IoT Device Security – A CISO’s Guide for Best Practices
IoT Device Security – A CISO’s Guide for Best Practices In today’s interconnected world, the Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized various industries, offering convenience, efficiency, and automation. However, the proliferation of IoT devices also introduces significant security challenges, ranging from data breaches to system vulnerabilities. As Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), it’s imperative to implement robust security measures to safeguard IoT ecosystems. This document presents key best practices for securing IoT devices, along with relevant industry standards and regulations, particularly focusing on Japan’s regulatory landscape.rconnected wo Secure Device Lifecycle Management Regular updates and patch management:● Maintain a mechanism for timely deployment of security patches and updates to address emerging threats and vulnerabilities throughout the device lifecycle. Secure supply chain management:● Monitor IoT device suppliers, ensure the integrity of components, and establish procurement policies that prioritize security. Relevant Industry Standards and Regulations in Japan IoT Security Guidelines: The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) in Japan has published IoT security guidelines to promote best practices and ensure the security of IoT ecosystems. ● ISO/IEC 27001ʼ This international standard provides a framework for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continuously improving an information security; ● Management system (ISMS), which aligns with Japan’s cybersecurity regulations andbest practices. Summary of Controls and Instructions from IoT Security Guidelines (directly relevant to IoT devices) Vulnerability Management: Establish processes for identifying, assessing, and mitigating vulnerabilities in IoT devices, including timely deployment of security patches and updates. ● Secure Configuration: Configure IoT devices securely, following best practices to minimize security risks and vulnerabilities. ● Supply Chain Security: Vet and monitor IoT device suppliers, ensuring the integrity and security of components throughout the supply chain. How DeviceTotal can help enforce security strategy and meet compliance Comprehensive Security Assessment: DeviceTotal offers comprehensive security assessments to identify vulnerabilities, compliance gaps, and security risks in IoT devices, helping organizations ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards.Continuous Monitoring: DeviceTotal provides continuous monitoring capabilities to detect and respond to security threats and incidents in real-time, enhancing the overall security posture of IoT ecosystems and ensuring compliance with regulatory mandates.Regulatory Compliance Reporting: DeviceTotal facilitates regulatory compliance reporting by generating compliance reports to demonstrate adherence to relevant regulations and industry standards, streamlining compliance efforts for CISOs and organizations operating in Japan. DeviceTotal enables CISOs to define thresholds for proactive security issue reporting, allowing them to customize the focus areas based on organizational priorities and risk tolerance. For example:● Threshold for Risk Level: CISOs can set thresholds for risk levels, such as high, medium, and low, based on the organization’s risk appetite. This allows them to prioritize remediation efforts for critical vulnerabilities while effectively managing resources. ● Threshold for Impact Percentage: CISOs can define thresholds for the impact percentage on the organization and site. For instance, they may set a threshold of 70% for the impact on the organization, indicating that any risk with an impact percentage above this threshold requires immediate attention. ● Threshold for In the Wild: CISOs can specify whether they want to receive reports on risks observed “In the Wild,” indicating real-world scenarios. This helps prioritize mitigation efforts for risks that are actively exploited or pose imminent threats to the organization. ● Threshold for EOL/S (End-of-Life/Support): ○ CISOs can establish thresholds for the EOL/S status of IoT devices and vendors. By setting thresholds for EOL/S status, CISOs can identify devices that may be at increased risk due to lack of vendor support and plan accordingly for their security maintenance or replacement. ● Threshold for Attack Vector:○ CISOs can define thresholds for specific attack vectors, such as remote code execution or denial of service. This allows CISOs to prioritize remediation efforts based on the potential impact and likelihood of exploitation associated with different attack vectors.By leveraging DeviceTotal’s customizable issue reporting capabilities, CISOs can tailor their security strategies to address the most relevant and impactful threats, ensuring effective risk management and compliance with regulatory requirements. DeviceTotal Security Reporting Thresholds Customization Example: By integrating DeviceTotal into their security strategy, CISOs can gain actionable insights and effectively manage IoT device security, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and industry best practices: Customizable Reporting Thresholds● DeviceTotal allows CISOs to define thresholds for security reports based on their organization’s priorities and risk tolerance. CISOs can specify criteria such as risk levels, impact percentages, and the presence of vulnerabilities “In the Wild” to tailor reports to their specific requirements. Risk-based Approach● CISOs can utilize DeviceTotal’s risk-based approach to determine which security issues should be prioritized for reporting and remediation. By setting thresholds for severity levels, CISOs can focus on addressing critical vulnerabilities that pose the highest risk to their organization’s security posture. Impact Assessment● DeviceTotal enables CISOs to assess the impact of security risks on their organization and site by defining thresholds for impact percentages. This allows CISOs to prioritize remediation efforts for vulnerabilities that have the most significant potential impact on their operations and infrastructure. Vendor Recommendations● DeviceTotal provides vendor recommendations based on the identified security risks and vulnerabilities. CISOs can use these recommendations to guide their decision-making process and develop action plans for addressing security issues, such as applying patches or