Understanding state-sponsored cyber attacks

State-sponsored cyberattacks are among the most advanced cyber threats.

These are not random hacks or cybercrimes. State-sponsored cyber-attacks are coordinated, well-funded operations that are frequently sanctioned by governments in order to achieve political, economic, or military goals. Cyberattacks are significantly cheaper than traditional military operations. In addition, they are often easier to execute. Because of their high level of deniability, they usually have significantly fewer implications for the attacker. Understanding the nature of these attacks is critical for organisations seeking to protect themselves.

What are state-sponsored cyber-attacks?

State-sponsored cyber-attacks are those carried out or supported by nation-states. These attacks frequently target other countries’ key infrastructure, government organisations, and public-sector companies such as financial institutions, healthcare providers. State-sponsored threat actors, unlike regular hackers, are frequently driven by strategic aims rather than personal gain or money. The resources supporting these procedures enable attackers to exploit flaws in a highly sophisticated manner.

Why are state-sponsored cyberattacks so dangerous?

One of the primary reasons state-sponsored cyber-attacks are so deadly is the sheer magnitude and depth of resources involved. These attacks have the potential to disrupt critical services, steal valuable information, or cause widespread panic. They aim not merely to infiltrate networks, but also to cause long-term disruption. For example, a successful attack on a country’s electrical grid, financial system, or healthcare, government institutions, defense, legal services, industrial, telecoms, consumer goods and many more infrastructure could have disastrous effects. State-sponsored cyberattacks can include:

Attacking key infrastructure and companies: can harm the defender and significantly reduce their defensive capabilities.

Spreading disinformation: This action can be extremely effective in destabilising political opinion inside a state, influencing elections, instilling animosity against governments or people, or improving public opinion of specific parties. For example, deep fakes

Testing enemies’ capabilities and readiness: Sometimes the only purpose is to assess the attacker’s capabilities or the adversary’s preparedness.

Cyberattacks have become an integral component of modern hybrid warfare. It incorporates a variety of hostile behaviours used to achieve goals. Hybrid warfare can include conventional military operations, cyberattacks, propaganda, and assistance for local separatist organisations. Such techniques have recently been employed, for example, by Russia against Ukraine etc

Espionage: Discovering corporate secrets, technologies, secret political information, etc.

Hard to detect, simple to deny.

Of course, states are not the only actors involved in cyberattacks. Criminal organisations, people, and terrorists are among the actors out there. State-sponsored attacks are difficult to identify due to their high levels of funding, equipment, and training. Even if the attack is uncovered, it may appear that it was carried out by someone else. Proving a state’s involvement in a cyberattack can be extremely challenging. This makes cyber strikes an effective and relatively risk-free alternative for governments to employ. As technology advances, the scope and consequence of these cyber assaults expands.

Examples of state-sponsored group Advanced persistent threat (APT)

An advanced persistent threat (APT) is a stealthy threat actor, usually a state or state-sponsored group, who gains unauthorised access to a computer network and remains unnoticed for a long time. In recent years, the phrase has also been used to describe non-state-sponsored entities who undertake large-scale targeted intrusions for specific purposes.

Actors behind advanced persistent threats provide a rising and shifting threat to organisations’ financial assets, intellectual property, and reputation.

• Target certain organisations for a single aim.

  Attempt to establish a footing in the environment (typical approaches include spear phishing emails).
  Use the hacked systems to get access into the target network.
  Deploy extra instruments to aid complete the attack objective.
  Cover tracks to ensure access for future activities.

A life cycle staged approach of an APT

First compromise the system: utilizing social engineering and spear phishing via email, as well as zero-day infections. Another popular infection strategy is to install malware on a website that the victim’s employees are likely to visit. E: g “zero-click” attack, and NSO zero-click attack that evades Apple’s iPhone security protections.

Establish a footing: by installing remote administration software in the victim’s network and creating net backdoors and tunnels that allow for stealth access to the infrastructure.

