The National Security Agency (NSA) issued a cybersecurity advisory warning that Chinese state-sponsored actors have increased their attacks on American companies, including those that work closely with the U.S. government. The NSA warned that one of the great threats to the U.S. National Security Systems (NSS), the U.S. Defense Industrial Base (DIB), and even the Department of Defense (DoD) information networks remains hackers in China who work at the behest of Beijing.
The same process for planning the exploitation of a computer network that is used by sophisticated cyber criminals for profit is being used by Chinese-sanctioned hackers. The same types of efforts are employed, and this often involves identifying a target, gathering technical information, identifying any vulnerabilities, developing or even re-using an exploit to access those vulnerabilities, and then launching the attack.
This warning highlights the trend of nation-state actors expanding their focus, from the .gov and .mil domains to prioritizing the exploitation of companies in the defense industrial base or with any connection to U.S. government data, said John Dermody, counsel in the Washington, D.C., office of international law firm OMelveny & Myers and member of the firms Data Security & Privacy Group, in an email to ClearanceJobs.
Hackers can now choose from a menu of readily-deployable malware, already-developed access to victims, network exploitation services, and post-breach monetization services, added Dermody. This has resulted in entrepreneurial cyber-actors going out and developing access to a broad scope of companies and offering to sell it to the highest bidder, whether that be cyber criminals or nation states.
Along with its warning, the NSA published an in-depth report that detailed the top 25 vulnerabilities that are currently being scanned, targeted, and exploited. All of these bugs are actually well known, and they all have patches. However, because of the continued targeting of these exploits, the NSA has called greater attention and highlighted the need to address these vulnerabilities as soon as possible.
The NSA advisory identified 25 known vulnerabilities that state or state-sponsored attackers from China are known to actively use, or have scanned for, explained cybersecurity expert Saryj Nayya, CEO of Gurucul. Its important to realize that this list is only the ones they know of. These attackers have considerable resources that they can, and do, dedicate to finding and developing attacks against a broad range of systems. They have exploited vulnerabilities in network equipment, servers, and mobile devices, and will continue to do so.
While many of the vulnerabilities have been known to cybersecurity professionals, this is the first time that the NSA the nations premier electronic intelligence agency has specifically described them as prime targets for Chinese state-sponsored attacks.
State sponsored attackers are nothing new, Nayya told ClearanceJobs. Governments have always employed researchers to find vulnerabilities and developed attacks that exploit them to further their own agendas. Given the current geopolitical situation, it is no surprise we are hearing more about attacks originating from China.
However, state and state-sponsored threat actors will remain a serious challenge for civilian targets.
The attackers are effectively immune from prosecution and, as civilians, the victims cant return fire even when they know who is attacking them, warned Nayya. We have to rely on our own defenses to mitigate these attacks, and hope the government agencies responsible for protecting our vital infrastructure will extend that protection to other areas under threat.
The NSA noted that most of the vulnerabilities that it listed could be exploited to gain initial access to a victim network by utilizing products that provide either remote access or are for external web services, and these products should be patched accordingly. The NSA also offered tips to mitigate from such attacks:
Cybersecurity due diligence should remain a priority, and this should include regular backups, watching for social engineering, and keeping devices at all levels patched and up to date.
Our best defense is to deploy best-in-breed security solutions, including behavioral analytics that can adapt to new threats, and to follow industry best practices across the board, said Nayya. Patch management, user education, etc.
A full list of the threats is available on the NSA Cybersecurity Advisory.
