By Adele Anderson
The SolarWinds cyber-attack was a devastating and sophisticated cyber espionage campaign that targeted various government agencies and private sector organizations in the United States and other countries. The attack, which was carried out by an advanced persistent threat (APT) group believed to be associated with the Russian government, is thought to have affected a large number of organizations, including various U.S. federal agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Energy.
Organizations need to be aware of the growing danger of APT groups in cybercrime. Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups are organized groups of cybercriminals or state-sponsored hackers who are known for conducting targeted and sustained cyber attacks against specific organizations or individuals. APT attacks are characterized by their high level of sophistication and their ability to evade detection for long periods of time and are common in cyber espionage.
Do you understand the different types of cyber espionage today?
APT groups typically conduct extensive research and planning before launching an attack, and they often use a range of tactics and techniques to compromise their targets. These tactics can include spearphishing campaigns, zero-day vulnerabilities, and the use of malware and other malicious software.
APT groups are often motivated by financial gain, political or strategic objectives, or a desire to steal intellectual property or sensitive data. They are known for targeting a wide range of organizations, including government agencies, defense contractors, financial institutions, and other high-value targets.
APT groups are a major concern for organizations and individuals because of the damage that they can cause. They can steal sensitive data, disrupt operations, and cause financial loss. It is important for organizations to be aware of the threat posed by APT groups and to take steps to protect themselves, such as by implementing strong cybersecurity practices and incident response plans.
The attack vector used in the SolarWinds cyber attack was a supply chain attack, in which the attackers compromised a piece of software called “SolarWinds Orion” that was widely used by the targeted organizations. SolarWinds Orion is a network monitoring and management tool that is used by many organizations to monitor the performance and availability of their networks, servers, and other IT assets.
The attackers modified the SolarWinds Orion software to include a malicious backdoor, which they used to gain access to the networks of the organizations that installed the compromised software.
Compromised software with malicious backdoors is software that has been deliberately modified to include a hidden or covert means of access. A malicious backdoor is a type of vulnerability that allows an attacker to gain unauthorized access to a system or network, typically for the purpose of stealing data or conducting other malicious activities.
Malicious backdoors can be introduced into the software in a number of ways. For example, an attacker may exploit a vulnerability in the software to inject the backdoor, or they may compromise the software during the development or distribution process. Once the software has been compromised, the attacker can use the backdoor to gain access to the system or network whenever they wish, without the knowledge or consent of the user.
Malicious backdoors can be very difficult to detect, as they are designed to evade detection by security software and other defenses. This makes them a serious threat to organizations and individuals, as they can be used to compromise systems and networks and steal sensitive data. In the Solar Winds cyber-attack, the backdoor was designed to be covert and to avoid detection, and it was only activated when certain conditions were met. This made it difficult for the organizations that were targeted to detect the presence of the malware.
To protect against malicious backdoors, it is important for organizations and individuals to ensure that their software is kept up to date and to be vigilant about the sources from which they download software. It is also important to use security software and to follow good cybersecurity practices, such as keeping passwords secure and being cautious about opening suspicious emails or links.
Once they had gained access to the networks, the attackers used a variety of tactics to infiltrate and exfiltrate data. They used additional malware, such as a remote access trojan (RAT) called “Teardrop,” to maintain a foothold on the networks and to establish a command and control infrastructure. They also created legitimate-looking user accounts and used them to access sensitive data and systems.
The extent of the data exfiltration and the specific data that was stolen is not fully known, but it is believed that the attackers were able to steal a large amount of sensitive information. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has stated that the attack “has the potential to affect any federal agency or critical infrastructure entity,” and that it “represents an unacceptable level of risk to the federal government and state, local, tribal, and territorial governments as well as critical infrastructure entities.”
The SolarWinds cyber attack was a highly sophisticated and carefully planned operation, and it is likely that it took a significant amount of time and resources to carry out. The attackers used a range of tactics and techniques to compromise the SolarWinds Orion software and to infiltrate the networks of the targeted organizations.
The attack has been described as “one of the most sophisticated cyberattacks in history,” and it serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining strong cybersecurity practices and the need to be vigilant against supply chain attacks and other advanced threats. The incident has also raised concerns about the vulnerability of the supply chain to cyber attacks, and the need for organizations to carefully vet the software and other products that they use.
In response to the attack, the U.S. government has taken a number of steps to improve its cybersecurity posture and to prevent similar attacks in the future. These measures have included strengthening its cybersecurity regulations, increasing funding for cybersecurity research and development, and improving its incident response capabilities.
The SolarWinds cyber attack has also had a significant impact on the cybersecurity industry, as companies and organizations have scrambled to assess the extent of the damage and to implement measures to protect against similar attacks in the future. It is likely that the impact of the attack will be felt for many years to come, as organizations continue to grapple with the consequences of the data breach and work to improve their cybersecurity posture.
One of the key lessons of the SolarWinds cyber attack is the importance of supply chain security. A supply chain cyber attack is a type of cyber attack in which an attacker targets a product or service that is used by a large number of organizations or individuals, with the goal of compromising those organizations or individuals through the compromised product or service. Supply chain attacks are a growing threat and can be particularly difficult.
Moreover, supply chain attacks are a significant concern because they allow attackers to gain access to a large number of targets in a single operation. This makes them an attractive tactic for attackers who are seeking to compromise a large number of systems or steal large amounts of sensitive data.
While on the topic of sophisticated attacks, let us revisit another historic attack: STUXNET
Supply chain attacks can take a number of forms. For example, an attacker might compromise a software update as in the Solar Winds cyber-attack, or a hardware component that is used by a large number of organizations, and then use that compromise to gain access to the systems of those organizations. Alternatively, an attacker might compromise a website or other online service that is widely used by organizations, and then use that compromise to gain access to the systems of those organizations.
To protect against supply chain attacks, it is important for organizations to be vigilant about the products and services that they use, and to carefully vet the sources from which they obtain those products and services. It is also important to maintain strong cybersecurity practices, including regularly applying software updates and patches, and to have robust incident response plans in place to deal with any supply chain attacks that do occur.
About the Author

Adele Anderson is a cybersecurity analyst and intern with a Red Team. As an active young contributor to the industry, she is always available to share her insights.