Search

#StopRansomware: BianLian Ransomware Group   Advisory

Nov 21, 2024 - The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD’s ACSC) are releasing this joint Cybersecurity Advisory to disseminate known BianLian ransomware and data extortion group IOCs and TTPs identified through FBI and ASD's ACSC investigations as of March 2023.

Small Business Cloud Security Guides: Technical Example - Configure Macro Settings   Publication

Dec 16, 2022 - Configuring macro settings protects an organisation’s systems from malicious macros. Macros are powerful tools. They were introduced to improve productivity however their functionality can also be used by cyber criminals to compromise a user’s system.

Critical vulnerabilities in ‘ownCloud’ file share   Alert

Nov 29, 2023 - The Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) is aware of multiple critical vulnerabilities affecting the file sync and sharing software ‘ownCloud’. This primarily impacts self-hosted instances of the open-source product. Those impacted should apply the patches available and consider the workarounds made available by the vendor.

Mitigating Log4Shell and Other Log4j-Related Vulnerabilities   Advisory

Dec 23, 2021 - Malicious cyber actors are actively scanning networks to potentially exploit Log4Shell, CVE-2021-45046, and CVE-2021-45105 in vulnerable systems. According to public reporting, Log4Shell and CVE-2021-45046 are being actively exploited. This joint Cybersecurity Advisory is to provide mitigation guidance on addressing vulnerabilities.

Gootkit Loader continues to be used on multiple Australian networks   Advisory

Dec 23, 2022 - The Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD’s ACSC) continues to observe instances of Gootkit JavaScript (JS) Loaders on multiple Australian networks in 2022. Open source reporting also indicates continued Gootkit activity.

TMUI remote code execution vulnerability - CVE-2020-5902   Alert

Jul 6, 2020 - The Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD’s ACSC) advises users of F5’s enterprise and data centre BIG-IP products to ensure their systems are promptly patched after the recent disclosure of new remote code execution vulnerability.

New Secure-by-Design publication about memory safety released    News

Jun 27, 2024 - Today, we jointly released a new Secure-by-Design publication, Exploring Memory Safety in Critical Open Source Projects, co-authored by the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS).

Small Business Cloud Security Guides: Executive Overview   Publication

Dec 16, 2022 - In recognition of the increasing prevalence of cloud computing, the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) has published the Small business cloud security guides. These guides are designed to provide protection against cybersecurity incidents while remaining accessible to organisations which may not have the resources and expertise to implement a more sophisticated strategy.

ASD's ACSC Threat Report 2016   Reports and statistics

Oct 15, 2016 - This is the second Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD’s ACSC) Threat Report. It continues to reflect on the experience, focus, and mandates of the ASD's ACSC’s member organisations. The report provides an insight into what the Centre has been seeing, learning, and responding to, focusing on specific areas of change or new knowledge obtained.

VMware vCenter Server plugin remote code execution vulnerability (CVE-2021-21972)   Alert

Feb 25, 2021 - The Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD’s ACSC) advises users of VMware vCenter Server products, including as part of VMware Cloud Foundation, to ensure their systems are promptly patched after the recent disclosure of a new remote code execution vulnerability.

PRC state-sponsored actors compromise and maintain persistent access to U.S. critical infrastructure   Advisory

Feb 8, 2024 - The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), National Security Agency (NSA), and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) assess that People’s Republic of China (PRC) state sponsored cyber actors are seeking to preposition themselves on IT networks for disruptive or destructive cyberattacks against U.S. critical infrastructure in the event of a major crisis or conflict with the United States.

Malicious insiders   Threat

Jun 23, 2020 - Malicious insiders can be employees, former employees, contractors or business associates who have legitimate access to your systems and data, but use that access to destroy data, steal data or sabotage your systems. It does not include well-meaning staff who accidentally put your cyber security at risk or spill data.

JCSC virtual presentations on Log4j2 vulnerability – Friday 17 December   News

Dec 16, 2021 - A critical alert and advisory has been published on the Log4j2 vulnerability. On Friday 17 December 2021, ASD's ACSC’s Joint Cyber Security Centres (JCSCs) will facilitate a series of virtual awareness and advice sessions about this vulnerability. Australians are urged to act now to secure their computer systems against this critical software vulnerability.

ACSC Threat Report 2017   Reports and statistics

Oct 15, 2017 - This is the third Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD’s ACSC) Threat Report. It continues to reflect on the experience, focus, and mandates of the ASD’s ACSC’s member organisations. The report provides an insight into what the Centre has been seeing, learning, and responding to, focusing on specific areas of change or new knowledge obtained.

2023-01: ASD's ACSC Ransomware Profile - Royal   Advisory

Jan 24, 2023 - The Australian Signals Directorate's Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD's ACSC) is aware of a ransomware variant called Royal, which is being used by cybercriminals to conduct ransomware attacks against multiple sectors and organisations worldwide, including Australia. Once gaining access to a victim’s environment, cybercriminals use this ransomware for similar purposes to other variants such as encrypting their data and extorting a ransom to return access to the sensitive files.

Critical vulnerabilities in Ivanti Connect Secure (ICS) and Ivanti Policy Secure (IPS)   Alert

Feb 1, 2024 - The Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) is aware of critical vulnerabilities affecting Ivanti Connect Secure (ICS), formerly known as Pulse Connect Secure, and Ivanti Policy Secure (IPS) gateways. The vulnerabilities affect all supported versions and configurations of the products. Customers should apply the mitigations made available by Ivanti and implement patches as they become available.

