Creates a copy of itself at the path %appdata%\[created folder]\[create file with no extension] with a variable folder and file name. While Accenture Security identified that the threat group utilized attack infrastructure previously associated with other cybercrime operators, we are not yet able to determine if the threat group operates under an affiliate-based model, or a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operation, based on observed intrusion clusters. Account Closures and Settlements (Bankruptcy, Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act, TILA, Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)). The Tor pages differ only in the Victim ID that is provided, indicating each Tor address may be uniquely generated for each victim. Prior to deploying Hades ransomware, the unknown threat group has employed the 7zip utility to archive data that was then staged and exfiltrated to an attacker-controlled server hosted in Mega[. endobj The differentiating factors in the ransom notes are the operators contact information and the formatting of the ransom notes. Patrick Rowe - Chief Compliance Officer & Deputy General Counsel. We will continue to discuss your ambitions, past experiences and we can answer any question you have about the position and work at Accenture. Accenture Security has identified a new threat group, the self-proclaimed Karakurt Hacking Team, that has impacted over 40 victims across multiple geographies. endobj These changes can impact other regulations and ultimately the risk and compliance functions used to measure, monitor and manage the associated risks. <>/Metadata 439 0 R/ViewerPreferences 440 0 R>> The use of legitimate credentials, service creation, remote management software and distribution of command and control (C2) beacons across victim environments using Cobalt Strike are the predominant approaches used by the threat group to further its foothold and maintain persistence. endobj Do not store unprotected credentials in files and scripts on shared locations. 6 0 obj With our Code of Business Ethics, we want to help our people make ethical behavior a natural part of what we do every daywith each other, our clients, our business partners, and our communities. \;G7cwY"zQ[.=4%GPhfRh,A5E(F,~6J;ZuF0S]LpjFE,l)g9:|O/t*!IA0RPR c2@R@yfw4Cz1K@"!I'$?o3GaJ },7,]/=' =fd`]7c}* P ``?Qx _} Figure 3. Maintain best practices against malware, such as patching, updating anti-virus software, implementing strict network egress policies, and using application whitelisting where feasible. You also can find a country-specific phone number to speak with an agent 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All trademarks are properties of their respective owners. Get the latest blogs delivered straight to your inbox. Accenture provides the information on an as-is basis without representation or warranty and accepts no liability for any action or failure to act taken in response to the information contained or referenced in this report. Install and update anti-virus software to proactively identify and protect against malware. We work together to build a better, stronger company for future generations, protecting the Accenture brand, information, intellectual property and our people. Apply by sending in your CV and cover letter and let's get started. The threat group has been known to use AnyDesk, or other available remote management tools, remote desktop protocol (RDP), Cobalt Strike, PowerShell commands and valid credentials taken from initial access to move laterally. The threat group is financially motivated, opportunistic in nature, and so far, appears to target smaller companies or corporate subsidiaries versus the alternative big game hunting approach. If you suspect any misconduct or unethical behavior, please visit the Accenture Business Ethics Helpline website where you may report your concern. As the government rolls out the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which has many implications, including providing small businesses funding to maintain employee payroll and temporary protections for homeowners under financial hardship, banks should be looking at processes, risks and controls relatedto regulations impacted by operationalizing the CARES Act and responding to the current economic environment. Besides our high-profile, challenging projects and our nurturing work environment, we offer excellent employee benefits, including: Hospitalization insurance and extensive group insurance package, Green mobility program: e-bikes, public transport, bike 2 work allowance,, Flexrewards: decide on your rewards package with our flexible benefits tool, Discount program: get discounts at your favorite (online) shops, Are you ready to join Accenturefor a career where you can be yourself and do what you love? The below provides a high-level summary based on analysis of Hades ransomware samples: In addition, based on significant code overlap found in Hades samples with other known variants, Crowdstrike assesses that the new variant is a successor to WastedLocker ransomware and possibly linked to Evil Corp operations. In one intrusion, Accenture Security also observed the threat group avoiding the use of common post-exploitation tools or commodity malware in favor of credential access. While the ransom notes are similar, we do not have any evidence to suggest the threat groups or operations have any overlap at this time. stream xXMk1tL The Technology Services Account Executive is responsible for the pipeline of all technology related services (project, maintenance, infra across all technologies)for a portfolio of clients within a specific industry. Industries impacted so far based on known victimology include: Furthermore, we identified additional Tor hidden services and clearnet URLs via various open-source reporting pertaining to the Hades ransomware samples. High level Karakurt group website timeline, Subscribe to