1. © 2016 SecurityMetrics
The Case of the Mistaken Malware
Forensic Files Series

2. BUSINESS BACKGROUND
All sites connected to the same
card processing environment.
Small retailer operates one main store, multiple satellite
stores, and two corporate offices.

3. BUSINESS BACKGROUND
During a routine anti-virus
log review, in-house IT staff
member finds Sirefef rootkit
at satellite store.

4. WHAT IS A ROOTKIT?
A rootkit is a type of malicious
software activated each time a
system boots up.
They are difficult to detect
because they reside at the
system’s kernel level, and are
activated before a system’s
operating system has completely
booted up.

5. HOW HACKERS GOT IN
Compromised the credentials for the
remote access application, LogMeIn.
Installed Sirefef, a sophisticated
rootkit that can spread spam or
capture sensitive information such as
passwords or credit card data.

6. FORENSIC INVESTIGATOR FINDINGS
Investigator finds the Sirefef rootkit did
not actually steal customer credit cards.
Further investigation revealed a
memory scraper called Alina (installed
by the same hacker), designed
specifically to capture payment
information from POS terminals.

7. WHAT IS A MEMORY SCRAPER?
A memory scraper is designed to
capture, or ‘scrape’ sensitive
information from system memory (RAM)
and return it back to the attacker.
The Alina memory scraper can morph
into newer versions to avoid detection,
or automatically reinstall in different
locations if deleted.

8. WHAT THE BUSINESS DID WRONG
Retailer didn’t employ
two-factor authentication to
secure remote access into
their main store, satellites,
and corporate offices.

9. WHAT’S TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION?
Two factor authentication is an
extra layer of security that
requires not only a password and
username but also something
only the user should know/have
(e.g., a fingerprint).

10. WHAT THE BUSINESS DID WRONG
Although they regularly
reviewed anti-virus logs, IT
staff did not regularly update
anti-virus program and
system security patches.

11. WHAT THE BUSINESS DID WRONG
In addition, the credit card
processing environment was
not segmented away from
routine Internet traffic.
Internet
Firewall
Wireless Device
Network Switch
Terminal Office Computer Printer Mobile Hotspot

12. www.securitymetrics.com
Wenlock Free
VP Business Development
wfree@securitymetrics.com