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Introduction
The latest annual Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) report by Bridewell Consulting highlights critical trends in cyber threats, including infostealers, ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS), phishing kits, and offensive security tooling. Understanding these threats and implementing defensive measures is crucial for IT professionals. This article provides actionable insights and verified commands to mitigate risks.
Learning Objectives
- Identify emerging threats in the infostealer and RaaS landscape.
- Detect and block phishing kits and remote access trojans (RATs).
- Harden systems against EDR evasion techniques like EDRKillShifter.
You Should Know
1. Detecting Infostealers with Windows Event Logs
Command:
Get-WinEvent -LogName "Security" | Where-Object {$<em>.Id -eq 4688 -and $</em>.Message -like "cmd.exe"} | Format-List
What it does:
This PowerShell command retrieves security event logs for suspicious process executions (e.g., `cmd.exe` spawning unexpected processes).
Steps:
1. Open PowerShell as Administrator.
- Run the command to filter Event ID 4688 (process creation).
3. Investigate any unusual `cmd.exe` or `powershell.exe` executions.
2. Analyzing Phishing Kits with URL Scanning
Command (Linux):
curl -s "https://www.virustotal.com/api/v3/urls" --header "x-apikey: YOUR_API_KEY" --data-urlencode "url=SUSPECT_URL" | jq .
What it does:
Checks a URL against VirusTotal’s database for phishing indicators.
Steps:
- Replace `YOUR_API_KEY` with a valid VirusTotal API key.
2. Insert the suspicious URL in `SUSPECT_URL`.
3. Analyze the JSON response for malicious flags.
3. Blocking RATs with Windows Firewall
Command:
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Block RAT Ports" -Direction Inbound -LocalPort 4444,5555 -Protocol TCP -Action Block
What it does:
Blocks common RAT ports (4444, 5555) via Windows Firewall.
Steps:
1. Run PowerShell as Admin.
- Execute the command to block inbound traffic on these ports.
3. Verify with `Get-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName “Block RAT Ports”`.
4. Mitigating EDR Evasion (EDRKillShifter)
Command (Linux):
sudo auditctl -w /usr/bin/ -p wa -k edr_tampering
What it does:
Monitors `/usr/bin/` for unauthorized modifications (common in EDR bypass attacks).
Steps:
- Install `auditd` if not present (
sudo apt install auditd).
2. Apply the rule to log file changes.
3. Check logs with `ausearch -k edr_tampering`.
- Securing RMM Tools (Remote Monitoring & Management)
Command (Windows):
Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_Product | Where-Object {$_.Name -like "TeamViewer"} | Uninstall-WmiObject
What it does:
Uninstalls unauthorized RMM tools like TeamViewer.
Steps:
1. Run PowerShell as Admin.
- Modify the filter (
AnyDesk,Splashtop) for other RMM tools.
3. Confirm removal via `Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_Product`.
What Undercode Say
- Key Takeaway 1: Infostealers and RaaS are evolving—proactive logging and URL analysis are critical.
- Key Takeaway 2: EDR evasion tools like EDRKillShifter require real-time filesystem monitoring.
Analysis:
The Bridewell report underscores the need for layered defenses. While automated tools help, human-led threat hunting remains vital. Organizations should prioritize:
– Behavioral analysis over signature-based detection.
– API security (e.g., VirusTotal integration) for phishing defense.
– Strict RMM controls to prevent lateral movement.
Prediction
In 2024-2025, AI-powered infostealers will automate credential harvesting, while EDR bypass techniques will grow more sophisticated. Adversaries will increasingly exploit misconfigured cloud workloads. Proactive hardening, Zero Trust adoption, and threat intelligence sharing will define successful defense strategies.
Note: Replace placeholders (e.g., API keys, URLs) with actual values before execution. Always test commands in a sandboxed environment.
IT/Security Reporter URL:
Reported By: Mthomasson Bridewell – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