Accenture's Cyber Defense Blog, Digital Engineering and Manufacturing Jobs, Cyber Investigations and Threat Intelligence, Do Not Sell My Personal Information (for CA). to regulations impacted by operationalizing the CARES Act and responding to the current economic environment. Customer facing teams across deposit and lending products, particularly credit cards and mortgages, should make sure their teams are educated in the SCRA requirements to advise customers on their options and rights, as well as any additional programs the bank may offer. Bank employees and affiliate companies are not immune to economic, social or environmental crisis and can also experience economic hardship. Of note, we observed significant effort by the threat group to disable or bypass endpoint defenses, including Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tooling, using both custom tooling and hands on keys approaches. Impeding defenses was achieved through use of domain administrator credentials and includes the following: Discovery This also may explain the relatively low number of known victims since Hades was first identified publicly in December 2020. This will navigate you to Accenture.com Sign In page. We are publishing indicators to help organizations identify both the Unknown Threat Groups TTPs and the Hades Ransomware variant itself. <> Together, we have proven that we can succeedproviding value to our clients and shareholders and opportunities for our peoplewhile being a powerful force for good. Given the inherent nature of threat intelligence, the content contained in this alert is based on information gathered and understood at the time of its creation. Actions taken by the bank to close a customers account during a widespread economic downturn to pursue property (e.g., foreclosure, repossession) should be made with the utmost care, as reputation risks are heightened and repercussions (both regulatory and socially) can be extremely damaging. xwg]o Defense evasion Prohibits foreclosures on all federally-backed mortgage loans for a 60-day (single) and 90-day (multi) period and provides up to 180 days of forbearance (beginning March 18, 2020). The information outlined in this blog is based on collection from CIFR incident response engagements, Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT), and various media reports. Access at: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/policy-compliance/rulemaking/final-rules/fair-credit-reporting-regulation-v/. There is already a separate, active Accenture Careers account with the same email address as your LinkedIn account email address. 4" To get this right, we must empower our people to make good decisions, act responsibly and speak up with confidence. The reproduction and distribution of this material is forbidden without express written permission from Accenture. We are agile, and we strive for high performance - by acting as entrepreneurs and owners of the company. %PDF-1.7 0 At this time, it is unclear if the unknown threat group operates under an affiliate model, or if Hades is distributed by a single group. The first name is required and cannot be empty, The last name is required and cannot be empty. stream In addition, the threat group will typically contact the victim multiple times, using different communication methods, to apply additional pressure during extortion attempts. In addition, we identified similarities in the Hades ransom notes to those that have been used by REvil ransomware operators, where portions of the ransom notes observed contain identical wording. With the anticipated rise in loan modification programs and the CARES Act lending program for SBA qualified borrowers, banks should make sure that the loans extended to potential officers and directors of the bank do not include any favorable terms, rates or discounts. % 992 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<683DCF25B88C7C4891EADF2DF69CB8DD><4D3F62366CE81241801C5F3C2B6C0336>]/Index[978 25]/Info 977 0 R/Length 85/Prev 526731/Root 979 0 R/Size 1003/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream 1 0 obj Service members have unique protections under the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), including members of the National Guard, Reserve, and their families. 7-15 years experience with strong sales, delivery, relationship management and account management experience in the IT services industry with top tier global delivery service providers; Minimum Bachelors degree. We comply with all laws, whether local, national or regional. ]group and karakurt[. An unknown financially motivated threat group is using the self-proclaimed Hades ransomware variant in cybercrime operations that have impacted at least three (3) victims since December 2020. All materials are intended for the original recipient only. In addition to data theft, actors deploy Hades ransomware to encrypt files identified on the victim network. endobj All rights reserved. Due to a lack of forensic evidence, it is unclear how the credentials were obtained by the threat group. Apply now and change the world around you. Ensure robust crisis management, incident response and disaster recovery plans are in place in the event of a data breach or ransomware incident. COVID-19 Will Apparently Not Delay CCPA Enforcement, The National Law Review, March 26, 2020. Accenture accepts no liability for any action or failure to act in response to the information contained or referenced in this alert. The profiles of the three (3) known victims are a strong indicator of Big Game Hunting, with target selection and deployment methods aimed toward high-value payouts. Ensure that a robust crisis management and incident response plan are in place in the event of a high impact intrusion. In the second interview, our senior management would love to get to know you. Because that's where the real challenges are: inventing and testing things that have never been tried