Josh is a Senior Sales Engineer at MixMode and Cybersecurity professional with 15+ years experience delivering next-generation solutions to the industry. Josh has certifications including CSE, CCENT, CCNA, CCDA, LCSE, and IPC.
MixMode Sales Engineer, Josh Snow, explores a real-time threat detection use case involving The MixMode Platform and its ability to identify PowerDrop, a malicious Powershell script that has been specifically targeting the aerospace industry and shows how MixMode’s Third Wave AI detects PowerDrop and gain insights into what this threat entails.
Understanding PowerDrop
PowerDrop is an insidious Powershell script that employs unique command and control techniques, utilizing ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) for data exfiltration. What sets PowerDrop apart is its ability to evade traditional agent and log-based security solutions, making it increasingly challenging to detect using standard EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) tools.
Detecting PowerDrop with MixMode’s Third Wave AI
MixMode’s Dynamical Threat Detection and Response powered by Third Wave AI plays a crucial role in identifying and mitigating threats like PowerDrop before they evolve into catastrophic breaches. By analyzing ICMP data, MixMode can identify anomalies such as unexpected amounts of bytes or abnormal connections. Leveraging this capability, MixMode can raise alerts and set up detailed monitoring for critical applications experiencing high ICMP variants.
PowerDrop Techniques and Evading Traditional Solutions
PowerDrop takes advantage of various techniques to bypass commonly deployed security tools like SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) systems and EDR software. By encoding Powershell command line arguments and leveraging WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) persistence, PowerDrop can easily hide within network management transactions, eluding traditional detection methods.
Leveraging ICMP Tunneling and Data Exfiltration
One of the intriguing aspects of PowerDrop is its usage of ICMP for command and control and data exfiltration. This approach is particularly effective, as ICMP traffic often goes unnoticed in many environments. MixMode analyzes the content of ICMP transactions, enabling the detection of suspicious data transfers and revealing any variances in bytes or IP addresses.
Harnessing MixMode’s AI
MixMode’s AI capabilities provide a comprehensive solution for combating PowerDrop. With MixMode, organizations can detect high ICMP origin bytes, investigate potential threats to critical applications, and establish a timeline of PowerDrop’s activities within their environment. By leveraging anomaly detection and exfiltration monitoring, MixMode enables organizations to proactively address the threat before any official CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) or IOCs (Indicators of Compromise) are released.
Automating Response and Analyzing Payloads
The MixMode Platform offers seamless integration with various security tools, allowing for rapid and automated responses. Alerts on ICMP variances or exfiltration can be sent directly to relevant teams or integrated with SOAR (Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response) systems and firewalls. Additionally, MixMode enables users to download and inspect ICMP packets, helping them identify encrypted data patterns and gain valuable insights into PowerDrop’s tactics and techniques.
PowerDrop poses a significant threat to the aerospace industry, but with MixMode, organizations can detect and mitigate this malicious Powershell script before it causes widespread damage. By leveraging its advanced anomaly detection capabilities and analyzing ICMP data, MixMode empowers organizations to proactively safeguard their systems, detect potential breaches, and respond rapidly to threats. Stay vigilant and use cutting-edge technologies like MixMode to stay one step ahead of cybercriminals like those behind PowerDrop.
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