upgrading to supported versions. EOL/S Assessment● DeviceTotal allows CISOs to evaluate the end-of-life (EOL) and end-of-support (EOS) status of IoT devices and vendors. By setting thresholds for EOL/S status, CISOs can identify devices that may be at increased risk due to lack of vendor support and plan accordingly for their security maintenance or replacement.DeviceTotal recognizes the complex challenges of securing enterprise networks in today’s landscape, and enhancing clarity and simplicity in this realm is among our primary objectives.By specifying the desired thresholds as outlined above, DeviceTotal is committed to optimizing the effectiveness and wisdom of IoT security measures. Our platform streamlines the process, ensuring that organizations can navigate the complexities of IoT security with ease and confidence.Take control of your IoT security strategy with DeviceTotal – Get started now! Schedule your free trial today and see how DeviceTotal can protect your network from IoT and OT vulnerabilities.
Your Trusted Partner in Cybersecurity
Your Trusted Partner in Cybersecurity In the world of cybersecurity, DeviceTotal stands out as a game-changer, redefining device security through its reliance on vendor-supplied data. By prioritizing the most current and comprehensive information, DeviceTotal empowers organizations with unparalleled visibility and coverage, surpassing solution tied solely to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD). As disruptions in the NVD landscape underscore the need for alternative sources of security intelligence, DeviceTotal remains an ally, offering timely and precise insights to mitigate risks effectively. Across industries, DeviceTotal’s tailored solution provide essential support, ensuring protection against emerging threats and compliance. Solution Overview DeviceTotal is an industry-leading cybersecurity solution revolutionizing the way organizations approach device security. Our unique approach prioritizes vendor-supplied data, ensuring clients have access to the most up-to-date security information. Our comprehensive dataset includes essential information such as CVE, CVSS, In the Wild reports, CWE, recommended versions for updates, and much more. Additionally, DeviceTotal offers the following key features for gaining complete visibility, managing, prioritizing and mitigating threats, and to adhere to industry best practices and meet compliance. With comprehensive data capabilities and new discovery technologies tailored for both OT and IT environments, DeviceTotal empowers organizations to mitigate risks effectively and stay ahead of emerging threats. What Sets DeviceTotal Apart DeviceTotal stands out in the market by relying on vendor-source data, unlike other solutions that solely depend on the NVD. This approach provides unparalleled visibility and coverage, offering access to the most up-to-date security information, before it is presented on NVD and other sources, ensuring precise issue associations and proactive mitigation to eliminate risk. Revolutionizing Device Profiling for OT and IT Environments Introducing our versatile discovery technology, a multipurpose tool designed to excel in both operational technology (OT) and classic IT environments. Offering seamless support for a wide array of industry-standard protocols, our solution specializes in device profiling across diverse landscapes. Our technology supports an extensive range of OT communication protocols, common and proprietary. Update on the NVD Disruption In light of the recent disruptions in the NVD, organizations are facing significant challenges in accessing timely and accurate security information. Since mid-February, over 4000 CVEs have remained unanalyzed, leaving organizations vulnerable to potential security breaches. This disruption has underscored the critical need for alternative sources of security intelligence. DeviceTotal emerges as the best solution amidst this disruption, prioritizing vendor-supplied data over reliance solely on the NVD. By leveraging data directly from over 700 vendors, DeviceTotal ensures clients have access to the most up-to-date security information. This approach not only mitigates the risks associated with delays in NVD data but also provides more precise and accurate insights into emerging threats. As organizations navigate the challenges posed by the NVD disruption, DeviceTotal stands ready to support them with comprehensive security intelligence, empowering them to proactively manage cybersecurity risks and safeguard their digital assets Use Cases Across Different Industries DeviceTotal’s versatility makes it an invaluable asset across various industries. From healthcare to finance, manufacturing to energy, DeviceTotal provides tailored cybersecurity solutions to meet the unique needs of each sector. OEM Use Case: Boosting Cybersecurity, IT and OT solutions Investigating the functionalities and attributes of leading EDRs and vulnerability management solutions today reveals a common deficiency in visibility and risk management for unmanaged devices. Integrations with DeviceTotal bring new value to the market. By leveraging DeviceTotal’s comprehensive data, organizations can bridge information gaps, ensuring well-informed decision-making processes. As organizations across various industries seek robust cybersecurity solutions, DeviceTotal stands as the trusted partner, delivering actionable insights, streamlined compliance, and comprehensive protection against emerging threats. Resources * https://nvd.nist.gov/general/news/nvd-program-transition-announcement * https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/nist-vulnerability-database/ * https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/nist-unveils-new-nvd-consortium/ * https://www.axios.com/2024/03/26/nist-cyber-vulnerabilities-database * https://www.theregister.com/2024/03/22/opinion_column_nist/ * https://www.scmagazine.com/news/update-delays-to-nist-vulnerability-database-alarms-researchers *https://www.linkedin.com/posts/meital-arik-48b664212_nist-unveils-new-consortium-to-operate-the-activity-7180500045891256320-nI7w?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android *https://www.linkedin.com/posts/device-total_nist-nvd-disruption-sees-cve-enrichment-on-activity-7177603214005911553-IK6D?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android Schedule your free trial today and see how DeviceTotal can protect your network from IoT and OT vulnerabilities.
