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UNSECURITY Episode 138 Show Notes

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Hope you had a wonderful Independence Day (July 4th)! We’ve gone through a lot together in this country, and I love this place we call home. Lots to do in making the USA better, but this will always be the case. This is the best country in the world, and I’m grateful!

In case you missed it, two big events last week; the Kaseya ransomware attack and Microsoft’s PrintNightmare.

Kaseya Ransomware

So, you might have heard. On Friday (going into July 4th weekend), computers around the world (not all of them, but maybe ~1,000,000 of them) started to lock up. The announcement came around midday that Kaseya’s VSA servers were being used to distribute ransomware, primarily to MSP customers. My first thought was “Oh shit! We might have another SolarWinds.” Thank God, this wasn’t the case.

Facts started to come in, and it became evident that this was an attack directed at VSA servers hosted by MSPs. Some MSPs (about 2,200 of them) installed their VSA servers so that they were accessible from the Internet. I’m not a VSA expert, but this high number implies this as standard practice. A zero day vulnerability (and exploit) was discovered by the REvil ransomware gang (or an affiliate) and was used to infect clients.

Kaseya already knew about the vulnerability thanks to the good work by Wietse Boonstra and his compatriots at NIVD. The vulnerability was reported to Kaseya and the two groups were working on a patch at the time of the ransomware attack. The end result was somewhere between 60-70 MSPs affected and somewhere between 1,200-1,500 companies infected. Kaseya did a good job responding, and so did many MSPs. Lessons learned are TBD after the dust settles.

Links referenced in today’s show are below.

Microsoft PrintNightmare

If it hadn’t been for Kaseya, this would have been top news. In terms of scope, this is much bigger, affecting many millions of servers (and companies). In terms of potential impact, this also exceeds the Kaseya attack. News broke on June 30th about an impressive and potentially very damaging vulnerability in the Microsoft Print Spooler service. On July 1st, Microsoft released additional information about the vulnerability and offered (un)helpful guidance.

There is an exploit in the wild for this vulnerability that allows complete control over a server (and Active Directory).

We’ll talk a little about this too. Links referenced in today’s show are also below.

 

OK. Show notes for episode 138…

SHOW NOTES – Episode 138 – Tuesday July 6th, 2021

Opening

[Evan] Welcome listeners! It’s good to have you join us. Thanks for tuning into this episode of the UNSECURITY Podcast. This is episode 138, and the date is July 6th, 2021. Joining me is my good friend, Mr. Brad Nigh. Good Morning Brad!

[Evan] Hope you had a wonderful 4th of July. Many people had the day off yesterday, but some people were fighting the fire caused by ransomware deployed through Kaseya’s VSA servers. This is where we’ll start.

Kaseya Ransomware Attack

Here’s a list of links/articles we’re explore in this episode:

All in all, this attack could have been MUCH worse than it was. Incident responders did a great job and communicated well. More to come in time…

Microsoft PrintNightmare

This one is a doozy. Here are the three links/articles we’ll reference in this episode:

Last week’s show was all about Microsoft security debacles, and now this. A patch is not available yet and many IT teams are scrambling right now. I’m become less and less of a Microsoft fan with each passing day.

That’s it for today’s show. Lots of work to do!

Wrapping Up – Shout Outs

Who’s getting shout outs this week?

Thank you to all our listeners! Thank you Brad for a great conversation! If you have something you’d like to tell us, feel free to email the show at unsecurity@protonmail.com. If you’re the social type, socialize with us on Twitter, I’m @evanfrancen, and Brad’s @BradNigh.

Other Twitter handles where you can find some of the stuff we do, UNSECURITY is @unsecurityP, SecurityStudio is @studiosecurity, and FRSecure is @FRSecure.

That’s it. Talk to you all again next week!

…and we’re done.

UNSECURITY Episode 137 Show Notes

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It’s been a few weeks since I posted show notes, and even then, I’m late!

If you working in the information security industry, you’re probably extremely busy. My busyness is what’s kept me from updating show notes and things.

Episode 137 was a fun one. Brad was back and we talked about all Microsoft’s recent blunders/issues.

