In this lesson,
we will learn about the Operational Attack Surface.
The operational attack surface
encompasses the vulnerabilities
that arise from day-to-day operations
and human factors within an organization.
Operational attack surface concepts include user factors,
the enumeration and discovery of unsanctioned assets,
and the enumeration and discovery of unsanctioned accounts.
User factors involve the potential risks introduced
by users, such as weak passwords,
phishing susceptibility, or the misuse of privileges.
The enumeration and discovery of unsanctioned assets
involves identifying unauthorized or unmanaged devices
within the network that could be exploited by an attacker.
Similarly, the enumeration
and discovery of unsanctioned accounts
focuses on identifying unauthorized
or orphaned user accounts that could be used
by malicious actors to gain access to sensitive systems.
Let's learn more about user factors,
the enumeration and discovery of unsanctioned assets,
and the enumeration and discovery of unsanctioned accounts.
First, we have user factors.
User factors represent risks introduced by employees
or users interacting with an enterprise network.
Common vulnerabilities include weak passwords,
susceptibility to phishing attacks,
or the misuse of privileges.
These human-related risks
often form the first line of exposure
in an organization's security posture.
For example, an employee using a weak password
that is easily guessable by attackers
can inadvertently create a gateway
into an otherwise secure system.
Or phishing attacks may capitalize on human error
by tricking users into revealing sensitive information
or downloading malicious attachments.
So, user factors are often the weakest link in security.
And unlike technical systems
that can be patched or configured,
user behavior is unpredictable
and susceptible to manipulation.
In a large organization,
even a single user falling for a phishing attack
can lead to a significant security breach,
potentially compromising sensitive data
or allowing attackers to move laterally within the network.
Additionally, users with elevated privileges,
such as administrators or executives,
can unintentionally misuse their access,
causing security incidents that affect multiple layers
of the organization's infrastructure.
For example, an administrator with elevated privileges
might accidentally modify firewall settings,
inadvertently leaving sensitive parts of the network
exposed to external threats.
So, to mitigate risks from user factors,
organizations should deploy multi-factor authentication
and enforce strong password policies.
Security-awareness training is also a must.
This is because educating employees
about phishing and social-engineering tactics
at onboarding and at least annually after that
will help protect our network.
Next, tools like phishing simulators can be used
to send realistic training phishing emails to users,
tracking who opens them or clicks on suspicious links
to assess vulnerabilities,
while user-activity monitoring tools
can be used to track login locations
and unusual access times
to detect potential risky behaviors.
Finally, implementing role-based access control
can be used to limit users' permissions
to only those necessary for their roles,
reducing the potential impact of privilege misuse.
Second, we have the enumeration
and discovery of unsanctioned assets.
The enumeration and discovery of unsanctioned assets
involves identifying unauthorized or unmanaged devices
connected to an organization's network.
These assets could range from forgotten laptops
to unauthorized personal devices,
all of which can create vulnerabilities
because they're not managed by the organization's IT team
and may not be properly hardened and secured.
Unmonitored devices
often lack standardized security configurations,
meaning they often operate without updates, patches,
or even antivirus software.
If these assets go unnoticed,
they can easily become entry points for attackers
looking to infiltrate the network.
In enterprise networks,
unsanctioned assets pose a substantial security risk
because they exist outside regular monitoring
and management processes.
For example, an employee might bring
an unauthorized personal laptop into the workplace
and connect it to the corporate WiFi.
This device, if infected with malware,
now bypasses the network security defenses,
since it is directly connected to the network,
potentially spreading malicious software
throughout the organization.
Furthermore, unmanaged assets
complicate incident-response efforts
because security teams are unaware of their presence
and potential risks.
So, to address unsanctioned assets,
organizations should use network discovery
and inventory tools like Nmap, Nessus, and SolarWinds.
These tools can scan the network
to identify all connected devices,
allowing IT teams to identify, monitor,
and secure each asset.
Additionally, implementing network access control solutions
can prevent unauthorized devices
from connecting to the network
by enforcing policies that require devices
to meet specific security and health standards
before gaining network access.
Finally, regularly updating asset inventories ensures
that newly-connected devices are properly identified
and secured, reducing the attack surface.
Third and last, we have the enumeration and discovery
of unsanctioned accounts.
The enumeration and discovery of unsanctioned accounts
involves identifying unauthorized, orphaned,
or unmanaged user accounts within an organization's systems.
Such accounts might result
from employees leaving the company,
temporary accounts created for short-term projects,
or accounts created without approval.
These accounts are prime targets for attackers,
since they retain access to sensitive data or systems
without anyone actively monitoring their activity.
In an enterprise environment, unsanctioned accounts
directly create opportunities for unauthorized access.
For instance, if an employee's account remains active
after they leave the organization,
a malicious actor could exploit that
to access restricted areas of the network.
Furthermore, unmanaged accounts are rarely updated
with stronger security measures,
making them easier to compromise and providing a backdoor
into otherwise well-protected systems.
So, to mitigate the risks posed by unsanctioned accounts,
organizations should implement periodic account audits
and remove or deactivate inactive accounts.
Tools like Microsoft Azure Active Directory
or Okta can assist in tracking account status
and enforcing deactivation policies.
Additionally, using automated identity governance solutions,
such as SailPoint or Oracle Identity Governance,
enables IT teams to detect orphaned accounts quickly
and ensure account provisioning
follows established protocols.
Finally, establishing a standardized onboarding
and offboarding process for user accounts
reduces the likelihood of unsanctioned accounts
going unnoticed.
So, remember,
the operational attack surface includes vulnerabilities
that emerge from everyday actions and human factors
within an organization.
Key areas for consideration are user factors,
unsanctioned assets, and unsanctioned accounts,
each posing distinct security risks.
First, user factors involve potential risks from employees,
such as the use of weak passwords
or susceptibility to phishing,
making human error a common entry point for attackers.
Next, unsanctioned assets refer to unauthorized
or unmanaged devices on the network,
which, lacking proper security,
can open the door for attackers if left undetected.
And finally, unsanctioned accounts are unauthorized
or orphaned user accounts that could grant attackers access
to sensitive areas within the network.
These key areas for consideration
represent gaps that attackers can exploit
to bypass standard security measures.
So, by identifying and managing these vulnerabilities,
organizations can reduce exposure to potential attacks.