Escalate privileges: employ exploits and password cracking to get administrator access to the victim’s machine, potentially expanding it to Windows domain administrator accounts. (An exploit is a method or piece of code that uses vulnerabilities in software, applications, networks, operating systems, or hardware, usually for malicious intentions.)
Internal reconnaissance: involves gathering information about the surrounding infrastructure, trust connections, and Windows domain structure.

Lateral expansion: entails extending control to other workstations, servers, and infrastructure parts and collecting data from them.

Maintain presence: assure continued control over access channels and credentials obtained in earlier steps.

Complete the mission: exfiltrate stolen data from the victim’s network.

The average length over which the attackers can control the victim’s network is one year, the longest could go beyond 3 year depending on your expertise and the security Technologies used.

How to detect and mitigate APTs?

Detecting and neutralising APTs is like playing chess against an experienced opponent. You are continuously attempting to predict their next action.

Understand what you are up against.

Detection begins with understanding what you’re up against. Detecting stealth tactics used by APT organisations such as Cosy Bear or Fancy Bear requires more than just basic network monitoring.

Keep an eye out for any strange activity on your network.
Implementing a robust intrusion detection system (IDS) and a security information and event management (SIEM) platform can also be beneficial. They collect data, analyse through records, and notify administrators of potential dangers.
Picture Fancy Bear’s lateral motions. A well-tuned SIEM might detect their unique access patterns, raising a red alert. The goal is to piece together these seemingly small signals to reveal the larger picture.

Secure your endpoints.

Consider implementing endpoint detection and response (EDR) technologies. These technologies are quite useful for detecting suspicious activities on specific devices.

Consider how APT41 could target endpoints with bespoke malware. EDR can assist in identifying such malware even if the signature is not yet in the antivirus database. The purpose is to identify attacker behaviours, such as unexpected file encryption or network calls to known malicious IP addresses. This proactive technique can help stop an APT in its tracks before it becomes too comfortable within your network.

Segment your network to prevent attacks

Network segmentation is another strong protective method. It separates your network and locks it to prevent lateral movement. Even if an APT group slips in, segmentation restricts their movement. They can’t get from the marketing department’s credentials to the R&D secrets without striking a brick block. It makes lateral movement considerably more difficult and provides you time to identify and respond before actual damage occurs.

Setup robust incident response plans.

Detection alone is insufficient; mitigation is the follow-up blow. When you detect an APT, it is critical to respond quickly. A well-oiled incident response plan can mean all the difference.
Your incident response strategy should include isolating affected systems, preserving forensic evidence, and closing off attack channels to prevent reentry. Using threat intelligence feeds, you may update your defences to reflect the most recent techniques used by APT organisations.

Promptly patch vulnerabilities.
Zero-day exploits are a frequent choice among APTs. By keeping systems patched, you eliminate these easy entry points. You should try to close the door before the burglar even thinks about entering.

Implementing a layered defence plan is critical for successfully mitigating APT group attacks. Combining numerous approaches—technology, procedures, and people—to build a security posture strong enough to survive the APT’s unrelenting assault. Staying one step ahead is difficult, but not impossible. Keeping these advanced threats at bay needs dedication, money, and a little wisdom.

Educate users

 Often, it’s the simple things that trip you up. A team member clicking on a convincing phishing email can open the floodgates. By regularly training staff on recognizing phishing attempts and practicing good security hygiene, you build a human firewall. Cozy Bear’s spear-phishing won’t be as effective if people know what to look for.

Examples of prominent APT groups

APT41

This APT group distinguishes out because of its adaptability. They are affiliated with China and have a very intriguing dual strategy. On the one hand, they are carrying out state-sponsored cyber espionage. On the other hand, they are engaged in financially motivated cybercrime, such as ransomware assaults and cryptocurrency mining.

The group’s capacity to shift between political and financial motivations is unusual, making APT41 particularly unpredictable. Whether they are pursuing healthcare records or telecom secrets, they tailor their assault techniques and tools to their objectives. These groups are only a sample of the APT landscape. Each one is unique, yet they all have the same thread of accuracy, patience, and support that makes them such a formidable menace. Understanding how they operate and what motivates them allows you to comprehend the scope of the cybersecurity risks they pose.

