Vault 8 is a recently released a WikiLeaks publication that provides an introduction to the Hive Platform, a project created by the US Central Intelligence Agency. The Hive Platform is a complex system designed to hide malware and cyber weapons infrastructure, as well as allow for remote exfiltration of information. It is intended to provide a safe environment for the CIA’s cyber operations and has been in use since 2013, when it was first revealed in the "Vault 7" publication by WikiLeaks.
The Hive Platform is a combination of several different technologies, designed in such a way that the CIA can operate undetected, even when the user’s own devices are compromised. It includes a number of components, such as a secure web browser, an encrypted "bunker" for storing sensitive information, and an encrypted communications channel. Vault 8 also includes details of how the Hive Platform works, including its use of "honeypots" to store malware, as well as the use of encryption and obfuscation techniques to hide and protect its data.
The Vault 8 publication provides an insider’s view of the Hive Platform, and provides a wealth of information for security professionals and interested parties. It provides the details of the system’s architecture, capabilities, and operations and it also sheds light on the US intelligence agency’s methods of hiding and protecting their data even when the user’s own devices are vulnerable to attack. By providing this information, WikiLeaks hopes to help security professionals, journalists, and the public become aware of how the CIA is using secretive tools to combat cyber threats.
This Cyber News was published on securityaffairs.com. Publication date: Mon, 23 Jan 2023 12:11:03 +0000