What is Hyperjacking? How to Prevent Hyperjacking Attacks

Hyperjacking is a sophisticated cyber attack where an attacker takes control of a hypervisor, the component that manages a virtual environment in a computer system. This article  TipsMake  will explain how hyperjacking works, the signs to recognize it, and effective prevention methods.

What is Hyperjacking?

Hyperjacking involves a sophisticated type of cyber attack where malicious actors gain control of a critical component called the hypervisor, which manages the virtual environment within the main computer system. The goal of this attack is to manipulate the hypervisor to perform unauthorized actions without being detected by the rest of the computer.

What is Hyperjacking?

Hyperjacking attackers target the computer system layer that lies beneath virtual machines (VMs). By doing so, they can execute malicious code undetected, bypassing the monitoring of the VMs running above.

The rogue version of the hypervisor allows them to take control of the entire computer system. Conventional security measures often go undetected by this type of attack, because the main operating system (OS) does not realize that it is being tricked by the rogue hypervisor.

In addition to gaining unauthorized access, hyperjacking can also be used to conduct personal surveillance, remotely manipulate connected devices, and steal sensitive information without leaving a trace. In short, hyperjacking opens a secret door for cybercriminals to exploit your computing environment.

This article will explain how hyperjacking works, how to tell if your hypervisor might be at risk, how to prevent hyperjacking, and what to do in case these measures fail and you become the victim of a hyperjacking attack.

How hyperjacking works

Hyperjacking works by hijacking the hypervisor with the aim of taking control of the server. Here is a step-by-step look at how hyperjacking works:

Targeting the hypervisor

Cybercriminals initiate attacks by targeting hypervisors and VMs. The hypervisor becomes the central point for their intrusion strategy. For example, in wired hyperjacking cases, attackers use physical hardware devices to inject malicious code into the hypervisor.

Install fake hypervisor

Attackers use a phishing tactic by installing a rogue hypervisor. This can be done through methods such as infiltrating a rogue hypervisor that resides under the main hypervisor or directly controlling the root hypervisor. Additionally, attackers can perform a hyperjacking scheme by deploying a rogue hypervisor that resides on top of an existing hypervisor.

Operate in secret

A rogue hypervisor operates in stealth mode, avoiding detection. It operates underneath the regular machine, allowing attackers to easily penetrate computer servers. This type of attack can have widespread impact, affecting an entire company or organization before being detected.

Exploiting compromised systems

Once an attacker has successfully taken control of the hypervisor, they can perform a variety of malicious activities. These activities include personal surveillance, device manipulation, theft of sensitive information, and even interference with the virtual environment hosted inside the computer.

How to know if hypervisor is hacked

Hyperjacking can be very difficult to detect. Conventional security measures do not work effectively here, because the nature of a hyperjacking attack means that a conventional computer system cannot tell whether it has been hacked or not.

However, there are some common signs that can indicate a compromised hypervisor, such as:

1. Detecting Suspicious Activity: If you start noticing strange things happening in your virtual system like severe performance drops, frequent crashes, or unexplained errors, there is a possibility that the hypervisor has been tampered with.
2. Unusual resource usage: If your system suddenly starts using more resources than usual such as processor power, memory space, or network bandwidth without you being able to point to a valid reason, this could be a sign that the hypervisor's security has been compromised.
3. Signs of unauthorized access: If you see signs of someone accessing the hypervisor or VMs without permission, such as new user accounts appearing suddenly, access rights changing unexpectedly, or strange things happening on the network, you may be experiencing a hyperjacking attack.
4. Detect unknown elements: If you happen to find unfamiliar processes or services running on hypervisors or VMs that you did not install, it is likely that malware or unauthorized access is present and active.
5. Tampering with settings: If you observe changes in the hypervisor configuration settings that you did not initiate, such as different network settings, security adjustments, or new VMs that you did not create, it is a sign that someone may be tampering with the system.

5 ways to prevent hyperjacking

Faced with the growing threat of hyperjacking attacks, it is essential to strengthen your defenses. By implementing proactive server security measures such as keeping your hypervisor up to date, strengthening access controls, and implementing intrusion detection systems, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to this silent and potentially damaging cyberattack.

Maintain hypervisor security

Optimize your security by using dedicated tools that act as virtual sentinels. Firewalls, antivirus software, and intrusion detection systems act as sentinels in your virtual domain. These tools quickly identify any potential threats lurking around the hypervisor and take immediate action to neutralize them.

Furthermore, by incorporating encryption techniques, you can wrap your sensitive data in an impenetrable layer of protection. Encryption is like a digital key, rendering your data unreadable to unauthorized eyes. This proactive approach ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and accessibility of your data to only those with the authorized decryption key, even in the event of a breach in your virtual space.

Keep hypervisor and VMs up to date

A solid defense against hyperjacking starts with the practice of regularly updating and patching the hypervisor software. This includes keeping the hypervisor up to date with the latest patches and security updates.

