Malicious use of virtual machine infrastructure
Summary
Attackers are increasingly abusing virtual machine (VM) infrastructure for malicious purposes, including hosting command-and-control servers, distributing malware, and conducting other cyberattacks. This abuse allows attackers to leverage the resources and anonymity offered by cloud environments to amplify their operations and evade detection.
IFF Assessment
The malicious use of VM infrastructure provides attackers with resources and anonymity, making defensive efforts more challenging.
Defender Context
Defenders need to monitor for suspicious VM activity, including unusual network traffic, resource consumption patterns, and indicators of compromise associated with known malware families. Increased use of cloud-based attacks highlights the need for robust cloud security practices, including enhanced logging, intrusion detection, and incident response capabilities.