Eternal Blue: The Exploit That Changed Network Security Forever

The world of computer security was forever changed on March 14th, 2017, when a malicious piece of software known as the Eternal Blue exploit was released into the wild.

This exploit, which was developed by the infamous hacker group the Shadow Brokers, was capable of exploiting a vulnerability in the Microsoft Server Message Block 1.0 protocol.

A vulnerability known as Eternal Blue was discovered in 2017. It enabled attackers to bypass security protocols on Windows machines. The exploit was soon used in major cyber-attacks, such as WannaCry, NotPetya, and the 2016 attack on the DNC. No credentials or authentication were required for the exploit to take effect.

What is the Eternal Blue Exploit?

So, what is Eternal Blue? In short, it is a type of exploit that takes advantage of a vulnerability in the Microsoft Server Message Block (SMB) protocol, allowing attackers to gain access to computers with the Windows operating system.

The vulnerability was identified in Microsoft’s security bulletin MS17-010 and affects Windows versions from Vista to Windows 10. The exploit was made available to the public when the Shadow Brokers released a trove of hacking tools allegedly stolen from the National Security Agency, or NSA, in March 2017.

Once attackers have gained access to a vulnerable system with Eternal Blue, they have a range of malicious activities they can carry out.

Depending on the system, they may steal sensitive data, install ransomware, or even launch a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack. As a result, Eternal Blue has become one of the most notorious and feared exploits in the world of computer security.

You can view the exploit code for MS17-010 here

What is the Impact of Eternal Blue?

The impact of the Eternal Blue exploit has been far-reaching. Not only has it been used in countless cyber-attacks, but it has also led to an increase in network security measures.

As a result, many organizations have implemented new security protocols to prevent attackers from exploiting the vulnerability. In addition, Microsoft has released several security patches to address the issue.

Eternal Blue has changed the landscape of computer security and will continue to do so for years to come.

It is a reminder of the importance of staying up-to-date with security patches and protocols to protect against malicious attacks. Furthermore, it serves as an example of the power of exploits and how quickly they can be weaponized against vulnerable systems.

High Profile Attacks Using Eternal Blue

WannaCry Ransomeware Attack:

WannaCry is a type of ransomware attack that was discovered in 2017. It was a malicious software that targeted computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system.

The WannaCry attack spread quickly throughout the world, infecting more than 200,000 computers in 150 countries. The attackers demanded a ransom payment in the form of Bitcoin in exchange for unlocking the encrypted files.

The attack caused significant disruption to many organizations, including hospitals, banks, and government agencies. It also resulted in significant financial losses, as some organizations had to pay the ransom in order to regain access to their data.

NotPetya Attack:

NotPetya is a type of ransomware attack that was identified in 2017. It is a more sophisticated version of the WannaCry attack, using a variety of techniques to spread quickly throughout computer networks.

NotPetya targets Windows OS systems, encrypting a user’s data and demanding a ransom payment in the form of Bitcoin.

This attack was particularly damaging. It spread quickly and infected hundreds of thousands of computers in days. It is believed to have originated in Ukraine and caused significant disruption to many organizations, such as banks and government agencies.

Bad Rabbit Attack:

Bad Rabbit is a type of ransomware attack that was discovered in October 2017. It is a strain of ransomware that is similar to NotPetya, targeting Windows OS systems and encrypting a user’s data.

The attack spreads quickly, with the attackers demanding a ransom payment in the form of Bitcoin. Bad Rabbit is believed to have originated in Russia and it is believed to have infected hundreds of thousands of computers in a matter of days.

This attack caused significant disruption to many organizations, including banks and government agencies. It also resulted in significant financial losses, as some organizations had to pay the ransom in order to regain access to their data.

Patching For Eternal Blue

To patch a machine for Eternal Blue, you need to do the following:

Download and install the latest security patches from Microsoft
Install all available Windows updates
Update your antivirus and antimalware software
Disable SMBv1 if it isn’t necessary
Enable audit logging and review logs regularly

Conclusion

Ultimately, Eternal Blue is notorious. It has been used in cyber-attacks, leading to huge financial losses and data breaches. This has increased attention on network security protocols, as organizations seek to protect systems from malicious actors. The full impact may never be known, but Eternal Blue will remain an important part of computer security history.

Some of this article was automatically generated by the Open AI platform and then modified by the author to include headers, editing, formatting and personal experience. The human author takes responsibility for everything said here as well as its accuracy