MVISION Insights: Attack against ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus delivers webshells, a trojan, and a stealer
Technical Articles ID:
KB95213
Last Modified: 1/21/2022
Last Modified: 1/21/2022
Environment
IMPORTANT: This Knowledge Base article discusses a specific threat that is being automatically tracked by MVISION Insights technology. The content is intended for use by MVISION Insights users, but is provided for general knowledge to all customers. Contact us for more information about MVISION Insights.
Summary
An alert was released by the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warning of advanced persistent threat (APT) actors actively exploiting a new vulnerability in ManageEngine ADSelfService Plus, a self-service password management and single sign-on solution.
One group, APT27, was identified due to an overlap of techniques previously used by the group and the ones used in the attacks exploiting this vulnerability. After initial access to the compromised machines, post exploitation of the vulnerability, the group installed a webshell called Godzilla. In a subset of victims, another backdoor called NGLite was also installed. It is believed that the use of two backdoors was for redundancy in high-value targets.
Godzilla is a functionality-rich webshell that received encrypted HTTP POST requests, decrypts them, executes the payload, and returns the result as HTTP Responses. This allows for malicious code likely to be flagged as malicious to be kept out of the system until execution is necessary.
NGLite is a remote control program that leverages New Kind of Network (NKN) infrastructure for its command and control (C2) communications. This implements a layer of anonymity not only due to it being a legitimate networking service, but also due to its usage of blockchain technology to support a decentralised network of peers.
Finally, the group then deploys KdcSponge, a new credential-stealing tool that injects itself into the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS) process of a domain controller (AD), and hooks itself to certain fuctions that allow it to capture credentials as they are being used to authenticate unsuspecting victims.
The McAfee Enterprise ATR Team gathers and analyzes information from multiple open and closed sources before disseminating intelligence reports. This campaign was researched by Unit42 of Palo Alto Networks and shared publicly here.
How to use this article:
- If a Threat Hunting table has been created, use the rules contained to search for malware related to this campaign.
- Review the product detection table and confirm that your environment is at least on the specified content version.
To download the latest content versions, go to the Security Updates page. - Scroll down and review the "Product Countermeasures" section of this article. Consider implementing them if they are not already in place.
- Review
KB91836 - Countermeasures for entry vector threats . - Review KB87843 - Dynamic Application Containment rules and best practices.
- Review KB82925 - Identify what rule corresponds to an Adaptive Threat Protection and Threat Intelligence Exchange event.
This Knowledge Base article discusses a specific threat that is being tracked. The list of IOCs will change over time; check MVISION Insights for the latest IOCs.
Campaign IOC
| Type | Value |
| SHA256 | 3F868AC52916EBB6F6186AC20B20903F63BC8E9C460E2418F2B032A207D8F21D |
| SHA256 | 3DA8D1BFB8192F43CF5D9247035AA4445381D2D26BED981662E3DB34824C71FD |
| SHA256 | 805B92787CA7833EEF5E61E2DF1310E4B6544955E812E60B5F834F904623FD9F |
| SHA256 | 5475AEC3B9837B514367C89D8362A9D524BFA02E75B85B401025588839A40BCB |
| SHA256 | 5B8C307C424E777972C0FA1322844D4D04E9EB200FE9532644888C4B6386D755 |
| SHA256 | 5FCC9F3B514B853E8E9077ED4940538ABA7B3044EDBBA28CA92ED37199292058 |
| IP-DST | 24.64.36.238 |
| IP-DST | 45.63.62.109 |
| IP-DST | 45.76.173.103 |
Minimum Content Versions:
| Content Type | Version |
| V2 DAT (VirusScan Enterprise) | 10191 |
| V3 DAT (Endpoint Security) | 4643 |
Detection Summary
| IOC | Scanner | Detection |
| 3F868AC52916EBB6F6186AC20B20903F63BC8E9C460E2418F2B032A207D8F21D | AVEngine V2 | Trojan-FUBB!53FF174FBEFF |
| AVEngine V3 | Trojan-FUBB!53FF174FBEFF | |
| JTI (ATP Rules) | JTI/Suspect.196612!53ff174fbeff | |
| RP Static | - | |
| RP Dynamic | - |
| IOC | Scanner | Detection |
| 3DA8D1BFB8192F43CF5D9247035AA4445381D2D26BED981662E3DB34824C71FD | AVEngine V2 | Trojan-FUBB!8A9E05FFD1BC |
| AVEngine V3 | Trojan-FUBB!8A9E05FFD1BC | |
| JTI (ATP Rules) | JTI/Suspect.196612!8a9e05ffd1bc | |
| RP Static | - | |
| RP Dynamic | - |
| IOC | Scanner | Detection |
| 805B92787CA7833EEF5E61E2DF1310E4B6544955E812E60B5F834F904623FD9F | AVEngine V2 | Trojan-FUBB!AEDEBBA95462 |
| AVEngine V3 | Trojan-FUBB!AEDEBBA95462 | |
| JTI (ATP Rules) | JTI/Suspect.196612!aedebba95462 | |
| RP Static | Real Protect-PENG4!AEDEBBA95462 | |
| RP Dynamic | - |
| IOC | Scanner | Detection |
| 5475AEC3B9837B514367C89D8362A9D524BFA02E75B85B401025588839A40BCB | AVEngine V2 | JS/Agent.gen.b |
| AVEngine V3 | JS/Agent.gen.b | |
| JTI (ATP Rules) | - | |
| RP Static | - | |
| RP Dynamic | - |
| IOC | Scanner | Detection |
| 5B8C307C424E777972C0FA1322844D4D04E9EB200FE9532644888C4B6386D755 | AVEngine V2 | Trojan-FUBA!2EC83E10F64E |
| AVEngine V3 | Trojan-FUBA!2EC83E10F64E | |
| JTI (ATP Rules) | JTI/Suspect.196612!2ec83e10f64e | |
| RP Static | - | |
| RP Dynamic | - |
| IOC | Scanner | Detection |
| 5FCC9F3B514B853E8E9077ED4940538ABA7B3044EDBBA28CA92ED37199292058 | AVEngine V2 | Generictrojan.qy |
| AVEngine V3 | Generictrojan.qy | |
| JTI (ATP Rules) | JTI/Suspect.196612!7ad20914b12a | |
| RP Static | - | |
| RP Dynamic | - |
Minimum set of Manual Rules to improve protection to block this campaign
IMPORTANT: Always follow best practices when you enable new rules and signatures.
When you implement new rules or signatures, always set them to Report mode first and check the alerts generated. Resolve any issues that arise and then set the rules to Block. This step mitigates against triggering false positives and allows you to refine your configuration.
For more information, see KB87843 - List of and best practices for Endpoint Security Dynamic Application Containment rules.
Endpoint Security - Advanced Threat Protection:
Rule ID: 4 Use GTI file reputation to identify trusted or malicious files
Host Intrusion Prevention:
Rule ID: 6135 Unmanaged Powershell Detected
Aggressive set of Manual Rules to improve protection to block this campaign
IMPORTANT: Always follow best practices when you enable new rules and signatures.
When you implement new rules or signatures, always set them to Report mode first and check the alerts generated. Resolve any issues that arise and then set the rules to Block. This step mitigates against triggering false positives and allows you to refine your configuration.
For more information, see KB87843 - List of and best practices for Endpoint Security Dynamic Application Containment rules.
Host Intrusion Prevention:
Rule ID: 6011 Generic Application Invocation Protection
Rule ID: 6010 Generic Application Hooking Protection
Rule ID: 1020 Windows Agent Shielding - File Access
Rule ID: 2806 Attempt to create a hardlink to a file
