Security News > 2023 > April > Ransomware Hackers Using AuKill Tool to Disable EDR Software Using BYOVD Attack

Threat actors are employing a previously undocumented "Defense evasion tool" dubbed AuKill that's designed to disable endpoint detection and response software by means of a Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver attack.

"The AuKill tool abuses an outdated version of the driver used by version 16.32 of the Microsoft utility, Process Explorer, to disable EDR processes before deploying either a backdoor or ransomware on the target system," Sophos researcher Andreas Klopsch said in a report published last week.

Incidents analyzed by the cybersecurity firm show the use of AuKill since the start of 2023 to deploy various ransomware strains such as Medusa Locker and LockBit.

"The AuKill tool requires administrative privileges to work, but it cannot give the attacker those privileges," Sophos researchers noted.

In November 2022, Sophos also detailed LockBit affiliates' use of an open source tool called Backstab that abused outdated versions of the driver to terminate protected anti-malware processes.

Grixba and VSS Copying Tool are the latest in a long list of proprietary tools such as Exmatter, Exbyte, and PowerShell-based scripts that are used by ransomware actors to establish more control over their operations, while also adding extra layers of complexity to persist in compromised environments and evade detection.

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https://thehackernews.com/2023/04/ransomware-hackers-using-aukill-tool-to.html