• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Jobs
  • Career
    • Cyber Security Training
    • Work from Home
    • Cyber Security Analyst
    • Remote Work – Six Ways to Keep Your Data Safe When Working Remotely
  • Field Guide
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Deals
  • News
AskCyberSecurity.com

AskCyberSecurity.com

Cyber Security News & Information

  • Home
  • Data Privacy
    • Gamers
    • Government Cyber Security
      • Legislation
      • Standards
        • What are the risks of computer security?
        • Medical Cyber Security
    • Social Media
  • Security
    • Data Breaches
    • Scams
    • Malware
  • Software
    • Apps
    • Web Browsers
  • Glossary
    • Cyber Security Acronyms
  • About Ask Cyber Security
    • Authors
    • Contact Us
  • VPN
    • How Do I Know If My VPN is Working?
    • Best Free VPN iPhone
    • Why Use a VPN?
    • NordVPN vs IPVanish
    • Private Internet Access Download
    • Best VPN for Streaming
      • TikTok VPN
    • VPN Porn
    • Computer Security Software – What You Really Need
  • Tutorials
AskCyber Home » News » News » Feds Warn of Iranian Cyberattacks on US Government Agencies

Feds Warn of Iranian Cyberattacks on US Government Agencies

2020-09-16 by Max

Iran Pioner KItten

Iran Cybercriminals Exploit VPNs to Gain Network Access

The Department of Homeland Security (DHA) Cybersecurity Security and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released a Joint Cybersecurity Advisory Alert AA20-259A. The advisory details  Iranian malicious cyber activity targeting U.S. government agencies and other U.S.-based networks. The threat actors detailed in the advisory typically conduct cyberespionage attacks.

The Iranian cybercriminals are an advanced persistent threat (APT) group referred to as Pioneer Kitten. These state sponsored hackers are exploiting vulnerabilities in virtual private networks (VPN) to gain and maintain network access. This advisory analyzes the threat actor’s indicators of compromise (IOCs); and tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs); and exploited Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs). 

The FBI says that Pioneer Kitten has the ability and likely the intention to attack victim networks with ransomware.

The Iranian state-sponsored hackers are exploiting Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) dealing with Pulse Secure virtual private network (VPN), Citrix NetScaler, and F5 vulnerabilities according to the joint advisory. “The threat actor conducts mass-scanning and uses tools, such as Nmap, to identify open ports. Once the open ports are identified, the threat actor exploits CVEs related to VPN infrastructure to gain initial access to a targeted network,” says CISA

Target Industries:

  • Information technology
  • Government
  • Healthcare
  • Financial
  • Insurance
  • Media sectors

Pioneer Kitten

Pioneer Kitten is a state sponsored criminal advanced persistent threat group. They work at the behest of the Islamic Republic of Iran and were first seen in 2017. These Iranian threat actors are tracked by their moniker Pioneer Kitten and UNC757. Pioneer Kitten primary motivation is cyber espionage.

Common tools used by Pioneer Kitten

The feds say that the Iranian threat actors commonly used a Citrix NetScaler remote access server using a publicly available exploit for CVE-2019-19781 to compromise a network.

  • ChunkyTuna web shell for reverse connections to a server to exfiltrate data
  • China Chopper web shell to create a backdoor for remote access
  • FIRPC for tunneling Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)
  • Chisel for secure communications
  • Angry IP Scanner to ping IP addresses

The threat actors also deployed other techniques to evade detection, gain credential access, and learn about the victims’ network environment

Cyber Attack Mitigation

Keep all software up to date with the latest security patches. CISA and FBI recommend implementing the following to defend against attacks.

  • Patch the Citrix CVE-2019-19781 vulnerability which is the primary way the threat actors gain network access
  • Follow the recommendations in CISA Alert AA20-031A
  • Routinely audit configuration and patch management programs.
  • Monitor network traffic for unexpected and unapproved protocols
  • Grant users the lowest privilege for data access they need to work
  • Use multi-factor authentication for all accounts

Read the CISA advisory for more recommendations and details

 

Filed Under: News

About Max

Max is a Data Privacy Coordinator at a major global law firm and a science fiction author residing in the Philadelphia area. He has been writing for https://www.askcybersecurity.com since early 2017.


LinkedInTwitterFacebook

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to Our Free Newsletter

We Don't Share or Sell Your Info

Web Browsers

Where Are My Saved Passwords in Chrome?

Google Removes 70 Malicious Browser Add-ons from Chrome Web Store

Firefox 75 Reports Your Browser Settings to Mozilla

Categories

Cyber Security Field Guide

Computer Security While TravelingGet Our Cyber Security Field Guide - Available on Amazon!

Recent Posts

Security Marketing Manager – Remote

Sr. Associate, Cybersecurity Architect – Pfizer

Strategic Customer Success Manager – Cybersecurity – Opportunity for Working Remotely

Top 20 Passwords Leaked on Dark Web

ISU Cybersecurity Leader Job Opening

Cyber Security News

Top 20 Passwords Leaked on Dark Web

… [Read More...] about Top 20 Passwords Leaked on Dark Web

Apple Warns of Actively Exploited Zero-Day Flaw

… [Read More...] about Apple Warns of Actively Exploited Zero-Day Flaw

IRS Stops Facial Recognition System for Online Access

… [Read More...] about IRS Stops Facial Recognition System for Online Access

National Cybersecurity Alliance Announces Data Privacy Week

… [Read More...] about National Cybersecurity Alliance Announces Data Privacy Week

More Cyber Security News

Tags

amazon Android Apple bitcoin China chrome CISA credit card DarkSide DHS DOJ Equifax Europe Facebook facial recognition FBI Firefox FTC games GDPR Google Government hacker identity theft India iPhone Iran IRS LinkedIn Microsoft North Korea PayPal phishing phishing email ransomware REvil Russia smartphone T-Mobile TikTok tutorial VPN WhatsApp WiFi Windows

Government

CBP Looks to Access Airline Passenger Data

FTC Releases Cyber Threat Video Playlist

Malware Found on US Government Funded Phones

UK NCA Reaches Out to Youth to Deter Cybercrimes

More Posts from this Category

Footer

Menu

  • Home
  • About
  • Authors
  • Newsletter Signup
  • PRIVACY POLICY

Search

Why Use a VPN?

NordVPN vs IPVanish VPN Review

NAVIGATION

  • Data Breaches
  • Data Privacy
  • Gamers
  • Scams
  • Malware

MEMBER NJCCIC

New Jersey Cybersecurity & Communications Integration Cell

STAY CONNECTED

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Twitter
  • RSS

Copyright © 2022 · AskCyberSecurity.com · METRONY, LLC

Go to mobile version