GPT-4 analyzes the ransomware attack on the British Library: The Library’s historically complex network topology and reliance on legacy systems significantly contributed to the severity of the attack
The Library's increasing use of third-party providers within its network was noted as a risk prior to the attack. The report suggests that the existing intrusion response processes were not adequate.
Question 1 of 5 for ChatGPT-4: Please read the attached report about the ransomware attack on the British Library and start by listing the damage caused
ChatGPT-4’s answer:
The report on the cyber-attack on the British Library in October 2023 outlines several significant damages and impacts caused by the incident. Here are the key damages and impacts mentioned in the document:
Data Exfiltration and Ransom: A criminal gang encrypted or destroyed much of the server estate and exfiltrated approximately 600GB of files, including personal data of Library users and staff. When no ransom was paid, this data was auctioned and dumped on the dark web.
Infrastructure Damage: The attack resulted in the destruction of some servers, significantly hampering the Library's infrastructure and its ability to restore data and systems. This damage has had a profound impact, particularly because the Library had secure copies of its digital collections but lacked the infrastructure for restoration.
Service Disruption: The Library's systems and services were deeply and extensively impacted. Research services were severely restricted in the initial two months following the attack, and the return of a searchable online catalogue in January 2024 did not fully restore services. Critical software systems could not be restored to their pre-attack form, either due to lack of vendor support or incompatibility with new, secure infrastructure.
Operational Impact: The attack has necessitated a substantial rebuilding of the Library's technological infrastructure, with some previously approved investments being implemented sooner than planned. The Library's response has included efforts to reduce future attack impact, replace legacy systems, and embed security throughout the IT lifecycle.
Future Risk and Recovery: The Library faces increased risks of future cyber-attacks and is implementing significant changes to applications, working culture, policies, and processes to build a more secure and resilient infrastructure. This includes a shift towards cloud-based technologies, which presents its own set of risks that need to be actively managed.
Cultural and Organizational Changes: The attack has underscored the need for a significant culture change within the Library to fully integrate cybersecurity into all aspects of its operations. Future risk assessments will consider the increased likelihood of major attacks and the significant organizational changes needed to mitigate these risks.
The report emphasizes the deep and extensive impact of the cyber-attack on the British Library, detailing the extensive damage to its infrastructure, the exfiltration of sensitive data, the disruption of services, and the long-term implications for its technological and organizational future.
Question 2 of 5 for ChatGPT-4: Who was responsible for the attack?
ChatGPT-4’s answer:
The ransomware cyber-attack on the British Library that took place in October 2023 was claimed by the Rhysida ransomware gang. This group compromised the majority of the Library’s online systems by exfiltrating data, encrypting, or destroying substantial portions of the server estate, and forcibly locking out all users from the network.
While detailed information about the group itself is not extensively covered in the document, it provides insights into the gang's activities and methodologies during the attack:
Data Exfiltration and Destruction: The Rhysida gang's operations included the encryption of data and systems, the exfiltration of about 600GB of files, including personal data, and the destruction of some servers to inhibit system recovery and cover their tracks. These actions were part of a broader strategy to monetize the attack either by demanding a ransom from the affected organization or by selling the data on the dark web when no ransom was paid.
Methodology: The attack involved several elements, including defense evasion, anti-forensics (e.g., deleting log files to hinder tracing their activities), data exfiltration for ransom, encryption for impact, and destruction of servers. This multifaceted approach is indicative of a well-organized and sophisticated adversary.
Initial Intrusion and Reconnaissance: Forensic investigation suggests that the gang likely gained initial access to the British Library's network at least three days before the major incident became apparent. The first evidence of network movement and external presence was detected late on the evening of October 25, 2023, which was considered hostile reconnaissance of the network. This early intrusion set the stage for the subsequent, more destructive actions.
Operational Impact and Response: The report describes the extensive operational impact of the attack on the British Library and outlines the measures taken in response, including the rebuilding of infrastructure and attempts to recover compromised data. It also emphasizes that no ransom was paid to the attackers, in line with the UK's national policy against paying ransoms to cybercriminals.
