This presentation will take a high level look at the malware life cycle and the role that both hackers and IT professionals play in it. It should be interesting to IT professionals as well as individuals interested in learning more about the general approach used by hackers to gain unauthorized access to systems, applications, and sensitive data. More security blogs by the authors can be found @ https://www.netspi.com/blog/

1. DECLARATION of MAL(WAR)E
The good, the bad, and the ugly

2. Who are we?
IT Security Consultants @ NetSPI
We help organizations:
• Identify vulnerabilities
• Determine impact
• Develop remediation plans
• Reduce risk

3. Presentation Overview?
• What is malware?
• Who creates malware?
• Why do they create malware?
• What skill level is required?
• The malware lifecycle
‒The “good” guy’s role
‒The “bad” guy’s role
• The “ugly” truth

4. What is Malware?

5. What is Malware?
Wikipedia definition:
…“software used or created by attackers to
disrupt computer operation, gather
sensitive information, or gain access to
private computer systems”…
Our definition:
…“software created to do bad
things and is generally a pain in the butt”…

6. Types of Malware
• Remote Exploits
• Local Exploits
• Trojans
• Backdoors
• Rootkits
• Viruses
• Worms

7. Malware Kit

8. Who would do
such a thing?

9. Who is Creating Malware?
• Organized crime
• Governments
• Political activist
“hacktivists”
• Evil developers
• Bored teenagers
• You?

10. Why would
they do that?

11. Why are they Creating Malware?
• Sell, sell, sell
• Steal money
• Steal information
• Strategic position
• Denial of Service
..
.. .
• Political gain
• Hacking as a hobby .
.
• Internal employees
.
.

12. Who’s got the skills?

13. What skill level is required?
• Malware Developers = Programmers
‒ More advanced programming skillset
‒ Create custom malware
• Less likely to be noticed
• Personal use or sold to specific group
‒ Commoditized malware kits
• More likely to be noticed
• Free and commercial
• Malware Kit Users
‒ Don’t require advanced skillset
‒ Much more likely to
cause damage by mistake

14. The Malware Lifecycle

15. The Malware Lifecycle
Malware Development
Bad
Guys
Malware Deployment
Malware Detection
Good
Guys Malware Correction
Malware Protection

16. Developers!
Developers!
Developers!

17. Malware Development
• Professional Malware Development
‒ Often work like software companies
‒ Often produce very secure malware
• Create different types of malware
‒ Remote exploits
‒ Local exploits
‒ Backdoors, “bots”, and/or rootkits
‒ Worms or viruses
‒ Command and control
‒ Update functions

18. Deploy!
Deploy!
Deploy!

19. Malware Deployment
69%
Of all breaches incorporate malware
As reported in the Verizon Business – 2012 Data Breach Investigations Report
Available at www.verizonenterprise.com

20. Malware Deployment
79%
Of all breaches were targets of opportunity
As reported in the Verizon Business – 2012 Data Breach Investigations Report
Available at www.verizonenterprise.com

21. Malware Deployment
• Malware is often deployed via:
‒ Social engineering – email, phone, physical
‒ Default passwords on management applications
‒ Web application issues
‒ “Water holing” web applications
• Web Browser Issues etc
Email Apps
Users Malware Pass
Package

22. Detect!
Correct!
Protect!

23. Detecting Malware?
“…the median number of days advanced
attackers are on the network before
being detected is…”
416
As report by Mandiant in their Annual Threat Report: M-Trends™ 2012

24. Detecting Malware?
94%
Of organizations learn they
are victims of targeted
attacks from an
external entity
As report by Mandiant in their Annual Threat Report: M-Trends™ 2012

25. Detecting Malware!
• Where threats being detected:
‒ Networks
‒ Servers
‒ Workstations
‒ Applications / Databases
‒ People
• How are threats being detected:
‒ Behavioral / Anomaly based analysis
‒ Signature based analysis
‒ SIEM / Statistics based analysis
‒ Canaries / Honey pots !
Detect

26. Detecting Malware!
• Challenges:
‒Identify signatures related to
• undocumented malware
• encrypted traffic
‒Keeping up with the amount
of malware being released
!
‒Creating dependable behavioral
based profiles
‒Creating useful statistical rules
‒Identifying malware in memory
Detect

27. Detect!
Correct!
Protect!

28. Correcting Affected Assets!
• Where does correction occur:
‒ Networks
‒ Servers
‒ Workstations
‒ Applications / Databases
‒ People
• How does correction occur:
‒ Incident response
‒ Patch systems and applications
‒ Code applications securely
‒ Securely configure
•
•
•
•
•
Firewalls
Servers
Applications
User accounts
Training
X
Correct

29. Correcting Affected Assets!
• Challenges:
‒Creating patches for exploits before
they are widely used
‒Patching 3rd party software
‒Creating and managing secure code
‒Legacy and unsupported applications
‒Vendor contracts
‒Providing adequate training
X
Correct

30. Detect!
Correct!
Protect!

31. Protecting Assets!
• Where are assets protected:
‒ Networks
‒ Servers
‒ Workstations
‒ Applications / Databases
‒ People
• How are assets being protected:
‒ Build/manage secure configurations
‒ Build/manage secure applications
‒ Network Access Control &
Intrusion Prevention Systems
‒ Proactive exploit development
‒ Proactive vulnerability identification
‒ Development of signatures
‒ 3rd Party Risk assessments
P
Protect

32. Protecting Assets!
• Challenges:
‒Security vs. usability
‒Asset inventory
‒Managing secure configurations
‒Communication/risk related to
partners, contractors, and vendors
‒Cost / Time / Skills
‒Education and training
P
Protect

33. Putting it All
Together

34. The Malware Deployment Cycle

35. The Malware Deployment Cycle
Example
Time

36. Simplified Network Diagram

37. Gain Access via Exploit

38. Escalate Privileges via Exploit

39. Install Backdoor or Bot

40. Propagate via Worm or Virus

41. Command and Control: Phone Home

42. Command and Control: Get Orders

43. Good Guys Detect

44. Good Guys Correct

45. Good Guys Protect

46. The Ugly
Truth

47. The Ugly Truth: Bad Guys
Bad guys are creating Malware that is:
• Not going away
• Getting more advanced
• Getting harder to detect
• Getting easier to use
• Getting used by more people

48. The Ugly Truth: Good Guys
Good guys need to:
• Continue to fight the good fight!
• Continue to develop new methods of detection,
correction, and prevention
• Develop better security policies that make attacks:
• Harder to execute
• Easier to detect
• Easier to respond to and contain
• Focus on proactive vulnerability identification
• Get rid of unnecessary sensitive data
• Encrypt remaining sensitive data
• Educate more users more often
That can start with you…

49. What’s Next?
What can I do?
• Don’t visit sketchy web sites
• Don’t open mail from unknown senders
• Review links before clicking them in emails
• Patch your systems and software
• Validate website before providing sensitive
information
Click the “little lock” in your browser
• Don’t create and/or use malware ...
…unless it’s for the good guys 

50. Questions?
Questions?
Comments?
Quarrels?