Educause Security Discussion mailing list archives

Re: Active Phishing Attack Against EDUs


From: "Sargent, Joe E" <Joe.Sargent () WS EDU>
Date: Wed, 20 Jun 2018 23:47:27 +0000

The previous message with the attachment ended up in my junk mail folder.  I copied both the message and the attachment 
to the link below.  If you didn't get the first message then I have had several requests for the original message so 
others could view the headers etc.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/94esgcts5mf4l1x/AABkkzyNdUzxjDgzo3ZGWBFOa?dl=0

-Joe

-----Original Message-----
From: Sargent, Joe E
Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2018 7:39 PM
To: The EDUCAUSE Security Constituent Group Listserv <SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU>
Subject: RE: [SECURITY] Active Phishing Attack Against EDUs

All,
I have had several requests for the original message so others could view the headers etc.  It is attached minus the 
attachment.
Thank you,
Joe

-----Original Message-----
From: The EDUCAUSE Security Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU] On Behalf Of Ken 
Connelly
Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2018 7:36 PM
To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU
Subject: Re: [SECURITY] Active Phishing Attack Against EDUs

Joe -

Can you share content from the message that will allow us to potentially identify some key phrases to filter such 
messages here?  Thanks.

- ken

On 6/20/18 3:35 PM, Sargent, Joe E wrote:

Earlier today most of our employees received a phishing email that
appeared to be from our president.  After some research we found that
were able view the site structure where the link directed users.  We
were the only school in the list at that time.  As the day has
progressed more and more schools have been built into the structure.
Some schools were there and then were modified to other schools. So,
this is very active.  They even have a certificate on the site to make
it more legitimate.  The PDF in the email did not have any active
content but did contain the link to the website.  Here are the schools
we have seen so far and have not been able to contact (this appears to
still be active with schools being added throughout the day)...



Central Methodist University

Columbia College in Missouri

Champlain College

Walla Walla Community College

Waldorf University

Middlebury College

Texas A&M University San Antonio



Many of these schools may have already had emails go to their users...
Other maybe not.  Below is the information we have gathered that may
help you protect your users...



Our initial email came from... (might be different for you)  *From:*
Robin Esparza [mailto:resparza () lbschools net]



The link in the document directs you to one of these for your school...
(however, we have seen the links change and it is possible that this
is not your school now - see notes below)

Your school will be represented by an abbreviation in the root of the
web site



Mokaortmdesm.club/<yourschool>/index.php

Mokaortmdesm.club/<yourschoolhttps>/index.php



IP address of web site: 89.36.213.44



The method used to ID schools was to go to the link and input fake
information and click submit.  This then sent us to a link at the
target school that would make a user believe the original email was
real because it is policy etc.  We have seen this link change for some
schools and later point to another school.  So, if the link it not
there now then look at the folders at the root of the web site to be
sure that your school has not been moved to another folder.



If you go to the top level of the website you can actually see the
directory structure.  To actually find out where each is pointing to
you have to click the folder/file and then click download on the web
site.  Enter fake information and then it will take you to a linked
page at the targeted school.  It took us a while to figure this out.
Again, this is active and they appear to have made changes to files
and links.  We have seen their processes change as they create more
sites.



I hope this helps you.  Apologies if it turns out to be nothing but at
least you can block your users from getting to the web site.



Thank you,

Joe

_____________________________________________________________
Joe Sargent cid:image001.png@01CD9D7C.A1CFD430 Assistant Vice
President for Information and Educational Technologies (IET) and CIO
Walters State cid:image001.png@01CD9D7C.A1CFD430 Jack E. Campbell
College Center Suite 314 cid:image001.png@01CD9D7C.A1CFD430 500 South
Davy Crockett Parkway

Morristown, TN 37813 cid:image001.png@01CD9D7C.A1CFD430 Voice (423)
585-6836 cid:image001.png@01CD9D7C.A1CFD430 Fax: (423) 585-2630
cid:image001.png@01CD9D7C.A1CFD430 E-mail: joe.sargent () ws edu
<mailto:joey.sargent () ws edu>



This transmission, regardless of modality, may contain confidential
information and may be subject to protection under the law. If you are
not the intended recipient, or an authorized agent for the intended
recipient, you are hereby notified that use, such as but not limited
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--
- Ken
=================================================================
Ken Connelly                       Director, Information Security
Information Security Officer          University of Northern Iowa
email: Ken.Connelly () uni edu   p: (319) 273-5850 f: (319) 273-7373
This transmission, regardless of modality, may contain confidential information and may be subject to protection under 
the law. If you are not the intended recipient, or an authorized agent for the intended recipient, you are hereby 
notified that use, such as but not limited to disclosure, copying, or distribution, is prohibited. Please destroy any 
and all copies immediately and notify the sender of this erroneous receipt.


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