CyberWire Daily

Latest Episodes:

Solution Spotlight on the 2024 NICE Conference: Business Roundtable. Jun 02, 2024

Show notes

As part of our series on the 2024 NICE Conference, we turn our focus to the Business Roundtable. This year’s conference theme “Strengthening Ecosystems: Aligning Stakeholders to Bridge the Cybersecurity Workforce Gap” highlights the collective effort to strengthen the cybersecurity landscape. By joining forces with key partners, we can foster a more robust cybersecurity ecosystem to bridge the workforce gap. Business Roundtable is an association of chief executive officers of America’s leading companies working to promote a thriving U.S. economy and expanded opportunity for all Americans through sound public policy.

The Business Roundtable launched its Cybersecurity Workforce Corporate Initiative in December of 2022. In coordination with its members and inputs from experts at Department of Commerce’s National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE), it recently released a Cybersecurity Workforce Playbook to help employers create entry points to cybersecurity careers and strengthen cybersecurity talent pipelines across various industries and sectors.

Simone Petrella, N2K President, speaks with Erin White, Business Roundtable's Senior Director, Corporate Initiatives, about the Cybersecurity Workforce Corporate Initiative, the recently released Cybersecurity Workforce Playbook, key takeaways for the private sector, and how the Business Roundtable and NICE are working together to support these initiatives.

Find out more about the The Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NICE Framework) (NIST Special Publication 800-181, revision 1). Stay tuned for our coverage of the 2024 NICE Conference.

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1700 IPs and counting. [Research Saturday] Jun 01, 2024

Show notes

Amit Malik, Director of Threat Research at Uptycs, is sharing their work on "New Threat Detected: Inside Our Discovery of the Log4j Campaign and Its XMRig Malware." The Uptycs Threat Research Team has discovered a large-scale Log4j campaign involving over 1700 IPs, aiming to deploy XMRig cryptominer malware.

This ongoing operation was initially detected through the team's honeypot collection, prompting an in-depth analysis of the campaign. The research says "The JNDI plugin is particularly useful to attackers because it allows them not only to fetch the values of environment variables in the target system but also to freely define the URL and protocol resource for the JNDI network connection."

The research can be found here:

New Threat Detected: Inside Our Discovery of the Log4j Campaign and Its XMRig Malware

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Encore: Diane M. Janosek: It's only together that we are going to rise. [Education] [Career Notes] Jun 01, 2024

Show notes

Commandant for the National Security Agency's National Cryptologic School Diane M. Janosek shares the story of her career going global Diane explains how she's always been drawn to doing things that could help and raise the nation. From a position as a law clerk during law school, to the role of a judicial clerk, and joining the White House Counsel's office, Diane was exposed to many things and felt she experienced the full circle. Moving on to the Pentagon and finally, the NSA, Diane transitioned into her current role where she orchestrates the educational environment for military and civilian cyber and cryptologists worldwide for the nation. Diane encourages those who love to learn to join the multidisciplinary cybersecurity field. Our thanks to Diane for sharing her story with us.

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New cybersecurity bill aims to untangle federal regulations. May 31, 2024

Show notes

Draft legislation looks to streamline federal cybersecurity regulations. Clarity.fm exposed personal information of business leaders and celebrities. Researchers find european politicians’ personal info for sale on the dark web. The BBC’s pension scheme suffers a breach. OpenAI disrupts covert influence operations making use of their platform. Hackers brick over 600,000 routers. Cracked copies of Microsoft office deliver a malware mix. A senator calls for accountability in the Change Healthcare ransomware attack. On our Industry Voices segment, we hear from SpyCloud’s Chip Witt, on navigating the threat of digital identity exposure. Florida man becomes Moscow’s fake-news puppet.

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CyberWire Guest

On our Industry Voices segment, we hear from Chip Witt, SpyCloud's SVP, Product Management, discussing navigating the threat of digital identity exposure. To learn more, check out SpyCloud’s Annual Identity Exposure Report 2024.

Selected Reading

Senate chairman wants new White House-led panel to streamline federal cyber rules (The Record)

Data Leak Exposes Business Leaders and Top Celebrity Data (Hackread)

Information of Hundreds of European Politicians Found on Dark Web (SecurityWeek)

BBC Pension Scheme Breached, Exposing Employee Data (Infosecurity Magazine)

OpenAI accuses Russia, China, Iran, and Israel of misusing its GenAI tools for covert Ops (CSO Online)

Mystery malware destroys 600,000 routers from a single ISP during 72-hour span (Ars Technica)

Pirated Microsoft Office delivers malware cocktail on systems (Bleeping Computer)

UnitedHealth leaders 'should be held responsible' for installing inexperienced CISO, senator says (The Record)

Once a Sheriff’s Deputy in Florida, Now a Source of Disinformation From Russia (The New York Times)

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The CyberWire is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc.

