Recently, there was a Microsoft security breach for a purpose we are not used to.
Remember the curious feeling of wanting to peek at your own file in the “Do Not Open” cabinet at the doctor’s office? Turns out, even tech giants like Microsoft experience the same itch. And who should be scratching it for them, but a group of suspected Russian government hackers with an unusual twist – Midnight Blizzard, or APT29, is after self-knowledge, not secrets.
Last Friday, the giant tech company revealed the Microsoft security breach. Instead of snatching customer data or corporate jewels, these digital detectives cracked into emails of senior leadership, cybersecurity, and legal teams, seemingly fixated on one burning question: “What does Microsoft know about us”?
How did the Microsoft security breach happen?
The hackers gained initial access through a “password spray attack” targeting a legacy account. This likely means they used automated software to try numerous password combinations against an older, potentially less secure account within Microsoft’s system.
After gaining access to the initial account, the hackers used its permissions to access a small percentage of other Microsoft corporate email accounts. This process of moving within the network using one compromised account to access others is called lateral movement.
Microsoft states the investigation indicates the hackers specifically targeted email accounts containing information related to Midnight Blizzard itself. This suggests they were not after general corporate data but specifically sought knowledge about how Microsoft perceived and tracked their activities.
While Microsoft hasn’t explicitly said what type of password spray attack was used in the latest Microsoft security breach, common methods include dictionary attacks (using common passwords) and brute-force attacks (systematically trying every possible password combination).
While we know little about the Microsoft security breach, the giant tech company is yet to confirm:
- The exact number of email accounts breached
- The specifics about what information the hackers accessed or stole
- The specific vulnerabilities exploited in the legacy account
While the details of the loot remain under wraps (Microsoft isn’t talking), the target itself speaks volumes. Cybersecurity strategies, legal countermeasures, even defensive tools, and techniques – Midnight Blizzard was after the playbook used to hunt them.
Something quite not right
Yes, the latest Microsoft security breach is still shrouded in secrecy and we still don’t know what kind of data was exposed, but the tech giant has been plagued by such breaches for the last six months.
Here’s a summary of the most notable Microsoft security breaches reported in the past 6 months (July 2023 – January 2024):
October 2023:
- Microsoft Exchange Server Zero-day Exploit: Threat actors actively exploited a zero-day vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange Server, potentially impacting thousands of servers globally. This prompted Microsoft to release emergency security patches
September 2023:
- Azure Active Directory (AD) Phishing Attack: A phishing campaign targeted Azure AD credentials, potentially allowing attackers to access sensitive cloud resources like emails and storage
- Azure Data Breach Exposure: A misconfigured Azure Storage account exposed a large amount of data belonging to several organizations, including sensitive customer information
August 2023:
- Microsoft Defender Bypassing Malware: Sophisticated malware was discovered that could bypass detection by Microsoft Defender antivirus software
- Office 365 Phishing Campaign: A large-scale phishing campaign targeted Office 365 users, attempting to steal login credentials and access sensitive data
July 2023:
- Microsoft Teams Phishing Attack: A widespread phishing campaign impersonated Microsoft Teams notifications to trick users into revealing confidential information
- Microsoft Power BI Data Leak: A vulnerability in Microsoft Power BI potentially allowed unauthorized access to sensitive data within reports
The Midnight Blizzard breach is a wake-up call. In the dark corners of the internet, a new kind of cyberwarfare is brewing, one fueled by self-discovery and strategic manipulation. As defenders, we must stay ahead of the curve, evolving our methods and understanding the motivations that drive these digital doppelgangers. This quest for self-knowledge has reached the digital realm, and its consequences are yet to be fully grasped.
But hey, at least it makes for one heck of a story.
Featured image credit: Sunrise King/Unsplash.
