In a surprising twist, a recent hire at a security firm turned out to be a North Korean cyber threat to actor. The infiltrator, posing as a software engineer, quickly began to compromise company systems, highlighting vulnerabilities even in the most secure organizations.
Initial Hiring and Discovery
KnowBe4, a company specializing in security awareness and training, went through standard pre-hiring procedures for a new software engineer. The candidate, who was later identified as a North Korean cyber threat to actor, underwent background checks and four video interviews. The company confirmed that the interviewee matched the photo on the resume, which was later found to be AI-enhanced.
Despite these precautions, the candidate, referred to as “XXXX” in a blog post by KnowBe4’s founder Stu Sjouwerman, passed all checks and was hired as a principal software engineer. Once employed, XXXX received a company-issued Mac workstation. Almost immediately after receiving the device, it began to load malware.
On July 15, 2024, KnowBe4’s security operations center (SOC) detected suspicious activities from XXXX’s device. Initial explanations from the new hire suggested he was troubleshooting a router issue. However, further investigation revealed he was manipulating session history files, transferring harmful files, and using unauthorized software via a Raspberry Pi. Despite attempts to reach him for clarification, XXXX became unresponsive, leading the SOC to quarantine his device.
cyber threat to Actor: Investigation and Response
KnowBe4 shared its findings with cybersecurity firm Mandiant and the FBI, confirming the employee was a cyber threat to the actor. operative. The FBI continues to investigate the incident. Sjouwerman assured customers that no data breach had occurred as the malware had been blocked before execution.
“This incident is a learning moment for our organization,” Sjouwerman stated. “Although it’s embarrassing, we’re sharing this experience to help others avoid similar situations.”
KnowBe4 restricts new employees’ account permissions to essential apps like email, Slack, and Zoom during onboarding. As a result, XXXX did not access any customer data, private networks, or confidential information. Sjouwerman emphasized, “No illegal access was gained, and no data was lost, compromised, or exfiltrated.”
Preventative Measures and Recommendations
This case underscores the sophistication of North Korean cyber threat to actor. Last October, the Department of Justice warned of North Korean operatives posing as IT freelancers, funding their nation’s nuclear program through their earnings.
Sjouwerman explained that many such operatives are not based in the US. They rely on US-based contacts to receive and configure workstations, making their activities appear as though they originate from legitimate US locations.
In response, KnowBe4 has implemented stricter hiring procedures, including requiring new employees to pick up workstations from UPS locations with photo ID verification. Additional measures include more rigorous background and reference checks, strengthened access controls, and enhanced security awareness training to combat social engineering tactics.
The company advises other organizations to adopt similar practices, such as scanning remote devices for suspicious activity, verifying resume information for inconsistencies, and checking for red flags like mismatched shipping addresses. Other warning signs include the use of VoIP numbers, lack of a digital footprint, and sophisticated use of VPNs or virtual machines by remote employees.
By sharing their experience, KnowBe4 hopes to help other organizations avoid similar infiltration attempts and strengthen their security protocols against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.
Also Read: Cyber Pro Magazine
