The Core Components of Attack Surface Management

Attack Surface Management (ASM) entails finding, analyzing, prioritizing, fixing, and monitoring all the digital doors and windows that bad actors might target to access your network. It is a technique you employ to stay one step ahead of cybercriminals. 

What makes ASM unique is its perspective. Instead of thinking like defenders, you put on the attacker's hat. You look for weak spots and opportunities just like a cybercriminal would. This approach helps you better understand where the real threats lie. 

What is an attack surface?

An organization's attack surface is everything an attacker could target to break in. In your case, it's all the digital doors and windows that hackers might try to sneak through. This includes every hardware, software, and endpoint that connects to your company network, both known and unknown. 

For instance, you already know about your routers, servers, and company-issued devices like laptops and mobile phones. But it also includes less obvious things, like shadow IT—those unsanctioned cloud apps and personal devices your employees might use without permission. 

Your attack surface could also include forgotten assets, such as old software or websites you no longer use but haven't properly retired. We call these orphaned IT, and they can be just as dangerous if left unchecked.

You should also consider third-party assets. These are resources you don't own but still use, like SaaS applications, public cloud services, and APIs. 

Let's say you are using a third-party service on your website. If that service has a vulnerability, it becomes part of your attack surface. Following a merger or acquisition, even the assets of your subsidiary companies are included, as they become part of your digital landscape.

It doesn't stop there. You need to think about rogue assets, too. These are malicious assets hackers create to trick us, like a phishing website that mimics your brand. Or even stolen data being sold on the dark web. 

The goal is to keep tabs on all these potential entry points continuously. You stay in this "hacker's mindset" to spot vulnerabilities the way a cybercriminal might. This lets you prioritize what to fix first, whether it's applying patches, improving encryption, or integrating multi-factor authentication. 

And it never ends. Continuous monitoring is crucial because your attack surface is always changing with new assets and evolving threats. By keeping a vigilant eye, you aim to stay one step ahead of the bad guys.

Types of attack surfaces

Digital attack surface

This is the most obvious one. It includes all your internet-facing assets like websites, APIs, and email servers. Your company website could have vulnerabilities in its code or might not be properly secured with HTTPS. 

Then there are your APIs, which are doors to your data that you share with the world. If they're not locked down tight, hackers can exploit them. Do not forget email servers, which are prime targets for phishing attacks. 

Physical attack surface

This is easy to overlook, but it's just as crucial. Your physical attack surface includes all the physical devices connected to your network. Think about every company-issued laptop, smartphone, or even those IoT devices like smart thermostats in the office. 

If someone can physically get their hands on these items, they can potentially breach your network. For example, a lost or stolen laptop with sensitive data that hasn't been properly encrypted is a huge risk.

Social engineering attack surface

This is all about people. Hackers often exploit human nature to breach security through techniques like phishing, pretexting, or baiting. Picture a fake email that looks like it’s from our CEO, asking employees to reset their passwords. If they fall for it, their login credentials are compromised. 

Supply chain attack surface

This involves all the third-party vendors and partners you rely on. Each of them introduces new risks. For instance, if you use a third-party SaaS application and it gets hacked, your data with them is also compromised. 

The notorious Target breach is a classic example, where hackers exploited a third-party HVAC provider to infiltrate Target's network. 

Insider attack surface

This is about threats from within your own organization. Disgruntled employees or those with malicious intent can be as dangerous as external hackers. Even well-meaning employees who ignore security policies or accidentally download malware can unintentionally create vulnerabilities. 

Subsidiary attack surface

This becomes relevant when you merge with or acquire other companies. Their assets get integrated into your network, and any vulnerabilities they have now become yours. If a subsidiary has outdated software or poor security practices, it exposes your entire organization.

Each of these attack surfaces needs your constant attention. They all contribute to the overall risk you face, and managing them effectively is crucial to keeping your digital fortress secure. By understanding and monitoring these various facets, you can prioritize your defenses and stay one step ahead of the cyber crooks.

