Cisco Security Intelligence Operations has detected significant activity related to spam e-mail messages that claim to contain a guidance file from Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). The text in the e-mail message is intended to lure the targeted user into opening the attachment to view the file. However, the .pdf attachment, when executed, attempts to infect the system with malicious code.
E-mail messages that are related to this threat (RuleID3353) may contain the following file: CNO_Guidance.pdf
The CNO_Guidance.pdf file has a file size of 214,003 bytes. The MD5 checksum, which is a unique identifier of the executable, is the following string: 63482FFF87B0CC16378EAC28786017AD
The following text is a sample of the e-mail message that is associated with this threat outbreak:
Subject: CNO Guidance.
Message Body:
CNO Guidance.
Call me as soon as you review the file.
Col Terry
Cisco Security Intelligence Operations analysts examine real-world e-mail traffic data that is collected from over 100,000 contributing organizations worldwide. This data helps provide a range of information about and analysis of global e-mail security threats and trends. Cisco will continue to monitor this threat and automatically adapt IronPort systems to protect customers. This report will be updated if there are significant changes or if the risk to end users increases.
Cisco IronPort Virus Outbreak Filters protect customers during the critical period between the first exploit of a virus outbreak and the release of vendor antivirus signatures. E-mail that is managed by Cisco and end users who are protected by Cisco IronPort web security appliances will not be impacted by these attacks. Cisco IronPort appliances are automatically updated to prevent both spam e-mail and hostile web URLs from being passed to the end user.
Related Links
Cisco Security Intelligence Operations
Cisco Threat Operations Center
Cisco SenderBase Security Network
