The Role of Penetration Testing in Unveiling and Mitigating Cyber Vulnerabilities

There’s a growing number and diversity of connected devices to the internet, including among enterprises. This poses a grave security concern for many companies, with 50% of recently surveyed organizations saying attacks have increased because of these devices.

Threat actors are aware that IoT/OT devices are the least secured parts of a network, and they exhaust all efforts to exploit cybersecurity vulnerabilities in them. To counteract these threats, organizations must conduct regular risk assessments and turn to vulnerability management solutions like penetration testing.

This article explores the different cybersecurity vulnerabilities and how pen testing can reduce their impact.

What are cybersecurity vulnerabilities?

A cybersecurity vulnerability is a weakness in a system that cybercriminals can exploit to compromise a resource and attack it. This can be as simple as a missed software update or a system misconfiguration. It’s often the result of a coding mistake and is commonly referred to as a bug.

They’re not inherently harmful but can be dangerous when discovered and exploited by nefarious actors. When they’re discovered, they are registered as a CVE (common vulnerability and exposure) and assigned a CVSS (Common Vulnerability Scoring System) score to determine how risky they can be to an organization.

There’s a central CVE listing that’s used by vulnerability management solutions as a reference point in developing their programs. They scan and compare your environment against a vulnerability database, and the more information they have, the more accurate the scan becomes.

Once cybersecurity vulnerabilities are detected, developers use penetration testing to find these weaknesses and develop fixes to avoid future mistakes.

Types of cybersecurity vulnerabilities

There are many security vulnerabilities, and you may feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume. However, remember that you’re in control of these cyber vulnerabilities. Knowing the most common types will help you proactively address and manage them with the right tools, processes, and procedures.

Misconfigurations

A lot of application security tools require manual configurations, which are prone to configuration errors. Numerous publicly reported data breaches happened because attackers exploited misconfigured S3 buckets. Most of these errors are discoverable by a simple web crawler, making cloud workloads obvious targets.

You need strong perimeter security to protect the cloud from these crawlers. You must also adopt an automated configuration process to reduce any human error and prevent misconfigurations.

Zero-day Vulnerabilities

A zero-day vulnerability is a flaw discovered by a threat actor but is still unknown to the security vendor. The vendor has zero days to create a security patch to fix the issue. These vulnerabilities are dangerous because they are very difficult to detect. Often, an attack happens, but the entry point remains undetected.

To protect from these cyber threats, you can deploy a complete endpoint security solution that uses new technologies like EDR (endpoint detection and response), NGAV (next-gen antivirus), and threat intelligence.

Unpatched or outdated software

Security vendors are aware that their applications aren’t perfect and will periodically release security patches. They’d also introduce new features and functionalities meant to combat cybersecurity vulnerabilities. These patches and updates must be implemented by the organization across all endpoints. Failure to do so can open the doors to attackers who are eager to exploit any signs of weaknesses.

However, many IT teams are overburdened and tend to push back updates, especially those that are released daily. To address this issue, organizations must have a system of prioritizing software updates and, if possible, automating the activity.

Unauthorized access

Attackers frequently target users and try to steal their identities to gain access to privileged company data. Identity threats are common, especially with companies granting employees more access and permission to do their jobs.

To protect your company, only give users limited access based on the tasks they need to perform their roles. Avoid granting more access than necessary and implement a strict identity verification process to ensure only authorized users have access.

Stolen or weak user credentials

Users often fail to create strong and unique passwords and are prone to recycling old passwords and user IDs. This makes brute force attacks successful as threat actors exploit weak credentials to gain access to the system. They can install back doors, gain knowledge for future attacks, and steal sensitive data.

Avoid weak credentials by enforcing clear policies requiring strong and unique passwords. You should also prompt users to frequently update their passwords and implement multifactor authentication policies.

Malicious insider threats

Insider threats are challenging to identify because employees are frequently granted access to vital systems and can knowingly or unknowingly share access to them. When shared data falls into the wrong hands, hackers can use them to infiltrate the network.

Use access control tools and segment your network according to employee roles. Train employees about cybersecurity best practices and ensure they know their responsibility towards protecting company data.

Poor or missing data encryption

Attackers can easily exploit networks with poor or non-existent encryption. They can intercept communications, compromise them, and introduce misleading information. This can result in data breaches, regulatory fines, and loss of public trust.

Always use the latest and strongest encryption methods to protect every data transmitted and stored within the network. Only work with applications equally committed to strong data privacy and that utilize robust encryption technology.

Unsecured APIs

Application programming interfaces (APIs) are the few organizational assets with a public IP address. They are unavoidable because APIs enable components of applications to communicate with each other over the Internet. If they are not properly secured, attackers can easily target them.

Securing APIs is prone to human error mostly because security teams are unaware of the security risks they possess. To mitigate this risk, conduct security awareness training and teach IT teams good security hygiene, such as rotating keys and storing secrets.

What is vulnerability management?

Vulnerability management is a comprehensive approach to identifying, evaluating, prioritizing, and mitigating security vulnerabilities in computer operating systems, software, networks, and other IT assets. Its primary goal is to proactively reduce the organization’s exposure to potential security threats by addressing weaknesses in its information systems.

There are several components to vulnerability management, such as:

• Cybersecurity Vulnerability Assessment, which involves scanning systems, applications, and networks to discover potential vulnerabilities using automated tools.
• Risk Prioritization, which aims to help organizations focus on addressing the most critical and high-risk vulnerabilities first.
• Patch Management, which includes applying patches and updates to address known vulnerabilities.
• Continuous Monitoring, which involves regularly scanning and assessing systems to identify new vulnerabilities or changes in the threat landscape.
• Incident Response, which includes steps to investigate, contain, eradicate, and recover from security incidents.

