Hackers compromise GitHub accounts with fake CircleCI notification

October 7, 2022 - TuxCare PR Team

GitHub warns that cyber attackers are compromising user accounts through a sophisticated phishing campaign. The malicious messages notify users that their CircleCI session has expired and that it is imperative that they log in via the alleged GitHub accounts provided by the attackers via a link.

In another malicious email, users are asked to log into their GitHub accounts to accept the company’s new Terms of Use and Privacy Policy by following the link in the message.

Once users click on the malicious link, they are automatically redirected to a lookalike GitHub login page designed to steal and exfiltrate the credentials entered, and the site also steals the Time-based One Time Password (TOTP) codes in real time, effectively enabling a 2FA bypass.

According to researchers, apart from comprising accounts, the attacker also performs other malicious actions, including downloading private repository content, and creating and adding new GitHub accounts to an organization should the compromised account have organizational management privileges.

After gaining unauthorized access to the user account, the attacker takes steps to create GitHub’s personal access tokens, authorize OAuth applications, or add SSH keys to maintain access even after a password change.

GitHub is taking necessary measures to protect users, including measures to reset passwords and remove maliciously added credentials for affected users. The company also notified those affected and suspended the actor-controlled accounts.

Organizations are urged to use phishing-resistant hardware security keys to prevent such attacks.

The sources for this piece include an article in TheHackerNews.

Summary