Threat actors continue to exploit Log4Shell in VMware Horizon Systems
Vulnerabilities mentionedAll →
| CVE | Vulnerability | CVSS | EPSS | Flags | Affected | Exposure | Published |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2021-44228 | JNDI Injection Remote Code Execution in Apache Log4j2 (Log4Shell) Apache Log4j2, an extremely widely used Java logging library, fails to protect its JNDI lookup feature against attacker-controlled JNDI-related endpoints (CWE-20, CWE-502), so crafted text processed by the logger causes the Java runtime to fetch and load attacker-supplied objects, leading to remote code execution. The flaw is triggered whenever attacker-controlled input reaches the logging API and is parsed for JNDI lookups, a pattern common in web servers and enterprise Java applications that log user-supplied fields such as headers or form values. Successful exploitation yields arbitrary code execution under the privileges of the affected application, giving attackers a foothold for lateral movement, data theft, and ransomware deployment. Any Java application or product that ships or bundles an affected Apache Log4j2 release is exposed, making this one of the most broadly deployed vulnerabilities ever disclosed. Exploitation is confirmed in the wild: CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2021-12-10 with known ransomware use, and EPSS assigns a 100% probability of exploitation within 30 days. Do: Inventory all Java applications and dependencies for Apache Log4j2 and apply the vendor's patched updates, or remove affected assets from the network, as required by CISA's KEV catalog. Where updates are not yet available, use the temporary mitigations in CISA's ED-22-02 recommended-mitigation guidance, such as disabling message lookups, only until patches are applied. Prioritize internet-facing and business-critical systems and hunt for exploitation activity given known ransomware use. | 10.0 | 100% | KEV ransomware PoC ×9 |
| masshundreds of millions of Java applications/devices, with hundreds of thousands of internet-exposed services | |
| CVE-2022-22954 | Server-Side Template Injection RCE in VMware Workspace ONE Access and Identity Manager CVE-2022-22954 is a server-side template injection vulnerability (CWE-94) in VMware Workspace ONE Access and VMware Identity Manager that allows remote code execution on affected appliances. It is triggered when attacker-controlled input is passed into a server-side template engine, allowing injected template directives to be evaluated and executed as code on the server. A successful attacker gains the ability to run arbitrary code on the identity appliance, and CISA notes the flaw has been used in ransomware campaigns, so compromise can serve as an initial foothold for broader enterprise intrusion. Any organization running Workspace ONE Access or Identity Manager, including deployments where the Identity Manager component is bundled into VMware Horizon environments, is potentially affected, though the source data does not specify affected version ranges. The vulnerability was added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2022-04-14 with ransomware use confirmed and a required action to apply vendor updates, and EPSS currently assigns it a 100% probability of exploitation within 30 days (100th percentile); no public PoC is known. Do: Apply the patches published in VMware advisory VMSA-2022-0011 (April 2022) to Workspace ONE Access and Identity Manager appliances as required by the CISA KEV listing, prioritizing internet-facing instances, and restrict or remove public exposure until patched. Review appliance and web-server logs for template-injection probes and unexpected processes spawned by the identity service, and investigate any indications of compromise for follow-on ransomware or lateral-movement activity. | 9.8 | 100% | KEV ransomware PoC |
| large≈ tens of thousands of internet-exposed Workspace ONE Access / Identity Manager instances (order-of-magnitude estimate; exact count unknown) |
Full article486 words · extracted from securityaffairs.com · click to collapse
The U.S. CISA and the Coast Guard Cyber Command (CGCYBER) warn of attacks exploiting the Log4Shell flaw in VMware Horizon servers.
The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), along with the Coast Guard Cyber Command (CGCYBER), published a joint advisory to warn of hacking attempts exploiting the Log4Shell flaw in VMware Horizon servers to compromise target networks.
“CISA and the United States Coast Guard Cyber Command (CGCYBER) have released a joint Cybersecurity Advisory (CSA) to warn network defenders that cyber threat actors, including state-sponsored advanced persistent threat (APT) actors, have continued to exploit CVE-2021-44228 (Log4Shell) in VMware Horizon® and Unified Access Gateway (UAG) servers to obtain initial access to organizations that did not apply available patches.” reads the advisory.
The CVE-2021-44228 flaw made the headlines in December, after Chinese security researcher p0rz9 publicly disclosed a Proof-of-concept exploit for the critical remote code execution zero-day vulnerability (aka Log4Shell) that affects the Apache Log4j Java-based logging library.
In one attack documented by the government experts, threat actors were able to move laterally inside the network and collect and exfiltrate sensitive data.
This alert includes information about APT actors’ tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), along with indicators of compromise related to the loader malware.
In one instance, the adversary is said to have been able to move laterally inside the victim network, obtain access to a disaster recovery network, and collect and exfiltrate sensitive law enforcement data.
Based on information gathered as part of two incident response engagements, the agencies said that the attackers weaponized the exploit to drop rogue payloads, including PowerShell scripts and a remote access tool dubbed “hmsvc.exe” that’s equipped with capabilities to log keystrokes and deploy additional malware.
“The malware can function as a C2 tunneling proxy, allowing a remote operator to pivot to other systems and move further into a network.” reads the joint alert.
In an attack that took place at the end of January, threat actors exploited the Log4Shell in an unpatched VMware Horizon server, then used PowerShell scripts to connect a remote server (109.248.150[.]13) via Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) to retrieve additional PowerShell scripts. In the same period, CISA observed the actors attempt to download and execute a malicious file from 109.248.150[.]13. The activity started from IP address 104.155.149[.]103, which appears to be part of the actors’ C2 infrastructure.
In a distinct attack, APT actors used PowerShell scripts in the production environment to facilitate lateral movement and implant loader malware that allows remotely monitoring a system’s desktop, gaining reverse shell access, exfiltrating data, and uploading and executing next-stage binaries.
The researchers observed a distinct threat actor exploiting the CVE-2022-22954 in VMware Workspace ONE Access and Identity Manager to deliver the Dingo J-spy web shell.
The alert includes Incident Response and Mitigations about the ongoing attacks.
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Text extracted automatically; images, tables and formatting may be missing. Original: https://securityaffairs.com/132569/security/log4shell-ongoing-exploitation.html