Jun 30 2024

Fake IT support sites push malicious PowerShell scripts as Windows fixes

Category: Malware,PowerShell Securitydisc7 @ 9:51 am

Fake IT support sites promote malicious PowerShell “fixes” for common Windows errors, like the 0x80070643 error, to infect devices with information-stealing malware.

First discovered by eSentire’s Threat Response Unit (TRU), the fake support sites are promoted through YouTube channels that have been compromised and hijacked to add legitimacy to the content creator.

In particular, the threat actors are creating fake videos promoting a fix for the 0x80070643 error that millions of Windows users have been dealing with since January.

“There were some problems installing updates, but we’ll try again later. If you keep seeing this and want to search the web or contact support for information, this may help: (0x80070643),” reads the Windows Update error.

0x80070643 in Windows Update
Source: BleepingComputer

It turns out that Windows Update is displaying an incorrect error message, as it was supposed to display a CBS_E_INSUFFICIENT_DISK_SPACE error on systems with a Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) partition that’s too small for the update to install.

Microsoft explained that the new security update requires that the WinRE partition have 250 megabytes of free space, and if it doesn’t, you must manually expand the partition yourself.

However, expanding the WinRE partition is complicated, if not impossible, for those whose WinRE is not the last partition on the drive.

Due to this, many are unable to install the security update and are left with the 0x80070643 error message every time they use Windows Update.

These errors have caused many frustrated Windows users to seek a solution online, allowing threat actors to capitalize on their search for a fix.

Fake IT sites promote PowerShell fixes

According to eSentire, threat actors are creating numerous fake IT support sites that are specifically designed to help users with common Windows errors, heavily focusing on the 0x80070643 error.

“In June 2024, eSentire’s Threat Response Unit (TRU) observed an intriguing case involving a Vidar Stealer infection initiated through a fake IT support website (Figure 1),” explains the eSentire report.

“The infection began when the victim performed a web search for solutions to a Windows Update Error code.”

The researchers found two fake IT support sites promoted on YouTube named pchelprwizzards[.]com and pchelprwizardsguide[.]com. While writing this article, BleepingComputer found additional sites at pchelprwizardpro[.]com, pchelperwizard[.]com, and fixedguides[.]com.

Like the other videos eSentire found for the PCHelperWizard typo sites, BleepingComputer also found YouTube videos for the FixedGuides site, also promoting fixes for the 0x80070643 errors.

These sites all offer fixes that either require you to copy and run a PowerShell script or import the contents of a Windows Registry file.

Regardless of which “solution” is used, a PowerShell script will be executed that downloads malware on the device.

eSentire’s report outlines how the PCHelperWizard sites (not to be confused with the legitimate course site) will walk users through copying a PowerShell script into the Windows Clipboard and execute it in a PowerShell prompt.

Malicious PowerShell script disguised as a Windows error fix
Source: BleepingComputer

This PowerShell script contains a Base64 encoded script that will connect to a remote server to download another PowerShell script, which installs the Vidar information-stealing malware on the device.

When the script is finished, it will display a message that the fix was successful and to restart the computer, which will also launch the malware.

The FixedGuides site does it a bit differently, using an obfuscated Windows Registry file to hide autostarts that launch a malicious PowerShell script.

However, when I extracted the strings from the above file, you can see that it contains a valid Registry file that adds a Windows autostart (RunOnce) entry that runs a PowerShell script. This script ultimately downloads and installs information-stealing malware on the computer.

Using either fake fix will result in the information-stealing malware launching after Windows is restarted. Once started, the malware will extract saved credentials, credit cards, cookies, and browsing history from your browser.

Vidar can also steal cryptocurrency wallets, text files, and Authy 2FA authenticator databases, as well as take screenshots of your desktop.

This data is compiled into an archive called a “log,” which is then uploaded to the attacker’s servers. The stolen data is then used to fuel other attacks, such as ransomware attacks, or sold to other threat actors on dark web marketplaces.

However, the infected user is now left with a nightmare, having all their accounts compromised and potentially suffering financial fraud.

While Windows errors can be annoying, it is crucial to download software and fixes only from trusted websites, not from random videos and websites with little or no reputation.

Your credentials have become a valuable commodity and threat actors are coming up with sneaky and creative methods to steal them, so unfortunately, everyone needs to stay vigilant against unusual attack methods.

As for the 0x80070643 errors, if you are unable to resize the WinRE partition, your best bet is to use Microsoft’s Show or Hide Tool to hide the KB5034441 update so that Windows Update no longer offers it on your system and not search on the Internet for a magic fix.

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/fake-it-support-sites-push-malicious-powershell-scripts-as-windows-fixes/

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Tags: Fake IT support sites


Dec 09 2023

PowerShell Tips and Tricks

Category: PowerShell Securitydisc7 @ 11:10 am

Powershell Tips & Tricks – via Hadess | حادث

PowerShell Pocket Reference: Portable Help for PowerShell Scripters

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Sep 11 2023

Cybercriminals Using PowerShell to Steal NTLMv2 Hashes

Category: Cheat Sheet,PowerShell Securitydisc7 @ 1:19 pm

Cybercriminals Using PowerShell to Steal NTLMv2 Hashes from Compromised Windows

A new cyber attack campaign is leveraging the PowerShell script associated with a legitimate red teaming tool to plunder NTLMv2 hashes from compromised Windows systems primarily located in Australia, Poland, and Belgium.

The activity has been codenamed Steal-It by Zscaler ThreatLabz.