Complementing this strategy, you should perform regular security assessments targeting the hypervisor. Performing comprehensive security assessments and regular risk assessments is an important part of maintaining a secure virtual environment. These assessments help detect vulnerabilities and weaknesses in the hypervisor architecture early, allowing timely remediation measures to be taken.

Enhanced access control

Enhance access control by implementing role-based access control (RBAC), which customizes user access based on their job roles and responsibilities. This careful allocation ensures that users only have access to the specific resources and functions relevant to their tasks, minimizing the possibility of unauthorized access.

Continuing in this vein, regularly evaluate user access rights through periodic reviews to ensure accuracy and compliance with the principle of least privilege. Eliminating redundant or unnecessary access rights helps reduce potential vulnerabilities.

Implement intrusion detection and prevention

Start intrusion detection by deploying two essential tools: Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS).

IDS acts as a vigilant watchdog for network traffic, constantly scanning for any unusual or malicious behavior. It analyzes network packets, monitors events, and sends alerts when it detects potential intrusion attempts. This proactive approach ensures that you are promptly alerted to any unauthorized activity that could signal an impending hyperjacking attack.

For added protection, consider combining an IDS with an IPS. IPS not only identifies suspicious activity, but also takes immediate action against it. By leveraging automated responses, IPS proactively blocks potential intrusions, acting as a digital barrier to protect both the hypervisor and VMs.

Additionally, enable comprehensive log monitoring in your hypervisor and VMs. By regularly reviewing logs, you can detect any anomalies or unusual activity that may indicate an ongoing or attempted hyperjacking attack.

Improve employee training and awareness

Educate employees about the dangers of hyperjacking. Provide them with a clear understanding of how hyperjacking can compromise hypervisors and VMs. This education effort should emphasize the importance of practices such as using strong passwords, avoiding suspicious links or downloads, and immediately reporting any suspicious activity they encounter.

Additionally, conduct regular security awareness training sessions. Update employees on the latest security risks and best practices. Engage them with interactive training methods, including simulated phishing attacks, security quizzes, and similar activities.

Additionally, establish a solid security policy that outlines your organization's security expectations and requirements. This comprehensive policy should cover important aspects such as password management, access control, and incident response. By establishing a clear set of guidelines, you provide employees with a roadmap to follow security best practices.

What to do in case of hyperjacking attack

If you suspect that your system may be under threat from hyperjacking, it is essential to act quickly and decisively. Here is a step-by-step guide on what to do if you have reason to believe that hyperjacking may be occurring:

What to do in case of hyperjacking attack

Isolate from the network

The first thing you should do if you suspect you have been the victim of a hyperjacking attack is to quickly disconnect the affected system from the network. This prevents further damage and limits the attacker's access to your virtual environment, minimizing the possibility of stealing data or performing malicious actions.

Notify IT team

Immediately notify your IT team or security professionals of a suspected hyperjacking attack. Provide details of the symptoms observed and any unusual activity. This will assist in launching a thorough investigation and implementing the necessary containment measures.

Security Assessment

Conduct a comprehensive security assessment of your hypervisor and VMs. This step helps uncover potential vulnerabilities and determine the scope of the attack, helping to assess the extent of the damage. It is also an opportunity to uncover security weaknesses that need to be addressed for future protection.

Implement incident response procedures

Activate your incident response procedures to ensure your organization responds quickly and effectively to hyperjacking attacks. This includes containment strategies, investigation procedures, and security recovery for virtual environments. The plan should also address communicating with stakeholders, such as customers or partners, if their data is compromised.

Update security measures

Evaluate and update your security measures to protect against future hyperjacking incidents. Implement security patches and updates, strengthen access controls, and increase employee training and awareness. Regularly reviewing and adjusting security policies helps ensure they are aligned with the latest threats and best practices.

Keep evidence

Preserve all evidence related to the suspected hyperjacking attack. This includes log files, network data, and system images. This evidence aids in attack analysis and dissection, and can also serve as forensic evidence if necessary.

Notify law enforcement

Particularly if the hyperjacking attack is suspected to be related to criminal activity such as data theft, it is wise to notify law enforcement agencies such as the police. In some cases, their involvement can lead to a formal investigation and legal action against the potential attackers. Even if such action is not taken, this information can help cyber agencies better understand the threats at play and spread the word so other organizations know what to watch out for.

Conclusion: Robust VM security helps mitigate hyperjacking

In an era of increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, the presence of hyperjacking underscores the need to implement stringent security measures in virtual environments. A multi-layered security approach serves as the foundation for protecting against hyperjacking.

By adopting a comprehensive approach that includes careful hypervisor maintenance, strategic security tool deployment, meticulous access controls, employee education, and ongoing monitoring, organizations can effectively mitigate the risks associated with hyperjacking.

Jessica Tanner

Update 12 February 2025