Other known Chinese APT groups are:

• PLA Unit 61398 (also known as APT1)
• PLA Unit 61486 (also known as APT2)
• Buckeye (also known as APT3)
• Red Apollo(also known as APT10)
• Numbered Panda(also known as APT12)
• DeputyDog (also known as APT17)
• Dynamite Panda or Scandium (also known as APT18, a unit of the People’s Liberation Army Navy)
• Codoso Team(also known as APT19)
• Wocao (also known as APT20)
• APT22 (aka Suckfly)
• APT26 (aka Turbine Panda)
• APT 27
• PLA Unit 78020(also known as APT30 and Naikon)
• Zirconium(also known as APT31 and Violet Typhoon)
• Periscope Group(also known as APT40)
• Double Dragon^[](also known as APT41, Winnti Group, Barium, or Axiom)
• Spamouflage(also known as Dragonbridge or Storm 1376)
• Hafnium
• LightBasin (Also known as UNC1945)
• Tropic Trooper
• Volt Typhoon
• Flax Typhoon
• Charcoal Typhoon (also known as CHROMIUM)
• Salmon Typhoon (also known as SODIUM)
• Salt Typhoon(also known as GhostEmperor or FamousSparrow)
• Liminal Panda

APT 29 (Cosy Bear)

This group is a master of concealment and complexity. They are widely considered to be affiliated to Russian intelligence, which provides them a significant advantage. Cosy Bear has gained attention for its high-profile cyber espionage actions. They have been linked to several high-profile cases, including the targeting of political organisations and governmental authorities.

APT29 frequently uses advanced spear-phishing techniques to enter networks. Once inside, they move laterally in such a stealthy manner that discovering them can be difficult.

APT 28 (Fancy Bear)

If Cosy Bear is the silent assassin, then Fancy Bear is the daring operator. They’re another Russian-affiliated outfit that has been active since the mid-2000s. Fancy Bear is infamous for their violent behaviour. They have a diversified portfolio that includes everything from media and military to government sectors.

During the 2016 presidential election in the United States, APT28 conducted one of its most infamous operations. That attack served as a wake-up call for many, exposing the political reasons that might motivate such groups.

Other known Russian APT groups are:

• FIN7
• Gamaredon (also known asPrimitive Bear ) 
• Sandworm(also known as APT44)
• Venomous Bear

 

The Equation Group

 

An advanced persistent threat, is a highly sophisticated threat actor accused of having ties to the US National Security Agency’s Tailored Access Operations (TAO) unit. Kaspersky Labs described them as one of the world’s most sophisticated cyber assault groups and “the most advanced (…) we have seen,” working alongside the inventors of Stuxnet and Flame.

OceanLotus

 Also known as APT32, BISMUTH, Ocean Buffalo by CrowdStrike, and Canvas Cyclone by Microsoft, is a hacking organisation affiliated with the Vietnamese government. It has been suspected of carrying out cyberespionage against political dissidents, government officials, and Vietnamese-owned enterprises.

North Korea

• Kimsuky
• Lazarus Group (also known as APT38)
• Ricochet Chollima(also known as APT37)

Iran

• Charming Kitten(also known as APT35)
• Elfin Team(also known as APT33)
• Helix Kitten(also known as APT34)
• Pioneer Kitten
• Remix Kitten (also known as APT39, ITG07, or Chafer)
• Siamesekitten

Israel Unit 8200

Is an elite cyber unit within the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) that conducts cyber espionage and warfare operations.It is frequently likened to the United States National Security Agency in terms of powers and scope.Activities include cyber espionage, intelligence collection, and cyber warfare.

OilRig (APT34)

This group has been linked to cyber espionage efforts against the financial, energy, and telecommunications sectors. Activities include spear-phishing and watering hole attacks to infiltrate networks and extract data.

The wide range of targets, from essential infrastructure to government agencies, reflects a volatile digital landscape. To strengthen our digital defenses against the assault of nation-state cyberattacks, we must accelerate technological innovation, foster international cooperation, and cultivate a cybersecurity awareness culture.