These descriptions from the report highlight the Rhysida ransomware gang's methodical approach to compromising the British Library's systems, including preparatory reconnaissance, data exfiltration, and system destruction, leading to significant operational challenges for the institution.
Question 3 of 5 for ChatGPT-4: Does the report say how the attack could have been prevented? What were the mistakes that were made, if any?
ChatGPT-4’s answer:
The report on the cyber-attack on the British Library outlines several areas where improvements could have been made, which might have helped in preventing the attack or mitigating its impact. The lessons learned highlight a mix of technical and organizational measures:
Enhance Network Monitoring and Security: The Library recognized the need for enhanced network monitoring capabilities and acknowledged that legacy network topology may have prevented modern security tools from having full coverage or being fully effective.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): It was noted that Multi-Factor Authentication needed to be fully implemented across all internet-facing endpoints. The absence of MFA on certain supplier endpoints was identified as a vulnerability.
Intrusion Response Processes: The report suggests that a more in-depth security review should be commissioned after even the smallest signs of network intrusion to prevent attackers from establishing persistence within the network.
Network Segmentation: Implementing network segmentation was highlighted as essential for limiting the damage caused by a successful attack. The Library's legacy network topology allowed the attack to cause more damage than would have been possible with a more modern network design.
Business Continuity Plans: The necessity of practicing comprehensive business continuity plans for the total outage of all systems was emphasized, highlighting the need for regular practice beyond planning for individual system outages.
Holistic Overview of Cyber-Risk: Maintaining a holistic overview of cyber-risk at all operational levels and ensuring that all IT security risks are flagged to the appropriate levels of senior management was identified as crucial for creating a comprehensive risk overview.
Legacy Technology Management: The report pointed out the challenges associated with managing legacy technology, including the maintenance, security, and eventual restoration of such systems in the event of an attack.
Prioritize Recovery Alongside Security: Given that no security measure is perfect, the ability to quickly recover from an attack was highlighted as essential. This requires a balance between investment in security and investment in backup and recovery capabilities.
Cyber-Risk Awareness at Senior Levels: Ensuring that senior officers and board members have a clear and holistic understanding of cyber-risk was recommended to enable optimal strategic investment choices in cybersecurity.
Regular Staff Training: Regular training and awareness communication for all staff regarding cybersecurity basics and emerging risk trends were recommended to ensure the organization's security is a collective responsibility.
Proactive Management of Staff and User Wellbeing: The report suggested that cyber-incident management plans should include provisions for managing the wellbeing of staff and users affected by cyber-attacks.
Review Acceptable Personal Use of IT: A review of policies and guidance on the acceptable use of IT to cover best practices for personal data security was recommended, especially considering the personal impact on staff members where network storage is used for personal purposes.
These lessons and reflections on missed opportunities for prevention highlight a comprehensive approach towards improving cybersecurity posture, encompassing technology upgrades, policy enhancements, and a culture of security awareness across the organization.
Question 4 of 5 for ChatGPT-4: List the most surprising findings in the report, especially from a safety and security perspective.
ChatGPT-4’s answer:
From the report on the cyber-attack on the British Library, several surprising findings emerge, especially from a safety and security perspective:
Extent of Security Measures Already in Place: Despite having extensive security measures that were accredited and stress-tested, the Library was still vulnerable to the attack. This highlights the sophistication of the attackers and the limitations of even well-established security defenses.
Underestimation of Legacy System Risks: The Library’s historically complex network topology and reliance on legacy systems significantly contributed to the severity of the attack's impact. These older systems not only hindered the Library's ability to prevent the attack but also complicated recovery efforts.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Gaps: The Library had implemented MFA for all end-user technologies but not on certain supplier endpoints. This gap in the MFA coverage presents a surprising oversight, given the importance of comprehensive implementation for enhanced security.
Manual Processes Increased Risk: The reliance on manual processes to pass data between systems substantially increased the volume of staff and customer data held in multiple copies on the network. This not only made the data more vulnerable to being compromised but also increased the complexity of securing it.
