homepage
Menu
Open menu
  • Training
    Go one level top Back

    Training

    • Courses

      Build cyber prowess with training from renowned experts

    • Hands-On Simulations

      Hands-on learning exercises keep you at the top of your cyber game

    • Certifications

      Demonstrate cybersecurity expertise with GIAC certifications

    • Ways to Train

      Multiple training options to best fit your schedule and preferred learning style

    • Training Events & Summits

      Expert-led training at locations around the world

    • Free Training Events

      Upcoming workshops, webinars and local events

    • Security Awareness

      Harden enterprise security with end-user and role-based training

    Featured: Solutions for Emerging Risks

    Discover tailored resources that translate emerging threats into actionable strategies

    Risk-Based Solutions

    Can't find what you are looking for?

    Let us help.
    Contact us
  • Learning Paths
    Go one level top Back

    Learning Paths

    • By Focus Area

      Chart your path to job-specific training courses

    • By NICE Framework

      Navigate cybersecurity training through NICE framework roles

    • DoDD 8140 Work Roles

      US DoD 8140 Directive Frameworks

    • By European Skills Framework

      Align your enterprise cyber skills with ECSF profiles

    • By Skills Roadmap

      Find the right training path based on critical skills

    • New to Cyber

      Give your cybersecurity career the right foundation for success

    • Leadership

      Training designed to help security leaders reduce organizational risk

    • Degree and Certificate Programs

      Gain the skills, certifications, and confidence to launch or advance your cybersecurity career.

    Featured

    New to Cyber resources

    Start your career
  • Community Resources
    Go one level top Back

    Community Resources

    Watch & Listen

    • Webinars
    • Live Streams
    • Podcasts

    Read

    • Blog
    • Newsletters
    • White Papers
    • Internet Storm Center

    Download

    • Open Source Tools
    • Posters & Cheat Sheets
    • Policy Templates
    • Summit Presentations
    • SANS Community Benefits

      Connect, learn, and share with other cybersecurity professionals

    • CISO Network

      Engage, challenge, and network with fellow CISOs in this exclusive community of security leaders

  • For Organizations
    Go one level top Back

    For Organizations

    Team Development

    • Why Partner with SANS
    • Group Purchasing
    • Skills & Talent Assessments
    • Private & Custom Training

    Leadership Development

    • Leadership Courses & Accreditation
    • Executive Cybersecurity Exercises
    • CISO Network

    Security Awareness

    • End-User Training
    • Phishing Simulation
    • Specialized Role-Based Training
    • Risk Assessments
    • Public Sector Partnerships

      Explore industry-specific programming and customized training solutions

    • Sponsorship Opportunities

      Sponsor a SANS event or research paper

    Interested in developing a training plan to fit your organization’s needs?

    We're here to help.
    Contact us
  • Talk with an expert
  • Log In
  • Join - it's free
  • Account
    • Account Dashboard
    • Log Out
  1. Home >
  2. Blog >
  3. SANS Threat Analysis Rundown in Review: Breaking Down March 2025’s Discussion
370x370_katie-nickels.jpg
Katie Nickels

SANS Threat Analysis Rundown in Review: Breaking Down March 2025’s Discussion

Datadog’s Zack Allen joined to share threat intelligence resources and discuss tools and methodologies for analysts.

April 4, 2025

On this month’s SANS Threat Analysis Rundown, I was joined by Zack Allen, Senior Director of Security Research and Detection at Datadog, and author of the excellent weekly newsletter Detection Engineering Weekly. We covered a range of topics, from detection engineering and threat intelligence to group naming and recent compromises. Here's a recap of the discussion.

Detection Engineering and Threat Intelligence

Zack began by discussing his Detection Engineering Weekly newsletter, a resource he has maintained for over two years, in which he curates cybersecurity news, threat intelligence, and detection research. He explained that his sources include Reddit communities, RSS feeds, and security Slack groups, highlighting the importance of staying informed across multiple platforms. We discussed how we missed the height of “threat intel Twitter” (those were the days!), and I noted that Zack’s newsletter is one of the sources I use every month to prepare for STAR. We discussed how detection engineering and threat intelligence are complementary, with Zack emphasizing that good detection engineers must understand threats deeply to write effective detections.

Annual threat reports are also great resources for threat intelligence, and this is the time of the year when many of them are released. There’s a cool repository that contains many of these reports that I recommend checking out: Awesome Annual Security Reports. These reports are not just for passive reading—organizations should use them to inform their detection strategies by identifying common intrusion chains, prioritizing patching, and refining detections based on emerging threats. It’s worth looking at security reports from our own organizations, too: Datadog’s State of Cloud Security Report and Red Canary’s 2025 Threat Detection Report.

