Infrastructure Vulnerability Exposure To Volt Typhoon

Query

// Infrastructure Vulnerability Exposure to Volt Typhoon

// Expert analysis from last year revealed that PRC APT groups, such as Volt Typhoon, frequently exploit known vulnerabilities in TP-Link routers during their malicious campaigns. These campaigns have included targeting government officials in European countries. In these attacks, modified firmware images have so far been found exclusively on TP-Link routers.
// Given the portability of user laptops, there is a risk that a laptop used for work might connect to a TP-Link wireless router at home, in a café, or at another mobile working location. This connection increases the security risk for both the endpoint and the TP-Link router, potentially making them vulnerable to exploitation.
// By leveraging Microsoft’s endpoint discovery capabilities, you can identify if any of your endpoints have connected to or detected a TP-Link router. Additionally, correlating the vulnerabilities present on these endpoints can help estimate the exposure risk to APT groups exploiting TP-Link routers.

// The below KQL query will provide you a summary of your total endpoints vulnerabilities count (High, Medium & Low) that are exposed to a TP-Link router environment.

let DeviceExposedToTPLinkRouter =
DeviceInfo
| summarize arg_max(Timestamp, *) by DeviceId
| where isempty(MergedToDeviceId)
| where OnboardingStatus != "Onboarded"
| where Vendor contains "TP-LINK"
| invoke SeenBy()
| extend parsedJson = parse_json(SeenBy)
| extend SeenByDeviceID = tostring(parsedJson[0].DeviceId)
| project SeenByDeviceID;
DeviceTvmSoftwareVulnerabilities
| where DeviceId has_any(DeviceExposedToTPLinkRouter)
| summarize VulnerabilityCount=count() by VulnerabilitySeverityLevel

// MITRE ATT&CK Mapping

// The KQL query aligns with several MITRE ATT&CK techniques, particularly those related to vulnerability scanning and device identification:

// T1082 - System Information Discovery:
// The query gathers detailed information about devices, including their onboarding status and vendor details.
// T1592 - Gather Victim Host Information:
// By identifying devices exposed to TP-Link routers, the query gathers information about potential targets.
// T1518 - Software Discovery:
// The query checks for software vulnerabilities on the identified devices, which is a form of software discovery.
// T1046 - Network Service Scanning:
// The use of SeenBy() function can be related to network service scanning to identify devices on the network.

Explanation

This KQL query is designed to help identify and assess the vulnerability exposure of devices that have connected to TP-Link routers, which are known to be targeted by certain advanced persistent threat (APT) groups like Volt Typhoon. Here's a simple breakdown of what the query does:

Identify Devices: It first identifies devices that have been exposed to TP-Link routers by checking device information and filtering for those associated with TP-Link as the vendor.
Check Onboarding Status: It excludes devices that are already onboarded, focusing on those that might not be fully integrated into the security management system.
Track Connections: The query uses a function to track which devices have been seen by or connected to TP-Link routers.
Assess Vulnerabilities: It then checks these identified devices for any software vulnerabilities, categorizing them by severity levels (High, Medium, Low).
Summarize Vulnerabilities: Finally, it provides a summary count of vulnerabilities for each severity level, giving a clear picture of the potential security risks associated with these devices.

Additionally, the query aligns with several MITRE ATT&CK techniques, which are frameworks for understanding cyber threats. These include techniques for discovering system information, gathering host information, discovering software vulnerabilities, and scanning network services. This alignment helps in understanding how the query fits into broader cybersecurity strategies.