By implementing a robust vulnerability management program, organizations can enhance their overall security policies, reduce the likelihood of successful attacks, and better protect sensitive information. Regularly assessing and addressing vulnerabilities is a proactive measure that contributes to a more secure and resilient IT environment.

What is penetration testing?

A penetration test, also called a pen test, is a controlled and simulated attack on a computer system, network, application, or organization to identify and exploit vulnerabilities. The primary objective of penetration testing is to assess the security of the target system and identify weaknesses that malicious actors could potentially exploit.

Pen testing is a proactive security measure that helps organizations identify and address vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. It’s an integral part of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy aimed at protecting sensitive information and ensuring the resilience of IT systems.

Unlike automated vulnerability assessments, penetration testing involves a more hands-on, manual approach to evaluate the security defences in place. Pen testers still use automated scanning and testing tools, but they go beyond these automations and use their knowledge of the latest attacks to create more in-depth testing.

There are different types of penetration tests, including:

• Black Box Testing: Testers have little to no information about the target operating system.
• White Box Testing: Testers have detailed information about the target operating system, including architecture and source code.
• Gray Box Testing: Testers have partial information about the target system, simulating the perspective of an insider or business partner.

Phases of Pen Testing

Penetration testing typically involves several well-defined phases to ensure a comprehensive and structured assessment of an organization’s cybersecurity posture. The exact phases may vary slightly depending on the methodology used, but a common framework includes the following:

Reconnaissance

Pen testers collect as much information as possible about the target organization, its systems, and its employees. This includes public information, domain names, IP addresses, and potentially sensitive details that could aid in the penetration test.

Scanning

They perform network scanning using tools like Nmap to identify live hosts, open ports, and services running on the target network. They also conduct vulnerability scanning by employing tools like OpenVAS or Nexpose to identify potentially exploitable vulnerabilities in the target systems.

Gaining access or exploitation

They launch a simulated attack to gain unauthorized access to the organization’s systems or networks. If initial access is achieved, attempt to escalate privileges to gain higher access levels.

Maintaining access

Pen testers then establish persistence by setting up mechanisms to maintain access even if the initial point of entry is patched or remediated. They can install backdoors and create additional ways to access the system for continued testing.

Analysis and reporting

They then proceed to collect and analyse data gathered during the penetration test, including logs, screenshots, and other evidence. They use this to assess the potential impact of successful exploits on the organization.

Pen testers will then compile a detailed report that includes an executive summary, a description of the testing methodologies, identified vulnerabilities, their risk levels, and recommended remediation steps. They’ll communicate these findings to relevant stakeholders, including technical and non-technical audiences.

Clean-up and follow-up

Finally, pen testers will ensure that any changes made during the penetration test are reverted, and the vulnerable system is returned to its original state. They’ll also work with the organization to address and remediate any identified exploitable vulnerability.

They can also provide ongoing guidance to the organization for improving its security posture based on the findings of the penetration test.

Pros and Cons of Pen Testing

With security breaches increasing annually, organizations need greater visibility into cybersecurity vulnerabilities to be able to withstand attacks. Regulatory government agencies also mandate frequent pen testing to ensure organizations remain compliant. But before succumbing to the pressures, you need to evaluate the pros and cons of this detection method.

Pros of pen testing

• It helps identify vulnerabilities that may not be apparent through other security measures. It can locate known and unknown cybersecurity vulnerabilities, including small ones that will cause significant harm when part of a larger and more complex attack pattern.
• It’s a proactive approach that can attack any system and mimic how cybercriminals would behave. This is the closest simulation an organization can have to a real-world possible adversary.
• Penetration testing can raise awareness among employees and stakeholders about the importance of cybersecurity and the potential consequences of security vulnerabilities.

Cons of pen testing

• Penetration testing can be costly, particularly for larger organizations or those with complex IT environments. The cost includes not only the testing itself but also remediation efforts.
• The scope is limited and may not uncover every possible vulnerability. It relies on the skills and knowledge of the penetration testers and may not capture the entire attack surface. Penetration testing, especially comprehensive assessments, can be time-consuming. This may impact the frequency with which organizations can conduct testing.
• There are ethical considerations surrounding penetration testing, particularly if not conducted with proper authorization. Unauthorized testing can lead to legal consequences.

While penetration testing is a valuable tool for enhancing cybersecurity, organizations need to weigh the pros and cons, consider their specific needs, and integrate penetration testing into a broader, proactive security strategy.

Penetration testing is not a one-time solution. Security is an ongoing process, and organizations need to conduct regular testing to stay ahead of evolving threats.

Conclusion

We live in a world rife with cybersecurity risks and threats. As we pursue increasingly interconnected solutions, nefarious actors will always find ways to locate vulnerabilities and push their agenda. It’s up to each organization to adopt proactive measures to discover these vulnerabilities and stop these threats.

Proactive vulnerability management techniques, like pen testing, will increase your chances of remaining secure and thwarting any attacks brought about by known and unknown threats.

About the author

ProtectCyber is a leading Australian cyber security firm dedicated to safeguarding businesses and individuals from digital threats. Our expert team, with decades of combined experience in the field, provides insights and practical advice on staying secure in an increasingly connected world. Learn more about our mission and team on our
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