Addressing NVD Disruption: The Role of DeviceTotal
Addressing NVD Disruption: The Role of DeviceTotal Addressing NVD Disruption: In light of the recent halt in data enrichments since mid-February, DeviceTotal emerges as the sole solution in the market that prioritizes vendor-sourced information. DeviceTotal stands at the forefront of the industry, reshaping how organizations tackle device security. Powered by cutting-edge AI technology for vulnerability and risk management, DeviceTotal delivers unmatched benefits in data collection, coverage, and agentless operation. Specializing in OT, IoT, network, and security devices, DeviceTotal offers a comprehensive solution for addressing the evolving challenges of cybersecurity. DeviceTotal distinguishes itself by directly collecting security information from over 700 vendors, ensuring the utmost accuracy and timeliness in threat detection and mitigation. By accessing data directly from the source, DeviceTotal eliminates reliance on third-party intermediaries, guaranteeing the most precise and up-to-date insights into device security. intelligence, highlighting the need for alternative solutions such as DeviceTotal. NVD Enrichment Halt and Impact Recent developments have seen a halt in the enrichment of data from the National Vulnerability Database (NVD), impacting the availability of critical security information for organizations worldwide. The disruption in NVD enrichment underscores the limitations of relying solely on centralized databases for security intelligence, highlighting the need for alternative solutions such as DeviceTotal. Leveraging DeviceTotal as a Primary Source of Security Intelligence In light of the challenges posed by the halt in NVD enrichment, cyber solutions and organizations stand to benefit significantly from leveraging DeviceTotal as a primary source of security intelligence. Unlike exposure and vulnerability management solutions reliant on NVD data, DeviceTotal offers a reliable alternative, providing complete visibility and coverage across diverse device types and vendors. By directly gathering security data from vendors, DeviceTotal ensures precision, timeliness, and comprehensiveness in security information, mitigating the risks associated with delays in data presentation and gaps in vendor-specific security information. DeviceTotal provides extensive coverage across a wide range of devices, spanning network infrastructure, security appliances, IoT, and operational technology. This comprehensive coverage ensures that organizations can assess the security posture of all connected devices within their networks, mitigating risks effectively and proactively. Operates seamlessly without the need for intrusive agents or additional hardware, DeviceTotal is minimizing deployment complexities and streamlining integration into existing network infrastructures. This agentless approach enables organizations to achieve comprehensive visibility into their device landscape without compromising performance or scalability. In conclusion, DeviceTotal emerges as the ultimate solution for organizations and cyber security solutions seeking to enhance their security posture and mitigate risks effectively. With its unique ability to serve as the main source of truth for device security, DeviceTotal offers unparalleled advantages in terms of complete visibility, coverage, preciseness of data, and timeliness. By gathering security information directly from vendors, DeviceTotal empowers organizations to stay ahead of emerging threats and safeguard their networks with confidence. Resources * https://nvd.nist.gov/general/news/nvd-program-transition-announcement * https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/nist-vulnerability-database/ * https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/nist-unveils-new-nvd-consortium/ * https://www.axios.com/2024/03/26/nist-cyber-vulnerabilities-database * https://www.theregister.com/2024/03/22/opinion_column_nist/ * https://www.scmagazine.com/news/update-delays-to-nist-vulnerability-database-alarms-researchers Schedule your free trial today and see how DeviceTotal can protect your network from IoT and OT vulnerabilities. Recent developments have seen a halt in the enrichment of data from the National Vulnerability Database (NVD), impacting the availability of critical security information for organizations worldwide. The disruption in NVD enrichment underscores the limitations of relying solely on centralized databases for security intelligence, highlighting the need for alternative solutions such as DeviceTotal.
