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Questions and Answers
Which motivation is primarily driven by the desire to take revenge on a perceived wrongdoing?
Which motivation is primarily driven by the desire to take revenge on a perceived wrongdoing?
What term describes attacks conducted due to attackers' philosophical or political beliefs?
What term describes attacks conducted due to attackers' philosophical or political beliefs?
Which motivation involves the unauthorized transfer of sensitive information from a computer?
Which motivation involves the unauthorized transfer of sensitive information from a computer?
Service disruption can serve several fundamental purposes, which of the following is NOT one of them?
Service disruption can serve several fundamental purposes, which of the following is NOT one of them?
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What motivation involves using cyber attacks for strategic military objectives?
What motivation involves using cyber attacks for strategic military objectives?
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What is the primary goal of blackmail attacks?
What is the primary goal of blackmail attacks?
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Which of the following methods is commonly used in blackmail attacks?
Which of the following methods is commonly used in blackmail attacks?
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Which type of information is typically at risk during a blackmail attack?
Which type of information is typically at risk during a blackmail attack?
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What is the term for phishing campaigns that use impersonation via messages to extract sensitive information from victims?
What is the term for phishing campaigns that use impersonation via messages to extract sensitive information from victims?
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Which method involves embedding malicious code within an image file to execute an attack?
Which method involves embedding malicious code within an image file to execute an attack?
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Which threat vector is characterized by malware being disguised as legitimate files sent through various channels?
Which threat vector is characterized by malware being disguised as legitimate files sent through various channels?
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What method involves leaving a malware-infected device in a location for a target to find and use?
What method involves leaving a malware-infected device in a location for a target to find and use?
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What attack technique exploits vulnerabilities in Bluetooth technology to take control of devices?
What attack technique exploits vulnerabilities in Bluetooth technology to take control of devices?
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Which of the following describes the type of attack that can send a specially crafted packet to deny service to a Bluetooth device?
Which of the following describes the type of attack that can send a specially crafted packet to deny service to a Bluetooth device?
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What is a significant risk associated with unsecure wireless networks?
What is a significant risk associated with unsecure wireless networks?
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Which type of threat is NOT typically associated with removable devices?
Which type of threat is NOT typically associated with removable devices?
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What is the primary concern associated with third-party vendor risks?
What is the primary concern associated with third-party vendor risks?
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Which type of vulnerability involves the absence of cybersecurity protocols?
Which type of vulnerability involves the absence of cybersecurity protocols?
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What is a critical step in the vendor assessment process?
What is a critical step in the vendor assessment process?
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What is a significant risk posed by secondary or aftermarket sources for hardware acquisition?
What is a significant risk posed by secondary or aftermarket sources for hardware acquisition?
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Which of the following considerations is essential when evaluating managed service providers (MSPs)?
Which of the following considerations is essential when evaluating managed service providers (MSPs)?
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What type of attack focuses on exploiting vulnerabilities in suppliers or service providers to compromise more secure systems?
What type of attack focuses on exploiting vulnerabilities in suppliers or service providers to compromise more secure systems?
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Which of the following should be assessed to ensure data security when working with software providers?
Which of the following should be assessed to ensure data security when working with software providers?
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What kind of agreements can provide specific safeguards between businesses and vendors?
What kind of agreements can provide specific safeguards between businesses and vendors?
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What is the primary aim of the federal statute related to semiconductor research and manufacturing?
What is the primary aim of the federal statute related to semiconductor research and manufacturing?
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Which of the following best describes the purpose of vendor due diligence?
Which of the following best describes the purpose of vendor due diligence?
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How does penetration testing contribute to cybersecurity practices in supply chains?
How does penetration testing contribute to cybersecurity practices in supply chains?
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What is the significance of incorporating a right-to-audit clause in contracts with vendors?
What is the significance of incorporating a right-to-audit clause in contracts with vendors?
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What role do independent assessments play in vendor evaluation?
What role do independent assessments play in vendor evaluation?
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What is the primary focus of supply chain analysis in the context of cybersecurity?
What is the primary focus of supply chain analysis in the context of cybersecurity?
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What is the purpose of regular monitoring and audits in the supply chain?
What is the purpose of regular monitoring and audits in the supply chain?
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What benefit does education and collaboration provide within the industry regarding cybersecurity?
