New research from threat intelligence and cybersecurity company Cyble has identified a peak in attacks targeting virtual network computing (VNC) – a graphical desktop-sharing system that uses the Remote Frame Buffer (RFB) protocol to control another machine remotely – in critical infrastructure sectors. By analyzing the data from its Global Sensor Intelligence (CGSI), Cyble researchers noticed a threefold spike in attacks on port 5900 (the default port for VNC) between July 9 and August 9, 2022. Most attacks originated from the Netherlands, Russia, and Ukraine, according to the firm, and highlight the risks of exposed VNC in critical infrastructure.
Exposed VNC putting ICS at risk, assets frequently distributed on cybercrime forums
According to a blog posting detailing Cyble’s findings, organizations that expose VNCs over the internet by failing to enable authentication broaden the scope for attackers and increase the likelihood of cyber incidents. It detected more than 8,000 exposed VNC instances with authentication disabled. Cyble also found that exposed assets connected via VNCs are frequently sold, bought, and distributed on cybercrime forums and market.
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