I have been working with ChatGPT4 on creating a threat intelligence agent analyst that has been trained, and is still being trained, on a multitude of sources on the net to synthesize threat intelligence reports, generate threat cards on actors, and generally be a Swiss Army knife of sorts in intel collection and dissemination. It is still a work in progress, but, just putting it out there….

Assume many others are doing the same, and that is also the case for internal security teams at companies around the globe. Since this is all open source, there may be glitches in the data, and there could be hallucinations or perhaps disinfo/misinfo that ends up in the feeds, but, with weeding and oversight, I think this is a good timesaver for those looking for general threatscape reporting from the net….

Your mileage may vary…

Overview

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the latest cyber threats and vulnerabilities identified on November 29, 2023. Key highlights include an uptick in ransomware attacks targeting the healthcare sector, a significant rise in Black Friday phishing emails, a novel anti-sandbox technique used by LummaC2 malware, and a zero-day vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange Server.

Ransomware Attacks on Healthcare Sector

1. Ardent Health Service Incident: Ardent Health Service, operating 30 hospitals across various states, suffered a ransomware attack leading to the shutdown of numerous IT systems, including healthcare records​​.
2. Henry Schein Inc. Targeted: The medical product distributor faced its second ransomware attack within two months by the BlackCat/AlphV gang. The attack may have involved re-encryption of files during stalled ransom negotiations​​.

Cyber Vulnerability Insights

1. National Vulnerability Database Report: 52% of new software vulnerabilities had a severity score of 7 or more out of 10, with 15% scoring above 9, indicating a high risk of exploitation​​.
2. Email Security Analysis: Over 45 billion emails analyzed revealed that more than one-third were unwanted, with 3.6% containing malicious phishing or web links​​.
3. Rise in Deepfake Incidents: A tenfold increase in deepfake videos, audio recordings, or documents detected over the past year, posing new challenges in verifying digital authenticity​​.
4. iPhone NameDrop Feature Risks: A new feature in iOS 17, NameDrop, poses a privacy risk due to its proximity-based data-sharing capabilities​​.
5. Google Chrome Update: An emergency update for Google Chrome (version 119.0.6045.200) has been released to address undisclosed vulnerabilities​​.

Emerging Malware Techniques

1. LummaC2 Malware: This infostealer malware now utilizes trigonometry to detect automated malware sandboxes, complicating detection and analysis efforts​​.

Phishing Trends and Precautions

1. Black Friday Phishing Surge: A 237% increase in phishing emails related to Black Friday sales, often mimicking well-known brands to deceive users​​.
   • Precautionary Measures:
     • Prefer credit cards over debit cards for online purchases.
     • Implement multi-factor authentication.
     • Use secure networks, avoiding public Wi-Fi.
     • Exercise skepticism towards too-good-to-be-true offers.
     • Trust instincts and avoid suspicious links or sellers​​.

Critical Zero-Day Vulnerability

1. Microsoft Exchange Server SSRF Vulnerability: An unpatched Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange Server allows attackers to manipulate web applications and make unintended requests, posing a significant risk to sensitive information​​.

Recommendations

• For Healthcare Organizations: Enhance ransomware defenses and emergency response protocols.
• IT Departments: Prioritize patching critical vulnerabilities and strengthen email security measures.
• Organizations Using Microsoft Exchange: Monitor advisories and apply patches once available. Increase vigilance against potential exploitation.

Conclusion

The cybersecurity landscape on November 29, 2023, is marked by sophisticated attacks and evolving threats. Organizations are advised to stay informed and proactive in implementing robust cybersecurity measures.