What benefit does education and collaboration provide within the industry regarding cybersecurity?
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What distinguishes misinformation from disinformation?
What distinguishes misinformation from disinformation?
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Which term describes the moment when a system checks access permissions?
Which term describes the moment when a system checks access permissions?
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What is a Time-of-Check-to-Time-of-Use (TOCTTOU) issue linked to?
What is a Time-of-Check-to-Time-of-Use (TOCTTOU) issue linked to?
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What is the primary risk associated with race conditions?
What is the primary risk associated with race conditions?
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What can buffer overflow vulnerabilities allow an attacker to do?
What can buffer overflow vulnerabilities allow an attacker to do?
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How can developers prevent Time-of-Check-to-Time-of-Use vulnerabilities?
How can developers prevent Time-of-Check-to-Time-of-Use vulnerabilities?
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What does the Target of Evaluation (TOE) refer to?
What does the Target of Evaluation (TOE) refer to?
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Which consequence can arise from both misinformation and disinformation?
Which consequence can arise from both misinformation and disinformation?
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What is the main goal of a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack?
What is the main goal of a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack?
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How does an amplified denial-of-service attack function?
How does an amplified denial-of-service attack function?
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What role does a spoofed IP address play in a reflected denial-of-service attack?
What role does a spoofed IP address play in a reflected denial-of-service attack?
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What is a significant threat posed by combining reflected and amplified denial-of-service attacks?
What is a significant threat posed by combining reflected and amplified denial-of-service attacks?
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What is an important characteristic of the traffic generated by a DNS server in an amplified denial-of-service attack?
What is an important characteristic of the traffic generated by a DNS server in an amplified denial-of-service attack?
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What is the primary outcome of domain hijacking?
What is the primary outcome of domain hijacking?
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What common method can lead to a domain being acquired maliciously?
What common method can lead to a domain being acquired maliciously?
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Which of the following techniques is commonly associated with DNS poisoning?
Which of the following techniques is commonly associated with DNS poisoning?
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How can users detect domain hijacking effectively?
How can users detect domain hijacking effectively?
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What is a potential long-term effect of a successful DNS cache poisoning attack?
What is a potential long-term effect of a successful DNS cache poisoning attack?
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What describes a password spraying attack?
What describes a password spraying attack?
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What is a characteristic of dictionary attacks?
What is a characteristic of dictionary attacks?
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Which tool is known for its built-in capabilities for brute-force attacks?
Which tool is known for its built-in capabilities for brute-force attacks?
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What is a common approach used in brute-force attacks?
What is a common approach used in brute-force attacks?
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What are custom dictionaries typically built for in penetration testing?
What are custom dictionaries typically built for in penetration testing?
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What function does a host-based intrusion prevention system (HIPS) perform on incoming traffic?
What function does a host-based intrusion prevention system (HIPS) perform on incoming traffic?
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What is the primary disadvantage of host-based firewalls compared to more advanced security measures?
What is the primary disadvantage of host-based firewalls compared to more advanced security measures?
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In what way does network segmentation enhance security for sensitive systems?
In what way does network segmentation enhance security for sensitive systems?
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What potential issue might arise from misconfiguration of a host-based intrusion prevention system?
What potential issue might arise from misconfiguration of a host-based intrusion prevention system?
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What distinguishes isolation from segmentation in network security?
What distinguishes isolation from segmentation in network security?
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What characterizes attribute-based access control (ABAC)?
What characterizes attribute-based access control (ABAC)?
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Which of the following is a benefit of least privilege access control?
Which of the following is a benefit of least privilege access control?
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What is a potential downside of applying attribute-based access control (ABAC)?
What is a potential downside of applying attribute-based access control (ABAC)?
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What function do time-of-day restrictions serve in access control?
What function do time-of-day restrictions serve in access control?
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What is an example of rule-based access control?
What is an example of rule-based access control?
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Study Notes
Threat Actor Motivation
- Intent refers to the specific goal of an attack, while motivation is the underlying reason for the attack.
- Data Exfiltration involves the unauthorized transfer of data from a computer system.
- Financial Gain can be achieved through methods such as ransomware attacks or by using banking trojans to steal financial information.
- Blackmail involves a threat actor obtaining sensitive information and demanding payment to prevent its release.
