Lateral movement in cybersecurity involves techniques attackers use to move through a network to find and exploit high-value targets. This article will explain what lateral movement is, the risks it presents, and how to prevent it.
Understanding Lateral Movement in Cybersecurity
This phase of an attack is often marked by the use of various methods to traverse the network, making it a major concern in cybersecurity due to its sophistication and potential for causing significant damage.
Lateral movement aims to compromise systems and facilitate malicious activities, often going unnoticed as attackers disguise their actions as legitimate network traffic.
Attackers use tools ranging from open-source options to built-in Windows utilities to gather data, create movement paths, and identify target data for exploitation.
Following initial access, attackers concentrate on credential theft and privilege escalation, using techniques like credential dumping to retrieve valid credentials for network access. Keyloggers and the Windows Credential Editor are often used to harvest credentials.
Armed with credentials and elevated privileges, attackers exploit vulnerabilities to maintain network access. Tools like Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI), and Server Message Block (SMB) aid in lateral movement.
Attackers may observe systems for extended periods, learning about vulnerabilities and operations. This prolonged observation helps identify and exploit vulnerabilities, ensuring control over multiple network devices.
Common Techniques Used in Lateral Movement Attacks
Attackers use various techniques to navigate networks during lateral movement. Methods include internal spear phishing, remote desktop protocol exploitation, and pass-the-hash attacks. These techniques are essential for advanced persistent threats, enabling access to high-value targets and objectives like data exfiltration and credential theft.
Understanding these lateral movement techniques helps prevent lateral movement and mitigate associated risks using the lateral movement technique to stop lateral movement.
Internal Spear Phishing
Internal spear phishing helps attackers move across the network undetected. Once inside a legitimate user’s account, attackers use internal spear phishing to obtain more credentials. Keylogging tools capture passwords as users type them.
This expands attackers’ reach within the network and escalates their privileges.
Pass-the-Hash and Pass-the-Ticket Attacks
Pass-the-hash and pass-the-ticket attacks let attackers authenticate without the user’s password. Pass-the-hash attacks involve using a captured password hash to authenticate on other systems, bypassing security controls. Pass-the-ticket attacks entail stealing Kerberos tickets, granting access to services without the user’s password.
These methods enhance attackers’ network access, facilitating lateral movement and achieving objectives.
Remote Services Exploitation
Exploiting remote services is crucial for lateral movement. Attackers use tools like RDP, WMI, and SMB to maintain access across multiple systems. Exploiting remote services lets attackers control systems and execute commands, causing severe breaches and unauthorized data access.
This technique bypasses security controls and enables minimally detected lateral movement paths.
Stages of Lateral Movement Attacks
Lateral movement attacks have structured stages that help attackers reach high-value assets or critical systems. Stages include the initial breach and foothold, internal reconnaissance and credential gathering, and executing objectives while covering tracks.
Understanding these stages is key to detecting and preventing lateral movement, as each stage offers unique intervention opportunities to map lateral movement paths.
Stage 1: Initial Breach and Establishing Foothold
The initial breach begins a lateral movement attack. Attackers gain unauthorized network access via phishing or exploiting vulnerabilities. Inside, they use acquired credentials to access additional systems, expanding their foothold.
Tools like PsExec facilitate lateral movement by running scripts and launching processes on multiple computers without installing software. SSH hijacking involves hijacking a legitimate user’s ssh session to gain lateral access and control over the network.
Stage 2: Internal Reconnaissance and Credential Gathering
Internal reconnaissance helps attackers identify potential targets and paths for lateral movement. After initial access, attackers conduct reconnaissance to discover network layouts and operating systems. Methods like remote services exploitation and internal spear phishing are used to traverse the network and gather credentials.
This information is vital for escalating privileges and controlling multiple network systems.
Stage 3: Executing Objectives and Covering Tracks
With credentials and network maps in hand, threat actors execute objectives like data exfiltration and device sabotage. During this stage, attackers maintain a low profile to avoid detection while exfiltrating data. If detected, they may establish backdoors for re-entry and refine tactics to continue undetected.
Persistent lateral movement attacks can lead to multiple incidents over time, including ransomware deployment that locks out users and threatens data integrity.
