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An initial access broker exploited leaked Machine Keys on ASP.NET sites to gain unauthorized access to organizations. The group, tracked as TGR-CRI-0045, targeted industries in Europe and the U.S. including finance, manufacturing, and technology. They used ASP.NET View State deserialization to execute malicious payloads in server memory, minimizing forensic artifacts. The attackers deployed post-exploitation tools for persistence and privilege escalation. The campaign began in October 2024, with increased activity from January to March 2025. Organizations are advised to review and remediate compromised Machine Keys following Microsoft's guidance. The threat group is possibly linked to Gold Melody based on overlapping indicators and tactics.

This threat involves an initial access broker group identified as TGR-CRI-0045 exploiting leaked Machine Keys from ASP.NET web applications to gain unauthorized access to targeted organizations. Machine Keys in ASP.NET are cryptographic keys used to protect View State data, authentication tokens, and other sensitive information. If these keys are leaked or compromised, attackers can manipulate or forge View State data, enabling deserialization attacks that execute arbitrary code in server memory. The attackers leverage ASP.NET View State deserialization vulnerabilities to run malicious payloads directly in memory, which reduces forensic footprints and complicates detection. After initial access, the threat actors deploy post-exploitation tools to maintain persistence and escalate privileges within the compromised environment. The campaign, active since October 2024 with heightened activity from January to March 2025, targets industries including finance, manufacturing, and technology sectors primarily in Europe and the United States. The group’s tactics and indicators overlap with those attributed to the Gold Melody threat actor, suggesting possible linkage. The exploitation technique focuses on abusing leaked cryptographic keys rather than exploiting software vulnerabilities directly, making traditional patching ineffective. Organizations are advised to audit and rotate Machine Keys following Microsoft's remediation guidance to invalidate compromised keys and prevent further exploitation. Indicators of compromise include multiple IP addresses and file hashes associated with the attack infrastructure and payloads. The attack chain involves initial access via crafted View State payloads, in-memory execution of malicious code, and subsequent lateral movement and privilege escalation using known techniques such as token manipulation and service persistence. The threat leverages IIS-hosted ASP.NET applications, which are prevalent in enterprise environments, making this a significant risk vector for organizations relying on this technology stack.

Detailed information about Exploitation of Leaked Machine Keys by Initial Access Broker. Get real-time updates, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

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