- Service Disruption aims to disrupt an organization's services for various reasons, including causing chaos, making a political statement, or demanding a ransom.
- Philosophical or Political Beliefs drive attacks known as hacktivism, a common motivation for hacktivists.
- Ethical Reasons motivate ethical hackers or authorized hackers, who aim to improve security.
- Revenge can be a motivation for targeting entities perceived to have wronged the threat actor.
- Disruption or Chaos involves actions like spreading malware or launching cyberattacks against critical infrastructure to cause widespread disruption.
- Espionage involves spying to gather sensitive or classified information from individuals, organizations, or nations.
- War encompasses cyber warfare activities aimed at disrupting infrastructure, compromising national security, and causing economic damage.
Motivation: Revenge
- Driven by the desire to retaliate for perceived wrongdoing.
Motivation: Ideological
- Attacks driven by attackers' political or philosophical beliefs.
Motivation: Espionage
- Unauthorized transfer of sensitive information from a computer.
Service Disruption: Purpose
- Service disruption does not primarily serve the purpose of testing security defenses.
Motivation: Cyberwarfare
- Utilizing cyberattacks for strategic military objectives.
Motivation: Blackmail
- The primary goal is to extort money or other valuable assets from victims.
Blackmail: Common Methods
- DDoS attacks: Overwhelming a target's network with traffic, causing service disruption.
- Data extortion: Stealing sensitive information and threatening to release it unless a ransom is paid.
- Website defacement: Altering the content of a website to display a message demanding payment.
Blackmail: Victim Coercion
- Victims might be coerced into providing sensitive information, financial resources, or cooperation with attacker demands.
Blackmail: Information at Risk
- Financial information, personal data, confidential documents, intellectual property.
Blackmail: Non-Compliance Consequences
- Further attacks, public disclosure of sensitive information, reputational damage.
Blackmail: Compliance Outcome
- Temporary relief from immediate threats, but potential for ongoing extortion or future attacks.
Message-based Threat Vectors
- Attackers can use email, SMS, or instant messaging to deliver threats
- Phishing campaigns are a common tactic, with attackers impersonating trusted entities to steal sensitive information
Image-based Threat Vectors
- Malicious code can be embedded within image files
File-based Threat Vectors
- Files disguised as legitimate documents or software can be delivered as email attachments, through file-sharing services, or hosted on malicious websites
Voice Calls
- Vishing involves attackers using voice calls to trick victims into revealing sensitive information
Removable Devices
- Baiting is a technique where attackers leave malware-infected USB drives in public locations to entice victims
Unsecure Networks
- Wireless, wired, and Bluetooth networks can be vulnerable if not adequately secured
- Wireless networks lacking proper security measures can be intercepted or accessed by unauthorized individuals
- Wired networks, while generally more secure, are still susceptible to attacks, especially if physical access to the network infrastructure is gained
MAC Address Cloning
- Attackers can mimic legitimate devices by copying their MAC addresses
VLAN Hopping
- Attackers can bypass network security measures by exploiting vulnerabilities in VLAN configurations
Bluetooth Vulnerabilities
- BlueBorne is a set of vulnerabilities allowing takeover of devices, malware spread, and communication interception
- BlueSmack is a Denial of Service (DoS) attack targeting Bluetooth devices by sending malicious packets
Third-Party Vendor Risks
- Definition: Potential security and operational challenges from external collaborators (vendors, suppliers, or service providers).
- Impact: Can affect integrity, data security, and overall business continuity.
Common Threat Vectors and Attack Surfaces
- Threat Vectors: Paths attackers use to gain access.
- Attack Surfaces: Points where unauthorized users can try to enter.
Various Types of Vulnerabilities
- Hardware Vulnerabilities: Components with vulnerabilities.
- Software Vulnerabilities: Applications with hidden backdoors.
- Operational Vulnerabilities: Lack of cybersecurity protocols.
Vendor Assessments
- Evaluation: Pre-partnership assessment of a vendor's security.
- Penetration Testing: Testing vendor security by simulating cyberattacks.
- Audit Rights: Organizations' right to audit vendors.
- Evidence Collection: Gathering internal and external audit evidence.
Vendor Selection and Monitoring
- Importance: Meticulous vendor selection process.
