While known vulnerabilities pose significant risks to organizations, unknown vulnerabilities present an entirely different challenge. In our previous blog post, we explored how known vulnerabilities in software and infrastructure attract criminals of varying skill levels, with the main challenges being resource allocation for patching and maintaining visibility of risks in open-source components.
But what exactly are unknown vulnerabilities? These are weaknesses lurking in your systems that you haven’t yet discovered. They come in various forms, each presenting unique risks to your organization.
Common Types of Unknown Vulnerabilities
Misconfigured Systems
Default settings left unchanged, overly permissive access controls, and inadequately protected network services create prime targets for attackers. Cloud services are particularly vulnerable to misconfiguration – just ask Pegasus Airlines, who in 2022 had nearly 6.5 TB of data (approximately 23 million files) exposed through misconfigured AWS S3 buckets. Even tech giants like Microsoft aren’t immune to these issues.
Hidden Backdoors
While manufacturer-installed support programs might seem convenient, they can inadvertently create unauthorized access points to your systems. What begins as a time-saving feature can become a serious security liability.
Weak or Missing Credentials
Basic security oversights, like unchanged default credentials or failure to update compromised passwords, can grant attackers easy access to your network. Without robust authentication measures, you risk exposing confidential information or losing control of entire systems.
Shadow IT
Marketing campaigns and financial forecasting often involve systems operating outside IT’s oversight, including web servers, IoT devices, and cloud applications. These shadow IT elements can harbor unknown vulnerabilities that put your organization at risk.
Internal Application Vulnerabilities
Web applications frequently contain flaws that attackers can exploit, such as SQL injection vulnerabilities or cross-site scripting (XSS) issues. Poorly secured APIs can expose your systems to unauthorized access and data breaches.
Network Infrastructure Weaknesses
Core components like firewalls, routers, and switches might contain vulnerabilities that compromise your entire network. Similarly, database management systems can have security gaps that lead to unauthorized data access.
Addressing Unknown Vulnerabilities
Unlike known vulnerabilities that regular scanning can detect, unknown vulnerabilities require a comprehensive, multi-layered security approach. This is crucial because attackers often gain access through one weakness but need different tactics to move laterally, escalate privileges, and achieve their objectives. Here’s how to protect your organization:
1. Penetration Testing
Penetration testing remains the gold standard for uncovering unknown vulnerabilities. These simulated attacks by ethical hackers employ the same tools and techniques used by criminals to expose weaknesses in your systems.
When selecting a penetration testing provider, look for recognized certifications such as CompTIA PenTest+, CREST, OSCP, CEH, or CPTE. These credentials demonstrate adherence to industry standards and best practices. Effective penetration testing should:
– Simulate sophisticated, real-world attack scenarios
– Chain multiple vulnerabilities and misconfigurations together
– Exploit dangerous default settings and harvested credentials
– Provide insights comparable to those discovered by experienced security professionals
2. Security Assessments
You can’t address what you don’t know exists. Regular security assessments against recognized standards like the CIS Controls or NIST Framework help identify your defensive strengths and weaknesses. Remember to consider any security requirements from customers or partners, and reassess at least every six months as your attack surface evolves.
3. Continuous Monitoring
Cyber attackers don’t clock out, and they often strike during holidays when organizations operate with reduced staff and distracted employees. For midsize organizations with limited IT resources, threat detection becomes particularly challenging.
While building an in-house Security Operations Center (SOC) isn’t feasible for most organizations, Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services offer a practical solution. MDR providers monitor your entire infrastructure – from endpoints and mobile devices to network perimeter, cloud services, and applications – analyzing data streams for malicious activity. This scalable solution brings enterprise-grade security to businesses of all sizes without requiring extensive internal resources.
4. Threat Intelligence
Staying informed about the threat landscape is crucial, but the daily flood of security updates can overwhelm IT professionals already juggling multiple responsibilities. A curated security feed offers an efficient solution, delivering carefully selected, relevant content without information overload. When choosing a threat alert service, prioritize vendors that offer strategically curated content, helping your team stay informed without sacrificing other critical duties.
Taking Action
By proactively investigating these potential vulnerabilities, organizations can identify and address critical security weaknesses before malicious actors exploit them. To learn how Defendify can help protect your organization, contact us today.
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