Originally posted here:
Per NSA, DoD Networks in the Crosshairs of Chinese State-Sponsored Hackers - ClearanceJobs
- NSA fears quantum computing surprise: 'If this black swan event happens, then we're really screwed' - Washington Times - March 27th, 2024 [March 27th, 2024]
- The NSA Warns That US Adversaries Free to Mine Private Data May Have an AI Edge - WIRED - March 27th, 2024 [March 27th, 2024]
- Five ways to implement zero-trust based on NSA's latest guidance - SC Media - March 27th, 2024 [March 27th, 2024]
- Intel analyst shared classified information on Discord, investigators say - The Washington Post - March 27th, 2024 [March 27th, 2024]
- Water Systems Vulnerable To Cyber Attacks, NSA And EPA Warn Governors - Forbes - March 27th, 2024 [March 27th, 2024]
- Amritpal Singhs mother, kin of other NSA detainees go on hunger strike, want them to be shifted to Punjab jail - The Tribune India - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- Rob Joyce leaving NSA at the end of March - CyberScoop - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- NSA cyber director to step down after 34 years of service - Nextgov/FCW - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- Behind Khattar govts U-turn on NSA against farm leaders, fear of rural blowback, Congress gain - The Indian Express - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- Payday dispute prompts maintenance worker walkout at NSA Naples - Stars and Stripes - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- CISA, NSA, and FBI Warn of Chinese Cyber Hacking Army The Presidential Prayer Team - The Presidential Prayer Team - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- Cyber Security Headlines: Microsoft takes another hit, Energy giant hit by ransomware, the NSA is secretly buying your ... - CISO Series - January 30th, 2024 [January 30th, 2024]
- India now cooperating with Nijjar probe: Canada's NSA - IndiaTimes - January 30th, 2024 [January 30th, 2024]
- Google, WhiteSnake, Outlook, NSA, Juniper, Jason Wood, and More SWN #358 - SC Media - January 30th, 2024 [January 30th, 2024]
- Readout of NSA Jake Sullivan's Meetings with PM Srettha and DPM/FM Parnpree - US Embassy in Thailand - USEmbassy.gov - January 30th, 2024 [January 30th, 2024]
- NSA Admits Secretly Buying Your Internet Browsing Data without Warrants - The Hacker News - January 30th, 2024 [January 30th, 2024]
- Readout of NSA Jake Sullivan's Meeting with CCP Politburo Member, Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs ... - US Embassy & Consulates in... - January 30th, 2024 [January 30th, 2024]
- Former NSA Saint has a chance to become repeat Super Bowl champion - The Suffolk News-Herald - Suffolk News-Herald - January 30th, 2024 [January 30th, 2024]
- NSA is buying Americans internet browsing records without a warrant - TechCrunch - January 30th, 2024 [January 30th, 2024]
- As NSA buys up Americans' browser records, Uncle Sam is asked to simply knock it off - The Register - January 30th, 2024 [January 30th, 2024]
- NSA buys sensitive data on Americans without any court order - KJZZ - January 30th, 2024 [January 30th, 2024]
- NSA Veteran Teresa Shea Joins Board of Directors of Two Six Technologies - ExecutiveBiz - January 30th, 2024 [January 30th, 2024]
- How the FBI, NSA are preparing for deepfakes and misinformation issue ahead of 2024 elections - CNBC - January 14th, 2024 [January 14th, 2024]
- AI is helping US spies catch stealthy Chinese hacking ops, NSA official says - CyberScoop - January 14th, 2024 [January 14th, 2024]
- AI aids nation-state hackers but also helps US spies to find them, says NSA cyber director - TechCrunch - January 14th, 2024 [January 14th, 2024]
- NSA Director Paul Nakasone to Step Down in Early February - Bloomberg - January 14th, 2024 [January 14th, 2024]
- NSA says cybersecurity will gain many benefits with generative AI - ReadWrite - January 14th, 2024 [January 14th, 2024]
- FBI and NSA directors discuss their concerns about AI - WCBE 90.5 FM - January 14th, 2024 [January 14th, 2024]
- Looking back at 2023 with the NSA's Rob Joyce and Morgan Adamski - CyberScoop - January 14th, 2024 [January 14th, 2024]
- NSA: Benefits of generative AI in cyber security will outweigh the bad - ITPro - January 14th, 2024 [January 14th, 2024]
- AI Identified as Emerging Threat in Cyber Crime by NSA Director - CoinGape - January 14th, 2024 [January 14th, 2024]
- AI is helping China-backed hackers but it's also helping to hunt them down, NSA says - TechRadar - January 14th, 2024 [January 14th, 2024]
- Top 10 misconfigurations: An NSA checklist for CISOs - The Stack - October 20th, 2023 [October 20th, 2023]
- CISA and NSA Issues New Identity and Access Management Guidance for Vendors - TechRepublic - October 20th, 2023 [October 20th, 2023]
- How to Protect Against Evolving Phishing Attacks - National Security Agency - October 20th, 2023 [October 20th, 2023]
- NSA Shares Recommendations to Advance Device Security Within ... - National Security Agency - October 20th, 2023 [October 20th, 2023]
- Nansemond-Suffolk tennis falls to Norfolk Academy Thursday - The ... - Suffolk News-Herald - October 20th, 2023 [October 20th, 2023]
- NSA calls for a 'root and branch' review of Red Tractor - Farmers Guardian - October 20th, 2023 [October 20th, 2023]
- Israel's NSA warns of US intervention as Gaza conflict escalates - IndiaTimes - October 20th, 2023 [October 20th, 2023]
- The U.S. government is still in its Tumblr era. - Slate - October 20th, 2023 [October 20th, 2023]