2023-03: ASD's ACSC Ransomware Profile – Lockbit 3.0   Advisory

Jun 15, 2023 - The Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD’s ACSC) is aware of Lockbit 3.0 which is the newest version of Lockbit ransomware. It is used by cybercriminals to conduct ransomware attacks against multiple sectors and organisations worldwide, including Australia. Once gaining access to a victim’s environment, cybercriminals use this ransomware for similar purposes as other variants such as encrypting their data, and extorting a ransom to return access to the sensitive files.

ASD's ACSC Advisory 2020-012: Critical remote code execution vulnerability in Windows DNS server (CVE-2020-1350)   Advisory

Jul 15, 2020 - An adversary who successfully exploits the vulnerability could run arbitrary code in the context of the Local System Account. The Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD’s ACSC) strongly recommends users apply the security patch to their Windows DNS servers to prevent an adversary from exploiting this vulnerability.

Active exploitation of vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Information Services   Alert

May 22, 2020 - The Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD’s ACSC) is aware that sophisticated actors are actively exploiting a deserialisation vulnerability existing in all versions of Microsoft’s Internet Information Services (IIS) using the .NET framework (.NET). The vulnerability exploits the service’s VIEWSTATE parameter to allow for remote code execution by unauthorised users.

Educational pack for small businesses   Guidance

Jun 15, 2023 - This educational pack provides engaging content to help small business owners learn how to stay cyber secure. Includes practical activities for staff.

DDoS threats being made against Australian organisations   Alert

May 25, 2020 - Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD’s ACSC) is aware of a number of Denial of Service (DoS) for ransom threats being made against Australian organisations, primarily in the banking and finance sector.

Seniors  

Jun 23, 2023 - This guide provides some simple steps and resources to protect your personal information, accounts and life savings when going online.

2021-006: ASD's ACSC Ransomware Profile - Lockbit 2.0   Advisory

Aug 5, 2021 - The LockBit ransomware restricts access to corporate files and systems by encrypting them into a locked and unusable format. Victims receive instructions on how to engage with the offenders after encryption. LockBit affiliates have successfully deployed ransomware on corporate systems in a variety of countries and sectors, including Australia, where the Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD’s ACSC) is aware of numerous incidents since 2020. LockBit affiliates are known to implement the ‘double extortion’ technique by uploading stolen and sensitive victim information to their dark web site ‘LockBit 2.0’, and threatening to sell and/or release this information if their ransom demands are not met.

Advisory 2021-004: Active exploitation of ForgeRock Access Manager / OpenAM servers   Advisory

Jul 9, 2021 - The Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD's ACSC) has identified targeting and compromise of Australian organisations with vulnerable internet-accessible servers running ForgeRock Access Manager (ForgeRock AM). ForgeRock AM was previously known as OpenAM. The ASD's ACSC has observed malicious actors exploiting the vulnerability in ForgeRock AM/OpenAM to gain initial access to networks in multiple organisations, and facilitate further access within these networks. On 7 July 2021 the ASD's ACSC alerted organisations that this vulnerability was being actively exploited. This ASD's ACSC advisory provides recommendations for securing ForgeRock AM against vulnerability CVE-2021-35464, and advice on identifying potential successful exploitation of this vulnerability.

Small business  

Jun 15, 2023 - Basic steps to protect your business and staff from cyberthreats. Our guide has information and resources to help you and your staff prepare for cyberattacks.

2021-009: Malicious actors deploying Gootkit Loader on Australian Networks   Advisory

Aug 27, 2021 - From April 2021, the Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD’s ACSC) has received an increase in reporting of malicious actors targeting Australian networks with Gootkit JavaScript (JS) Loaders. Open-source reporting confirms that Gootkit JS Loaders are a precursor to several malware families traditionally used for cybercrime, notably, Gootkit, REvil ransomware, Kronos, or CobaltStrike. The ASD’s ACSC is providing this information to enable organisations to undertake their own risk assessments and take appropriate actions to secure their systems and networks. The ASD’s ACSC will update this advisory if more information becomes available.

Active exploitation of critical vulnerability in Citrix Application Delivery Controller and Citrix Gateway   Alert

Jan 13, 2020 - The Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) is aware of ongoing attempts to exploit a critical vulnerability in Citrix Application Delivery Controller (ADC) (formerly known as NetScaler ADC), Citrix Gateway (formerly known as NetScaler Gateway) and Citrix SD-WAN WANOP.

Secure your website   Guidance

Jul 29, 2024 - Small business account for over 95% of all businesses in Australia and 72% of them have a website. However, in a world in which websites are increasingly being targeted by cyber criminals, only 36% check for updates every week. For those small businesses with a website, or that are considering one, these three quick wins will help you protect your money, data and reputation.

Update your devices  

Jan 25, 2023 - Updates are new, improved, or fixed versions of software. Regular updates are critical in maintaining a secure system. It's important to check for any updates and make sure that automatic updates are switched on. 

Critical vulnerabilities in Citrix Netscaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway Products   Alert

Jun 20, 2025 - The ASD's ACSC is aware of critical vulnerabilities in Citrix Netscaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway Products (CVE-2025-5349, CVE-2025-5777).