John McAfee

Before we get into it, I want to take a moment to remember John McAfee. On June 23, he was found unresponsive in his jail cell at the Brians 2 Penitentiary Center near Barcelona, Spain. Sadly, he passed away at the age of 75 after an apparent suicide by hanging. He had just lost his hearing for extradition to the United States.

John McAfee was a very interesting guy, and some might say he was nuts and a crook. While that might be true (I don’t have evidence to say either way), I remember him before the mid-2000s, when he was an icon in our industry. The guy was smart as hell!

  • 1968 – 1970, programmer for NASA working on the Apollo Program
  • Software designed for Univac
  • Operating system architect for Xerox
  • Software consultant for Computer Sciences Corporation
  • Consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton
  • Software engineer for Lockheed (where he first learned about computer viruses and came up with the idea to remove them programmatically)
  • 1987, founded McAfee Associates Inc which sold the world’s first anti-virus software
  • 1990, sold millions of copies of McAfee anti-virus software leading to John’s $5M/year salary
  • 1992, McAfee’s initial public offering (IPO)
  • August 1993, steps down as CEO.
  • 1994, sold all his remaining stake in McAfee Associates Inc.

In January 2014, after Intel (who’d acquired McAfee in August 2010) announced that McAfee products would be marketed as “Intel Security”:

“I am now everlastingly grateful to Intel for freeing me from this terrible association with the worst software on the planet.” – John McAfee

Soon afterwards, the business was de-merged from Intel and re-acquired the McAfee name.

John McAfee was all over the place after divesting from the company with his name. He invested in many ventures, travelled, dabbled in politics (two U.S. presidential candidacies), was a person of interest in a Belize homicide investigation, charged with tax evasion, posted hundreds of public remarks and videos on social media, before it all eventually ended on June 23rd. He was a very interesting person who was influential in our industry.

I will miss him.

OK, now the show notes. Here’s the notes (with relevant links). Episode 137…

SHOW NOTES – Episode 137 – Tuesday June 29th, 2021

Opening

[Evan] Welcome listeners! It’s good to have you join us. Thanks for tuning into this episode of the UNSECURITY Podcast. This is episode 137, and the date is June 29th, 2021. Joining me is my good friend, Mr. Brad Nigh. Good Morning Brad!

[Evan] Welcome back sir. Happy that you’re back in the saddle again. Microsoft was front and center in the information security news this week. Let’s dissect some of this.

Microsoft in the (Information Security) News

Here’s a list of articles that we talk about in this episode:

Obviously, Microsoft has its hands full. Don’t we all? One issue with Microsoft is how much control they have over our industry and how much data they hold. Significant information security events at Microsoft have a significant impact for millions of organizations.

Just one other news article of interest this week: One billion dollars lost by over-60s through online fraud in 2020, says FBI – https://hotforsecurity.bitdefender.com/blog/one-billion-dollars-lost-by-over-60s-through-online-fraud-in-2020-says-fbi-26049.html

That’s a lot to unpack! Hopefully you caught all that.

Wrapping Up – Shout Outs

Who’s getting shout outs this week?

Thank you to all our listeners! Thank you Brad for a great conversation! If you have something you’d like to tell us, feel free to email the show at unsecurity@protonmail.com. If you’re the social type, socialize with us on Twitter, I’m @evanfrancen, and Brad’s @BradNigh.

Other Twitter handles where you can find some of the stuff we do, UNSECURITY is @unsecurityP, SecurityStudio is @studiosecurity, and FRSecure is @FRSecure.

That’s it. Talk to you all again next week!

…and we’re done.

UNSECURITY Episode 134 Show Notes

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Alright, welcome back! We had a great run of guests over the past 7 or 8 weeks, and now it’s back to Brad and I for a bit.