- Biden's Cyber Command and NSA nominee seen as a pick for continuity - The Record from Recorded Future News - July 17th, 2023 [July 17th, 2023]
- 5 Reasons to Work for the NSA - ClearanceJobs - ClearanceJobs - July 17th, 2023 [July 17th, 2023]
- I will do my best as NSA: Ribadu promises - FRCN HQ - Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria - July 17th, 2023 [July 17th, 2023]
- Plateau killings: Reps ask NSA to declare national emergency - TheCable - July 17th, 2023 [July 17th, 2023]
- 7th Deputy NSA Meeting of Colombo Security Conclave held in ... - ANI News - July 17th, 2023 [July 17th, 2023]
- Young shepherd from region wins NSA North Sheep trophy ... - Darlington and Stockton Times - July 17th, 2023 [July 17th, 2023]
- HBO film based on NSA leaker Reality Winner slated for May 29 ... - Military Times - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Tina Satter on why her NSA whistleblower film Reality is stranger than fiction - Financial Times - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Gen. Paul Nakasone Plans to Step Down as NSA Director ... - Executive Gov - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Readout of NSA Jake Sullivan's Meeting with CCP Politburo ... - US Embassy & Consulates in China - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Young sheep farmers to be given genetic boost by new NSA giveaway - The Scottish Farmer - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Sydney Sweeney wanted to be challenged by Reality: Its a different muscle playing someone who is real [Exclusive Video Interview] - Yahoo... - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Intercepted: The Biggest Whodunnit of the Century - The Intercept - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Personal injury + the No Surprises Act - Chiropractic Economics - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- PM Narendra Modi e-inaugurating new office complexes of CBI at Shilong, Pune and Nagpur, commemorating the CBI diamond jubilee on Monday. Also seen... - April 4th, 2023 [April 4th, 2023]
- Special Collection Service - Wikipedia - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- What is the NSA and how does it work? - SearchSecurity - February 5th, 2023 [February 5th, 2023]
- Watch: NSA Ajit Doval is Ambitious, Very Good at Sniffing Power and Being on the Right Side of itAS Dulat - The Wire - December 21st, 2022 [December 21st, 2022]
- Shockwaves win another championship, this time at the NSA Fresno Pilgrimfest - Lompoc Record - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- EFCC secures forfeiture of N755m, luxury assets from ex-AGF, former aide to NSA The Nation Newspaper - The Nation Newspaper - November 23rd, 2022 [November 23rd, 2022]
- What is the National Security Agency? - Norwich University - October 25th, 2022 [October 25th, 2022]
- Cyber Security Today, Oct. 19, 2022 A warning from the NSA about nation-state attacks, and more - IT World Canada - October 21st, 2022 [October 21st, 2022]
- In the Alphabet Soup of Regulations, the NSA, GFE and AEOB Have Yet to Coalesce - RACmonitor - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Do not ignore any communication shared by NSCS, NSA: PM Modi to ministers - The Hindu - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- NSA Announces Date of the National Cryptologic Museum Grand Opening - National Security Agency - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- NSA and ACLU may face off in the Supreme Court over Wikipedia - Grid - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- The NSA is Here to Help | Decipher - Duo Security - September 27th, 2022 [September 27th, 2022]
- Hollen, Raskin Join with NSA Bethesda Fire Fighters, IAFF Leaders to Highlight Progress on Efforts to Improve Base Conditions, Build New Facility |... - September 27th, 2022 [September 27th, 2022]
- CISA, FBI, NSA, Treasury, Cyber Command, and International Partners Release Advisory on Malicious Cyber Actors Affiliated with Iranian Government... - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- NATFORCE: Buhari Finally Disbands Security Outfit After Senate Ignored NSA To Recognize Body The Whistler Newspaper - The Whistler Nigeria - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- China Accuses NSA of Hacking Its Military Research University - VICE - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- Behind the Toque: An Interview with NSA Noodle Bar Executive Chef Brooke Apfelbaum - greenpointers.com - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- In the Garden: Tour gives Omahans a chance to see how a 'Bloom Box' works - Omaha World-Herald - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- Three area teams pickup wins to start football season - The Suffolk News-Herald - Suffolk News-Herald - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- NSA to reveal identities of big men behind oil theft in Nigeria Presidency - Daily Post Nigeria - August 22nd, 2022 [August 22nd, 2022]
- Former US Cyber Command and NSA chief makes the case for a cyber competition strategy | The Strategist - The Strategist - August 22nd, 2022 [August 22nd, 2022]
- Inaugural India-Central Asia NSA meeting to be held in December - WION - August 22nd, 2022 [August 22nd, 2022]
- Home | Open Source @ NSA - August 8th, 2022 [August 8th, 2022]
- Kennesaw State named top institution for cybersecurity outreach - Kennesaw State University - August 8th, 2022 [August 8th, 2022]
- US city of Boston to mark 75th anniversary of India's Independence with two-day extravaganza - NewsDrum - August 8th, 2022 [August 8th, 2022]