The Rise of SMS Phishing: How Cybercriminals are Using Xeon Sender to Launch Large-Scale Attacks
In recent years, the threat of SMS phishing, also known as smishing, has become increasingly prevalent. Cybercriminals have been using various tools and techniques to launch large-scale attacks, and one of the most sophisticated tools in their arsenal is Xeon Sender. In this article, we will explore how Xeon Sender works, its capabilities, and the challenges of detecting and mitigating these attacks.
What is Xeon Sender?
Xeon Sender is a tool that allows cybercriminals to send bulk SMS messages by leveraging multiple software-as-a-service (SaaS) providers through the use of valid credentials. This tool is similar to SNS Sender, which is frequently used to distribute smishing messages that aim to steal sensitive information from unsuspecting victims.
How Does Xeon Sender Work?
Xeon Sender uses legitimate APIs to conduct bulk SMS spam attacks, making it a significant tool in the arsenal of cybercriminals. The tool requires that the attackers already possess the necessary API keys to access the service endpoints. These API requests typically include the sender ID, message content, and phone numbers, which are often sourced from a predefined list stored in a text file.
Capabilities of Xeon Sender
Xeon Sender offers users a command-line interface (CLI) to communicate with the backend APIs of the selected service provider, enabling them to orchestrate bulk SMS spam attacks. This tool also includes features to validate account credentials for Nexmo and Twilio, generate phone numbers based on specific country and area codes, and check the validity of provided phone numbers.
Challenges in Detecting and Mitigating Xeon Sender Attacks
Despite the tool’s rudimentary design, SentinelOne notes that its source code is deliberately obfuscated with ambiguous variables, making it challenging to debug. Xeon Sender primarily uses provider-specific Python libraries to craft API requests, which presents significant detection challenges for cybersecurity teams.
Since each library and provider’s logs are unique, detecting the abuse of these services can be difficult, complicating efforts to mitigate these large-scale SMS spam attacks.
“To defend against threats like Xeon Sender, organizations should monitor activity related to evaluating or modifying SMS sending permissions or anomalous changes to distribution lists, such as a large upload of new recipient phone numbers,” Delamotte said.
The Importance of Monitoring and Detection
The rise of SMS phishing attacks highlights the importance of monitoring and detection in cybersecurity. Organizations must be vigilant in monitoring activity related to SMS sending permissions and distribution lists to prevent these types of attacks.
In addition to monitoring, organizations should also implement robust security measures to prevent the abuse of SaaS providers. This includes implementing multi-factor authentication, regularly reviewing and updating API keys, and monitoring for suspicious activity.
Conclusion
Xeon Sender is a sophisticated tool that allows cybercriminals to launch large-scale SMS phishing attacks. Its capabilities and challenges in detecting and mitigating these attacks highlight the importance of monitoring and detection in cybersecurity. Organizations must be vigilant in monitoring activity related to SMS sending permissions and distribution lists to prevent these types of attacks.
An example of an SMS phishing attack
The Xeon Sender tool
The rise of cybersecurity threats
