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IE Zero-Day Exploit Used In Attack Targeting Military Intelligence

Posted by samzenpus on from the protect-ya-neck dept.

wiredmikey writes "Security researchers from FireEye have discovered a new IE 10 Zero-Day exploit (CVE-2014-0322) being used in a watering hole attack on the US Veterans of Foreign Wars' website. According to FireEye, attackers compromised the VFW website and added an iframe to the site's HTML code that loads the attacker's page in the background. When the malicious code is loaded in the browser, it runs a Flash object that orchestrates the remainder of the exploit. Dubbed 'Operation SnowMan' by FireEye, the attack targets IE 10 with Adobe Flash. According to a recently-released report from CrowdStrike Strategic Web Compromises (SWC), where attackers infect strategic Websites as part of a watering hole attack to target a specific group of users, were a favorite attack method for groups operating out of Russia and China. FireEye believes the attackers behind the campaign, thought to be operating out of China, are associated with two previously identified campaigns: Operation DeputyDog and Operation Ephemeral Hydra. 'A possible objective in the SnowMan attack is targeting military service members to steal military intelligence,' FireEye said."

6 of 58 comments (clear)

  1. Its not soup yet by icebike · · Score: 3

    Every time I think Microsoft has their browser house in order, and it might be safe to use IE occasionally, stuff like this hits the fan.

    --
    Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
    1. Re: Its not soup yet by icebike · · Score: 4, Insightful

      IE, as of about version 9, is on par with other major browsers in terms of security. It only gets more publicity because, let's face it, it's IE, and still the most widely used browser.

      It depends on who you ask.

      http://gs.statcounter.com/ shows Chrome clearly in the lead.
      http://www.w3counter.com/globa... also shows chrome leading.
      Wikimedia says Chrome leads http://stats.wikimedia.org/wik...

      Just because its common doesn't mean its used. And you don't see these stories about Firefox or Chrome, at least not many. And given the market share that Chrome enjoys you would expect to see many more stories.

      You've fallen for the old Microsoft lie:
      They insist We are attacked because we are popular.
      The real story is they are attacked because they are easy targets.

       

      --
      Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
  2. Sigh by ledow · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If military intelligence are using IE 10 with Flash enabled, they really need to drop the last half of their name.

  3. Military intelligence by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Biggest oxymoron since Microsoft works.

  4. VFW? by smittyoneeach · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Dude, the VFW is substantially a drinking club for old warhorses.
    TFA is akin to saying the Commies infiltrated DFW to score information on the U.S. Air Force.
    YHBT. HAND.

    --
    Get thee glass eyes, and, like a scurvy politician, seem to see things thou dost not.--King Lear
  5. Re:Really? by ltrand · · Score: 3, Informative

    Plenty of veterans have never been in a combat zone. The American Legion allows any veteran with an honorable discharge to join. The VFW requires time in a recognized foreign combat zone.

    So, while I could join the VFW because of my time in OIF, my uncle can't because he served during peace (80's & 90's) and did not see combat.