Black Market Botnets

Black Market BotnetsBlack Market BotnetsNathan Nathan FriessFriess

John John AycockAycock

Ryan VogtRyan Vogt

Department of Computer ScienceDepartment of Computer Science

University of CalgaryUniversity of Calgary

CanadaCanada

BotnetsBotnets : Current Scenario: Current Scenario

�� Infect computersInfect computers�� Spam attachments/links, driveSpam attachments/links, drive--by downloadsby downloads

�� Control victimControl victim�� Spam Spam botnetsbotnets

�� Gather dataGather data�� Key loggers, monitor network trafficKey loggers, monitor network traffic

““ InterestingInteresting ”” DataData

�� Identity: Passwords, PINs, SSNIdentity: Passwords, PINs, SSN

�� Financial: Credit Cards, Tax ReturnsFinancial: Credit Cards, Tax Returns

�� Corporate SecretsCorporate Secrets�� Design Documentation, SchematicsDesign Documentation, Schematics

�� Financial ReportsFinancial Reports

�� Personal SecretsPersonal Secrets�� Latest gossip on celebritiesLatest gossip on celebrities

�� Illegal Files, Terrorist PlansIllegal Files, Terrorist Plans

Our PredictionOur Prediction

�� More types of data will be stolen and used More types of data will be stolen and used for profitfor profit

Our PredictionOur Prediction

�� More types of data will be stolen and used More types of data will be stolen and used for profitfor profit

The Business CaseThe Business Case

Celebrity Secrets

Trade Secrets

Love Letters???

Vol

ume

Passwords

Credit Cards

Available Data

GoziGozi : A First Step: A First Step

�� February 2007February 2007

�� Monitor HTTP POST requests (even SSL)Monitor HTTP POST requests (even SSL)

�� Upload POST data to central serverUpload POST data to central server

�� Customers search for data (based on web Customers search for data (based on web site, form fields, etc.) and pay to downloadsite, form fields, etc.) and pay to download

�� DoesnDoesn’’t upload local filest upload local files

�� Limited searching capabilitiesLimited searching capabilities

Black Market BotnetsBlack Market Botnets

Victim

Botmaster

Adversary


Botnet

Victim

Botmaster

Adversary

Basic Architecture


Botnet

Victim

Botmaster

Search

PortalAdversary

Basic Architecture


Botnet

Victim

Botmaster

Search

PortalAdversary

“Bunnies”

Basic Architecture


Botnet

Victim

Botmaster

Search

PortalAdversary

Basic Architecture


Botnet

Victim

Botmaster

Adversary

Advanced Architecture


Botnet Auction

Network

Victim

Botmaster

Adversary



Botnet Auction

Network

Victim

Botmaster

Adversary



Botnet Auction

Network

Victim Adversary

Botmaster


Interesting Document Interesting Document IndicatorsIndicators

�� Document Types: .TAXDocument Types: .TAX

�� Financial Data: SpreadsheetsFinancial Data: Spreadsheets

�� Specific Vocabulary:Specific Vocabulary:

Technical Terms, PoetryTechnical Terms, Poetry

�� Activity: Recently Edited, ViewedActivity: Recently Edited, Viewed

Auction InfrastructureAuction Infrastructure

�� eBayeBay�� Hide document fragmentsHide document fragments

using using steganographysteganography

�� Legitimate cover for fundLegitimate cover for fundtransfertransfer

�� DonDon’’t really need to ship a physical productt really need to ship a physical product

�� Existing model: drug traffickingExisting model: drug trafficking

Additional MarketsAdditional Markets

�� Victims pay Victims pay botmasterbotmaster to not publish to not publish documents: Bidding Warsdocuments: Bidding Wars

�� PrePre--seed seed botnetbotnet with customer querieswith customer queries

�� Allow customers to write scripts to search Allow customers to write scripts to search for specific datafor specific data

DefensesDefenses

�� Avoid being infectedAvoid being infected

�� Limit document exposureLimit document exposure�� Keep archived files offlineKeep archived files offline

�� Hide documents using Hide documents using steganographysteganography

DefensesDefenses

�� Digital Rights ManagementDigital Rights Management

�� Investigate leaksInvestigate leaks�� Fingerprint documents, trace back to Fingerprint documents, trace back to

infected computerinfected computer

�� Follow money trail, trace back to Follow money trail, trace back to botmasterbotmaster

�� Actively attack document gatheringActively attack document gathering�� Insert useless documents into Insert useless documents into botnetbotnet

ConclusionsConclusions

�� Valuable data is available in Valuable data is available in botnetsbotnets

�� It is already possible to connect data and It is already possible to connect data and customerscustomers

�� A black market for data can exist, even if A black market for data can exist, even if botmastersbotmasters dondon’’t know what is in demandt know what is in demand

Black Market BotnetsBlack Market BotnetsNathan Nathan FriessFriess

John John AycockAycock

Ryan VogtRyan Vogt

Department of Computer ScienceDepartment of Computer Science

University of CalgaryUniversity of Calgary

CanadaCanada

Documents

Black Market Botnets