Docker Misconfiguration Cryptocurrency Campaign

Threat actors have been targeting unsecured instances of the Docker Community Edition (CE) containerisation software. The misconfigured systems present a vulnerability .

Threat ID:: CC-2757
Category:: Cryptocurrency
Threat Severity:: Medium
Threat Vector:: Insecure network, Exploit
Published:: 1 November 2018 12:00 AM

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Summary

Threat actors have been targeting unsecured instances of the Docker Community Edition (CE) containerisation software. The misconfigured systems present a vulnerability .

Affected platforms

The following platforms are known to be affected:

Docker CE

Docker CE - Versions 18.06.1-ce and earlier

Threat details

This is being exploited to deploy cryptocurrency miners.

A Docker container runs on a Docker Engine along with other containers sharing the same host operating system. The Docker application programming interface (API) allows remote users to administer the Docker images and containers like a local client. Users with administrative permissions can configure API ports to be exposed for external access on TCP ports 2375 and 2376.

Remote attackers can scan for and exploit the exposed ports to create new rogue Docker containers for payloads and ultimately install miners onto the target system. Fake users are also being created with elevated privileges so that attackers can reconfigure the Secure Socket Shell (SSH) daemon to allow for password authentication then install system managing packages and additional files for persistence. Finally, network scanning is performed for open TCP ports 2375 and 2376 to infect systems laterally with the Monero miner.

Remediation steps

Type	Step
	Users and administrators are encouraged to review the Docker security pages and make any appropriate configuration changes immediately. To prevent and detect an infection, ensure that: A robust program of education and awareness training is delivered to users to ensure they don’t open attachments or follow links within unsolicited emails. All operating systems, anti-virus and other security products are kept up-to-date. Regular anti-virus and security scans are performed on your organisation’s estate. All day-to-day computer activities such as email and internet are performed using non-administrative accounts. Strong password policies are in place. Network, proxy and firewall logs should be monitored for suspicious activity. User accounts accessed from affected devices should be reset on a clean computer. Your organisation adopts a holistic all-round approach to Cyber Security as advocated by the 10 Steps to Cyber Security.

Type

Step

Users and administrators are encouraged to review the Docker security pages and make any appropriate configuration changes immediately.

To prevent and detect an infection, ensure that:

A robust program of education and awareness training is delivered to users to ensure they don’t open attachments or follow links within unsolicited emails.
All operating systems, anti-virus and other security products are kept up-to-date.
Regular anti-virus and security scans are performed on your organisation’s estate.
All day-to-day computer activities such as email and internet are performed using non-administrative accounts.
Strong password policies are in place.
Network, proxy and firewall logs should be monitored for suspicious activity.
User accounts accessed from affected devices should be reset on a clean computer.
Your organisation adopts a holistic all-round approach to Cyber Security as advocated by the 10 Steps to Cyber Security.

Last edited: 17 February 2020 12:42 pm