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Intel remote management features provides silent exfiltration ability

Remote management functionality has been found within Intel's Active Management Technology. This has been seen to be exploited by threat actors in the hopes of avoiding local defences whilst exfiltrating data from the target’s machine.
Threat ID:
CC-1467
Category:
Exploit
Threat Severity:
Medium
Threat Vector:
Published:
15 June 2017 12:00 AM
Report a cyber attack: call 0300 303 5222 or email [email protected]

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Summary

Remote management functionality has been found within Intel's Active Management Technology. This has been seen to be exploited by threat actors in the hopes of avoiding local defences whilst exfiltrating data from the target’s machine.

Threat details

The technique can bypass key local security protections, such as; the avoidance of any alerting from the firewall or any blocking that a targeted organisation may have in place. Found within AMT is Serial over LAN (SOL) functionality that exposes a virtual serial interface via a TCP connection as a connection method to access AMA (AMA is often referred to as the AMA SOL interface).

Due to the way AMA operates, using the local serial driver connections will completely bypass the local network stack, which is where most firewalls and other security products monitor for abnormal or malicious traffic. This means data can pass by these security features, potentially passing completely undetected.

Remediation steps

Type Step
Ensure network based IDS /IPS service are deployed capable of detecting malicious traffic not identified by host-based systems.
Disable AMA SOL functionality where not in use.

Last edited: 17 February 2020 11:32 am