Emailed threat poses risk through keylogging activity

In the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats, a familiar menace has resurfaced, reminding us of the importance of maintaining robust cybersecurity defenses. The Snake Keylogger attack, first discovered in May 2022, exploits a security vulnerability identified back in 2017 (CVE-2017-11882) that remains unpatched on many operating systems.

This modular and highly resilient malware, designed to capture keystrokes, screenshots, and clipboard data, poses a significant risk to personal and sensitive information. The attack process is insidious, often starting with an enticing email containing a PDF attachment. Upon opening this attachment, an embedded DOCX file prompts the user to open it, which in turn triggers a macro that downloads and executes a rich-text file (RTF) from the Command & Control server.

Cybercriminals are leveraging email phishing and system vulnerabilities to install malicious files, demonstrating the versatility of their tactics. In the case of the Snake Keylogger, they've recently employed a manipulated Excel document exploiting the CVE-2017-0199 vulnerability to secretly download a file upon opening. This method bypasses usual defenses against keylogger malware by initiating infection without typical user detection mechanisms, rendering standard keylogger protections obsolete.

Email is currently the primary attack vector for data breaches, according to IBM, and the Snake Keylogger attack underscores this fact. Conventional email security and antivirus solutions can struggle to prevent zero-day attacks, as there are no signatures to recognize them. Exploits for vulnerabilities can emerge within days, but it can take weeks - or even months - for signatures to be delivered and companies to patch them.

In such situations, file disinfection can serve as the last line of defense against zero-day malware when the signature of new malware is missing from the antivirus solution's database. The Zero-Trust security approach, which assumes that any file capable of embedding malware also contains malicious code and disinfects those data, could be a suitable solution to comprehensively secure the email attack vector.

It's crucial to remember that hacker campaigns frequently target the human weakness in cybersecurity, as evidenced by the fact that 82% of all breaches this year involve human error. The Snake Keylogger malware grants attackers access to personal login credentials, including usernames, passwords, and bank data, highlighting the importance of vigilance and education in cybersecurity.

As we continue to navigate the complexities of the digital world, it's essential to stay informed, stay vigilant, and stay protected. The resurgence of the Snake Keylogger attack serves as a reminder that the fight against cyber threats is an ongoing one, and our defenses must remain strong.