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OSINT - New SMB Worm Uses Seven NSA Hacking Tools. WannaCry Used Just Two

Low
Published: Sun May 21 2017 (05/21/2017, 00:00:00 UTC)
Source: CIRCL
Vendor/Project: tlp
Product: white

Description

OSINT - New SMB Worm Uses Seven NSA Hacking Tools. WannaCry Used Just Two

AI-Powered Analysis

AILast updated: 07/02/2025, 16:27:26 UTC

Technical Analysis

The reported security threat concerns a new SMB (Server Message Block) worm that reportedly leverages seven different NSA hacking tools, in contrast to the infamous WannaCry ransomware worm which utilized only two such tools. SMB worms propagate by exploiting vulnerabilities in the SMB protocol, which is widely used for file and printer sharing in Windows environments. The use of multiple NSA-derived exploits suggests a more sophisticated and potentially more effective propagation mechanism, enabling the worm to exploit a broader range of SMB vulnerabilities or different versions of Windows systems. This could allow the worm to spread rapidly across networks by exploiting unpatched SMB vulnerabilities, potentially leading to widespread infection. However, the available information indicates that this threat was published in May 2017, shortly after the WannaCry outbreak, and is currently assessed with a low severity and no known exploits in the wild. The technical details mention a threat level of 3 and an analysis level of 2, which may indicate moderate concern but limited active impact. The lack of affected versions and patch links suggests incomplete public information or that the worm targets multiple or unspecified Windows versions. Overall, this SMB worm represents an evolution in malware leveraging multiple NSA exploits to enhance propagation capabilities, but as of the provided data, it does not appear to be actively exploited or causing significant damage.

Potential Impact

For European organizations, the potential impact of such an SMB worm could be significant if it were to become active and widespread. SMB vulnerabilities have historically led to rapid and large-scale infections, as seen with WannaCry and NotPetya, causing operational disruptions, data loss, and financial damage. European enterprises with extensive Windows-based networks, especially those with legacy or unpatched systems, could face risks of network-wide compromise, ransomware deployment, or data exfiltration. Critical infrastructure sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, and government agencies are particularly vulnerable due to their reliance on SMB services and the potential impact of downtime. However, given the current low severity rating and absence of known active exploitation, the immediate risk to European organizations appears limited. Still, the presence of multiple NSA exploits in a single worm underscores the need for vigilance and proactive patch management to prevent future outbreaks.

Mitigation Recommendations

European organizations should implement targeted mitigation strategies beyond generic advice: 1) Conduct comprehensive SMB vulnerability assessments to identify unpatched systems, focusing on SMBv1 and SMBv2 protocol weaknesses. 2) Prioritize patching of all Windows systems with the latest security updates, especially those addressing SMB-related vulnerabilities exploited by NSA tools (e.g., MS17-010). 3) Disable SMBv1 protocol where possible, as it is deprecated and commonly exploited by SMB worms. 4) Employ network segmentation to limit SMB traffic to only necessary segments, reducing lateral movement opportunities for worms. 5) Monitor network traffic for unusual SMB activity or scanning behavior indicative of worm propagation attempts. 6) Implement strict access controls and restrict administrative privileges to minimize the worm's ability to spread. 7) Maintain updated endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting exploit attempts related to known NSA tools. 8) Develop and test incident response plans specifically addressing SMB worm outbreaks to ensure rapid containment and recovery.

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Technical Details

Threat Level
3
Analysis
2
Original Timestamp
1495353225

Threat ID: 682acdbdbbaf20d303f0ba77

Added to database: 5/19/2025, 6:20:45 AM

Last enriched: 7/2/2025, 4:27:26 PM

Last updated: 8/11/2025, 3:12:03 PM

Views: 12

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