION, INITIAL ACCESS - T1078

    Vulnerability Scanning - RECONNAISSANCE - T1595.002 - T1595

    Web Protocols - COMMAND AND CONTROL - T1071.001 - T1071

    Web Services - RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT - T1583.006 - T1583

    Web Shell - PERSISTENCE - T1505.003 - T1505

    Windows Management Instrumentation - EXECUTION - T1047

    Windows Remote Management - LATERAL MOVEMENT - T1021.006 - T1021

    References

    1.     https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/23/e/investigating-blacksuit-ransomwares-similarities-to-royal.html

    2.     https://www.reuters.com/technology/cybersecurity/blacksuit-hacker-behind-cdk-global-attack-hitting-us-car-dealers-2024-06-27/

    3.     https://www.sentinelone.com/anthology/blacksuit/

    4.     https://thehackernews.com/2024/08/fbi-and-cisa-warn-of-blacksuit.html

    5.     https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/feature/The-CDK-Global-outage-Explaining-how-it-happened

    6.     https://therecord.media/japanese-media-kadokawa-investigating-cyber

    7.     https://therecord.media/plasma-donation-company-cyberattack-blacksuit

    8.     https://thecyberexpress.com/government-of-brazil-cyberattack-by-blacksuit/

    9.     https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa23-061a

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    About the author
    Signe Zaharka
    Senior Cyber Security Analyst
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