Futures

GreyNoise Investigates Mysterious ‘Noise Storms’ of Spoofed Internet Traffic Since 2020, (from page 20240929.)

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Summary

GreyNoise, an internet intelligence firm, has been tracking unusual “Noise Storms” of spoofed internet traffic since January 2020, but their origin remains unclear. These storms may involve covert communications, DDoS attack coordination, or misconfigurations, with a peculiar “LOVE” ASCII string found in ICMP packets. The traffic comes from millions of spoofed IP addresses, primarily focusing on TCP connections targeting port 443, while avoiding services like AWS. GreyNoise emphasizes that this activity suggests a knowledgeable actor rather than a mere misconfiguration. They invite the cybersecurity community to investigate further, sharing packet captures for analysis and highlighting the importance of adaptive security strategies.

Signals

name description change 10-year driving-force relevancy
Unidentified Cyber Threats Emergence of unusual spoofed traffic patterns indicates potential new forms of cyber threats. Shift from known threat patterns to mysterious, undetected traffic behaviors. In a decade, advanced AI may lead to better detection of these enigmatic threats. Increased sophistication of cyber attackers and evolving technology in data masking. 4
Collaborative Cybersecurity Research GreyNoise invites the cybersecurity community to investigate unusual traffic patterns. Transition from isolated cybersecurity practices to collaborative research efforts. In ten years, global collaboration may lead to faster threat identification and mitigation. The growing complexity of cyber threats necessitates collective intelligence and resources. 5
Adaptive Security Measures GreyNoise highlights the need for adaptive strategies in response to unconventional threats. Shift from static security measures to dynamic, adaptable security protocols. In ten years, security systems may be fully automated and responsive in real-time. The increasing diversity of cyber threats demands more flexible and responsive security solutions. 5
Anomalous Communication Patterns The presence of ASCII strings within network packets hints at unusual communication methods. From traditional packet structures to cryptic messages embedded within traffic. In a decade, communication protocols may evolve to include more complex encoding methods. The search for stealthy communications in malware operations drives new encoding strategies. 3
Mimicking Legitimate Traffic Noise storms mimic legitimate data streams, complicating threat detection. Shift from easily identifiable malicious traffic to sophisticated, legitimate-like traffic. In ten years, threat detection technology may need to evolve significantly to differentiate between real and spoofed traffic. The need for cyber attackers to evade detection leads to more sophisticated traffic behavior. 4

Concerns

name description relevancy
Unknown Origin of Traffic The ongoing spoofed traffic waves lack clear origin or intent, posing risks of undetected malicious activity. 4
Covert Communications Threat Suspected covert communications in the noise storms may facilitate cyber attacks or espionage without detection. 5
DDoS Attack Coordination Risks Possible coordination of DDoS attacks through these noise storms could escalate cyber threats significantly. 5
Malware Command and Control Channels Noise storms may serve as C2 channels for malware, raising concerns about widespread infections. 5
Misconfiguration Speculation While possible misconfigurations have been considered, lack of resolution raises concerns about cybersecurity efficacy. 3
Imitation of Legitimate Traffic Spoofed traffic mimicking legitimate streams complicates detection, increasing the chance of successful attacks. 4
Adaptive Security Needs The evolving nature of these threats underlines the necessity for enhanced security measures and adaptations. 5
Complex Threat Detection Difficulty in pinpointing and analyzing the traffic adds complexity to threat detection strategies, posing risks. 4

Behaviors

name description relevancy
Covert Communications via Spoofed Traffic Utilizing spoofed internet traffic to establish covert channels for communication or command control. 4
Adaptive Cybersecurity Strategies The need for cybersecurity measures that adapt to unusual traffic patterns and potential threats. 5
Collaborative Threat Investigation Encouraging collaboration among cybersecurity researchers to analyze and understand unusual traffic phenomena. 4
Traffic Shaping and Masking Techniques Testing or simulating traffic shaping tools to obscure the true nature of internet traffic. 3

Technologies

description relevancy src
A technology for identifying and analyzing unusual internet traffic patterns that may indicate covert communications or cyber threats. 4 e98add33dee6b63f758d1cf576b70d0b
Emerging methods and tools for coordinating Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks through spoofed traffic channels. 5 e98add33dee6b63f758d1cf576b70d0b
Techniques used to create deceptive traffic patterns that mimic legitimate data streams to avoid detection. 4 e98add33dee6b63f758d1cf576b70d0b
Advanced tools for capturing and analyzing network packets to investigate suspicious activities. 4 e98add33dee6b63f758d1cf576b70d0b
Innovative security measures that adapt to unconventional threats and traffic patterns. 5 e98add33dee6b63f758d1cf576b70d0b
Technologies focused on detecting command and control channels used by malware operations. 4 e98add33dee6b63f758d1cf576b70d0b

Issues

name description relevancy
Spoofed Internet Traffic The rise of spoofed traffic waves, referred to as ‘Noise Storms’, raises concerns about security and the potential for malicious activities. 4
Unknown Traffic Patterns Unexplained traffic patterns, particularly with the inclusion of ASCII strings, suggest emerging tactics in cyber operations. 3
DDoS Coordination Signals The potential use of ‘Noise Storms’ for coordinating DDoS attacks indicates a shift in attack methodologies. 5
C2 Channel Evolution The evolution of command and control channels through covert means poses a growing threat to cybersecurity. 4
Adaptive Security Strategies The need for adaptive strategies in cybersecurity to address evolving threats like ‘Noise Storms’. 5