before, getting new applications ready for roll-out, and ultimately guiding clients to select and implement the right technologies including state of the art Security solutions - to transform their businesses. Your email address will not be published. Additional MBA degree highly preferred. x"qDnF6 9 0 obj Besides the work we do for our clients, were really proud of our vibrant, diverse workplace culture: we believe in openness and honesty, fairness and equality, common sense and realism. For all analyzed samples, the ransom notes identified instruct the victim to install Tor browser and visit the specified page. <>/ExtGState<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> This is retroactively available to January 31, 2020 for 120 days (or until the end of a national emergency). Managing Director Strategy & Consulting. We bring security innovation, coupled with global scale and a worldwide delivery capability through our network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. Ensure all internet-facing security and remote access appliances are patched to the latest versions. 12 CFR Part 1002 Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B), January 1, 2018. The reproduction and distribution of this material is forbidden without express written permission from Accenture. ]nz cloud infrastructure, leveraging the MEGAsync utility. endobj 6Pz0iRYH2SKF3$Aw^wM}3x3nTHTqI )tpXQ"0H1@j & 9S %Om(`Q>/w4c:(p>9qSG&~"Sgvq!WykQs9OZ)7BiV_?G3c~v0e &&A4&a endobj Client relationship management at multiple levels of client hierarchy; Business Development of up between 10 million-50 million, driving revenues within the assigned account scope by being the owner of the entire Opportunity Management cycle. , In Table 1 below, Accenture Security noted logons from four different hosting providers, to include the autonomous system that currently hosts the Karakurt groups blog site. You can then update your LinkedIn sign-in connection through the Edit Profile section. 7 0 obj Please try logging in with your registered email address and password. Given the inherent nature of threat intelligence, the content contained in this report is based on information gathered and understood at the time of its creation. Hunt for attacker TTPs, including common living off the land techniques, to proactively detect and respond to a cyber-attack and mitigate its impact. The Evolution to GRC 5.0: Achieving Cognitive GRC, Opportunities and challenges for integrating ESG risk into existing frameworks, The importance of building trust in the financial services workplace explained in 6 eye-opening statistics. U*hV\/S>q. Secure Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) connections with complex passwords, virtual private networks (VPNs) and Network Level Authentication (NLA), if RDP connections must be used. The presence of Karakurt was first identified in June 2021 as it registered its apparent dump-site domains: karakurt[. Account closures typically rise during economic downturns or crisis, either by the consumer or by the financial institution, and often due to non-payment and default. If the threat groups preferred tools are not present within victims networks, it will download common remote management and file transfer utilities via a browser to support subsequent exfiltration activities (e.g., AnyDesk, FileZilla, 7zip, etc.). endstream endobj 979 0 obj <. Found a fitting vacancy or role? 3 0 obj Get the latest blogs delivered straight to your inbox. As this is a developing story, additional indicators will be released, when available. The opinions, statements, and assessments in this report are solely those of the individual author(s) and do not constitute legal advice, nor do they necessarily reflect the views of Accenture, its subsidiaries, or affiliates. Deploy EDR across the environment, targeting at least 90% coverage of endpoint and workload visibility. Its how we improve our business performance and build on Accentures reputation in the marketplace. Accenture is an incredible place to work - and keep learning. group. So you will always have lots of learning opportunities (formal and informal) to improve your role-specific skills and expertise. Admin accounts should be cross-platform MFA enforced. With a potential increase in military, national and state guards, banks should be prepared to handle an equal growth in volume of relief requests, such as interest rate reductions and fees, and measure and plan for the short and long-term impacts to their portfolios. Your email address will not be published. Initial access %%EOF On April 1, 2021, we amended the How to Raise Concerns, Make Your Conduct Count, Comply with Laws, Protect People, Information and Our Business and Run our Business Responsibly sections of our Code. Accenture Security also analyzed the group's activities in the context of attribution, victimology, and TTPs employed according to OSINT and incident response data. Its our way of putting integrity into actionevery one of us, in every moment, every day. 2 0 obj All trademarks are properties of their respective owners. Based on intrusion analysis to date, the threat group focuses solely on data exfiltration and subsequent extortion, rather than the more destructive ransomware deployment. He is a senior incident response and threat hunt lead on the CIFR team. Jeff has 20 years of IT experience with a focus on infosec. Subscribe to Accenture's Cyber Defense Blog, Digital Engineering and Manufacturing Jobs, Do Not Sell My Personal Information (for CA), e657ff4838e474653b55367aa9d4a0641b35378e2e379ad0fdd1631b3b763ef0. Disable RDP on external-facing devices and restrict workstation-to-workstation RDP connections. Accenture Security is a leading provider of end-to-end cybersecurity services, including advanced cyber defense, applied cybersecurity solutions and managed security operations. The threat group has claimed to have impacted over 40 victims across multiple industries between September 2021 and November 2021. As such, all information and content set out is provided on an as-is basis without representation or warranty and the reader is responsible for determining whether or not to follow any of the suggestions, recommendations or potential mitigations set out in this report, entirely at their own discretion. 