Imagine your company's computer network as a secure building with sensitive areas and restricted access. But what if an unauthorized individual gained a master key, allowing them to roam freely and access valuables? 

This is the threat of privilege escalation and lateral movement – two closely linked cybersecurity threats that can have dire consequences

In this article, we will explore these cybersecurity threats and provide strategies to protect your organization from attacks.

Privilege Escalation

Privilege escalation occurs when an attacker gains initial access to a system or network with limited privileges and then exploits vulnerabilities or uses other techniques to extend their privileges to administrative or root level. An example is the 2017 Equifax data breach that exposed sensitive personal information of over 147 million people due to a vulnerability in Apache Struts.

How Privilege Escalation Works

Here is a breakdown of the specific techniques used:

1. Exploiting Vulnerabilities: Attackers often seek out unpatched software vulnerabilities, also known as zero-day exploits, to elevate their privileges within a system. These vulnerabilities can exist in operating systems, applications, or other software components. By exploiting these weaknesses, attackers can bypass normal security measures and gain access to restricted areas. This method is particularly dangerous because it can occur without the need for any credentials, allowing attackers to silently infiltrate and escalate privileges.
2. Credential Stuffing: In this method, attackers use automated tools to input large numbers of username and password combinations, typically obtained from previous data breaches. Because many people reuse passwords across different sites and services, these attackers often find success in gaining unauthorized access to accounts. Once they have access to an account with lower privileges, they can then use additional tactics to escalate their privileges, such as accessing sensitive information, exploiting additional vulnerabilities, or using compromised credentials to access higher-privilege accounts.
3. Social Engineering: Social engineering exploits human psychology rather than technical vulnerabilities. Attackers might impersonate a trusted individual or organization to deceive employees into divulging sensitive information, such as login credentials or security tokens. For example, they may send phishing emails that appear to come from a legitimate source, tricking employees into clicking malicious links or downloading harmful attachments. Once the attacker has access, they can install malware or spyware, which can help them gain higher privileges by capturing credentials or exploiting system vulnerabilities.

By understanding these techniques, organizations can implement stronger security measures, such as regular software updates, multi-factor authentication, and employee training on recognizing social engineering attempts. These steps are crucial in mitigating the risks associated with privilege escalation attacks.

Lateral Movement

Lateral movement refers to the actions an attacker takes after gaining initial access to a system or network. With their newfound privileges, they can move across the network, accessing other systems, networks, or data in search of sensitive information or to spread malware. 

Uber’s security incident of September 2022 is a great example. The cybersecurity breach affected the entire organization. Although the attackers gained access into the system through an ex-contractors credentials purchased on the dark web, they moved laterally within the system to hack the company's openDNS and display a graphic image to the company’s employees on some sites.

Another example is Target's 2013 breach that occurred through stolen vendor credentials to gain network access. The attackers then exploited system weaknesses to steal sensitive data, affecting 41 million accounts and 60 million customers.

How Lateral Movement Works

The following steps and techniques shows how attackers move through a network

Lateral movement in a network is a technique used by attackers to gain access to additional systems after an initial compromise. The following steps and techniques illustrate how attackers typically move through a network:

Initial Breach

Phishing Attacks: Attackers often begin by using phishing emails to deceive users into clicking malicious links or opening infected attachments. This action can install malware on the user's device, providing the attacker with an entry point into the network.

Exploiting Weaknesses: Vulnerabilities in the network, such as outdated or unpatched software, can be exploited by attackers to gain initial access. This exploitation can include using known exploits or leveraging weak security configurations.

Establishing a Foothold

Malware Deployment: Once inside the network, attackers deploy malware to maintain a persistent presence. This malware, which can include remote access Trojans (RATs), enables the attackers to control compromised systems remotely.

Command and Control (C2) Communication: Attackers establish a communication channel with a Command and Control (C2) server. This channel is used to send instructions to the malware, execute commands, and exfiltrate data from the compromised systems.

Reconnaissance

Network Scanning: Attackers use tools like Nmap to conduct network scanning, identifying live hosts, open ports, and running services. This information helps them understand the network topology and identify potential targets.

Credential Harvesting: Attackers often harvest credentials from memory or stored data. They use tools to extract usernames and passwords, which can then be used to access other systems within the network, especially if the same credentials are used across multiple systems.

Lateral Movement Techniques

Pass-the-Hash (PtH): This technique involves using hashed password values obtained from one compromised system to authenticate to other systems without needing the actual plaintext password. It exploits the fact that some authentication systems accept hashed values instead of plaintext credentials.

Pass-the-Ticket (PtT): In this method, attackers steal Kerberos tickets from memory and use them to authenticate to other systems within the network. These tickets are digital tokens that prove the identity of a user, and stealing them allows attackers to impersonate legitimate users.

These steps and techniques illustrate the methods attackers use to move laterally within a network, expanding their access and control over the systems they compromise.

How to Prevent Privilege Escalation and Lateral Movement

Now that we have explored the tactics and techniques used by attackers, let's discuss how to protect against these threats.

Access Control 

• Adopt Least Privilege Access: Limit user and service accounts to the minimum privileges necessary to perform their tasks.
• Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Require additional forms of verification beyond passwords, such as smart cards and biometrics,

Network Security 

• Use Network Segmentation: Divide the network into smaller and isolated segments. This reduces the attack surface and prevents lateral movement in case of a breach.
• Keep Software Up-to-Date: Regularly patch and update operating systems, applications, and software.

Monitoring and Response

• Monitor and Audit Systems: Use logging and monitoring tools to track user and system activity. Regularly review logs and audit trails to detect and respond to suspicious activity. 
• Implement a Zero-Trust Model: Assume all users and devices are potential threats, authenticate and authorize every access request. 

Final Thoughts 

A clear understanding of privilege escalation and lateral movement will assist in setting up effective prevention and protection strategies which can reduce the risk of a successful cyber attack. Take the first step in protecting your organization - contact us to discuss how our cyber awareness training and resources can help. Stay informed with the latest cybersecurity insights by subscribing to our blog.