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Operation Endgame: Hackers' hideouts exposed. May 30, 2024

Show notes

Operation Endgame takes down malware operations around the globe. A major botnet operator is arrested. Ticketmaster’s massive data breach is confirmed, and so is Google’s SEO algorithm leak. Journalists and activists in Europe were targeted with Pegasus spyware. Okta warns users of credential stuffing attacks. NIST hopes to clear out the NVD backlog. On our Threat Vector segment, host David Moulton speaks with Greg Jones, Chief Information Security Officer at Xavier University of Louisiana. Eric Goldstein, Executive Assistant Director for Cybersecurity at CISA, joins us to discuss software security. LightSpy surveillance malware comes to macOS. ChatGPT briefly gets a god mode.

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CyberWire Guest

Eric Goldstein, Executive Assistant Director for Cybersecurity at CISA, joins us to discuss software security.

Threat Vector

In this Threat Vector segment, host David Moulton speaks with Greg Jones, Chief Information Security Officer at Xavier University of Louisiana. Greg brings a wealth of knowledge from his military background and applies a disciplined, adaptive approach to securing one of America's most vibrant educational institutions. You can listen to David and Greg’s full discussion here.

Selected Reading

Police seize malware loader servers, arrest four cybercriminals (Bleeping Computer)

Is Your Computer Part of ‘The Largest Botnet Ever?’ (Krebs on Security)

Ticketmaster hacked. Breach affects more than half a billion users. (Mashable)

Google confirms the leaked Search documents are real (The Verge)

Phones of journalists and activists in Europe targeted with Pegasus (CyberScoop)

Okta Warns of Credential Stuffing Attacks Targeting Cross-Origin Authentication (SecurityWeek)

NIST says NVD will be back on track by September 2024 (Help Net Security)

macOS version of elusive 'LightSpy' spyware tool discovered (Bleeping Computer)

Hacker Releases Jailbroken "Godmode" Version of ChatGPT (Futurism)

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You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at cyberwire@n2k.com to request more info.

The CyberWire is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc.

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Alleged leaked files expose a dirty secret. May 29, 2024

Show notes

An alleged leak of Google’s search algorithm contradicts the company’s public statements. German researchers discover a critical vulnerability in a TP-Link router. Breachforums is back…maybe. The Seattle Public Library suffers a ransomware attack. A Georgia man gets ten years for money laundering and romance scams, and the Treasury department sanctions a group of botnet operators. 44,000 individuals are affected by the breach of a major U.S. title insurance company. Microsoft describes North Korea’s Moonstone Sleet. Advocating for a more architectural approach to cybersecurity. Maria Varmazis speaks with WiCyS Executive Director Lynn Dohm and a panel of N2K experts about the 2024 Cyber Talent Study. A cracked password results in a multimillion dollar windfall.

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Learning Layer

On our Learning Layer segment, host Sam Meisenberg and Joe Carrigan continue their discussion of Joe's ISC2 CISSP certification journey using N2K’s comprehensive CISSP training course, CISSP practice test, and CISSP practice labs. Sam and Joe dive into Domain 6: Security Assessment and Testing and tackle the following question together:

You are hiring a vendor to perform a penetration test that would simulate a breach from an insider threat. What type of test would be BEST to perform?

Blue Box
Black Box
White-hat hack
White box

CyberWire Guest

Maria Varmazis, N2K host of T-Minus Space Daily, talks with WiCyS Executive Director Lynn Dohm and N2K's Simone Petrella, Dr. Heather Monthie, and Jeff Welgan about the 2024 Cyber Talent Study. You can find out more about the study here.

Selected Reading

Google won’t comment on a potentially massive leak of its search algorithm documentation (The Verge)

Update TP-Link's Archer C5400X router now to fix remote takeover vulnerability (TechSpot)

Data leak site BreachForums is back, boasting Live Nation/Ticketmaster user data. But is it a trap? (Malwarebytes)

Ransomware attack on Seattle Public Library knocks out online systems (The Record)

Man Sentenced for Laundering Over $4.5M Obtained from Business Email Compromise and Romance Fraud Schemes (United States Department of Justice)

Treasury Sanctions a Cybercrime Network Associated with the 911 S5 Botnet (United States Department of Treasury)

First American December data breach impacts 44,000 people (Bleeping Computer)

Moonstone Sleet emerges as new North Korean threat actor with new bag of tricks (Microsoft Security Blog)

Cybersecurity at a crossroads: Time to shift to an architectural approach (CSO Online)

How Researchers Cracked an 11-Year-Old Password to a $3 Million Crypto Wallet (WIRED)

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You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at cyberwire@n2k.com to request more info.

The CyberWire is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc.