Recent Threat Reports

Zack shared several resources from his most recent Detection Engineering Weekly newsletter, including a TrustedSec blog outlining how red teams help improve blue team defenses by simulating real-world attacks. As Zack pointed out, red teamers make excellent detection engineers because they understand how attacks get caught and can design better detection rules. Zack and I agree that organizations don’t need perfect security—even one well-placed detection could block an entire intrusion chain. Regular adversary simulations combined with threat intelligence can dramatically improve an organization’s resilience.

In our chat, we highlighted several recent threat reports that are notable and worth knowing about. These include:

  • Fake browser updates: There’s an ongoing threat of fake browser update campaigns, where attackers use malicious pop-ups to trick users into downloading malware. These campaigns often impersonate Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox update alerts, making them highly convincing. Once clicked, the user unknowingly downloads a JavaScript payload or malicious installer that initiates the infection. As Zack emphasized, these attacks remain an effective initial access technique, often leading to ransomware infections or credential theft. Organizations can mitigate this risk by blocking JavaScript execution from untrusted sources and educating users on verifying browser updates through official settings, not pop-ups.
  • GitHub actions: Adversaries are increasingly using GitHub repositories to distribute malware-laced open-source packages. Zack gave an overview of a GitHub Actions attack in which an adversary compromised a popular GitHub workflow, allowing them to steal secrets from thousands of developers.
  • ESXi exploitation: We reviewed a blog detailing active exploitation of VMware ESXi environments, emphasizing the growing adversary interest in virtualization infrastructure. The exploitation involved leveraging misconfigurations and unpatched vulnerabilities to gain control over ESXi hypervisors, allowing adversaries to deploy ransomware or pivot deeper into networks. Zack pointed out that because many organizations overlook virtualization security, ESXi hosts often lack proper logging, monitoring, and segmentation, making them attractive targets. Defenders should apply the latest patches, restrict ESXi access, and enable robust logging to detect suspicious activity early.
  • Corporate espionage: Zack gave an overview of a recent corporate espionage case, where an insider at Rippling allegedly stole trade secrets from a competitor, Deel. The insider searched Slack more than 6,000 times for sensitive data, raising the question of whether organizations are monitoring for this type of activity. Zack pointed out that Slack does not log search history, meaning many organizations have no way to detect similar insider threats.

Tools and Methods for Analysts

There are tools and methodology available to analysts and defenders, including GuardDog, an open-source tool that detects malware within Python, npm, and Ruby packages. Zack’s team at Datadog found that adversaries are now specifically targeting security researchers and red teamers by planting malware in offensive security tools, and this tool can help identify that.

We also discussed a contentious topic, the naming of threat actors, as outlined in this blog post from Ryan Dewhirst. We acknowledge that there are pros and cons of different naming conventions, and that while names can be marketing-driven, they also help analysts quickly identify adversary clusters.

A blog about Lazarus Group infrastructure analysis was another source Zack highlighted in his newsletter due to how it demonstrated infrastructure hunting techniques using pivoting methods to track threat actor IP addresses and domains. Zack highlighted how open-source intelligence (OSINT) tools allow defenders to uncover relationships between domains, VPS providers, and malicious infrastructure. I added to that, that better attribution tracking and sourcing could help the community avoid duplicating work.

Wrapping up

We closed by highlighting a few events to check out:

  • SANS Ransomware Summit 2025 – Free, virtual event focused on the latest ransomware threats and defenses
  • SANS AI Cybersecurity Summit 2025 – Explores how AI is shaping cybersecurity from both an offensive and defensive perspective
  • RSA Conference 2025 – Zack and his Datadog teammates will present four talks at RSA Conference, covering cloud security, detection engineering, and adversary techniques.

Make sure to tune in for next month’s STAR Livestream and check out Zack’s Detection Engineering Weekly newsletter for more threat insights!

Share:
TwitterLinkedInFacebook
Copy url Url was copied to clipboard
Subscribe to SANS Newsletters
Receive curated news, vulnerabilities, & security awareness tips
United States
Canada
United Kingdom
Spain
Belgium
Denmark
Norway
Netherlands
Australia
India
Japan
Singapore
Afghanistan
Aland Islands
Albania
Algeria
American Samoa
Andorra
Angola
Anguilla
Antarctica
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba
Bosnia And Herzegovina
Botswana
Bouvet Island
Brazil
British Indian Ocean Territory
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Christmas Island
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Colombia
Comoros
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Cote D'ivoire
Croatia (Local Name: Hrvatska)
Curacao
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
East Timor
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
French Guiana
French Polynesia
French Southern Territories
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Heard And McDonald Islands
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Iraq
Ireland
Isle of Man
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Jersey
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Korea, Republic Of
Kosovo
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Lao People's Democratic Republic
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia, Federated States Of
Moldova, Republic Of
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands Antilles
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Niue
Norfolk Island
North Macedonia
Northern Mariana Islands
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Palestine
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Pitcairn
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Reunion
Romania
Russian Federation
Rwanda
Saint Bartholemy
Saint Kitts And Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
Saint Vincent And The Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome And Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Sint Maarten
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
South Africa
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
South Sudan
Sri Lanka
St. Helena
St. Pierre And Miquelon
Suriname
Svalbard And Jan Mayen Islands
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania, United Republic Of
Thailand
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad And Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Turks And Caicos Islands
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States Minor Outlying Islands
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City State
Venezuela
Vietnam
Virgin Islands (British)
Virgin Islands (U.S.)
Wallis And Futuna Islands
Western Sahara
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