- Vigilance: Ongoing monitoring of vendor performance.
- Contracts and Agreements: Basic contracts for forming relationships, and nuanced agreements like SLAs, MOUs, and NDAs for specific safeguards.
Supply Chain Risks
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Hardware Manufacturers: Products like routers and switches have many components from various suppliers. Component tampering or untrustworthy vendors can introduce vulnerabilities.
- Trusted Foundry Programs: Ensure secure manufacturing.
- Secondary/Aftermarket Sources: Risk of acquiring counterfeit or tampered devices with malware or vulnerabilities.
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Software Developers/Providers: Software can introduce vulnerabilities.
- Open-Source Software: Allows source code review.
- Proprietary Software: Can be scanned for vulnerabilities.
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Service Providers/MSPs: Organizations providing technology services and support to businesses.
- Security challenges with Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) providers: Concerns about data confidentiality and integrity.
- Vendor Selection: Consider due diligence, historical performance, and commitment to security.
Supply Chain Attacks
- Definition: An attack that targets a weaker link in the supply chain to gain access to a primary target. Exploits vulnerabilities in suppliers or service providers to access more secure systems.
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CHIPS Act of 2022: U.S. federal statute providing funding to boost semiconductor research and manufacturing. Aims to reduce reliance on foreign-made semiconductors, strengthen the domestic supply chain, and enhance security.
- Semiconductors: Essential components in a wide range of products.
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Safeguarding Against Supply Chain Attacks:
- Vendor Due Diligence: Rigorous evaluation of vendor cybersecurity and supply chain practices.
- Regular Monitoring & Audits: Continuous monitoring and periodic audits of supply chains to detect suspicious activities.
- Education and Collaboration: Sharing threat information and best practices. Collaborating with organizations and industry groups for joint defense.
- Incorporating Contractual Safeguards: Embedding cybersecurity clauses in contracts with suppliers or service providers.
Vendor Assessments
- Definition: Process to evaluate the security, reliability, and performance of external entities (vendors, suppliers, and MSPs).
- Penetration Testing of Suppliers: Simulated cyberattacks to identify vulnerabilities in supplier systems.
- Right-to-Audit Clause: Contract provision allowing organizations to evaluate vendor's internal processes for compliance.
- Internal Audits: Vendor's self-assessment of practices against industry or organizational requirements.
- Independent Assessments: Evaluations conducted by third-party entities without a stake in the organization or vendor.
- Supply Chain Analysis: Assessment of an entire vendor supply chain for security and reliability.
Misinformation and Disinformation
- Misinformation is false or inaccurate information shared unintentionally.
- Disinformation is the deliberate creation and sharing of false information with the intent to deceive or mislead.
- Both misinformation and disinformation can have serious consequences:
- Undermining public trust in institutions.
- Fueling social divisions.
- Influencing election outcomes.
Race Conditions
- Race conditions occur when the security of a code segment depends on the sequence of events occurring within the system.
- Key terms related to race conditions:
- Time-of-Check (TOC): The moment when a system verifies access permissions or other security controls.
- Time-of-Use (TOU): The moment when the system accesses the resource or uses the permission granted.
- Target of Evaluation (TOE): The specific component, system, or mechanism being evaluated for potential vulnerabilities, such as managing and validating access permissions.
Time-of-Check-to-Time-of-Use (TOCTTOU) Issue
- A type of race condition where a program checks access permissions too far ahead of a resource request.
- Example: If an operating system builds a list of access permissions for a user upon logon and refers to that list throughout the session, a vulnerability exists.
- If an administrator revokes permissions, the user won't be affected until their next logon, allowing access to the resource indefinitely if the session remains open.
- Prevention: Evaluate access permissions at the time of each request instead of caching a list of permissions.
Buffer Overflow Vulnerabilities
- Attempt to use more space than allocated, allowing attackers to inject their own content into sensitive memory locations.
- Race conditions are a factor when the security of a code segment depends on the order of events in the system.
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Attacks
- An attacker embeds scripting commands on a website to be executed by unsuspecting visitors.
- The goal is to trick users into executing malicious code from an untrusted third party on a trusted website.
Amplified Denial-of-Service (DoS) Attacks
- Take advantage of protocols that allow small queries to return large results (e.g., DNS queries).