Empowering Solutions for Vulnerability and Exposure Management Challenges
Empowering Solutions for Vulnerability and Exposure Management Challenges In today’s dynamic cybersecurity landscape, organizations face unprecedented challenges in managing vulnerabilities and exposures across their networks. Many vulnerability and exposure management solutions fall short, managing only 30-50% of the devices they are supposed to, leaving clients with significant blind spots around their networks. DeviceTotal emerges as the ultimate solution, empowering these platforms to overcome these hurdles effectively. The DeviceTotal advantage Comprehensive Visibility: DeviceTotal offers unparalleled visibility into vulnerabilities and exposures across diverse network environments. With expertise in Operational Technology (OT), Internet of Things (IoT), network, and security devices, DeviceTotal provides a holistic view of the threat landscape, ensuring no device goes unnoticed. Real-Time Insights: Stay ahead of emerging threats with DeviceTotal’s real-time insights. Our platform continuously monitors for vulnerabilities and exposures, delivering timely alerts and actionable recommendations to address potential risks promptly. Precision and Accuracy: Powered by cutting-edge AI technology, DeviceTotal ensures precision and accuracy in vulnerability identification and risk assessment. Our platform gathers the most precise and up-to-date structured security data directly from vendors, minimizing false positives and false negatives for more reliable outcomes. Actionable Recommendations: DeviceTotal goes beyond data analysis to deliver actionable recommendations tailored to each organization’s unique needs. Our platform provides detailed insights into vulnerabilities, prioritizing risks based on severity, impact, and regulatory compliance requirements. Seamless Integration: DeviceTotal seamlessly integrates with vulnerability and exposure management solutions, enhancing their capabilities and extending their reach. Our flexible APIs and robust integration framework ensure smooth interoperability with existing systems, minimizing disruption and maximizing efficiency. Elevate performance, Strengthen security With DeviceTotal, organizations can elevate their performance, strengthen their security posture, and deliver unparalleled value to their clients. Partner with DeviceTotal today and unlock the full potential of your platform in combating cybersecurity threats. Schedule your free trial today and see how DeviceTotal can protect your network from IoT and OT vulnerabilities.
SonicWall Firewalls New Vulnerability Exposed to Severe Cyber Attack
SonicWall Firewalls New Vulnerability Exposed to Severe Cyber Attack As the digital landscape evolves, the imperative to safeguard against cyber threats becomes increasingly critical. One facet that demands meticulous attention is the vulnerability of firewalls, with the potential impact of a widespread attack classified as nothing short of “severe.” This underscores the need for robust cybersecurity measures, especially for agentless devices, which play a pivotal role in fortifying network defenses. In a recent evaluation, experts highlighted the severity of a potential large-scale cyber attack, where attackers exploit vulnerabilities in firewalls to either crash the system or execute Remote Code Execution (RCE). This not only compromises firewall integrity but also poses the risk of unauthorized access to corporate networks, while potentially disrupting VPN services. Security analyst Williams shed light on SonicOS’s behavior, pointing out that, by default, it restarts after a crash. However, after three crashes in a brief period, it enters maintenance mode, necessitating administrative intervention for restoration. Conducting scans using BinaryEdge source data, researchers from BishopFox discovered that out of 233,984 SonicWall devices with exposed management interfaces, a staggering 178,637 are vulnerable to one or both of these critical issues. The absence of reported exploits in the wild offers a temporary sigh of relief. However, the availability of exploit code for the more recently discovered bug, along with BishopFox’s own exploit code, raises alarms. For organizations relying on affected SonicWall devices, there is a silver lining. The latest firmware updates provide protection against both vulnerabilities. In the context of agentless devices, this underscores the importance of swift updates to not only mitigate potential risks but also to enhance the overall cybersecurity posture of these systems. As cyber threats continue to evolve, the adoption of agentless devices protection stands as a proactive measure to secure network environments against emerging vulnerabilities and potential attacks. DeviceTotal emerges as a solution in the face of vulnerabilities affecting SonicWall devices, employing cutting-edge agentless risk and vulnerability management practices. By leveraging certain techniques, DeviceTotal can swiftly identify