“In this campaign, the threat actors steal and exfiltrate NTLMv2 hashes using customized versions of Nishang’s Start-CaptureServer PowerShell script, executing various system commands, and exfiltrating the retrieved data via Mockbin APIs,” security researchers Niraj Shivtarkar and Avinash Kumar said.

Nishang is a framework and collection of PowerShell scripts and payloads for offensive security, penetration testing, and red teaming.

PowerShell to Steal NTLMv2 Hashes

The attacks leverage as many as five different infection chains, although they all leverage phishing emails containing ZIP archives as the starting point to infiltrate specific targets using geofencing techniques –

  • NTLMv2 hash stealing infection chain, which employs a custom version of the aforementioned Start-CaptureServer PowerShell script to harvest NTLMv2 hashes
  • System info stealing infection chain, which OnlyFans lures to target Australian users into downloading a CMD file that pilfers system information
  • Fansly whoami infection chain, which uses explicit images of Ukrainian and Russian Fansly models to entice Polish users into downloading a CMD file that exfiltrates the results of the whoami command
  • Windows update infection chain, which targets Belgium users with fake Windows update scripts designed to run commands like tasklist and systeminfo

It’s worth noting that the last attack sequence was highlighted by the Computer Emergency Response Team of Ukraine (CERT-UA) in May 2023 as part of an APT28 campaign directed against government institutions in the country.

This raises the possibility that the Steal-It campaign could also be the work of the Russian state-sponsored threat actor.

“The threat actors’ custom PowerShell scripts and strategic use of LNK files within ZIP archives highlights their technical expertise,” the researchers said. “The persistence maintained by moving files from the Downloads to Startup folder and renaming them underscores the threat actors’ dedication to prolonged access.”

Learn PowerShell in a Month of Lunches, Fourth Edition: Covers Windows, Linux, and macOS 

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Tags: cheat sheet, Compromised Windows, Hashes, PowerShell


Jan 17 2023

Windows PowerShell Cheat Sheet

Powershell

Checkout our previous posts on “PowerShell Security”

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Jan 02 2023

Windows PowerShell Tutorial and Cheat Sheet

PowerShell Cheat Sheet

Powershell : The Complete Ultimate Windows Powershell Beginners Guide. Learn Powershell Scripting In A Day!

Mastering PowerShell Scripting: Automate and manage your environment using PowerShell


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Aug 17 2021

Fortinet FortiWeb OS Command Injection allows takeover servers remotely

Fortinet addresses a command injection vulnerability that can allow attackers to take complete control of servers running vulnerable FortiWeb WAF installs.

An authenticated attacker could execute arbitrary commands as the root user on the underlying system via the SAML server configuration page. Experts pointed out that the flaw could be chained with an authentication bypass flaw that could allow an attacker

The vulnerability impacts Fortinet FortiWeb versions 6.3.11 and earlier, an authenticated attacker could exploit the issue to take complete control of servers running vulnerable versions of the FortiWeb WAF.

An authenticated attacker could execute arbitrary commands as the root user on the underlying system via the SAML server configuration page. Experts pointed out that the flaw could be chained with an authentication bypass flaw (i.e. CVE-2020-29015) to allow an unauthenticated attacker to trigger the vulnerability.

The vulnerability was reported by the researcher William Vu from Rapid7.

“An attacker, who is first authenticated to the management interface of the FortiWeb device, can smuggle commands using backticks in the “Name” field of the SAML Server configuration page. These commands are then executed as the root user of the underlying operating system.” reads the post published by Rapid7. “An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to take complete control of the affected device, with the highest possible privileges. “

The flaw could allow an attacker to deploy a persistent shell, install crypto mining software, or other malware families. If the management interface is exposed to the internet, an attacker could trigger the issue to reach into the affected network beyond the DMZ. Rapid7 researchers discovered less than three hundred devices exposing their management interfaces online. Let’s remind that management interfaces for devices like FortiWeb should not be exposed online!

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Tags: OS Command Injection


May 14 2021

Magecart gang hides PHP-based web shells in favicons

Category: PowerShell SecurityDISC @ 12:07 pm

Magecart cybercrime gang is using favicon to hide malicious PHP web shells used to maintain remote access to inject JavaScript skimmers into online stores.

Magecart hackers are distributing malicious PHP web shells hidden in website favicon to inject JavaScript e-skimmers into online stores and steal payment information.

Researchers from Malwarebytes observed threat actors, likely Magecart Group 12, using this technique in attacks aimed at online stores running on Magento 1 websites.

The web shells employed in the attacks are tracked as Smilodon or Megalodon, they dynamically load JavaScript skimming code via server-side requests into online stores. This technique allows bypassing most client-side security tools.

“While performing a crawl of Magento 1 websites, we detected a new piece of malware disguised as a favicon. The file named Magento.png attempts to pass itself as ‘image/png’ but does not have the proper PNG format for a valid image file.” reads the analysis published by Malwarebytes.

Tags: web shells


Feb 12 2021

Microsoft warns of the rise of web shell attacks

Category: PowerShell Security,Web SecurityDISC @ 2:29 pm

An Introduction to Web Shells

Tags: Web Shell


Jul 05 2019

10 essential PowerShell security scripts for Windows administrators

Category: PowerShell SecurityDISC @ 3:40 pm

PowerShell is a valuable tool for automating Windows administration tasks, including laborious security chores

Source: 10 essential PowerShell security scripts for Windows administrators
 
Defending Against PowerShell Attacks



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Tags: Powershell Security