TL;DR
Attackers often don’t target your most important systems directly. They get a foothold somewhere less secure, then move inside your network to find what they want. This guide shows you how to spot and block these attacks (called pivoting and lateral movement) before they cause serious damage.
Understanding the Threat
Pivoting is when an attacker uses a compromised system as a launching point to attack other systems on your network that aren’t directly accessible from outside. Lateral Movement is the attacker moving from one compromised machine to another within your network.
How Attackers Do It
- Weak Passwords: The easiest way in.
- Unpatched Systems: Old software with known security holes.
- Misconfigured Firewalls: Allowing too much traffic between internal systems.
- Phishing: Tricking users into giving up credentials or installing malware.
Steps to Protect Your Network
- Segment Your Network
- Divide your network into smaller, isolated sections (segments). If one segment is compromised, the attacker can’t easily reach others.
- Use firewalls and access control lists (ACLs) to restrict traffic between segments.
- Example: Separate your web servers from your database servers.
- Implement Strong Authentication
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Require more than just a password. This makes it much harder for attackers to log in, even if they steal credentials.
- Strong Password Policies: Enforce complex passwords and regular changes.
- Least Privilege Access: Give users only the permissions they need to do their job – nothing more.
- Keep Systems Updated
- Regularly patch operating systems, applications, and firmware. Automated patching tools can help.
- Scan for vulnerabilities regularly using a vulnerability scanner (e.g., Nessus, OpenVAS).
- Example command to check for updates on Ubuntu/Debian:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
- Monitor Network Traffic
- Use an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) and Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) to detect suspicious activity.
- Look for unusual traffic patterns, such as connections between systems that don’t normally communicate.
- Consider using a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system to collect and analyze logs from various sources.
- Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
- Install EDR software on your computers. This can detect malicious activity even if it bypasses traditional antivirus.
- EDR tools often provide visibility into lateral movement attempts.
- Regularly Audit Your Network
- Perform penetration testing to identify weaknesses in your security posture.
- Review firewall rules and access control lists regularly.
- Check user accounts for unnecessary permissions.
- Disable Unnecessary Services & Protocols
- Reduce the attack surface by turning off services you don’t need. For example, if you aren’t using SMBv1, disable it.
- Example command to check for enabled SMB versions on Windows:
Get-SmbServerConfiguration | Select EnableSMB1Protocol
Detecting Pivoting and Lateral Movement
- Log Analysis: Look for failed login attempts, new user accounts, and unusual process activity.
- NetFlow Data: Analyze network traffic flows to identify suspicious connections.
- Host-Based Intrusion Detection: Monitor individual systems for malicious behavior.