and assess potential weaknesses in firewalls, helping organizations stay one step ahead of potential threats. With a proactive approach, DeviceTotal enables timely detection of vulnerabilities, helping users to implement the latest firmware updates promptly. This not only safeguards against the exploitation of known bugs, such as those outlined in recent assessments, but also ensures that networks are fortified against emerging threats. DeviceTotal’s agentless methodology offers a streamlined and efficient process, making it an indispensable tool for organizations seeking comprehensive cybersecurity solutions in an ever-evolving digital landscape. Schedule your free trial today and see how DeviceTotal can protect your network from IoT and OT vulnerabilities. Add Your Heading Text Here
Why does Vulnerability exploitation always plays a major part in almost every cyber attack
Why Vulnerability Explanation Plays a Major Role in Almost Every Cyber Attack Cyberattacks have become a common concern in the digital age, and they seem to be growing in complexity and frequency. In virtually every report or analysis of a cyber incident, one factor consistently stands out: vulnerability. Whether it’s a sophisticated state-sponsored attack or a simple phishing attempt, understanding the role of vulnerabilities is crucial to comprehending the anatomy of a cyber-attack. Vulnerabilities are the Achilles’ heel of the digital world. They are the common thread that runs through the fabric of almost every cyber-attack. Understanding vulnerabilities and taking proactive measures to address them is paramount in defending against the ever-evolving threat landscape of the digital age. In the world of cybersecurity, vulnerabilities are akin to the weak points in a fortress’s defenses. They represent the cracks and flaws in a system, software, or network, serving as entry points for malicious actors. These digital chinks in the armor can be exploited, much like unlocked doors inviting invaders. Understanding why vulnerabilities are paramount in cyber-attacks requires insight into the mindset of cybercriminals. For these digital treasure hunters, vulnerabilities aren’t mere weaknesses; they’re lucrative opportunities. Each vulnerability discovered represents a potential gateway to data breaches, financial gains, or further malicious actions. The Ripple Effect: Impact of Vulnerabilities in Cyber Attacks Vulnerabilities often serve as the initial trigger in a chain reaction of cyberattacks. Once exploited, they unleash a cascade of effects. Think of them as the data breaches that expose sensitive information, akin to treasures being looted. They lead to system compromises, disrupting operations much like a hostile takeover. The consequences can be profound, affecting an organization’s finances, reputation, and even leading to legal consequences. Importance of mitigation and prevention Cybersecurity isn’t merely about identifying vulnerabilities; it’s about actively managing and preventing them. Regular software updates and patch management act as the knights guarding the fortress, continuously fortifying defenses. Robust security awareness training equips personnel with the knowledge and skills to identify and thwart potential infiltrators. By actively managing vulnerabilities, organizations can construct a more robust defense against the ever-evolving threats of the digital age. How can DeviceTotal help? DeviceTotal has developed the 1st in the industry most accurate and up-to-date repository, that gathers security data for every un-agentable device, OT, IoT and network devices. This data guarantees the precise correlation of security issues and facilitating accurate and effective mitigation planning. By doing so, it saves security teams valuable time and eliminates unnecessary actions and downtime, ultimately reducing costs. DeviceTotal provides a range of features designed to collectively empower organizations in gaining comprehensive visibility, managing vulnerabilities, prioritizing software updates, assessing risks, ensuring compliance, and making well-informed decisions regarding device security and management. Here’s the data associated with every device: Vulnerabilities related to the specific firmware version of the device. Risk score of the device. Risk level of the device. Exploitability score. End Of Life/Support indication. In The Wild indication for CVEs known to be exploited in current attacks. The latest software updates available by the vendor and the updated risk score. All software updates available for a device and their respective risk scores. Attack surface metrics. Mitigation recommendations, comprising updated versions and available workarounds by the vendor. By integrating DeviceTotal into your cybersecurity strategy, you can enhance your overall security posture and stay ahead in the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity. Schedule your free trial today and see how DeviceTotal can protect your network from IoT and OT vulnerabilities.