The Need for Comprehensive Network Segmentation: The lack of effective network segmentation allowed the attackers to cause more damage than would have been possible with a modern network design. This underlines the importance of network architecture in cybersecurity defenses.
Insufficient Intrusion Response Processes: The report suggests that the existing intrusion response processes were not adequate to prevent attackers from establishing persistence and evading security precautions. This points to the need for a more robust approach to detecting and responding to intrusions.
Overreliance on Third-Party Providers: The Library's increasing use of third-party providers within its network was noted as a risk prior to the attack. This reliance, coupled with capacity and capability constraints within the Technology department, highlighted an area of vulnerability that was exploited by the attackers.
Challenges in Risk Management and Culture Change: Future risk assessments must consider the increased likelihood of major attacks and the significant organizational changes needed to embed cybersecurity more fully into all processes. This suggests a need for a more proactive and comprehensive approach to risk management and a culture that prioritizes security.
Shift Towards Cloud-Based Technologies: The expected substantial shift towards cloud-based technologies over the next 18 months, while reducing some risks, will introduce new risks that need active management. This transition represents a significant change in how the Library approaches its technological infrastructure and security.
These findings underscore the complex and multifaceted nature of cybersecurity, highlighting that even well-prepared institutions can be vulnerable to sophisticated attacks. They also emphasize the ongoing need for vigilance, regular updates to security practices, and the importance of considering the broader implications of technology and security decisions.
Question 5 of 5 for ChatGPT-4: What are the lessons that everybody should learn as a result of this ordeal?
ChatGPT-4’s answer:
The report on the cyber-attack on the British Library outlines several critical lessons that can be broadly applicable to many organizations, emphasizing the importance of cybersecurity awareness and preparedness:
Enhanced Network Monitoring and Security Measures: It's crucial to ensure that network monitoring tools have full coverage and are effective against evolving threats. Legacy systems or network designs may limit the effectiveness of modern security tools, suggesting a need for continuous updates and evaluations of network infrastructure.
Implementation of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): MFA should be universally applied across all internet-facing endpoints, including those used by suppliers and third parties. This layer of security is essential in preventing unauthorized access.
Robust Intrusion Response Protocols: Organizations need to be prepared to conduct in-depth security reviews at the first sign of any network intrusion, recognizing that attackers can establish persistence and evade detection with relative ease.
Network Segmentation: Effective network segmentation can limit the damage caused by an attack, preventing attackers from gaining widespread access. Organizations should ensure that their network architecture includes proper segmentation to protect sensitive data and systems.
Comprehensive Business Continuity Planning: Prepare for the worst-case scenario with comprehensive business continuity plans that cover the total outage of all systems. Regular drills and updates to these plans are crucial for organizational resilience.
Holistic Cyber-Risk Management: Cybersecurity risks should be communicated and understood at all levels of management, ensuring a holistic view of the organization's cybersecurity posture. This requires integrating cybersecurity into the organizational culture and decision-making processes.
Regular Update and Elimination of Legacy Systems: Legacy systems pose significant security risks and can hinder recovery efforts. Organizations should prioritize updating and, when necessary, eliminating these systems as part of their IT strategy.
Training and Awareness for All Staff: Cybersecurity is a collective responsibility. Regular, role-specific training and awareness efforts are essential for all staff members to understand their role in safeguarding the organization.
Wellbeing and Support for Affected Individuals: Include provisions for managing the wellbeing of staff and users in cyber-incident management plans. Cyber attacks can have a profound personal impact on individuals, and organizations must be prepared to offer appropriate support.
Review and Adapt IT Policies: Regularly review and adapt IT and cybersecurity policies to reflect emerging risks and ensure they align with best practices for data security. This includes policies on acceptable use of IT resources, both for work and personal purposes.
These lessons underscore the need for organizations to adopt a proactive and comprehensive approach to cybersecurity, recognizing the importance of continuous improvement, resilience planning, and the human element in security strategies.
