Event: machine_fingerprint¶

Quick Explanation¶

The machine_fingerprint recipe identifies access to system directories and files that disclose hardware and network configurations, suggesting potential reconnaissance activities. While such access might be part of legitimate processes, it could also indicate suspicious activities in CI/CD pipelines, potentially leading to data breaches or unauthorized access.

More Information¶

Information¶

1. Description: Machine fingerprint
2. Category: Discovery
3. Method: System Information Discovery
4. Importance: Medium

Analysis of the Event¶

The detection event named machine_fingerprint is triggered by unauthorized access to specific system directories and files commonly used to gather information about the machine's hardware and network configuration. This activity can indicate reconnaissance efforts where an attacker or malicious script attempts to understand more about the environment it operates in, potentially as a precursor to further malicious actions.

The files targeted in this detection include directories and files that store detailed information about the system's Direct Media Interface (DMI), network interfaces, and I/O ports configuration (/sys/class/dmi/id, /sys/class/net, /proc/ioports). Accessing these can reveal hardware identifiers, network configurations, and other critical system information that could be used to tailor subsequent attacks or bypass certain security measures.

Jibril's file access mechanism ensures that any unauthorized or unexpected access to these sensitive areas is flagged, allowing security teams to respond promptly. The categorization under discovery with a method of system information discovery aligns well with the MITRE ATT&CK framework's tactics and techniques for adversaries trying to gain knowledge about the system.

Implications for the CI/CD Pipeline¶

If such detection occurs during a CI/CD pipeline execution, it raises concerns about potential security vulnerabilities introduced in recent code changes. The access patterns flagged could be part of a benign process within a legitimate application; however, they could also indicate that new code or updated dependencies are performing suspicious activities which might not be immediately harmful but could lay the groundwork for future attacks.

In both CI environments and production environments, allowing such behavior might lead to significant risks if attackers leverage gathered data to craft targeted attacks that could lead to data breaches, service disruption, or further unauthorized access within organizational networks.

Recommended Actions¶

To mitigate risks associated with this detection event in pull requests and further safeguard both CI/CD pipelines and production environments:

1. Review Recent Code Changes: Examine any new code or changes in scripts that interact with system-level files or directories as detected.
2. Audit Dependencies: Check third-party libraries or dependencies added recently that might have altered how system information is accessed.
3. Enhance Monitoring Rules: Adjust Jibril monitoring rules if necessary to ensure they are neither too restrictive (which may block legitimate activities) nor too permissive (which may allow malicious activities).
4. Conduct Thorough Testing: Implement additional tests specifically designed to trigger and evaluate behavior when accessing critical system files.
5. Educate Developers: Provide training on secure coding practices, especially related to handling system data and interacting with OS-level configurations.
6. Continuous Security Assessment: Regularly update security tools like Jibril with new definitions and scanning capabilities reflecting evolving threat landscapes.

By following these steps, organizations can better manage their security posture against potential reconnaissance activities detected by runtime tracing tools like Jibril during software development phases.