Agentless Vulnerability management for IoT and OT
Agentless Vulnerability management for IoT and OT In today’s hyper-connected world, the Internet of Things (IoT) and Operational Technology (OT) have revolutionized industries, providing unprecedented efficiency and convenience. However, with this rapid digital transformation comes an increased vulnerability to cyber threats, potentially exposing critical infrastructures and sensitive data to malicious actors. Traditional vulnerability management solutions often struggle to keep up with the dynamic nature of IoT and OT environments, leaving organizations grappling with security blind spots and the cumbersome deployment of agents on every device. Why is Vulnerability management so important? Let’s deep dive into it.hy Vulnerabilities are weaknesses or flaws in software, hardware, or network configurations that can be exploited by attackers to compromise the security of a system. By identifying and addressing these vulnerabilities, organizations can significantly reduce the likelihood of successful cyberattacks. That is why vulnerability management is a crucial cybersecurity process that involves identifying, prioritizing, and mitigating weaknesses in an organization’s IT systems and applications. By proactively addressing these vulnerabilities, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of cyberattacks, adhere to regulatory requirements, save costs by preventing breaches, safeguard sensitive data, ensure software patching, manage third-party risks, promote good security practices, and protect their reputation by demonstrating a commitment to robust security measures. Instead of waiting for attackers to exploit vulnerabilities, organizations can take a proactive approach by regularly being updated about vulnerabilities. This allows them to identify and address weaknesses before they are targeted by malicious actors. At the same time, many industries are subject to regulatory requirements that mandate a certain level of cybersecurity. Vulnerability management helps organizations comply with these regulations by demonstrating that they are actively taking steps to secure their systems and data. It would be good to mention that part of vulnerability management involves keeping systems and software up to date with the latest patches and updates. This ensures that known vulnerabilities are addressed and reduces the likelihood of exploitation. What are the challenges in the area? The realm of vulnerability management presents a set of challenges that organizations must navigate to ensure effective cybersecurity. Some of these challenges include: Vulnerability Overload: The sheer volume of vulnerabilities, along with the continuous influx of new ones, can overwhelm security teams. Prioritizing which vulnerabilities to address first becomes a complex task. False Positives and Negatives: Vulnerability scanners can sometimes produce false positive results, identifying issues that don’t exist, or miss actual vulnerabilities (false negatives). This can lead to inefficient resource allocation and security gaps. Complex Environments: Organizations often operate in intricate, heterogeneous IT environments comprising various hardware, software, and network components. Coordinating vulnerability assessments across these diverse elements can be challenging. Patch Management: Applying patches to systems without disrupting operations can be complicated, especially in critical systems that cannot be taken offline frequently. Legacy Systems: Older systems and applications might not be compatible with the latest security measures and patches, leaving them exposed to vulnerabilities. Time Sensitivity: The time between vulnerability identification and exploitation can be very short. Rapid response is essential, but security teams may struggle to keep up. Resource Constraints: Smaller organizations might lack the resources, expertise, and dedicated personnel needed to conduct thorough vulnerability assessments and mitigation efforts. Dependency Management: Organizations rely on third-party software and services, which can introduce vulnerabilities. Tracking and managing these dependencies can be challenging. Continuous Monitoring: Vulnerabilities can emerge at any time due to software updates, configuration changes, or evolving threat landscapes. Maintaining a continuous monitoring process is resource-intensive. What is the solution we provide: Traditional vulnerability management approaches often rely on agents that are deployed on devices to identify and mitigate potential security flaws. While these agents can be effective for standard IT systems, they often prove inadequate for IoT and OT environments. Agentless vulnerability management offers a compelling solution to address these challenges. Instead of relying on agents installed on individual devices, DeviceTotal focuses on data science to gather and structure the most accurate and updated security data, to ensure precise identification of every vulnerability. DeviceTotal has emerged as a pioneer in agentless vulnerability management, specifically tailored for all agentless devices, especially IoT and OT. Powered by cutting-edge technology and advanced algorithms, DeviceTotal offers a holistic solution for identifying, assessing, and mitigating vulnerabilities. It also prioritizes vulnerabilities based on their severity and potential impact on the system, helping organizations focus on the most critical issues first. With proactive monitoring, DeviceTotal ensures that newly identified vulnerabilities are addressed promptly, reducing the window of exposure to potential threats. By providing daily updates on new software versions and vulnerabilities, DeviceTotal empowers organizations to stay ahead of potential threats. It is important to mention it is very easy to implement and use and it requires no installation at all. Schedule your free trial today and see how DeviceTotal can protect your network from IoT and OT vulnerabilities.