If you missed any of the guest episode, here’s a recap:

Memorial Day

Monday, May 31st was Memorial Day. It’s a day of remembrance and gratitude. Here’s the text from one of my Twitter posts:

  • A small table set for one, symbolizing the isolation of our absent service member.
  • The table is round to represent the everlasting concern the survivors have for the missing.
  • The white tablecloth symbolizes the pure motives of our lost service members who responded to our country’s call to arms.
  • A single rose in the vase represents the blood our service members have shed in sacrifice to ensure the freedom of the United States of America.
  • The rose also represents family and friends who keep the faith while awaiting the return of the missing service members.
  • The red ribbon represents our service members’ love of country that inspired them to serve our country.
  • A slice of lemon on the bread plate represents the bitter fate of the missing.
  • Salt sprinkled on the bread plate represents the tears shed by waiting families.
  • The inverted glass represents the fact that the missing and fallen cannot partake.
  • A Bible represents the spiritual strength and faith to sustain the lost.
  • A lit candle symbolizes a light of hope that lives in hearts to illuminate the missing’s way home.
  • An empty chair represents the absence of our beloved missing and fallen. service members.

We are grateful for all our men and women who serve in uniform and we hold those who sacrificed all in the highest esteem.

The Show Must Go On

Visiting with our guests the past couple months has been a lot of fun and we hope it’s been educational and entertaining for our listeners. We hope listeners enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed hosting!

This week (episode 134), Brad and I are going to take a look at some of the recent news. Lord knows, there’s plenty to cover!

Let’s get to the episode 134 show notes, shall we?

SHOW NOTES – Episode 134 – Wednesday June 2nd, 2021

Opening

[Evan] Welcome listeners! Thanks for tuning into this episode of the UNSECURITY Podcast. This is episode 134, and the date is June 2nd, 2021. Joining me is my good friend, Mr. Brad Nigh. Good Morning Brad!

[Evan] Welcome back from Memorial Day weekend. It was a beautiful weekend to pay our respects.

What’s going on in the world of “cybersecurity”?

Today, we’re going to change things up a little. There’s so much going on in the world around us, I thought it would be good for us to focus on six news articles and discuss them. Here they are:

That’s a lot to unpack! Hopefully you caught all that.

Wrapping Up – Shout Outs

Who’s getting shout outs this week?

Thank you to all our listeners! Thank you Brad for a great conversation! If you have something you’d like to tell us, feel free to email the show at unsecurity@protonmail.com. If you’re the social type, socialize with us on Twitter, I’m @evanfrancen, and Brad’s @BradNigh.

Other Twitter handles where you can find some of the stuff we do, UNSECURITY is @unsecurityP, SecurityStudio is @studiosecurity, and FRSecure is @FRSecure.

That’s it. Talk to you all again next week!

…and we’re done.

The UNSECURITY Podcast – Episode 93 Show Notes – DEFCON & Team Ambush

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Hey reader person, hope you are well!

Today marks the seventh day since I left the 80th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. My wife and I do not show any COVID symptoms, so that’s good news. Only 7 more days of self-isolation and we’ll be back to semi-normal (assuming there is such a thing anymore).

Women In Security Series

Last week was the ninth, and final, installment in the Women in Security Series. It was a great experience for Brad and me. I may post a full write up soon, including the things we learned and places people can go to help (or for help). For now, here was the all-star lineup:

  • Part One – Episode 84 – Renay Rutter (an information security business/IT executive)
  • Part Two – Episode 85 – Lori Blair (a 35-year information security veteran)
  • Part Three – Episode 86 – Victoria Fogarty (relatively new to the industry)
  • Part Four – Episode 87 – Kristin Judge (founder and CEO of the Cybercrime Support Network, SC Media “Women in IT Security Influencer” in 2017, former Director of Government Affairs at the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), thought leader, and all-around amazing information security expert)
  • Part Five – Episode 88 – Andrea Hatcher (Senior majoring in Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations at Pennsylvania State University)
  • Part Six – Episode 89 – Judy Hatchett (Information security corporate leader and expert formerly with Accenture, Best Buy, SUPERVALU, 3M, Fairview Health Services, and current VP, Information Security and CISO at Surescripts)
  • Part Seven – Episode 90 – Amy McLaughlin (Information security leader and expert in education, having served with the State of Oregon, the Consortium for School Network (CoSN), Chemeketa Community College, and Oregon State University)
  • Part Eight – Episode 91 – Theresa Semmens (Chief Information Security Officer at the Nevada System of Higher Education, former AVP/Chief Information Security Officer at the University of Miami, and former Chief Information Security Officer at North Dakota State University)
  • Part Nine – Episode 92 – Lee Ann Villella (Senior Enterprise Security Sales Consultant at FRSecure, Program Director for the Minnesota Chapter of the Information Systems Security Association, and member of the Cyber Security Summit Advisory Board Committee)

A HUGE thanks to all the women who gave their time to talk to us!