- An attacker spoofs a system's IP address to cause a DNS server to send more traffic to the spoofed IP address than originally received.
- This amplifies a small amount of traffic into a large response.
- This type of attack leverages reflected DoS attacks, where a legitimate service carries out the attack due to the spoofed IP address, making attacker identification challenging.
- The combination of reflected and amplified DoS attacks creates a powerful and difficult-to-stop attack.
Domain Hijacking
- Domain hijacking involves changing the registration of a domain, either through technical means (like exploiting vulnerabilities or gaining unauthorized control) or non-technical means (like social engineering).
- Attackers can hijack domains to change settings and configurations, allowing them to intercept traffic, send and receive emails, or perform other actions while pretending to be legitimate owners.
- Domain hijacking is not the only way domains can be acquired for malicious purposes. Many domains are lost due to non-renewal.
- Domain owners can use security tools and features provided by domain registrars to protect and monitor their domains.
DNS Poisoning
- DNS poisoning is a type of attack where an attacker provides a false DNS response, pretending to be an authoritative DNS server.
- Vulnerabilities in DNS protocols or implementations can also lead to DNS poisoning, though this is less common.
- DNS poisoning can also involve modifying the DNS cache on systems, impacting them until the cache is purged or updated.
- This makes it difficult to detect and can have lasting effects.
- DNS cache poisoning may be noticed by users or detected by network defenses, but it is difficult to spot if executed effectively.
Brute-Force Attacks
- Brute-force attacks are used to gain access to a system by trying different password combinations
- Brute-force methods involve trying commonly used passwords, words specifically designed for the target, and modifications to account for security rules
- Brute-force attacks can be complex and involve sophisticated techniques to find the correct password
Password Spraying Attacks
- Password spraying attacks are a specific type of brute-force attack that attempts to use a single password or a small set of passwords against many accounts
- This attack can be effective against targets that use known default passwords
- This attack can also be used by targeting specific groups with commonly known or related terms, such as a sports team's fan website
Dictionary Attacks
- Dictionary attacks use a list of words to try to find the correct password
- Popular open-source password cracking tools, like John the Ripper, come with built-in word lists
- Penetration testers often create custom dictionaries as part of their intelligence gathering and reconnaissance processes
Host-Based Firewalls
- Most modern operating systems come with built-in host-based firewalls.
- Host-based firewalls are typically enabled by default and can block unwanted network traffic.
- These firewalls are often limited in their ability to provide insight into the traffic they are filtering.
- They typically block or allow specific applications, services, ports, or protocols.
Host Intrusion Prevention and Detection Systems (HIPS)
- A host intrusion prevention system (HIPS) analyzes network traffic before it reaches services or applications on the host.
- It can take action on the traffic by filtering out malicious traffic or blocking specific elements of the data.
- HIPS can examine traffic across multiple packets or throughout entire communications, allowing it to detect complex or spread-out malicious activity.
- As HIPS can actively block traffic, it's important to consider the potential risks of misidentification or misconfiguration which could lead to blocking legitimate traffic and potential outages.
Segmentation and Isolation
- Organisations can limit access to sensitive systems by segmenting them on separate networks.
- Segmentation allows for communication between sensitive systems within the same network but restricts communication with systems on other networks.
- Isolation goes further by completely cutting off a system from communicating with any outside networks.
Rule-Based Access Control (RBAC)
- Rules or Access Control Lists (ACLs) determine access to objects or resources.
- When an attempt is made to access an object, the rule is checked to see if the access is allowed.
- A common example is a firewall ruleset.
Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)
- Policies are driven by attributes of the users, allowing complex rules based on attribute combinations.
- Users have specific rights tailored to their attributes.
- ABAC schemes are flexible due to context-specific attribute settings.
- Difficult to manage due to their flexibility.
- Useful for enterprise systems with complex user roles and varying rights.
- Used with databases, content management systems, microservices, and APIs.
Time-of-Day Restrictions
- Limit access to specific times.
- Example: Configurable logon hours in Windows Active Directory.
- Prevent account or system abuse by restricting access to defined work hours.
Least Privilege
- Accounts and users should only have the minimum permissions and capabilities necessary.
- A common concept in information security practices.
- Should be designed into any permission or access scheme.
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