Network Abuses Leveraging High-Profile Events: Suspicious Domain Registrations and Other Scams

Summary:
Threat actors exploit high-profile events, such as the 2024 Summer Olympics, to launch cyberattacks, including phishing and scams. Proactive monitoring of event-related domain abuse is essential for cybersecurity teams to mitigate risks. Key metrics to watch include domain registrations, DNS traffic, and URL patterns. #CyberThreats #EventExploitation #DomainAbuse

Keypoints:

  • Threat actors frequently exploit trending events for cyberattacks.
  • Proactive monitoring of event-related domain abuse is crucial.
  • High-profile events attract cybercriminals registering deceptive domains.
  • Metrics to watch include domain registrations, textual patterns, DNS traffic, and URL traffic.
  • Over 200,000 newly registered domains (NRDs) are detected daily.
  • 16% of Olympic-related domains were flagged as suspicious during the event weeks.
  • Attackers use keywords related to events to register deceptive domains.
  • DNS traffic anomalies can indicate unusual activities.
  • Scams leveraging the Olympics include fake ticket sales and fraudulent investment schemes.
  • Malicious gambling websites exploit Olympic-related keywords to lure victims.

  • MITRE Techniques

  • Domain Generation Algorithms (T1483): Attackers utilize algorithms to generate multiple domain names for command and control.
  • Phishing (T1566): Threat actors send deceptive emails to trick users into revealing sensitive information.
  • Credential Dumping (T1003): Attackers harvest credentials from compromised systems to gain unauthorized access.
  • Command and Control (T1071): Utilizes multiple command and control domains to maintain communication with compromised systems.
  • Malicious Link (T1203): Attackers use malicious links to exploit vulnerabilities in user applications.

  • IoC:

  • [domain] 2024olympicslive[.]com
  • [domain] 2024parisolympicathletes[.]com
  • [domain] olympicparis2024[.]com
  • [domain] paris-olympics2024[.]com
  • [domain] paris24olympics[.]com
  • [domain] parisolympic24[.]com
  • [domain] parisolympicgames2024[.]com
  • [domain] parisolympicgames2024official[.]com
  • [domain] parisolympicgamesevents[.]com
  • [domain] parisolympicgamesofficial[.]com
  • [domain] parisolympicgamestickets[.]com
  • [domain] parisolympicsphotographe[.]com
  • [domain] parisolympictickets[.]com
  • [domain] 2024olympics-shop[.]com
  • [domain] climbolympic[.]com
  • [domain] allolympic[.]com
  • [domain] olympiarealestate-online[.]com


  • Full Research: https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/suspicious-domain-registration-campaigns/