Common vulnerabilities in company networks 

Misconfigured access controls

Misconfigurations are a huge problem. A survey showed incidents related to misconfigurations jumped by 10% in 2021. They even found that 27% of organizations see it as their main issue. 

A particularly glaring example is when an Amazon S3 bucket was left wide open. This mistake exposed 3TB of airport data, including sensitive documents and workers' ID photos. No password is required. Scary, right?

Unpatched software and hardware

Keeping software and hardware up-to-date is crucial but often overlooked. More than half of organizations have devices running outdated systems. 

A notorious example involves IBM's Aspera Faspex software. Even after IBM patched a flaw (CVE-2022-47986), ransomware groups like Buhti and IceFire continued exploiting it. They attacked unpatched versions, encrypting multiple servers. This shows that neglecting updates can have serious consequences.

Open ports and services

Open ports are like open doors for hackers. Specific ports, like FTP (Ports 20 and 21) and Remote Desktop (Port 3389), are prime targets. 

The WannaCry ransomware attack, which exploited SMB vulnerabilities, is a classic example. Similarly, ongoing attacks on Microsoft's Remote Desktop Protocol highlight why you need to be vigilant about open ports. They offer easy entry points for malicious actors.

Weak network perimeters

A solid network perimeter is your first line of defense. If it's weak, attackers can easily get in. The SolarWinds Orion attack is a perfect case in point. 

Attackers inserted a vulnerability into software updates, compromising networks of thousands of customers. They even infiltrated U.S. government agencies. This highlights the importance of strong network perimeters and proper monitoring.

Phishing and social engineering

Human error still accounts for the majority of security breaches. Verizon’s 2023 Data Breach Investigations Report states that social engineering is a factor in 74% of breaches. 

Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks have doubled year over year. Despite training and safeguards, these attacks remain highly effective and lucrative for cybercriminals.

Insecure APIs

APIs are everywhere, and they need to be secure. When they aren’t, they become prime targets for hackers. Twitter faced this issue in June 2021 when a vulnerability in its API was exploited. The result? A hacker claimed to have data on 400 million users. 

Although Twitter patched the vulnerability, the damage was done. Account names, emails, and other details were exposed, leading to potential social engineering attacks.

Outdated or insecure encryption

Encryption is a cornerstone of security. But if it's outdated or insecure, it can be a weak spot. Microsoft recently faced a massive issue when a compromised key from a Chinese threat actor, Storm-0558, came to light. This key could forge access tokens for various Azure services. Microsoft revoked the key, but the incident underscores the importance of robust encryption and vigilant key management.

Third-party dependencies

Using third-party libraries saves time, but it’s risky. We often have limited control over their security. Open-source components are especially vulnerable. Researchers have noted a 633% increase in attacks targeting open-source repositories. These components can easily become entry points for hackers if not properly managed and secured.

DDoS attacks

DDoS attacks are on the rise, especially against financial firms. As of November, there's been a 22% increase in these attacks year-over-year. Attackers often use application layer attacks, which are challenging to detect and mitigate. These attacks can disrupt services and cause significant operational headaches.

Understanding these vulnerabilities helps you stay one step ahead. It's all about continuous monitoring, timely updates, and keeping your defenses strong. By staying vigilant, you can better protect your company's digital assets from these common threats.

Key components of attack surface management

Let's break down the key components of attack surface management. These are the building blocks that help you maintain a secure digital environment, and each plays a unique role in your overall strategy.

Asset discovery

The first step in managing your attack surface is knowing what's out there. It is taking an inventory of every piece of IT equipment, software, and service connected to our network. This means everything from our main servers to employee devices and even those sneaky shadow IT components. 

For instance, discovering that an employee is using an unapproved cloud storage service could reveal a hidden vulnerability. You can't protect what you don't know exists, so this step is non-negotiable.

Vulnerability assessment

Once you know what assets you have, you need to figure out how vulnerable they are. You identify weaknesses in your networking environment. These could include missing patches, outdated software, and misconfigurations. 