Risks and Impacts of Lateral Movement
Lateral movement risks include data breaches, financial losses, and compromised system integrity. It lets attackers escalate from initial compromise to widespread network infiltration, increasing potential damage. Studies indicate lateral movement is involved in about 25% of cyberattacks, with prolonged dwell time raising the likelihood of success.
The average cost of a breach involving lateral movement is estimated at 4.35 million. Prolonged access lets attackers strengthen their foothold, complicating detection and response.
Data Exfiltration and Espionage
During lateral movement, attackers exfiltrate sensitive data using social engineering, malware, and hacking. A common impact of data breaches is the transfer and ransom of stolen data. Reports show the average number of systems compromised per incident has increased, now 1.5 times more than in previous years.
Attackers maintain a low profile while exfiltrating data, challenging security teams to identify and mitigate the threat.
Ransomware Deployment
Ransomware spread via lateral movement locks multiple systems, amplifying organizational impact. Lateral movement enables ransomware spread, granting attackers access to multiple network systems. Consequences of successful ransomware deployment include data encryption, operational disruptions, and ransom demands.
Understanding ransomware spread via lateral movement is crucial for enhancing cybersecurity measures and mitigating risks.
Discover Fidelis Security’s comprehensive approach, which includes:
- Proactive Threat Detection
- Gaining Total Awareness
- Seeking Actionable Threat Intelligence
Compromised System Integrity
Maintaining access often involves exploiting vulnerabilities over time, allowing attackers to gain access and gather more information. Prolonged access lets attackers navigate and compromise system integrity, vital for business operations, gaining access to further exploit weaknesses.
Compromised system integrity can cause significant disruptions to operations and security posture. Robust defenses are essential to protect system integrity and prevent unauthorized prolonged access.
Best Practices for Detecting & Preventing Lateral Movement
Detecting and preventing lateral movement necessitates a multi-layered security approach. Proactive threat hunting identifies potential lateral movement activities before they escalate. It involves identifying anomalous network activity and implementing multiple security control layers. Quick detection and removal of intruders are crucial to avoid losses from lateral movement.
Combining security tools and approaches creates a robust defense, significantly reducing lateral movement risk.
1. Implementing Network Segmentation
Network segmentation divides networks into smaller segments, enhancing security by limiting access to critical assets. This approach prevents lateral movement by containing breaches and complicating segment movement for attackers.
Network hierarchies strengthen this defense by strictly controlling and monitoring access to sensitive data and systems.
2. Utilizing Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions offer real-time monitoring to identify suspicious activities across endpoints. Leveraging User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA), EDR systems detect user behavior anomalies, such as accessing files from unusual locations, indicating potential lateral movement.
Analyzing historical endpoint events and trends optimizes security systems and enhances unauthorized activity detection. Adopting trusted cybersecurity processes with EDR and UEBA is recommended for identifying lateral movement and other threats.
3. Adopting Zero Trust Architecture
Zero Trust Architecture assumes every user and device could be a threat, enforcing context-based access policies. This approach minimizes exposure by limiting user access to necessary tasks, continuously verifying identities, and providing minimal access.
Unlike traditional network segmentation, Zero Trust Architecture uses software-defined microsegmentation, offering visibility and control over users and traffic. Monitoring and verification of traffic, along with strong multi-factor authentication (MFA), further enhance security by ensuring only verified users can access specific resources.
4. Regular Software Updates and Patching
Keeping software and firmware up to date is crucial to close security gaps that could be exploited by attackers. Enforcing strict patch management policies ensures timely updates of all critical systems, reducing vulnerability windows for attackers.
Automating software updates helps ensure timely application of patches, minimizing the risk of exploitation due to outdated software.
5. Enforcing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of defense, making it more difficult for attackers to access systems using compromised credentials. Implementing MFA significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access from stolen user credentials, complicating the process for attackers trying to use these credentials to access sensitive systems.
This additional security control is essential for preventing lateral movement and enhancing overall network security.
6. Conducting Threat Hunting and Incident Response
Proactive threat hunting is critical for identifying potential lateral movement activities before they inflict significant damage. Combining network segmentation and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions enhances the detection of abnormal network protocols and suspicious activities indicative of lateral movement.