What’s Up Next

This week, we’re going to catch up with a good friend (fresh back from DEF CON) and then we may delve into another series.

A Good Friend

We’re going to take this week (episode 93) to catch up with FRSecure’s Director of Technical Solutions and Services, Oscar Minks. Oscar leads FRSecure’s Technical Services Team, a group of amazing information security experts who provide world-class incident response and best-in-class technical services (penetration testing, blue teaming, red teaming, purple teaming, research, etc., etc.).

The timing is perfect because Oscar’s back after DEF CON Safe Mode and the team impressed a helluva lot of folks there!

While my wife and I were in Sturgis, FRSecure’s Team Ambush was awake for many, many hours competing at DEF CON Safe Mode. The team competed in four events over the four day online conference; CMD+CTRL, OpenSOC Blue Team Village CTF, Biohacking Device Lab CTF, and Hack the Plan[e]t.

Last year, the team kicked ass in the Warl0ck Gam3s CTF, but that’s old news now. Warl0ck Gam3s CTF is gone this year, and it was time for these guys to switch things up.

CMD+CTRL

A description provided by the organizers:

Learn to see web applications from an attacker’s perspective. CMD+CTRL is an immersive hacking experience designed to teach the fundamentals of web application security. Explore vulnerable web applications, discover security flaws, and exploit those flaws to earn points and climb up the leaderboard.

After attacking an application for yourself, you’ll have a better understanding of the vulnerabilities that put real applications at risk – and you’ll be better prepared to find and fix those vulnerabilities in your own code.

Remember that these websites are intentionally vulnerable, so any information sent to these sites is not secure. Never enter any sensitive information on these sites, including passwords, credit card numbers, or Social Security Numbers.

200 teams competed in this “Security Innovation cyber range” and our guys finished 2nd, only 50 points behind the winning team, n0j,

Full results are here.

OpenSOC Blue Team Village CTF

OpenSOC is a Digital Forensics, Incident Response (DFIR), and Threat Hunting challenge meant to teach and test practical incident response skills in an environment that’s as close to “the real thing” as it gets. This isn’t just another CTF. The platform was built to train real-world responders how to handle real-world situations.

There were more than 800 participants, more than 500 challenges, more than 350 teams, and more than 20 hours of  content in this CTF.

Team Ambush took home 9th place, finishing with the same number of points as the winning team. In a tie, the team that finished first wins.

Biohacking Device Lab CTF

This CTF was a little out of our team’s comfort zone, but this didn’t stop them from excelling! Some of the stats:

  • 30 volunteers building infrastructure, creating challenges, verifying flags, and solving support issues
  • 2 medical devices, connected in a volunteer’s home (not connected TO the volunteer)
  • 1 CTF vulnerability reported, fixed, and disclosed
  • 200+ players on 150+ teams from 15+ countries
  • 14,000+ flag submissions, with 5,700+ solves, on 150+ challenges
  • 150,000+ total points scored over 75 consecutive hours

Team Ambush took 7th! This is amazing considering most of our team had very little experience hacking medical devices.

Hack the Plan[e]t

Hack the Plan[e]t is a first-of-its-kind CTF: a slice of modern city life integrating both Internet of Things (IoT) and ICS environments with interactive components for competitors to test their skills and knowledge. Play for a few minutes or plan to stay for many hours as the challenge grows. The ICS Village will deliver a compelling experience using real IT and industrial equipment for all skill levels and practitioner types.