3 0 obj This is a developing story; additional details will be released to the community when available. stream As a result, banks should consider allocating greater effort (e.g., workforce, control monitoring) to high risk areas that are likely to see a spike in volume. <> To help our clients better respond to the challenges created by the global health crisis, Accenture has created a hub of all our latest thinking on a variety of, how banks can manage the business impact of the pandemic, To find out more on the topic and how we can help you, please contact the authors. Our Code of Business Ethics is who we are, every day. 1002 0 obj <>stream hbbd```b``^"H+$/$K"WTI([nX$Hg6?? % In addition, the use of Angry IP Scanner was identified in at least one intrusion set. The Accenture Business Ethics Helpline is answered by a neutral third party. Further, under the CARES Act, landlords with federally backed mortgages (including bank-owned properties) cannot initiate legal action to recover the property, fees or penalties for 120 days. Additionally, over the years, many states have adopted their own SCRA versions with provisions to provide additional or alternative protections for state guards and other servicemembers not currently covered by the federal regulation, thus adding a greater level of compliance complexity. The primary method for initial access into victim networks includes internet-facing systems via virtual private network (VPN) using legitimate credentials. % Third parties are also required to comply with our Code when acting on our behalf. We will discuss your ambitions and past experiences and tell you all you want to know about the role. Consider developing continuity of operations plans (COOP) that account for ransomware or wiper attacks that can impact business operations. Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTP) employed to compromise a victim network, escalate privileges, move laterally, evade defenses, exfiltrate data and deploy Hades ransomware are. endobj Interested in receiving the latest Financial Services blogs delivered straight to your inbox? Its embedded in all we do. To find out more on the topic and how we can help you, please contact the authorsJulieand orBaileyor their colleagueDavid DeLeon. Extensive work experience in a global delivery center and client sites; Experience of working in a Global Delivery Model; Proven capability to building relationships with middle and senior management in clients; Deep Account Management and Project Management experience; Knowledge of industry specific products, services and solutions; Good understanding of industry specific business issues and drivers; Proven experience in a rapidly growing account; Hands-on experience with proposal/RFP creation and leading RFP/proposal presentations; Strong leadership, interpersonal, communication and presentation skills; Wide variety of IT and business consulting engagement experience. We believe it is crucial that you know where you stand during your application, and what the next steps are. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Paves Way for Consumers to Receive Economic Impact Payments Quicker, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, April 13, 2020. endobj It applies to all our peopleregardless of their title or locationand every Accenture business entity. ]tech registered on, Karakurt known to be operational as early as, First known victim based on Accenture Securitys collection sources and intrusion analysis , First victim revealed on karakurt[. LF Download the conduct guidelines for our suppliers (PDF). endstream endobj startxref <> This approach enabled it to evade detection and bypass security tools such as common endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions. ]group News page, with volumes 1 3 of the threat groups Autumn Data Leak Digest on, The fourth installment of Autumn Data Leak Digest, released on. However, based on intrusion data from incident response engagements, the operators tailor their tactics and tooling to carefully selected targets and run a more hands on keyboard operation to inflict maximum damage and higher payouts. Do not store credentials in files and scripts on shared locations, Where possible, deny caching of credentials in memory (e.g., Credential Guard). Using valid credentials, pre-existing living off the land tools and techniques and remote management software has enabled the threat group to further evade defenses. Digital Engineering and Manufacturing Jobs, Do Not Sell My Personal Information (for CA). endobj ]tech, followed by their Twitter handle karakurtlair in August 2021. This will navigate you to Accenture.com Sign In page. Accenture, the Accenture logo, and other trademarks, service marks, and designs are registered or unregistered trademarks of Accenture and its subsidiaries in the United States and in foreign countries. Subscribe Loans to Insiders and Affiliates (Regulation O and W). In addition to a robust password policy, use MFA where possible for authenticating corporate accounts to include remote access mechanisms (e.g., VPNs). Encrypt data-at-rest where possible and protect decryption keys and technology. endstream Based on collection sources, the threat group has been in operations since at least December 2020 and has continued to target victims through March 2021. In todays environment, we go beyond mere compliance; we innovate with integrity by using our understanding of technology and its impact on people to develop inclusive, responsible and sustainable solutions to complex business and societal challenges.