May 27th Firmware Security Alert: A Wake-up Call for the World
May 27th Firmware Security Alert: A Wake-up Call for the World With access to Lansweeper data, DeviceTotal provides 100% risk accuracy and attack vector visibility for every device and site across an organization Israel, 24 November, 2021 – DeviceTotal, a provider of connected devices and IoT security solutions, today announced its partnership with Lansweeper, a leading IT Asset Management platform, to provide mutual customers the ability to upload complete and accurate IT asset data to DeviceTotal’s SaaS-based precognitive attack surface management solution, DeviceTotal. A simple API integration enables the two solutions to work together to eliminate time-consuming, tedious manual tasks, while providing 100% risk accuracy and attack vector visibility, enabling a proactive stance against cyber threats. In their statement, they said that “The APT actor group almost certainly exploited a Fortigate appliance to access a web server hosting the domain for a US municipal government… Access gained by the APT actors can be leveraged to conduct data exfiltration, data encryption, or other malicious activity. The APT actors are actively targeting a broad range of victims across multiple sectors, indicating the activity is focused on exploiting vulnerabilities rather than targeted at specific sectors.” Covid-19 has impacted businesses globally with long-lasting effects. Employees across industries transitioned to remote working and many of them stayed there. As they connect to corporate networks with various devices over unsecured home networks, they expand the attack surface and open the door for cyber-attacks. To mitigate risk and protect corporate assets and data, organizations must take a proactive approach and implement end-to-end attack surface management that protects against both known and potential zero-day vulnerabilities. Currently, 57% of connected devices are vulnerable to medium or high-severity attacks. Organizations need complete visibility across the expanded attack surface, to implement proactive measures for reducing the risk of cyber threats. Dave Goossens, CEO at Lansweeper states, “Through a partnership and API integration with Lansweeper, DeviceTotal has made it possible for our joint customers to instantly and automatically upload complete and accurate IT asset data to DeviceTotal, its SaaS-based precognitive Attack Surface Management solution. The two solutions work hand in hand to deliver 100% risk accuracy and attack vector visibility, enabling a proactive stance against cyber threats.” “We are pleased to be partnering with Lansweeper. DeviceTotal provides holistic visibility and control over the risk and security posture of all connected devices because it can identify threats before they reach the network,” states Dr. Carmit Yadin, Founder and CEO of DeviceTotal. “Clients who take advantage of the Lansweeper API to upload IT asset data into DeviceTotal reduce operational overhead while gaining access to the benefits of both solutions. Not only do they simplify and improve the process of creating and maintaining a complete and accurate IT asset inventory, but they can also rest assured that DeviceTotal is proactively preparing for and mitigating potential cybersecurity threats across their entire IT estate.” DeviceTotal, Lansweeper and LogOn will be hosting a webinar on 30 November 2021, Hong Kong 5:00pm (GMT +8), Rome 11am CET time (CET +1), USA 1:00am (PST -8), Tel Aviv 11am (CET +2). To register visit the following link. About DeviceTotal DeviceTotal, a provider of connected devices and IoT security solutions, was founded by a team of experienced cyber intrusion professionals. Based on proprietary and advanced technology, a unique, centralized, and unbiased attack surface management SaaS platform, DeviceTotal provides complete visibility to all enterprise devices while continuously predicting, identifying, assessing, prioritizing, and mitigating any potential cyber threats from connected devices. About Lansweeper Lansweeper is an IT Asset Management software provider helping businesses better understand, manage and protect their IT devices and network. Lansweeper helps customers minimise risks and optimise their IT assets by providing actionable insight into their IT infrastructure at all times, offering trustworthy, valuable, and accurate insights about the state of users, devices, and software. Since its launch in 2004, Lansweeper has been developing a software platform that scans and inventories all types of IT devices, installed software, and active users on a network – allowing organisations to centrally manage their IT. The Lansweeper platform currently discovers and monitors over 80 million connected devices from 25,000+ customers, including Mercedes, FC Barcelona, Michelin, NASA, Carlsberg, Nestle, IBM, Nintendo, and Samsung to governments, banks, NGOs, and universities, driven by its 120+ strong teams in Belgium, Spain, and the USA. Schedule your free trial today and see how DeviceTotal can protect your network from Fortinet and other connected device vulnerabilities. Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on linkedin
Zero-Day Vulnerability Exploits 101: A Glossary
