vSphere and BRICKSTORM Malware: A Defender's Guide

The provided content outlines critical security measures and best practices for securing VMware vSphere environments against advanced threats. Here's a summary of the key points:

Security Measures

1. Implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

• Control: Real-time alert on SSO account actions.
• Purpose: Prevents compromised Active Directory credentials from granting full access to vCenter.

2. Least Privilege Principle

• Control: Verify user roles and limit membership in specific groups like "BashShellAdministrators."
• Purpose: Reduces the risk of privilege escalation by ensuring that only necessary permissions are granted, even for administrative accounts.

3. Disabling Unnecessary Services

• Control: Disable SSH enablement.
• Purpose: Prevents attackers from enabling SSH via VAMI (Port 5480) to deploy backdoors or gain unauthorized access.

Data Exfiltration Prevention

1. Transitioning Access Control Models

• From Permissive Model: Standard vSphere configurations often allow high-risk permissions like VM cloning and exporting within generalized administrative roles.
• To Cryptographic Enforcement Policy: Implement a comprehensive policy that enforces strict cryptographic controls to prevent

Read the full article at Threat Intelligence

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