Microsoft Breach Incident Score: Analysis & Impact (MIC4792247111725)

In this Rankiteo incident briefing, we review the Microsoft breach identified under incident ID MIC4792247111725.

The analysis begins with a detailed overview of Microsoft's information like the linkedin page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/microsoft, the number of followers: 26897413, the industry type: Software Development and the number of employees: 220893 employees

After the initial compromise, the video explains how Rankiteo's incident engine converts technical details into a normalized incident score. The incident score before the incident was 708 and after the incident was 704 with a difference of -4 which is could be a good indicator of the severity and impact of the incident.

In the next step of the video, we will analyze in more details the incident and the impact it had on Microsoft and their customers.

Microsoft recently reported "Aisuru Botnet Launches Record-Breaking 15.72 Tbps DDoS Attack on Microsoft Azure", a noteworthy cybersecurity incident.

Microsoft disclosed that the Aisuru botnet executed a 15.72 Tbps DDoS attack on its Azure network, originating from over 500,000 IP addresses.

The disruption is felt across the environment, affecting Microsoft Azure Network (Public IP in Australia), Cloudflare DNS Service (1.1.1.1) and Legitimate Domains in Cloudflare’s Top Rankings (e.g., Amazon, Microsoft, Google).

In response, teams activated the incident response plan, moved swiftly to contain the threat with measures like Mitigation of UDP Flood Traffic, Traceback and Enforcement by ISPs and Redaction/Hiding of Malicious Domains in Cloudflare Rankings, and began remediation that includes Cloudflare’s Adjustment of DNS Ranking Algorithm and Removal of Aisuru-Linked Domains from Public Rankings, and stakeholders are being briefed through Public Disclosure by Microsoft and Cloudflare and Media Coverage by Infosec Journalists (e.g., Brian Krebs).

The case underscores how Ongoing (Mitigation Completed; Botnet Activity Persists), teams are taking away lessons such as IoT devices remain a critical attack vector for large-scale DDoS botnets, Firmware update servers (e.g., TotoLink) are high-value targets for botnet expansion and DNS query volume rankings can be manipulated by malicious traffic, requiring proactive redaction, and recommending next steps like Strengthen IoT device security (e.g., router/camera firmware updates, default credential changes), Monitor and secure firmware update servers to prevent supply-chain-style compromises and Implement rate-limiting and anomaly detection for UDP traffic to mitigate volumetric DDoS attacks, with advisories going out to stakeholders covering Microsoft Azure Customers, Cloudflare Customers and IoT Device Manufacturers (T-Mobile, Zyxel, D-Link, Linksys, TotoLink).

Finally, we try to match the incident with the MITRE ATT&CK framework to see if there is any correlation between the incident and the MITRE ATT&CK framework.

The MITRE ATT&CK framework is a knowledge base of techniques and sub-techniques that are used to describe the tactics and procedures of cyber adversaries. It is a powerful tool for understanding the threat landscape and for developing effective defense strategies.

Rankiteo's analysis has identified several MITRE ATT&CK tactics and techniques associated with this incident, each with varying levels of confidence based on available evidence. Under the Initial Access tactic, the analysis identified Exploit Public-Facing Application (T1190) with high confidence (95%), with evidence including exploited Vulnerabilities in IoT Devices (Routers, IP Cameras, DVRs/NVRs), and compromised TotoLink Firmware Update Server and Valid Accounts: Default Accounts (T1078.001) with moderate to high confidence (85%), supported by evidence indicating default/exploitable credentials in IoT devices. Under the Persistence tactic, the analysis identified Valid Accounts: Local Accounts (T1078.003) with moderate to high confidence (80%), supported by evidence indicating 500,000 compromised IP addresses (residential IoT devices) and Server Software Component: Web Shell (T1505.003) with moderate to high confidence (75%), supported by evidence indicating compromised TotoLink firmware update server (supply-chain compromise). Under the Impact tactic, the analysis identified Network Denial of Service: Direct Network Flood (T1498.001) with high confidence (100%), with evidence including 15.72 Tbps DDoS attack with UDP floods (3.64 bpps), and targeted a public IP in Australia, Endpoint Denial of Service: Application or System Exploitation (T1499.004) with high confidence (90%), supported by evidence indicating exploitation of Realtek chips, routers (T-Mobile, Zyxel, etc.), and Data Destruction (T1485) with moderate to high confidence (70%), supported by evidence indicating distortion of Cloudflare’s DNS query volume rankings (data integrity impact). Under the Command and Control tactic, the analysis identified Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols (T1071.001) with moderate to high confidence (80%), supported by evidence indicating aisuru’s manipulation of Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 service with malicious queries and Acquire Infrastructure: Domains (T1583.001) with moderate to high confidence (85%), supported by evidence indicating aisuru-linked domains removed from Cloudflare’s Top Rankings. Under the Defense Evasion tactic, the analysis identified Obfuscated Files or Information: Binary Padding (T1027.001) with moderate to high confidence (70%), supported by evidence indicating uDP floods with minimal spoofing (evading traditional detection) and Indicator Removal: File Deletion (T1070.004) with moderate confidence (65%), supported by evidence indicating cloudflare redaction/hiding of malicious domains (post-compromise cleanup). Under the Reconnaissance tactic, the analysis identified Active Scanning: Vulnerability Scanning (T1595.002) with high confidence (90%), supported by evidence indicating exploits vulnerabilities in Realtek chips, routers, IP cameras. Under the Lateral Movement tactic, the analysis identified Account Discovery: Local Account (T1087.001) with moderate to high confidence (75%), supported by evidence indicating compromised 500,000+ residential devices (lateral spread via IoT). These correlations help security teams understand the attack chain and develop appropriate defensive measures based on the observed tactics and techniques.