Credential Access: GPG Key Reconnaissance

This document describes a threat finding type in Security Command Center. Threat findings are generated by threat detectors when they detect a potential threat in your cloud resources. For a full list of available threat findings, see Threat findings index.

Overview

A process was detected searching for GPG keys. This behavior suggests an attempt to locate and extract stored security keys used for encrypting and decrypting documents, and authenticating documents with digital signatures. Attackers use security keys to gain unauthorized access to critical information and systems, making this a high-severity detection that requires immediate investigation.

Agent Platform Threat Detection is the source of this finding.

How to respond

To respond to this finding, do the following:

Review finding details

  1. Open the Credential Access: GPG Key Reconnaissance finding as directed in Reviewing findings. Review the details on the Summary and JSON tabs.

  2. On the Summary tab, review the information in the following sections:

    • What was detected, especially the following fields:
      • Program binary: the absolute path of the executed binary
      • Arguments: the arguments passed during binary execution
    • Affected resource, especially the following fields:
      • Resource full name: the full resource name of the affected Vertex AI Agent Engine resource

  3. In the detail view of the finding, click the JSON tab.

  4. In the JSON, note the following fields.

    • resource:
      • project_display_name: the name of the project that contains the cluster.
    • finding:
      • processes:
      • binary:
        • path: the full path of the executed binary.
      • args: the arguments that were provided while executing the binary.

  5. Identify other findings that occurred at a similar time for this AI agent. Related findings might indicate that this activity was malicious, instead of a failure to follow best practices.

  6. Review the settings of the affected AI agent.

  7. Check the logs for the affected AI agent.

Research attack and response methods

  1. Review MITRE ATT&CK framework entry for this finding type: Unsecured Credentials: Private Keys.
  2. To develop a response plan, combine your investigation results with MITRE research.

Implement your response

For response recommendations, see Respond to Vertex AI Agent Engine threat findings.

What's next