Executive summary
On April 21st, 2023, LevelBlue Managed Extended Detection and Response (Managed XDR) investigated an attempted ransomware attack on one of our clients, a home improvement business. The investigation revealed the attacker used AuKill malware on the client's print server to disable the server's installed endpoint detection and response (EDR) solution by brute-forcing an administrator account and downgrading a driver to a vulnerable version.
AuKill, first identified by Sophos X-Ops researchers in June 2021, is a sophisticated malware designed to target and neutralize some EDR solutions. Distributed as a dropper, AuKill drops a vulnerable driver named PROCEXP.SYS (from Process Explorer release version 16.32) into the system's C:\Windows\System32\drivers folder. This malware has been observed in the wild, utilized by ransomware groups to bypass endpoint security measures and effectively spread ransomware variants such as Medusa Locker and Lockbit on vulnerable systems.
In this case, the EDR managed to isolate most of the malicious files before being disabled, preventing a full-scale ransomware incident. As a result, LevelBlue Managed XDR found no evidence of data exfiltration or encryption. Despite this, the client opted to rebuild the print server as a precautionary measure. This study provides an in-depth analysis of the attack and offers recommendations to mitigate the risk of future attacks.
Investigating the first phase of the attack
Initial intrusion
The targeted asset was the print server, which we found unusual. However, upon further investigation we concluded the attacker misidentified the asset as a Domain Controller (DC), as it had recently been repurposed from a DC to a print server. The attacker needed both local administrator credentials and kernel-level access to successfully run AuKill and disable the EDR on the asset. To gain those local administrator credentials, the attacker successfully brute-forced an administrator account. Shortly after the compromise, this account was observed making unauthorized registry changes.
Establishing a beachhead
After compromising the local administrator account, the attackers used a benign-looking folder as a staging area for subsequent phases of their attack. All AuKill-related binaries and scripts were executed from this path, with an innocuous "Music" folder name helping to conceal their malicious activities.
AuKill malware has been found to operate using two Windows services.
Establishing persistence
We also discovered an executable running from "C:\Windows\system32", indicating that the attackers attempted to establish a foothold on the compromised server. Malware authors frequently target the system32 folder because it is a trusted location, and security software may not scrutinize files within it as closely as those in other locations. This can help malware bypass security measures and remain hidden. It is likely that the malware was initially placed in the benign-looking Music directory and later copied to the system32 directory for persistence.
Network reconnaissance
Our investigation also revealed that PCHunter, a publicly accessible utility previously exploited in ransomware incidents like Dharma, was running from the Music directory. This suggests that the attackers used PCHunter as a reconnaissance tool to survey the client's network before deploying the malware. Additionally, PCHunter enables threat actors to terminate programs and interface directly with the Windows kernel, which aligns with the needs of the attacker. We observed PCHunter generating several randomly named .sys files.
Preventing data recovery
We found that the attacker deleted shadow volume copies from the print server. Windows creates these copies to restore files and folders to previous versions in case of data loss. By removing the shadow copies, the attacker was attempting to make it more challenging for our client to recover their files if they were successfully encrypted. Although no ransomware was deployed, the deletion of shadow copies reveals the attackers' intentions. This information, together with the usage of PCHunter and the staging of the malware, paints a more complete picture of the attacker’s objectives and tactics.
Bypassing native Windows protection
With all these pieces in place, the attacker last needed to acquire kernel-level access. Despite gaining administrator rights early on, the attacker did not have enough control over the system to disable the EDR at this time. EDR solutions are classified as essential by Windows and are protected from being turned off by attackers when they escalate privileges. To successfully circumvent these safeguards, the attacker would need to travel one level deeper into the operating system and gain kernel-level access to the machine.
Investigating the second phase of the attack
Dropping the vulnerable driver
Our team discovered that AuKill had replaced the current Process Explorer driver, PROCEXP152.sys, with an outdated and vulnerable version named PROCEXP.SYS (from Process Explorer release version 16.32), located in the C:\Windows\System32\drivers directory. The alarm screenshot below demonstrates how AuKill swapped the existing driver with this older version, making the system susceptible to further exploitation.
Windows incorporates a security feature called Driver Signature Enforcement, which ensures that kernel-mode drivers are signed by a valid code signing authority before they can run. To bypass this security measure, the attackers exploited the insecure PROCEXP.SYS driver, which was produced and signed by Microsoft at an earlier date.
Acquiring kernel-level access
Process Explorer, a legitimate system monitoring tool developed by Microsoft's Sysinternals team, enables administrators to examine and manage applications’ ongoing processes, as well as their associated threads, handles, and DLLs.
Upon startup, Process Explorer loads a signed kernel-mode driver, facilitating interaction with the system's kernel, which is responsible for managing hardware and resources. Normally, that driver is PROCEXP152.sys. The attacker replaced the PROCEXP152.sys driver on the print server with the exploitable PROCEXP.SYS, employing what is known as a BYOVD (Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver) attack. The attacker used this method to exploit the now vulnerable kernel mode driver to gain the kernel-level access they needed to successfully disable the EDR.
Disabling the EDR
The kernel-mode driver used by Process Explorer has the unique ability to terminate handles that are inaccessible even to administrators. A handle is an identifier that corresponds to a specific resource opened by a process, such as a file or a registry key. At this point, AuKill hijacked Process Explorer's kernel driver to specifically target protected handles associated with the EDR's processes running on the print server. AuKill then generated several threads to ensure that these EDR processes remained disabled and did not resume. Each thread concentrated on a certain EDR component and regularly checked to see if the targeted processes were active. If they were, AuKill would terminate them.
Response
Customer interaction
At this point, the attacker had gained privileged access to the asset, deployed their malware, and successfully disabled the endpoint protection solution. Based on the Cyber Kill Chain methodology developed by Lockheed Martin, we can conclude that the attacker had now successfully reached the "Command and Control" stage. However, the attacker did not reach the “Actions on Objectives” stage, as the EDR agent was able to disrupt ransomware deployment before it was disabled to prevent any additional damage.
Any attempts to re-deploy malware or move laterally following the disablement of the EDR were thwarted by our team, who swiftly alerted the client to the activity and advised that the asset be taken offline and isolated from the rest of the network. Our team informed the client that the shadow copies had been deleted and the EDR had been turned off on their print server. After having our threat hunters thoroughly review their environment, we reassured the client that no sensitive information was exfiltrated or encrypted. In response to the attack, the client moved to rebuild their print server and reinstall the EDR.
Recommendations
As BYOVD attacks to bypass EDR software become more widespread, we strongly advise blacklisting outdated drivers with a known history of exploitation. Furthermore, we encourage our clients to maintain an inventory of the drivers installed on their systems, ensuring they remain current and secure. Lastly, we recommend bolstering the security of administrator accounts to defend against brute force attacks, as the incident detailed in this blog post could not have transpired without the initial privileged user compromise.