sc.imp.live.com Security Incident

TL;DR

Attackers are targeting sc.imp.live.com. This guide provides steps to investigate, contain, and recover from the attack, focusing on immediate actions and long-term security improvements.

1. Initial Assessment & Containment

1. Confirm the Attack: Don’t rely on a single alert. Verify malicious activity through multiple sources (logs, monitoring tools, user reports).
2. Isolate Affected Systems: Immediately disconnect compromised servers or applications from the network to prevent further spread. This might involve shutting down services temporarily.
3. Change Passwords: Reset passwords for all accounts with access to affected systems, especially privileged accounts (administrators, database users). Use strong, unique passwords.
4. Review Firewall Rules: Check your firewall logs for unusual traffic patterns and block any suspicious IP addresses or domains.

   sudo iptables -A INPUT -s [suspicious_IP] -j DROP

   (Example command – adapt to your system).

5. Alert Stakeholders: Inform relevant teams (IT, security, management) about the incident and containment measures taken.

2. Investigation & Root Cause Analysis

1. Log Analysis: Examine logs from servers, firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and applications for evidence of the attack. Look for:
   • Unusual login attempts
   • Malicious file uploads or modifications
   • Suspicious network connections
   • Unexpected process activity
2. Identify Entry Point: Determine how the attackers gained access. Common entry points include:
   • Phishing emails
   • Vulnerable software
   • Weak passwords
   • Misconfigured systems
3. Malware Analysis (if applicable): If malware is found, analyze it to understand its functionality and impact. Use tools like VirusTotal or a dedicated sandbox environment.
4. Timeline Creation: Build a detailed timeline of the attack events to understand the sequence of actions taken by the attackers.

3. Eradication & Recovery

1. Remove Malware: Eliminate any malware found on affected systems using anti-virus software or manual removal techniques.
2. Patch Vulnerabilities: Apply security patches to address the vulnerabilities that were exploited by the attackers. Prioritize critical and high-severity vulnerabilities.
3. Restore from Backups: If necessary, restore compromised data from clean backups. Ensure backups are verified before restoring.
4. Rebuild Systems (if needed): In severe cases, consider rebuilding affected systems from scratch to ensure complete eradication of the attackers’ presence.
5. Verify System Integrity: After recovery, verify the integrity of all systems and data to confirm that they are functioning correctly and have not been tampered with.

4. Long-Term Security Improvements

1. Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Enable MFA for all critical accounts to add an extra layer of security.
2. Regular Vulnerability Scanning: Conduct regular vulnerability scans to identify and address potential weaknesses in your systems.
3. Intrusion Detection/Prevention System (IDS/IPS): Deploy an IDS/IPS to detect and block malicious activity on your network.
4. Security Awareness Training: Provide security awareness training to employees to educate them about phishing attacks, social engineering tactics, and other cyber security threats.
5. Regular Backups & Disaster Recovery Plan: Maintain regular backups of critical data and develop a comprehensive disaster recovery plan to ensure business continuity in the event of an attack.
6. Incident Response Plan: Create and regularly test an incident response plan to outline the steps to be taken in the event of a security breach.