Latest HP Inc. Cybersecurity Threat Report Reveals Hackers Sharing Computer Vision Tools to Supercharge Capabilities

Rhea-AI Summary

HP Wolf Security has published a new Threat Insights Report revealing a 65% increase in cybercrime sophistication and the use of hacking tools from H2 2020 to H1 2021. The report notes that underground forums are facilitating collaboration among cybercriminals, leading to larger attacks.

Key findings include a rise in malware delivered via email (75%) and a notable 34% of malware captured being previously unknown. Additionally, phishing attacks continue to prey on users, despite advances in security technology.

Positive

• Increased understanding of cyber threats from HP Wolf Security can enhance HP's reputation in cybersecurity.
• The report highlights the need for resilient endpoint infrastructure, aligning with HP's security product offerings.

Negative

• A 65% rise in cybercrime sophistication poses a risk to enterprise security and could impact customer trust in HP products.
• 75% of malware delivered via email indicates a significant vulnerability that could affect HP's client base.

HP Wolf Security threat research team finds increasing cybercrime sophistication and a boom in monetization and hacking tools, while end users are still vulnerable to old tricks

PALO ALTO, Calif., July 27, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) today released its latest global Threat Insights Report, providing analysis of real-world cybersecurity attacks and vulnerabilities. The research shows a significant increase in the frequency and sophistication of cybercrime activity, including a 65% rise in the use of hacking tools downloaded from underground forums and filesharing websites from H2 2020 to H1 2021.

The researchers noted hacking tools in wide circulation were surprisingly capable. For example, one tool can solve CAPTCHA challenges using computer vision techniques, namely optical character recognition (OCR), in order to perform credential stuffing attacks against websites. More broadly, the report found that cybercrime is more organized than ever, with underground forums providing a perfect platform for threat actors to collaborate and share attack tactics, techniques and procedures.

“The proliferation of pirated hacking tools and underground forums are allowing previously low-level actors to pose serious risks to enterprise security,” says Dr. Ian Pratt, Global Head of Security, Personal Systems, HP Inc. “Simultaneously, users continue to fall prey to simple phishing attacks time and time again. Security solutions that arm IT departments to stay ahead of future threats are key to maximizing business protection and resilience.”

Notable threats isolated by HP Wolf Security included:

• Cybercriminal collaboration is opening the door to bigger attacks against victims: Dridex affiliates are selling access to breached organizations to other threat actors, so they can distribute ransomware. The drop in Emotet activity in Q1 2021 has led to Dridex becoming the top malware family isolated by HP Wolf Security.
• Information stealers delivering nastier malware: CryptBot malware – historically used as an infostealer to siphon off credentials from cryptocurrency wallets and web browsers – is also being used to deliver DanaBot – a banking trojan operated by organized crime groups.
• VBS downloader campaign targeting business executives: A multi-stage Visual Basic Script (VBS) campaign is sharing malicious ZIP attachments named after the executive it’s targeting. It deploys a stealthy VBS downloader before using legitimate SysAdmin tools to “live off the land”, persisting on devices and delivering malware.
• From application to infiltration: A résumé-themed malicious spam campaign targeted shipping, maritime, logistics and related companies in seven countries (Chile, Japan, UK, Pakistan, US, Italy and the Philippines), exploiting a Microsoft Office vulnerability to deploy the commercially-available Remcos RAT and gain backdoor access to infected computers.

The findings are based on data from HP Wolf Security, which tracks malware within isolated, micro-virtual machines to understand and capture a full infection chain and help to mitigate threats. By better understanding the behavior of malware in the wild, HP Wolf Security researchers and engineers are able to bolster endpoint security protections and overall system resilience.

“The cybercrime ecosystem continues to develop and transform, with more opportunities for petty cybercriminals to connect with bigger players within organized crime, and download advanced tools that can bypass defenses and breach systems,” observes Alex Holland, Senior Malware Analyst, HP Inc. “We’re seeing hackers adapt their techniques to drive greater monetization, selling access on to organized criminal groups so they can launch more sophisticated attacks against organizations. Malware strains like CryptBot previously would have been a danger to users who use their PCs to store cryptocurrency wallets, but now they also pose a threat to businesses. We see infostealers distributing malware operated by organized criminal groups – who tend to favor ransomware to monetize their access.”

