Thread Hijacking Attack Targets IT Networks, Stealing NTLM Hashes

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Mar 05, 2024NewsroomEmail Security / Network Security

NTLM Hashes

The threat actor known as TA577 has been observed using ZIP archive attachments in phishing emails with an aim to steal NT LAN Manager (NTLM) hashes.

The new attack chain “can be used for sensitive information gathering purposes and to enable follow-on activity,” enterprise security firm Proofpoint said in a Monday report.

At least two campaigns taking advantage of this approach were observed on February 26 and 27, 2024, the company added. The phishing waves disseminated thousands of messages and targeted hundreds of organizations across the world.

Cybersecurity

The messages themselves appeared as responses to previous emails, a known technique called thread hijacking, in a bid to increase the likelihood of the attacks’ success.

The ZIP attachments come with an HTML file that’s designed to contact an actor-controlled Server Message Block (SMB) server.

“TA577’s objective is to capture NTLMv2 Challenge/Response pairs from the SMB server to steal NTLM hashes based on characteristics of the attack chain and tools used,” the company said, which could then be used for pass-the-hash (PtH) type attacks.

Thread Hijacking Attack

This means that adversaries who are in possession of a password hash do not need the underlying password to authenticate a session, ultimately enabling them to move through a network and gain unauthorized access to valuable data.

TA577, which overlaps with an activity cluster tracked by Trend Micro as Water Curupira, is one of the most sophisticated cybercrime groups. It has been linked to the distribution of malware families like QakBot and PikaBot in the past.

Cybersecurity

“The rate at which TA577 adopts and distributes new tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) suggests the threat actor likely has the time, resources, and experience to rapidly iterate and test new delivery methods,” Proofpoint said.

It also described the threat actor as acutely aware of the shifts in the cyber threat landscape, quickly adapting and refining its tradecraft and delivery methods to bypass detection and drop a variety of payloads. Organizations are highly recommended to block outbound SMB to prevent exploitation.

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0 thoughts on “Thread Hijacking Attack Targets IT Networks, Stealing NTLM Hashes”

  1. I am preparing a generated backing guide for a bassist who records remotely. The arrangement is clear enough, although the rough texture could distract from the actual musical instructions. I plan to include the tempo, key, chord changes, and a note about the intended bass entrances. Would keeping the original beside a revised guide help the musician interpret the brief? I came across the term suno fix while looking for language to describe the issue, but I have not tested the linked resource. I want the musician to follow the arrangement without treating accidental noise as a performance instruction. The bassist will work in a different recording application, so I would also welcome advice on export format, a shared starting point, and whether a count-in helps prevent alignment mistakes. Which details belong in a concise handoff checklist for a remote recording session?

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