By providing this information, you agree to the processing of your personal data by SANS as described in our Privacy Policy.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recommended Training

  • SEC530: Defensible Security Architecture and Engineering: Implementing Zero Trust for the Hybrid Enterprise
  • SEC501: Advanced Security Essentials - Enterprise Defender™
  • SEC541: Cloud Security Threat Detection™

Tags:
  • Digital Forensics, Incident Response & Threat Hunting

Related Content

Blog
340x340.png
Digital Forensics, Incident Response & Threat Hunting
January 27, 2025
A Visual Summary of SANS CTI Summit 2025
Check out these graphic recordings created in real-time throughout the event for SANS CTI Summit 2025
No Headshot Available
Alison Kim
read more
Blog
OO - Blog - November 2024's Top Threats_340 x 340.jpg
Digital Forensics, Incident Response & Threat Hunting
November 25, 2024
SANS Threat Analysis Rundown in Review: Breaking Down November 2024’s Top Threats
There’s always plenty of news on cyber threats to discuss, and this month was no exception.
370x370_katie-nickels.jpg
Katie Nickels
read more
Blog
DFIR - Blog - HUMINT and its Role within Cybersecurity_340 x 340.jpg
Digital Forensics, Incident Response & Threat Hunting
October 4, 2024
HUMINT and its Role within Cybersecurity
This blog explores HUMINT's role in cybersecurity, detailing its implementation, benefits, and potential risks.
370x370 Jon DiMaggio.png
Jon DiMaggio
read more
  • Company
  • Mission
  • Instructors
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Press
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • Policies
  • Training Programs
  • Work Study
  • Academies & Scholarships
  • Public Sector Partnerships
  • Law Enforcement
  • SkillsFuture Singapore
  • Degree Programs
  • Get Involved
  • Join the Community
  • Become an Instructor
  • Become a Sponsor
  • Speak at a Summit
  • Join the CISO Network
  • Award Programs
  • Partner Portal
Subscribe to SANS Newsletters
Receive curated news, vulnerabilities, & security awareness tips
United States
Canada
United Kingdom
Spain
Belgium
Denmark
Norway
Netherlands
Australia
India
Japan
Singapore
Afghanistan
Aland Islands
Albania
Algeria
American Samoa
Andorra
Angola
Anguilla
Antarctica
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba
Bosnia And Herzegovina
Botswana
Bouvet Island
Brazil
British Indian Ocean Territory
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Christmas Island
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Colombia
Comoros
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Cote D'ivoire
Croatia (Local Name: Hrvatska)
Curacao
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
East Timor
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
French Guiana
French Polynesia
French Southern Territories
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Heard And McDonald Islands
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Iraq
Ireland
Isle of Man
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Jersey
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Korea, Republic Of
Kosovo
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Lao People's Democratic Republic
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia, Federated States Of
Moldova, Republic Of
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands Antilles
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Niue
Norfolk Island
North Macedonia
Northern Mariana Islands
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Palestine
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Pitcairn
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Reunion
Romania
Russian Federation
Rwanda
Saint Bartholemy
Saint Kitts And Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
Saint Vincent And The Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome And Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Sint Maarten
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
South Africa
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
South Sudan
Sri Lanka
St. Helena
St. Pierre And Miquelon
Suriname
Svalbard And Jan Mayen Islands
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania, United Republic Of
Thailand
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad And Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Turks And Caicos Islands
Tuvalu
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States Minor Outlying Islands
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City State
Venezuela
Vietnam
Virgin Islands (British)
Virgin Islands (U.S.)
Wallis And Futuna Islands
Western Sahara
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

By providing this information, you agree to the processing of your personal data by SANS as described in our Privacy Policy.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
  • Contact
  • Careers
© 2025 The Escal Institute of Advanced Technologies, Inc. d/b/a SANS Institute. Our Terms and Conditions detail our trademark and copyright rights. Any unauthorized use is expressly prohibited.
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn