The Perils of Phishing Attacks: A Case Study on DocuSign

Phishing attacks continue to be a prevalent threat, with attackers employing various techniques to deceive users and compromise their personal and financial information. The DocuSign phishing campaign specifically targets users of the popular electronic signature service, DocuSign, employing sophisticated cyber-attack techniques. In this campaign, attackers send deceptive emails that appear to be legitimate DocuSign notifications, tricking recipients into believing they have received an important document that requires their attention. These fraudulent emails often contain convincing branding, logos, and formatting, making them difficult to distinguish from genuine DocuSign communications.

Once a recipient falls for the ruse and interacts with the email, they may be directed to a malicious website that mimics the official DocuSign login page. Unsuspecting victims may unwittingly enter their login credentials, providing attackers with unauthorized access to their accounts. This compromises the victims' sensitive information, including personal data, financial details, and potentially confidential documents stored within their DocuSign accounts.

Campaign Details:

• Attack Type: Phishing

• Targeted Platform: Email accounts

• Tactics: Deceptive emails, imitation of DocuSign branding

• Potential Impact: Unauthorized access to DocuSign accounts, data theft, compromised personal and financial information, potential exposure of confidential documents

How to Spot a DocuSign Phish, What to Do About It, and Mitigation Measures

Recognizing and responding to DocuSign phishing emails is crucial to protect yourself from falling victim to these scams. Here are some specific signs to watch out for:

• Pay attention to the salutation: Legitimate DocuSign emails typically address you by your name. If you receive an email with a generic salutation like "Dear Receiver" or "Dear Recipient," it is likely a red flag.

• Check the security code: DocuSign emails contain a security code, usually a long string of characters. Be cautious if the security code provided in the email is unusually short, as it could indicate a phishing attempt.

• Review the email's content and grammar: Phishing emails often contain spelling or grammatical errors. Exercise caution if you notice sentences that seem slightly off or if they are written by a non-native speaker.

• Examine the links and URLs: Legitimate DocuSign emails typically have links that read "REVIEW DOCUMENT" for documents that require your signature. Be wary if the email contains different link texts or if the document is hosted on a suspicious domain like feedproxy.google.com instead of docusign.net.

Recommended Mitigation Measures:

• Be cautious of emails claiming to be from DocuSign or similar services.

• Verify email links by hovering over them before clicking.

• Check sender addresses for legitimacy and indicators of spoofing.

• Do not provide personal or financial information in response to suspicious emails.

Fake DocuSign Attachments

In some cases, phishing emails may include attachments that pretend to be from DocuSign. Here's what to look out for:

• Spoofed sender address: Phishers may spoof the sender address to make it appear as if the email is from DocuSign. Exercise cautious when opening attachments from unknown or suspicious senders.

• Fake login screens: Phishing attachments may present users with fake login screens, typically designed to resemble legitimate login pages. These screens aim to harvest your password. Always exercise caution when prompted to enter your login credentials, especially if it seems unexpected or unusual.

DocuSign Scam Targeted More Than 10,000 Inboxes

Cyber attackers tried to steal credentials from over 10,000 individuals across multiple organizations in a campaign impersonating DocuSign. The phishing emails utilized subject lines such as "Please DocuSign: Approve Document 2023-01-11" to create a sense of urgency. The attackers exploited the familiarity and trust associated with DocuSign emails, utilizing techniques to make the emails appear legitimate.

In conclusion, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has further increased the likelihood of such phishing attacks, as electronic signatures are favored to avoid physical contact. Cyber attackers are exploiting the trust associated with services like DocuSign to deceive users and steal valuable information. By being vigilant, verifying email authenticity, and following the recommended mitigation strategies, we can better protect ourselves and our organizations against these phishing threats.