What is An Exploit Kit?
Let us first understand what an exploit is...
An exploit in most situations are some programs, files, or codes that are developed by threat-actors to take advantage of some vulnerabilities in a 'Software' or OS, to bypass your computers or network safeguards to infect your device.
These are usually the first part of a larger attack. Threat-actors or hackers would scan for outdated systems or software that contain any critical vulnerability. Then they would write or develop a malware to deploy on those targeted machines to take advantage of. Exploits are generally shellcode in the form of a little malware which will eventually download additional codes or more-capable malware later from C&C established by threat-actors. The idea and the purpose is still the same....to infect systems and infiltrate organisations.
NOTE: If you wish to know more about how these C&C operates, then you can check a post on C&C that I have shared here recently.
There is not much difference between exploits and exploit-kits, except that exploit kits (EK) are relatively more comprehensive tools that may contain a collection of exploits within a given malware. One exploit-kit may offer botnet malware, information stealers, key-logger, Trojans, ransomware, and other types of malware.
The one key characteristic of exploit-kit is that they are automated threats that use compromised sites to divert web traffic, scan for vulnerable browser-based applications, and run malware.
These kits scan devices & browsers automatically & silently for different kinds of software vulnerabilities, which you are browsing the internet unaware. If any vulnerability is detected, exploit-kits deploy additional malware to further infect a device. Kits can use exploits targeting a variety of software, including Adobe Flash Player, Adobe Reader, Internet Explorer, Oracle Java, Microsoft Silverlight, Google Chrome, plugins, etc.
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Why Do Cyber-Criminals Use Exploit Kits?Exploit kits have become an extremely popular method for mass malware or remote access tool (RAT) distribution by criminal groups, essentially lowering the barrier to entry for attackers. Almost anyone can use those.
Exploit kits are attractive to criminals for three main reasons:
1. Stealthy malware infection
Exploit kits are designed to work behind the scenes during normal web browsing by the users. Hidden code is used to redirect browser traffic to an malicious server. This network activity is not visible on your browser.
2. Automatic exploitation
The whole exploit-kit process is automated. Exploit kits automatically check the your computer for vulnerable browser-based applications, then they send an appropriate exploit. No hands-on management is required. Once an Exploit-Kits campaign has been established on a mass-scale, then hackers can monitor its effectiveness through a control panel.
3. Outsourcing
Exploit kit use is a convenient method for criminals to outsource their malware distribution. There is no need to build or establish an EK system on your own when it can be rented at a much cheaper cost. Furthermore, you do not require in-depth technical knowledge to use an Exploit-Kit. These come equipped with a user-friendly control panel or dashboard, and their operators can conveniently adjust an exploit kit to fit their need.
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How Does All This Happen?However, exploit-kit developers and cybercriminals are not same all the time. For exploit kit creators, there is a massive opportunity to generate profit. Creators can offer exploit kits for rental on underground criminal markets, where the price for leading kits can reach thousands of dollars per month.
The owner provides the buyer a management console to oversee rented EK servers, but the buyer must provide an attack infrastructure to form a campaign.
Even, this infrastructure for a large-scale campaign can likely also be outsourced by criminals who want to distribute their malware.
With an exploit kit, a series of events would follow for the infection to be successful. Starting with a landing page, to the execution of an exploit, and to the delivery of a payload, each stage must be successfully completed in order for the attacker to gain control of the host.
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What Can You Do To Defend Again Exploit-Kits?Well, there is no special defense against Exploit-Kits. All defenses you create for all sorts of malware in general, is the only defense you can build here. Still you should think of Exploit kits and malware like guns and bullets, where an exploit-kit is the gun, and the malware is a bullet. A defense against EKs should focus on the gun (the delivery mechanism) more than the bullet (the payload).
The most common method used by attackers to distribute exploits and exploit kits is through webpages, but exploits can also arrive in emails. Some websites unknowingly and unwillingly host malicious code and exploits in their ads.
Since exploit kits target browser-based vulnerabilities, your best defense starts with keeping all applications on your computer fully up to date. Browsers, like Internet Explorer, Chrome, and other applications, like Java and Adobe Flash Player, frequently release patches as new vulnerabilities are discovered. Update browsers and plug-ins to the latest versions and use a browser exploit prevention solution that secures against zero-day browser exploits.
Always keep Microsoft Windows updated too.
In order to minimize the explosion-area, deploy all sorts of possible defenses for network-security.
Secure Web Gateways (SWGs) are a good buffer-zone.
Top-quality EDR solution is essential all the time.
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This Article Was Written & published by Meena R, Senior Manager - IT, at Luminis Consulting Services Pvt. Ltd, India.
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