The Effects of EternalBlue and the Destruction It Caused

[CKjones]

EternalBlue is a computer exploit developed by the National Security Agency (NSA) in the United States. It is a type of remote code execution vulnerability that exploits a weakness in the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol on Windows operating systems. The exploit allows attackers to take control of a target computer remotely, and spread malware and ransomware to other devices on the same network.

This exploit was leaked by a group of hackers known as The Shadow Brokers in April 2017 (see my post here). Within days of its release, it had been used to infect hundreds of thousands of computers around the world. It was responsible for the WannaCry ransomware attack in May 2017, which affected over 200,000 computers in 150 countries.

EternalBlue was designed to target a specific vulnerability in the SMB protocol, which allows computers to share files and printers over a network. The exploit takes advantage of a weakness in the way that Windows handles SMB traffic. When a computer on the network sends an SMB request to another computer, the receiving computer is supposed to check the request for validity before processing it. However, the vulnerability in the SMB protocol allows attackers to send a specially crafted packet to the target computer, which bypasses this check and allows the attacker to execute code on the target computer.

Once a computer is infected with EternalBlue, it can be used to spread malware and ransomware to other devices on the same network. The exploit allows attackers to take control of entire computer networks, and encrypt all of the files on the infected computers. This can lead to significant financial losses for businesses and individuals, as well as causing widespread disruption to critical infrastructure, such as transportation systems and hospitals.

The aftermath of EternalBlue was devastating. It highlighted the vulnerabilities of computer systems and the risks posed by cyber attacks. It also underscored the need for better cybersecurity measures to be put in place.

Governments and businesses around the world were forced to invest millions of dollars in cybersecurity, and to improve their network defenses. Microsoft released a patch for the vulnerability that EternalBlue exploited, but many organizations failed to update their systems in a timely manner.

The effects of EternalBlue are still being felt today, and it serves as a stark reminder of the importance of cybersecurity. The attack showed that even the most sophisticated organizations can be vulnerable to cyber attacks, and that prevention is always better than cure.

The lesson to be learned from EternalBlue is that cybersecurity should not be taken for granted. Organizations must invest in their cybersecurity defenses, and make sure that they are up-to-date with the latest software patches and security measures. They must also educate their employees on the importance of cybersecurity, and ensure that they are aware of the risks and how to mitigate them.

In conclusion, EternalBlue was a devastating cyber attack that highlighted the vulnerabilities of computer systems and the risks posed by cyber threats. The attack targeted a vulnerability in the SMB protocol, which allowed attackers to take control of a target computer remotely, and spread malware and ransomware to other devices on the same network. The attack caused significant financial losses for businesses and individuals, as well as causing widespread disruption to critical infrastructure. The lessons learned from EternalBlue are that cybersecurity must be taken seriously, and that organizations must invest in their cybersecurity defenses and educate their employees on the risks and how to mitigate them. I hope you enjoyed this. If you have anything to add, or just found this interesting. Please like and comment below. I hope you have a great day

-CKJones

[Kedislav (Ked)]

A very important lesson indeed… EternalBlue is a reminder that the NSA, CIA, DOD, DHS, etc, they all failed to protect the american people, and by extension, everyone who uses their products. In the age of globalization, it just was not limited to the US; everywhere Microsoft had business, EternalBlue was there to wreak havoc. EternalBlue was also the tip of the iceberg. Every exploit ranging from router firmware, kernel exploits for multiple OS’s, vulns for different services. They were all discovered or bought by the government, and they kept the systems insecure to break into them.

Before the Shadow Brokers put a lot into the public eye, it was evident that the government was focusing on breaking instead of defending, making it easier for the malware they developed to boomerang back. They had developed a “security” failsafe, called NOBUS (Nobody But Us), in which they would only disclose the low-hanging vulnerabilities they found, the ones that could be found by adversaries in a similar amount of time, or with little effort. But they kept the really critical vulns to themselves.

When The Shadow Brokers came around, the US government suddenly were the guys who’s pants fell down on stage. All of that code, the exploits, where developed with the goal of being weaponized. With it being out in the open, as you write, chaos ran loose. Since the leaks, the US has been unable to regain superiority in term of skillz, and other countries (read either superpowers with hackers in-house, or countries with enough money to purchase hacking power) have catched up.

Even before The Shadow Brokers, the US already made the fatal mistake, one born from pure arrogance. Snowden is also a testament to that. They thought they were the only ones with skillz decent enough to find the critical vulns, completely blind to the nature of hackers, and those developing in other countries.

Now we have been left drifting alone, in a world where the systems were made insecure by the same people that were supposed to protect us, only for them to be hacked. Secure your stuff, use appropriate encryption, use your PGP keys, cultivate and practice good opsec, update frequently, verify your checksums; you never know when it’ll be your turn.