Other key findings in the report include:

• 75% of malware detected was delivered via email, while web downloads were responsible for the remaining 25%. Threats downloaded using web browsers rose by 24%, partially driven by users downloading hacking tools and cryptocurrency mining software.
• The most common email phishing lures were invoices and business transactions (49%), while 15% were replies to intercepted email threads. Phishing lures mentioning COVID-19 made up less than 1%, dropping by 77% from H2 2020 to H1 2021.
• The most common type of malicious attachments were archive files (29%), spreadsheets (23%), documents (19%), and executable files (19%). Unusual archive file types – such as JAR (Java Archive files) – are being used to avoid detection and scanning tools, and install malware that’s easily obtained in underground marketplaces.
• The report found 34% of malware captured was previously unknown¹, a 4% drop from H2 2020.
• A 24% increase in malware that exploits CVE-2017-11882, a memory corruption vulnerability commonly used to exploit Microsoft Office or Microsoft WordPad and carry out fileless attacks.
  

“Cybercriminals are bypassing detection tools with ease by simply tweaking their techniques. We saw a surge in malware distributed via uncommon file types like JAR files – likely used to reduce the chances of being detected by anti-malware scanners,” comments Holland. “The same old phishing tricks are reeling in victims, with transaction-themed lures convincing users to click on malicious attachments, links and web pages.”

“As cybercrime becomes more organized, and smaller players can easily obtain effective tools and monetize attacks by selling on access, there’s no such thing as a minor breach,” concludes Pratt. “The endpoint continues to be a huge focus for cybercriminals. Their techniques are getting more sophisticated, so it’s more important than ever to have comprehensive and resilient endpoint infrastructure and cyber defense. This means utilizing features like threat containment to defend against modern attackers, minimizing the attack surface by eliminating threats from the most common attack vectors – email, browsers, and downloads.”

About the data
This data was gathered within HP Wolf Security customer virtual-machines from January - June 2021.

About HP
HP Inc. creates technology that makes life better for everyone, everywhere. Through our product and service portfolio of personal systems, printers and 3D printing solutions, we engineer experiences that amaze. More information about HP Inc. is available at http://www.hp.com.

About HP Wolf Security
From the maker of the world’s most secure PCs² and Printers³, HP Wolf Security is a new breed of endpoint security. HP’s portfolio of hardware-enforced security and endpoint-focused security services are designed to help organizations safeguard PCs, printers and people from circling cyber predators. HP Wolf Security provides comprehensive endpoint protection and resiliency that starts at the hardware level and extends across software and services.⁴

HP Inc. Media Relations
MediaRelations@hp.com

©Copyright 2021 HP Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.

1. Based on first-seen in the wild data from multiple antivirus engines.
2. Based on HP’s unique and comprehensive security capabilities at no additional cost among vendors on HP Elite PCs with Windows and 8th Gen and higher Intel^® processors or AMD Ryzen™ 4000 processors and higher; HP ProDesk 600 G6 with Intel^® 10th Gen and higher processors; and HP ProBook 600 with AMD Ryzen™ 4000 or Intel^® 11th Gen processors and higher.
3. HP’s most advanced embedded security features are available on HP Enterprise and HP Managed devices with HP FutureSmart firmware 4.5 or above. Claim based on HP review of 2021 published features of competitive in-class printers. Only HP offers a combination of security features to automatically detect, stop, and recover from attacks with a self-healing reboot, in alignment with NIST SP 800-193 guidelines for device cyber resiliency. For a list of compatible products, visit: hp.com/go/PrintersThatProtect. For more information, visit: hp.com/go/PrinterSecurityClaims.
4. HP Security is now HP Wolf Security. Security features vary by platform, please see product data sheet for details.

FAQ

What did the HPQ Threat Insights Report reveal about cybercrime?

The HPQ Threat Insights Report highlighted a 65% increase in cybercrime sophistication and the proliferation of hacking tools.

How much malware detected was delivered via email according to HPQ's report?

According to HPQ's report, 75% of detected malware was delivered via email.

What is the significance of the findings in HPQ's Threat Insights Report?

The findings indicate an alarming rise in cybercrime tactics, emphasizing the importance of strong endpoint security solutions.

What are the implications of the report for HP Inc. (HPQ) shareholders?

The implications include potential risks to customer trust and security, which could negatively affect HPQ's market position.

What percentage of malware captured by HPQ was previously unknown?

The report noted that 34% of malware captured was previously unknown.