This CTF had 275 registered users, and Team Ambush placed 16th. The full scoreboard is here; https://hacktheplanet.ctfd.io/scoreboard

Really looking forward to this episode with Oscar. Oh, by the way, Brad Nigh (my co-host) also participated!

Another Series

We’re kicking around some ideas for our next series, and so far the leading candidate is a “Security in Healthcare” series. Stay tuned!

Let’s get to it!

Brad was supposed to lead the show this week, but since he participated at DEF CON with Oscar, I’m (Evan) going to take it. These are my notes.

SHOW NOTES – Episode 93

Date: Monday, August 17th, 2020

Episode 93 Topics

  • Opening
  • Catching Up
  • Closing Out the Women in Security Series
  • DEF CON Safe Mode & Team Ambush
  • News
  • Wrapping Up – Shout outs
Opening

[Evan] Good morning. Thanks for tuning into the UNSECURITY Podcast. I’m Evan Francen, my co-host is Mr. Brad Nigh, this is episode 93, and the date is August 17th, 2020. Brad, Good morning!

[Brad] You know and love Brad! Brad will chime in here because he’s cool and stuff.

[Evan] Also joining us is my good friend and FRSecure’s awesome Director of Technical Solutions and Services, Oscar Minks. Good morning and welcome Oscar!

[Oscar] He does what Oscar does.

[Evan] It’s been a while since we had you on the show Oscar, and I’m super excited to talk to you about your team’s performance at DEF CON Safe Mode this year! Before we dive in though, let’s do what we always do first, catch-up a little.

Catching Up

Quick discussion about last week, the weekend, or whatever else comes to mind.

  • How are you guys?
  • Tell me about your weekend quick.
  • Anything in particular that you’re excited about?

[Evan] Brad, what’s up? What have you been up to and how was your weekend?

[Brad] Gives us the skinny…

[Evan] Oscar, your turn brother. Tell us things.

[Oscar] He tells us things.

[Evan] Alright, I guess it’s my turn now. Here’s my update…

Transition

Closing Out the Women in Security Series

[Evan] As you know, we just wrapped up our Women in Security Series. We hope that everyone enjoyed it and we also hope we’re all better off for it. Huge thank you to Renay, Lori, Victoria, Kristin, Andrea, Judy, Amy, Theresa, and Lee Ann! We talked to some incredible people during that series!

Brad, what’s one thing that sticks out for you?

[Brad] Gives us his one thing. 🙂

[Evan] Yeah, the one thing that sticks out for me is how important it is for us all to help each other, regardless of gender, race, background or anything else. People who shut others out or make them at all feel uncomfortable are jerks.

DEF CON Safe Mode & Team Ambush

[Evan] Alright, on to you Oscar! Tell us about DEF CON Safe Mode. You too Brad, I hear you did some work with the team also.

Open discussion about DEF CON, Team Ambush, the process, the results, etc.

30 minutes(ish)

[Evan] I’m so proud of you guys and the team! You’re not only VERY skilled, but you all do things right. We need to have you back on a future show so you can share how you build teams. People could really learn from you about how to build an incredible team and how to keep them together!

How about some quick news stuff? A few stories to cover quick. Oscar, you got chops, you can stay and comment if you’d like. Just chime in.

News

[Evan] Alright, here’s some newsy things that I thought were interesting this past week:

Wrapping Up – Shout outs

[Evan] Alright, it’s that time again. We’re at the end of the show and we get time to give a shout out or two.

Do either of you have shout outs to give this week?

[Brad and/or Oscar] We’ll see.

[Evan] Oscar, thanks for joining us again! Team Ambush kicked ass this year and I’m pumped to see what the team does over the next year.

Got questions or suggestions for us? Send things to us by email at unsecurity@protonmail.com. If you’re the social type, socialize with us on Twitter, I’m @evanfrancen, and Mr. Nigh is @BradNigh.

Oscar, you’re a relatively quiet guy online. Is there a particular way you want people to find you?

Lastly, be sure to follow our show on Twitter (@UnsecurityP), and follow the companies we work for, SecurityStudio (@studiosecurity) and FRSecure (@FRSecure).

That’s it, talk you all again next week!