USN-6658-1 fixed a vulnerability in libxml2. This update
provides the corresponding updates for Ubuntu 14.04 LTS,
Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, and Ubuntu 18.04 LTS.
Original advisory details:
It was discovered that libxml2 incorrectly handled certain XML documents. A
remote attacker could possibly use this issue to cause libxml2 to crash,
resulting in a denial of service, or possibly execute arbitrary code.
The threat actor uses custom Linux malware to pursue financial gain, according to Check Point Research
Borrowing from the playbook of ransomware purveyors, the darknet narcotics bazaar Incognito Market has begun extorting all of its vendors and buyers, threatening to publish cryptocurrency transaction and chat records of users who refuse to pay a fee ranging from $100 to $20,000. The bold mass extortion attempt comes just days after Incognito Market administrators reportedly pulled an “exit scam” that left users unable to withdraw millions of dollars worth of funds from the platform.
An extortion message currently on the Incognito Market homepage.
In the past 24 hours, the homepage for the Incognito Market was updated to include a blackmail message from its owners, saying they will soon release purchase records of vendors who refuse to pay to keep the records confidential.
“We got one final little nasty surprise for y’all,” reads the message to Incognito Market users. “We have accumulated a list of private messages, transaction info and order details over the years. You’ll be surprised at the number of people that relied on our ‘auto-encrypt’ functionality. And by the way, your messages and transaction IDs were never actually deleted after the ‘expiry’….SURPRISE SURPRISE!!! Anyway, if anything were to leak to law enforcement, I guess nobody never slipped up.”
Incognito Market says it plans to publish the entire dump of 557,000 orders and 862,000 cryptocurrency transaction IDs at the end of May.
“Whether or not you and your customers’ info is on that list is totally up to you,” the Incognito administrators advised. “And yes, this is an extortion!!!!”
The extortion message includes a “Payment Status” page that lists the darknet market’s top vendors by their handles, saying at the top that “you can see which vendors care about their customers below.” The names in green supposedly correspond to users who have already opted to pay.
The “Payment Status” page set up by the Incognito Market extortionists.
We’ll be publishing the entire dump of 557k orders and 862k crypto transaction IDs at the end of May, whether or not you and your customers’ info is on that list is totally up to you. And yes, this is an extortion!!!!
Incognito Market said it plans to open up a “whitelist portal” for buyers to remove their transaction records “in a few weeks.”
The mass-extortion of Incognito Market users comes just days after a large number of users reported they were no longer able to withdraw funds from their buyer or seller accounts. The cryptocurrency-focused publication Cointelegraph.com reported Mar. 6 that Incognito was exit-scamming its users out of their bitcoins and Monero deposits.
CoinTelegraph notes that Incognito Market administrators initially lied about the situation, and blamed users’ difficulties in withdrawing funds on recent changes to Incognito’s withdrawal systems.
Incognito Market deals primarily in narcotics, so it’s likely many users are now worried about being outed as drug dealers. Creating a new account on Incognito Market presents one with an ad for 5 grams of heroin selling for $450.
New Incognito Market users are treated to an ad for $450 worth of heroin.
The double whammy now hitting Incognito Market users is somewhat akin to the double extortion techniques employed by many modern ransomware groups, wherein victim organizations are hacked, relieved of sensitive information and then presented with two separate ransom demands: One in exchange for a digital key needed to unlock infected systems, and another to secure a promise that any stolen data will not be published or sold, and will be destroyed.
Incognito Market has priced its extortion for vendors based on their status or “level” within the marketplace. Level 1 vendors can supposedly have their information removed by paying a $100 fee. However, larger “Level 5” vendors are asked to cough up $20,000 payments.
The past is replete with examples of similar darknet market exit scams, which tend to happen eventually to all darknet markets that aren’t seized and shut down by federal investigators, said Brett Johnson, a convicted and reformed cybercriminal who built the organized cybercrime community Shadowcrew many years ago.
“Shadowcrew was the precursor to today’s Darknet Markets and laid the foundation for the way modern cybercrime channels still operate today,” Johnson said. “The Truth of Darknet Markets? ALL of them are Exit Scams. The only question is whether law enforcement can shut down the market and arrest its operators before the exit scam takes place.”
GuidePoint said the threat actor gained initial access via vulnerabilities in a TeamCity server
The advisory is associated with ten companion cybersecurity information sheets detailing how to implement each strategy
A British Library report found the most likely source of the incident was the compromise of third-party account credentials and no MFA was in place to stop the attackers
It was discovered that AccountsService called a helper incorrectly when
performing password change operations. A local attacker could possibly use
this issue to obtain encrypted passwords.
Initial results in using LLMs to unredact text based on the size of the individual-word redaction rectangles.
This feels like something that a specialized ML system could be trained on.
Nurse practitioner pleads guilty to $136m Medicare fraud plot involving her telemedicine companies
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Local governments in the United States faced a surge in cyber threats during the latter half of 2023, with over 160 cybersecurity incidents impacting the State, Local, and Education (SLED) sectors. Alarming statistics reveal that many of these incidents were ransomware attacks (45%) and data breaches (37%). As custodians of vast amounts of personal and private information, local governments are entrusted with safeguarding sensitive data against evolving cyber threats.
The urgency of cybersecurity incident readiness becomes paramount in this landscape, where the consequences of breaches extend beyond operational disruptions. Protecting sensitive data is not just a matter of legal compliance; it is crucial for preserving privacy and upholding public trust. A breach can lead to severe legal consequences and reputational damage. Demonstrating a commitment to robust cybersecurity practices not only safeguards sensitive information but also enhances confidence in state and local government reassuring community stakeholders that their data is secure.
Operational continuity is equally critical, as local governments play a vital role in delivering essential services to communities. Cybersecurity incidents have the potential to disrupt operations, causing service outages and delays. Therefore, the importance of effective incident readiness cannot be overstated, as it helps to maintain the uninterrupted delivery of crucial services and fortifies the resilience of local governments in the face of escalating cyber threats.
Cybersecurity incident preparedness refers to the strategic and proactive measures taken by local government entities to anticipate, prevent, and respond effectively to potential cybersecurity incidents. It encompasses a comprehensive approach to identifying, mitigating, and recovering from security breaches, emphasizing readiness to navigate a dynamic and evolving threat landscape.
The significance of cybersecurity incident preparedness for local government entities is paramount. As custodians of sensitive citizen data and critical operational functions, local governments face unique challenges in safeguarding information and ensuring uninterrupted service delivery. Incident preparedness acts as a shield, fortifying these entities against the growing sophistication of cyber threats. It not only protects against data breaches and operational disruptions but also serves as a cornerstone for building public trust.
Local governments encounter unique challenges in the cybersecurity domain, ranging from resource constraints to the intricate nature of public service operations. Cyber threats pose a potential impact that extends beyond financial losses, including legal consequences, reputational damage, and the erosion of public confidence. This section explores these challenges in-depth, shedding light on the multifaceted nature of cybersecurity incidents and the critical need for preparedness in mitigating their impact.
To learn more on why government agencies should consider outsourcing to a security service provider read this brief written by The Center for Digital Government with input from AT&T Cybersecurity on Incident Readiness and Response.
To see how AT&T Cybersecurity helps organizations with incident preparedness click here.
