The Elderwood Project

Brian BowlbyCompNet

Review of material on Symantec website (www.symantec.com)

http://www.symantec.com/content/en/us/enterprise/media/security_response/whitepapers/the-elderwood-project.pdf

http://www.symantec.com/connect/blogs/how-elderwood-platform-fueling-2014-s-zero-day-attacks

What is the Elderwood Project (also called the Elderwood Platform)?

A set of zero-day exploits that have been engineered and packaged in a “consumer-friendly” way to allow non-technical people to easily attack their targets.

Name Elderwood comes from source code variable used by the attackers

What are zero-day exploits?

Exploits that exist in the initial release of a software package

Often unknown to the programmer(s)

May be known, but too expensive or time consuming to correct

Generally, serious vulnerabilities are rare (8 identified in 2011)

Which zero-day exploits are included?

• Adobe Flash Player Object Type Confusion Remote Code

Execution Vulnerability (CVE-2012-0779)

• Adobe Flash Player Remote Code Execution Vulnerability(CVE-2012-1535)

• Microsoft Internet Explorer Same ID Property Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (CVE-2012-1875)

• Microsoft XML Core Services Remote Code Execution Vulnerability(CVE-2012-1889)

Newer packages include exploits of these vulnerabilities

• Microsoft Internet Explorer Use-After-Free Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (CVE-2014-0322)

• Microsoft Internet Explorer Memory Corruption Vulnerability (CVE-2014-0324)

• Adobe Flash Player and AIR Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (CVE-2014-0502)

How are these vulnerabilities exploited?

Two methods for propagating their payload

– Spear-phishing

Attach an infected document in an email message

– Watering hole attack

Visitors of a web site are infected

A third possibility – a combination of the above

Send target user an email with a link to an infected website

Link can be unique for that user

Who is Behind Elderwood?

High degree of technical sophistication – able to exploit many different vulnerabilities

Once packaged, less technical groups can mount actual attacks – perhaps different group for each target

Attacks are targeted – no mass email campaigns

Attackers are patient – may lie in wait for several months before adding malicious code

Components of Elderwood

Targets

Defense – Companies that manufacture components for top-tier defense contractors

NGOs and human rights groups (Amnesty International)

Finance, Energy, Education and Government

Recent Timeline of Elderwood Attacks

Groups using the Elderwood Platform

Takeaway Lessons

Apply the latest patches/updates to your software

Don’t open attachments unless you’re sure of the source

Be careful when clicking on links in email messages

Check that URL matches “printed” one http://fake.name.com

Thanks / Questions?