Sensitive Data Enumeration
ID |
sensitive_data_enumeration |
Severity |
info |
Resource |
Sensitive Data |
Tags |
spyware |
Rationale
When malware enumerates or identifies sensitive data on a compromised system, it means that the malicious software is actively searching for and collecting information that is valuable or confidential.
Here’s how sensitive data enumeration can affect security:
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Data Exposure: Malware may target and enumerate sensitive data such as personally identifiable information (PII), financial records, healthcare data, intellectual property, or login credentials. The exposure of this information can lead to serious privacy breaches and legal consequences.
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Identity Theft: Enumeration of PII, including names, addresses, Social Security numbers, or credit card details, provides attackers with the means to engage in identity theft. Stolen information may be used for financial fraud, creating fake identities, or conducting other malicious activities.
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Financial Loss: If financial data, such as banking credentials or credit card information, is enumerated, it can lead to unauthorized transactions, fund transfers, or fraudulent activities, resulting in financial loss for individuals or organizations.
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Reputation Damage: Data breaches involving sensitive information can severely damage the reputation of individuals or organizations. Loss of trust from customers, partners, and stakeholders can have long-lasting consequences.
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Regulatory Compliance Violations: Enumerating and mishandling sensitive data often leads to violations of data protection regulations. Organizations may face legal consequences, fines, or other sanctions for failing to protect sensitive information in accordance with applicable laws.
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Ransomware Targeting: Malware that enumerates sensitive data may be part of a larger ransomware attack strategy. Attackers may threaten to expose or sell the enumerated data unless a ransom is paid, adding another layer of extortion to the attack.
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Intellectual Property Theft: If the malware targets intellectual property, such as trade secrets, proprietary algorithms, or product designs, it can result in the theft of valuable assets and compromise a company’s competitive edge.
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Authentication Bypass: Enumeration of login credentials allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to systems, applications, or networks. This can lead to further compromise, data manipulation, or the installation of additional malware.
Related Malware campaigns
Pretty common among NPM
and Pypi
malicious packages campaigns. Most of the malicious packages in these environments performs sensitive data enumeration followed by its exfiltration.
Many of them just pursue collecting sensitive information to perform later attacks or for reselling it in the back market.
These are many popular variants using this technique:
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SolarWinds Supply Chain Attack
is a supply chain incident attributed to the Russian state-sponsored hacking group APT29, also known as Cozy Bear. Exploiting a backdoor, the attackers gained entry to sensitive data, engaged in cyber espionage, and established a persistent presence within the targeted networks. -
CodeCov Supply Chain Attack
emerged in April 2021, involving the compromise of Codecov’s Bash Uploader script. This unauthorized access allowed attackers to obtain sensitive information within customer environments. -
Lokibot
is a widely disseminated information-stealing tool initially documented in 2015. Engineered to extract sensitive data like usernames, passwords, cryptocurrency wallets, and other credentials, Lokibot can also create a backdoor in infected systems, enabling attackers to install additional payloads. -
QakBot
stands out as a modular banking trojan primarily employed by financially motivated actors since at least 2007. Continuously updated, it has transformed from an information stealer into a delivery mechanism for ransomware. -
Uroburos
represents a sophisticated cyber espionage tool written in C, utilized by units within Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) linked to the Turla toolset. Designed to collect intelligence on sensitive targets globally, Uroburos can infect Windows, Linux, and macOS systems, demonstrating a high level of stealth in communications and architecture, with the ability to seamlessly incorporate new or replacement components. -
Volt Typhoon
has been operational since at least 2021, focusing on espionage and information gathering activities.