All posts300 ways to run a ransomware attack!
SE Labs tested CrowdStrike Falcon against a range of ransomware attacks designed to extort victims. These attacks were realistic, using the same tactics and techniques as those used against victims in recent months.
Test like ransomware hackers
Testers attacked target systems, protected by CrowdStrike Falcon. Our testers in the lab acted in the same way as we observe ransomware groups to behave on the internet.
Attacks were initiated from the start of the attack chain, using phishing email links and attachments, as just two examples. Each attack was run from the very start to its obvious conclusion, which means attempting to steal, encrypt and destroy sensitive data on the target systems.
Ransomware is the most visible, most easily understood cyber threat affecting businesses today. Paralysed computer systems mean stalled business and loss of earnings. On top of that, a ransom demand provides a clear, countable value to a threat. A demand for “one million dollars!” is easier to quantify than the possible leak of intellectual property to a competitor.
Given the global interest and terror around ransomware, we have created a comprehensive test that shows how effective security products are when faced with the whole range of threats posed by ransomware itself and the criminal groups operating in the shadows.
In this report we have taken two main approaches to assessing how well products can detect and protect against ransomware.
Ransomware Deep Attacks
For the first part of this test, we analysed the common tactics of ransomware gangs and created two custom gangs that use a wider variety of methods. In all cases we run the attack from the very start, including attempting to access targets with stolen credentials or other means. We then move through the system and sometimes the network, before deploying the ransomware as the final payload.
In the first two attacks for each group, we gain access and deploy ransomware onto the target immediately. In the third, fourth and fifth attacks we move through the network and deploy ransomware on a target deeper into the network. The ransomware payloads used in this part of the report were known files from five of the families listed in Hackers vs. Targets on page 9.
This test shows a product’s ability to track the movement of the attacker through the entire attack chain. We disable the product’s protection features and rely on its detection mode for this part of the test. The results demonstrate how incident response teams can use the product to gain visibility on ransomware attacks.
A demand for “one million dollars!” is easier to quantify than the possible leak of intellectual property to a competitor.
Simon Edwards
Ransomware Direct Attacks
The second part of the test takes a wide distribution of known malware and adds variations designed to evade detection. We’ve listed the ransomware families used in Hackers vs. Targets on page 9. We sent each of these ransomware payloads directly to target systems using realistic techniques, such as through email social engineering attacks. This is a full but short attack chain.
In this part of the test, we ensure any protection features are enabled in the product. If products can detect and protect against the known version of each of these files, all well and good. But if they also detect and block each ransomware’s two variations then we can conclude that the protection available is more proactive than simply reacting to yesterday’s unlucky victims.
Ransomware Tested
This detailed report looks at ransomware detection during a full network attack; and protection against known ransomware attacks and their unknown variants. For details about how the product handled the different types of attack please read 3. Response Details (Ransomware Deep Attacks) on page 11 and 7. Protection Details (Ransomware Direct Attacks) on page 16.
