APT Malware Activity Detected Exploiting a Patched ColdFusion Vulnerability (CVE-2018-15961)
Researchers at Volexity have identified multiple groups exploiting CVE-2018-15961 in unpatched, web-facing Adobe ColdFusion servers. Users are urged to upgrade to the latest version of ColdFusion.
Background
On November 8, Volexity reported Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) and hacktivist groups have been targeting web-facing instances of Adobe ColdFusion that haven’t patched for CVE-2018-15961. Adobe released APSB18-33 to address the vulnerability on September 11, 2018.
Impact assessment
The researchers at Volexity identified two separate and unrelated attacks on a number of web-facing ColdFusion servers: a hacktivist group seeking to deface websites; and an APT attempting to hijack ColdFusion servers.
Pro-ISIS hacktivist AnoaGhost of “Typical Idiot Security” has been seen leaving defacing HTML index files on numerous sites that Volexity has identified as “educational institutions, state government, health research, humanitarian aid organizations, and more.”
In addition, a separate APT campaign was identified using the JavaServer Pages (JSP) version of China Chopper, a malicious web shell, to exploit CVE-2018-15961. Exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to remote code execution on the ColdFusion server. An attacker can take full control of a target once China Chopper has been uploaded as shown in the example below:
Source: FireEye.
Incident details
The exact impact the APT group has had on any servers that they’ve potentially attacked is unknown, but the possibility of organizational attack is likely.
As far as the hacktivists are concerned, Volexity reports “Several of the affected websites contained an HTML index file that purported to be from the hacktivist group TYPICAL IDIOT SECURITY.”
The file in question appears as follows:
|
Hacked by AnoaGhost – Typical Idiot Security #together laugh in ur security since 2k17# We are:~•Khunerable – SPEEDY-03 – PYS404 – Mirav – Grac3 – AnoaGhost – Jje Incovers – Panataran – magelangGetar – Kersen.id• |
Urgently required actions
To protect against these attacks, we highly recommend upgrading to the latest version of ColdFusion, which can be done from the administrator panel under Server Update > Updates > Settings.
Source: Volexity.
Identifying affected systems
A list of Nessus plugins to identify this vulnerability can be found here.
Get more information
Learn more about Tenable, the first Cyber Exposure platform for holistic management of your modern attack surface. Get a free 60-day trial of Tenable.io Vulnerability Management.
Related Articles
Microsoft Patch Tuesday 2024 Year in Review
December 10, 2024Microsoft addressed over 1000 CVEs as part of Patch Tuesday releases in 2024, including 22 zero-day vulnerabilities.
Microsoft’s December 2024 Patch Tuesday Addresses 70 CVEs (CVE-2024-49138)
December 10, 2024Microsoft addresses 70 CVEs with 16 rated critical, including one zero-day that was exploited in the wild.
If You Only Have 1 Minute: Quick Tips for Effective Exposure Response
December 2, 2024Comprehensive, action-oriented workflows and key metrics are the cornerstones of a successful exposure response program. Here’s what you need to know.
Cybersecurity Snapshot: CISA Hands Down Cloud Security Directive, While Threat from North Korean IT Workers Gets the Spotlight
December 20, 2024Check out the new cloud security requirements for federal agencies. Plus, beware of North Korean government operatives posing as remote IT pros. Also, learn how water plants can protect their HMIs against cyberattacks. And get the latest on the U.S. cyber incident response framework; the CIS Benchmarks; and local and state governments’ cyber challenges.
Web App Scanning 101: What Security Pros Need to Know About CI/CD Pipelines
December 19, 2024Git, repositories and pipelines…oh my! We unpack standard practices in the web app development process and provide guidance on how to use Tenable Web Application Scanning to secure your code.
Cybersecurity Snapshot: Telecoms May Face Tougher Regulations After Salt Typhoon Hacks, as Study Finds Cyber Pros More Stressed at Work
December 13, 2024The FCC wants stronger cyber regulations for telecoms after cyber espionage breaches. Meanwhile, find out why cyber pros say work has become more difficult. Plus, check out tips to prevent AI-boosted financial fraud. And get the latest on vulnerability management, EU cyber challenges and CIS predictions for 2025.
- Vulnerability Management
- Vulnerability Scanning