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FBI untangles the web that is Scattered Spider. May 28, 2024

Show notes

The FBI untangles Scattered Spider. The RansomHub group puts a deadline on Christie’s. Prescription services warn customers of data breaches. Personal data from public sector workers in India is leaked online. Check Point says check your VPNs. The Internet Archive suffers DDoS attacks. A Minesweeper clone installs malicious scripts. N2K T-Minus Space Daily podcast host Maria Varmazis speaks with guest Carrie Hernandez Marshall, CEO and Co-Founder from Rebel Space Technologies, about the need to extend cybersecurity into space. If you can’t beat ‘em, troll ‘em.

Miss an episode? Sign-up for our daily intelligence roundup, Daily Briefing, and you’ll never miss a beat. And be sure to follow CyberWire Daily on LinkedIn.

CyberWire Guest

N2K T-Minus Space Daily podcast host Maria Varmazis speaks with guest Carrie Hernandez Marshall, CEO and Co-Founder from Rebel Space Technologies, about the need to extend cybersecurity into space.

Selected Reading

Potent youth cybercrime ring made up of 1,000 people, FBI official says (CyberScoop)

Christie’s given Friday ransom deadline after threat group claims responsibility for cyber attack (ITPro)

Data Stolen From MediSecure for Sale on Dark Web (SecurityWeek)

2.8 Million Impacted by Data Breach at Prescription Services Firm Sav-Rx (SecurityWeek)

Data leak exposes personal data of Indian military and police (CSO Online)

Check Point warns of threat actors targeting its VPNs (TechMonitor)

Internet Archive Hit With DDoS Attack (PCMag)

Hackers phish finance orgs using trojanized Minesweeper clone (bleepingcomputer)

Cops Are Just Trolling Cybercriminals Now (WIRED)

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Memorial Day special. May 27, 2024

Show notes

Rick Howard, N2K CyberWire’s Chief Analyst, CSO, and Senior Fellow, commemorates Memorial Day.

References:

Abraham Lincoln, 1863. The Gettysburg Address [Speech]. Abraham Lincoln Online.

Amanda Onion, Original 2009, Updated 2023. Memorial Day 2022: Facts, Meaning & Traditions [Essay]. HISTORY.

Brent Hugh, 2021. A Brief History of “John Brown’s Body” [Essay]. Digital History.

Bob Zeller, 2022. How Many Died in the American Civil War? [Essay]. HISTORY.

General George Marshall, 2014. President Lincoln’s Letter to Mrs Bixby [Movie Clip - Saving Private Ryan]. YouTube.

JOHN LOGAN, 1868. Logan’s Order Mandating Memorial Day [Order]. John A. Logan College.

John Williams, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, 2012. The People’s House: Lincoln (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) [Song]. Apple Music.

John Williams, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, 2012. The Blue and the Grey: Lincoln (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) [Song]. Apple Music - Web Playe.

Livia Albeck-Ripka, 2023. A Brief History of Memorial Day [Essay]. The New York Times.

Paul Robeson, 2021. John Brown’s Body [Song]. YouTube.

Robert Rodat (Writer), Steven Spielberg (Director), Harve Presnell (Actor), 1998. Saving Private Ryan [Movie]. IMDb.

Staff, 2020. A Brief Biography of General John A. Logan [Biography]. John A. Logan College.

Staff, 2024. Civil War Timeline [WWW Document], American Battlefield Trust.

Thomas Jefferson, 1776. Declaration of Independence: [Transcription]. National Archives.

Winston Churchil, 1940. Never was so much owed by so many to so few - Winston Churchill Speeches [Speech]. YouTube.

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Encore: Richard Torres: Getting that level of experience is going to be crucial. [Security Operations] [Career Notes] May 26, 2024

Show notes

Director of security operations at Syntax Richard Torres talks about his path leading him working in juvenile justice to becoming a private investigator to physical security at a nuclear power plant to cybersecurity presently. Always a fan of police shows, Richard became a member of the Air Force Junior ROTC in high school and began his path there. Richard shares the challenges of working in several facets of the security industry including his transition from SWAT team member to cybersecurity. He notes the role that diplomacy plays when you're trying to get honesty and be steered in the right direction. Our thanks to Richard for sharing his story with us.

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International effort dismantles LockBit. [Research Saturday] May 25, 2024

Show notes

Jon DiMaggio, a Chief Security Strategist at Analyst1, is sharing his work on "Ransomware Diaries Volume 5: Unmasking LockBit." On February 19, 2024, the National Crime Agency (NCA), a UK sovereign law enforcement agency, in collaboration with the FBI, Europol, and nine other countries under "Operation Cronos," disrupted the LockBit ransomware gang’s data leak site used for shaming, extorting, and leaking victim data.

The NCA greeted visitors to LockBit’s dark web leak site with a seizure banner, revealing they had been controlling LockBit’s infrastructure for some time, collecting information, acquiring victim decryption keys, and even compromising the new ransomware payload intended for LockBit 4.0.

The research can be found here: