The Research Blog

Attack Detection Fundamentals: Discovery and Lateral Movement - Lab #4

This article explores lateral movement techniques using PsExec in Windows environments. It details detection strategies for identifying suspicious remote execution activities through Windows event logs and Sysmon telemetry. Key detection opportunities include monitoring service creation events, process creation logs, and named pipe interactions during remote command execution.

Attack Detection Fundamentals: Discovery and Lateral Movement - Lab #5

This article explores lateral movement techniques using Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) in cybersecurity attack detection. The lab demonstrates detection strategies for both native WMIC commands and Impacket's wmiexec tool. Key detection opportunities include analyzing process creation events, network traffic patterns, and examining parent-child process relationships during WMI-based lateral movement attacks.

  • 3 Jul 2020

Attack Detection Fundamentals: Code Execution and Persistence - Lab #1

This article details a cybersecurity lab simulating the Astaroth malware attack chain using Living-off-the-Land (LOLBins) techniques. The lab demonstrates how attackers can exploit Windows utilities like BITSAdmin and ExtExport.exe, along with Alternate Data Streams, to stealthily download and execute malware. Multiple detection strategies are explored, including Sigma rules, event log analysis, and tools like Sysmon for identifying these sophisticated attack methods.

  • 3 Jul 2020

Attack Detection Fundamentals: Code Execution and Persistence - Lab #2

This article explores persistence techniques used by attackers in Windows environments. Two primary methods are demonstrated: adding files to the Startup folder and modifying Windows Registry Run Keys. The guide provides technical insights into malware persistence strategies and detection approaches for cybersecurity professionals.

  • 3 Jul 2020

Helping root out of the container

A container breakout technique exploits AF_LOCAL sockets to smuggle file descriptors into a container. By passing a file descriptor for the root directory, a root user within the container can modify files outside its mount namespace. This attack demonstrates how root access in a container can compromise intended security isolation boundaries.

Attack Detection Fundamentals: Initial Access - Lab #1

This article demonstrates a technique for establishing initial access in a target environment using malicious Office macros. The lab walkthrough covers creating a PowerShell-based command and control payload embedded in a macro document. Detection strategies are explored through parent-child process analysis and Sysmon event log examination, with a focus on identifying anomalous process spawning from Office applications.

Attack Detection Fundamentals: Initial Access - Lab #2

This article explores attack detection techniques for initial access using the Koadic post-exploitation framework deployed via an HTA file. The lab focuses on identifying suspicious process and network connection relationships using Sysmon event logs. Key objectives include detecting anomalous binaries and network connections as potential indicators of compromise.

Attack Detection Fundamentals: Initial Access - Lab #3

This article details a multi-stage initial access attack technique used by the Cobalt Kitty group involving a malicious Word macro. The attack creates a scheduled task to execute an obfuscated PowerShell payload that ultimately injects a Cobalt Strike beacon into memory. The walkthrough explores detailed steps of crafting a beacon delivery mechanism while highlighting potential detection strategies.

Attack Detection Fundamentals: Initial Access - Lab #4

This article demonstrates creating a malicious Excel 4.0 Macro with Metasploit shellcode to obtain remote access on a Windows system. The lab walks through generating a Meterpreter payload, setting up a Metasploit listener, and executing the malicious macro. Memory forensics techniques using Volatility are explored to analyze the compromised host and detect stealthy code injection methods.

  • 11 Jun 2020

Abusing access to mount namespaces through /proc/pid/root

Linux namespaces can be abused for privilege escalation in containerized environments. Two key attack vectors are demonstrated: creating block devices in Docker containers to bypass access controls and exploiting symlink vulnerabilities through mount and user namespaces. The research highlights potential security risks in container configurations and namespace implementations.

  • 20 May 2020

Releasing the CAPTCHA Cracken

A tool called CAPTCHA Cracken was developed to bypass text-based CAPTCHAs on an Outlook Web App portal. Advanced image preprocessing techniques and browser automation with Pyppeteer were used to overcome significant CAPTCHA recognition challenges. The project demonstrated the vulnerability of traditional text-based CAPTCHAs to machine learning-based automated attacks.

  • 15 May 2020

Internet Exploiter: Understanding vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer

This article provides a deep technical analysis of CVE-2020-0674, a use-after-free vulnerability in Internet Explorer's legacy JScript engine. The analysis explores the internal mechanics of the JScript interpreter, garbage collection process, and demonstrates complex exploitation techniques to bypass security mitigations. The research reveals how an attacker could potentially execute arbitrary code by manipulating memory management in the legacy JavaScript engine.