First, you must assess the criticality of each asset. Not all assets are equally important. Your main server holding customer data? That's a high-priority asset. A break-in there could be devastating. Compare that to an outdated software version on a test server. The latter might be less urgent in the grand scheme of things. 

When you know how critical each asset is to your operations, you must assess the severity of each vulnerability. Some vulnerabilities are clear red flags. So assessing severity helps you to understand the potential impact of each vulnerability.

The likelihood of exploitation is another key factor. Think of it like the probability of someone trying to break into a specific part of our fortress. By estimating how likely a vulnerability is to be exploited, you can better gauge where to allocate your resources.

Risk assessment isn't a one-time task. It's continuous. New vulnerabilities emerge, assets change, and threats evolve. We need to keep reassessing our risks to stay ahead. 

Risk prioritization

Not all vulnerabilities are created equal. Some are far more dangerous than others. So, risk prioritization helps you focus your efforts on what matters most. 

As we have discussed above, you can rank vulnerabilities based on factors like how critical the asset is, the severity of the vulnerability, and how likely it is to be exploited. 

For example, a misconfigured server hosting customer data is a higher priority than an outdated software version on a low-risk device. By prioritizing, you're ensuring that your most valuable assets get the attention they need first.

Remediation

Remediation is the process of addressing the weaknesses we've discovered. After all, identifying vulnerabilities is pointless if you don't fix them. Remediation can be as simple as applying a software patch or as complex as redesigning part of your network architecture. 

For instance, if your assessment reveals that an API is insecure, you might need to implement stronger authentication mechanisms. Sometimes, remediation involves broader measures like rolling out multi-factor authentication across the organization to improve overall security.

IoT devices present a growing security challenge. These gadgets, like smart thermostats or security cameras, can be easily forgotten but they are integral parts of our network. Ensuring that all IoT devices are updated with the latest patches is crucial.

Staying proactive with patch management means we need to implement a systematic approach. Scheduling regular updates, testing patches before deployment, and maintaining a robust inventory of all assets are essential steps.

Continuous monitoring

Your attack surface isn't static; it changes all the time. New devices are added, software is updated, and new vulnerabilities are discovered. 

So, you must continuously monitor your IT environment. This means regularly scanning for new assets and vulnerabilities and staying updated with the latest threat intelligence. For example, if a new zero-day vulnerability is discovered, you need to know about it ASAP so you can take action.

You start by setting up automated tools to scan your network regularly. These tools monitor everything—new devices connecting to your network, changes in software configurations, and even unexpected spikes in data traffic.

Threat intelligence feeds play a crucial part. These are like your daily news sources but for cyber threats. We subscribe to feeds from various security vendors and organizations. If there's chatter about a new ransomware strain targeting specific software, we get alerted. 

You can also use behavior analytics to keep tabs on user actions. This is particularly helpful for spotting insider threats. For instance, if an employee who usually logs in from the office suddenly accesses sensitive data from an unfamiliar IP address at odd hours, it's a red flag.

A big part of monitoring is logging and alerting. Every action on your network generates logs—successful logins, failed access attempts, file transfers, you name it. You must set up alerts for specific log events that might indicate a security issue. 

Threat intelligence integration

To stay ahead of cybercriminals, you need to know what they're up to. This involves using data from various sources to understand emerging threats. This data could include information from security vendors, industry reports, or even government alerts. 

By integrating this intelligence into your ASM strategy, you can better anticipate and defend against new attack vectors. For instance, if you learn that a particular type of phishing attack is on the rise, you can preemptively train your employees to recognize and avoid it.

Incident response

Despite your best efforts, breaches can still happen. That's why having a robust incident response plan is crucial. This component focuses on how you react when things go wrong. It involves predefined procedures for detecting, containing, and mitigating attacks. 

For example, if a phishing email manages to trick an employee and compromise their credentials, your incident response plan would outline the steps to secure the account, investigate the breach, and prevent it from spreading further. It's about having a playbook ready so you can act quickly and minimize damage.

Each of these components is vital for effective attack surface management. Implementing them diligently ensures you can keep your digital fortress as secure as possible, always staying one step ahead of the cyber crooks.