Alert - Detecting Post-Compromise Threat Activity in Microsoft Cloud Environments (CISA)

Number: AL21-001
Date: 11 January 2021

AUDIENCE

This Alert is intended for IT professionals and managers of notified organizations.

PURPOSE

An Alert is used to raise awareness of a recently identified cyber threat Cyber threatA threat actor, using the internet, who takes advantage of a known vulnerability in a product for the purposes of exploiting a network and the information the network carries. that may impact cyber information assets, and to provide additional detection DetectionThe monitoring and analyzing of system events in order to identify unauthorized attempts to access system resources. and mitigation advice to recipients.  The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security Cyber securityThe protection of digital information, as well as the integrity of the infrastructure housing and transmitting digital information. More specifically, cyber security includes the body of technologies, processes, practices and response and mitigation measures designed to protect networks, computers, programs and data from attack, damage or unauthorized access so as to ensure confidentiality, integrity and availability. ("Cyber Centre") is also available to provide additional assistance regarding the content of this Alert to recipients as requested.

OVERVIEW

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued an Alert [1] containing additional information about recent APT activity targeting organizations’ cloud environments.

DETAILS

On 8 January 2021 CISA, the United States’ agency responsible for protecting its critical infrastructure Critical infrastructureProcesses, systems, facilities, technologies, networks, assets, and services essential to the health, safety, security, or economic well-being of Canadians and the effective functioning of government. Critical infrastructure can be stand-alone or interconnected and interdependent within and across provinces, territories, and national borders. Disruptions of critical infrastructure could result in catastrophic loss of life, adverse economic effects, and significant harm to public confidence. from physical and cyber threats, published Alert AA21-008A [1] containing additional information about recent APT activity targeting organizations’ cloud environments. It is a companion product to the previously issued Alert AA20-352A [2], which focused on SolarWinds Orion software as the vector.

AA21-008A describes additional methods of compromise CompromiseThe intentional or unintentional disclosure of information, which adversely impacts its confidentiality, integrity, or availability. , including techniques for lateral movement, being leveraged by a sophisticated threat actor. It provides tools and guidance on detecting this activity in organizations’ cloud environments and remediation of post-compromise activities.

Should activity matching the content of this Alert be discovered, recipients are encouraged to contact the Cyber Centre by email (contact@cyber.gc.ca) or by telephone (1-833-CYBER-88 or 1-833-292-3788).

REFERENCES

[1] CISA Alert AA21-008A
https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ncas/alerts/aa21-008a

[2] CISA Alert AA20-352A
https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ncas/alerts/aa20-352a
 
Note to Readers
The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (Cyber Centre) operates as part of the Communications Security Establishment.  We are Canada's national authority on cyber security and we lead the government's response to cyber security events. As Canada's national computer security incident response team, the Cyber Centre works in close collaboration with government departments, critical infrastructure, Canadian businesses and international partners to prepare for, respond to, mitigate, and recover from cyber events. We do this by providing authoritative advice and support, and coordinating information sharing and incident response. The Cyber Centre is outward-facing, welcoming partnerships that help build a stronger, more resilient cyber space in Canada.