PyRoMine Malware Sets Security Industry on Fire

It’s happened once again...

Recent headlines heralded the latest in cryptomining hacks to leverage stolen NSA exploits. This time in the form of PyRoMine, a Python-based malware which uses an NSA exploit to spread to Windows machines while also disabling security software and allowing the exfiltration of unencrypted data. By also configuring the Windows Remote Management Service, the machine becomes susceptible to future attacks.

Despite all the investments in cyber protection and prevention technology, it seems that the cyber terrorist’s best tool is nothing more than variations on previous exploits because most security products really can’t accommodate every variation of zero-day malware detection in order to prevent the ensuing damage.

Cryptomining Beats Out Ransomware

Ransomware was the threat that wreaked havoc across organizations for years and sent most IT Security professionals into a panic at the mere mention of a new exploit hitting the headlines. However, now it seems that Ransomware is taking a back seat to CryptoMiners. According to a recent article at DigitalTrends.com by Jon Martindale titled “Cryptojacking is the new ransomware. Is that a good thing?”

“In our history of malware feature, we looked at how malware tends to come in waves. While the latest and most dangerous in recent memory has been ransomware, it’s been pushed far from the top spot of common attacks in recent months by the advent of cryptominers, which look to force infected systems to mine cryptocurrency directly.”

The article goes further with this quote from a Senior E-Threat analyst on the expected growth of this type of threat:

“Since cybercriminals are always financially motivated, cryptojacking is yet another method for them to generate revenue,” said Liviu Arsene, senior E-Threat analyst at BitDefender. “Currently, it’s outpacing ransomware reports by a factor of 1 to 100, and these numbers will continue to increase for as long as virtual currencies remain popular and the market demands it.”

Variations on Old Hacks

Everything old is new again, or so goes an old adage, and it seems to apply to cyber threats as well. Fortinet researchers spotted a malware dubbed ‘PyRoMine’ which uses the ETERNALROMANCE exploit to spread to vulnerable Windows machines, according to an April 24 blog post.

“This malware is a real threat as it not only uses the machine for cryptocurrency mining, but it also opens the machine for possible future attacks since it starts RDP services and disables security services," the blog said. "FortiGuardLabs is expecting that commodity malware will continue to use the NSA exploits to accelerate its ability to target vulnerable systems and to earn more profit.”

The malware isn't the first to mine cryptocurrency that uses previously leaked NSA exploits the malware is still a threat as it leaves machines vulnerable to future attacks because it starts RDP services and disables security services.

The odds are great that we will see other variations on this NSA exploit before the year is up. Now is clearly the time to start evaluating other technologies that take more preventative steps to protect your IT infrastructure.

About the author: Boris Vaynberg co-founded Solebit LABS Ltd. in 2014 and serves as its Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Vaynberg has more than a decade of experience in leading large-scale cyber- and network security projects in the civilian and military intelligence sectors.

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