Adopting a Zero Trust architecture ensures that only verified users can access specific resources, minimizing unauthorized lateral movement. Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) monitor network traffic for suspicious activities and can block potential threats.
User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) employs machine learning to detect anomalies in user behavior, indicating potential lateral movement. Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) automates responses to detected threats, reducing reaction times and effectively mitigating risks.
Tools and Solutions for Enhanced Security
Leveraging advanced tools and solutions can significantly bolster defenses to mitigate lateral movement attacks. Detection technologies employing artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities enhance the ability to detect lateral movement activities.
Implementing Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS), User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA), and Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) provides a comprehensive security posture that can effectively counter advanced persistent threats and other sophisticated attacks.
Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS)
Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) are essential security technologies that protect networks by monitoring traffic for suspicious activities. IDS monitors network traffic and generates alerts when it detects potentially harmful activity or policy violations. IPS not only detects potential threats but also takes immediate action to block or mitigate them based on predefined rules.
The integration of automated response features in security systems significantly reduces the time between threat detection and remediation, improving overall network safety.
User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA)
User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) uses machine learning to analyze user activities and detect anomalies. UEBA employs advanced machine learning techniques to identify unusual patterns in user activities that may indicate lateral movement. By establishing what constitutes normal user behavior, UEBA systems can create baselines that make it easier to detect anomalies suggesting unauthorized access.
Overall, UEBA plays a critical role in enhancing security measures by detecting potential lateral movement attempts through behavioral anomalies.
Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR)
Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) platforms automate responses to detected threats, reducing reaction times and mitigating risks effectively. SOAR platforms integrate incident response workflows to automate tasks and improve efficiency during threat detection.
Automating responses not only speeds up incident handling but also allows security teams to focus on higher-level strategic mitigation efforts. This robust approach enhances overall security posture, making organizations more resilient against evolving threats.
Fidelis Security for Lateral Movement Detection
Fidelis Security offers comprehensive solutions for detecting lateral movement by enhancing visibility and integrating risk assessment with deep visibility to effectively identify and classify risky assets and users. The Fidelis Network Detection and Response (NDR) platform utilizes automated risk-aware terrain mapping and patented traffic analysis tools to provide comprehensive internal visibility and monitor network traffic for suspicious activities.
This approach ensures that organizations can detect and respond to lateral movement threats promptly, minimizing potential damage and enhancing overall security posture.
Conclusion
Understanding lateral movement in cybersecurity is crucial for protecting networks from sophisticated attacks. By recognizing the techniques used by attackers, the stages of lateral movement, and the risks involved, organizations can implement effective strategies to detect and prevent these threats. Leveraging advanced tools and adopting best practices, such as regular software updates, multi-factor authentication, and proactive threat hunting, can significantly enhance security measures. By staying vigilant and continuously improving defenses, organizations can mitigate the impact of lateral movement and safeguard their critical assets.
Frequently Ask Questions
What is lateral movement in cybersecurity?
Lateral movement is the process by which cybercriminals navigate through an infected network to identify vulnerabilities and gain access to sensitive data and critical assets. Understanding this technique is crucial for developing robust cybersecurity measures to protect your systems.
How do attackers gain initial access for lateral movement?
Attackers typically gain initial access via phishing, malware infections, or supply chain compromises, enabling them to conduct reconnaissance and identify targets for lateral movement. This initial infiltration is crucial for their subsequent actions within the network.
What are some common techniques used in lateral movement attacks?
Lateral movement attacks often utilize techniques such as internal spear phishing, pass-the-hash, pass-the-ticket attacks, and exploitation of remote services to navigate within a network. Understanding these methods is crucial for enhancing your cybersecurity defenses.
What are the risks and impacts of lateral movement?
Lateral movement poses significant risks such as data breaches, financial losses, and compromised system integrity. It can result in prolonged unauthorized access, increasing the time attackers remain undetected within your network.
How can organizations detect and prevent lateral movement?
To effectively detect and prevent lateral movement, organizations should implement network segmentation, utilize Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) systems, adopt a Zero Trust Architecture, and adhere to best practices such as regular software updates and multi-factor authentication. These strategies create a robust security posture that minimizes risks.