Zero-Day Vulnerability Exploits 101: A Glossary Zero-day vulnerabilities give threat actors the power to exploit your enterprise’s security blind spots in your firmware and software systems. They are extremely dangerous because they aren’t always on the radar of your enterprise’s security teams, and therefore, there aren’t always security measures in place to prevent their exploitation. This article examines what characterizes a zero-day vulnerability and exploit, what characterizes a zero-day attack, examples of recent attacks, and how DeviceTotal can help. What is a Zero-Day Vulnerability? A zero-day (0day) vulnerability is an existing vulnerability in software or hardware that can become a pathway for hackers to weaponize and exploit. The name is derived from “Day Zero”, the day that the threat is identified, at which point it becomes a race against the clock for security teams to patch the vulnerability before hackers exploit it. Unlike known vulnerabilities that are well documented in public repositories like the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) and usually preemptively patched, vendors are usually unaware of 0day vulnerabilities and enterprises often don’t have security measures in place to prevent their exploitation, making them wild cards. Once hackers have successfully identified a zero-day vulnerability, they try to leverage it to carry out attacks on a system, which is known as a zero-day exploit. What is a Zero-Day (0day) Exploit? A zero-day exploit is a method or technique that attackers leverage to attack systems that contain a zero-day, or a zero-hour vulnerability. When organized cybercriminal groups come across the opportunity for a zero-day exploit, they aim to use it against targets with the highest value. Therefore, they have to carefully plan when and how to carry out the attack. Strategic planning reduces the chance that a vulnerability will be discovered by the victim and has the potential to extend the lifespan of the exploit. Popular Targets for Zero-Day Exploits The following are popular potential targets for zero-day exploits: Financial institutions Large enterprises Government organizations Medical institutions Firmware, hardware devices, and IoT Even if your enterprise is able to develop a patch against a zero-day vulnerability, it doesn’t mean you’re home-free. The patch needs to be updated across all systems affected by the vulnerability, a process that can take time. The attacker can take advantage of any lags and continue to attack non-updated systems until everything is fully updated. Zero-Day Attacks A zero-day attack is when the attacker puts the zero-day exploit to use in order to damage, and/or steal data from the systems affected by the zero-day vulnerability. Process of a Zero-Day Attack The process for carrying out a zero-day attack usually consists of the followings stages: Discover vulnerabilities: In order to discover the zero-day vulnerabilities, attackers will go through code or randomly test their luck with popular applications. Some attackers even “purchase” vulnerabilities that someone else has uncovered on the black market. Create exploit code: Attackers create malware programs to exploit the vulnerability. Identify systems that are affected by the vulnerability: Attackers use methods such as bots, scripts, or automated scanners to identify systems that are affected by the vulnerability. Plan the attack: Once attackers are equipped with the tools to exploit the zero-day vulnerability and carry out the attack, they scout out the most efficient time and method to penetrate the affected systems. Infiltrate: Attackers typically penetrate through an organization’s perimeter defenses or personal devices. The zero-day exploit is launched: Once the attackers gain access to the vulnerable systems, they can remotely execute the exploit code. Zero-Day Vulnerability Trends Threat actors are increasingly targeting zero-day vulnerabilities that were discovered and patched in the past. In 2020, Google’s Project Zero, which aims to discover zero-days, found 24 zero-day vulnerabilities that were exploited by attackers. Of those 24 vulnerabilities, 25% were previously disclosed, but due to insufficient patching, hackers were able to re-weaponize them to carry out new attacks. Experts predict that this threat will increase if vendors don’t take a closer look at the root cause of the vulnerabilities and invest more in patching. In cases like these, DeviceTotal identifies the inner components of such vulnerabilities and provides mitigation measures for preventing such devastating attacks. Examples of Recent Attacks Internet Explorer: In 2020, Microsoft’s browser Internet Explorer (IE) fell victim to a zero-day attack. The vulnerability (CVE-2020-0674) affected IE v9-11 and was caused by a flaw in the IE scripting engine that handles objects in memory. Attackers were able to leverage this vulnerability by directing IE users to a website that was created to exploit the flaw. Sony Pictures: In 2014, Sony Pictures was a victim of a major attack, which resulted in a leak of personal information and unreleased content. Entire corporate systems were also erased, causing millions of dollars in damages. Zero-day Markets In the world of cybercrime, zero-day exploits are a hot commodity and are often sold for astronomical prices. They have been found circulating the following three markets: The black market: Where attackers use or sell stolen personal information (i.g, credit card information) on the dark web. The white market: Where non-threat hackers discover zero-day vulnerabilities and present them to the vendor, sometimes for a potential reward. The grey market: A military-based market in which exploits are sold for use for surveillance, espionage, and technological warfare. How DeviceTotal can help Prevent these Attacks DeviceTotal’s threat elimination platform, DeviceTotal, takes a proactive approach to vulnerability management, identifying both known and unknown vulnerabilities on connected devices. This capability allows DeviceTotal to identify potential zero-day vulnerabilities before threat actors find them. But DeviceTotal doesn’t stop with identification. It also provides automated mitigation for all identified vulnerabilities in connected devices, saving enterprises valuable manpower and resources on mediating vulnerabilities. DeviceTotal dives deep into the bill of materials (BoM) and components of the attack to get to the root cause and ensure the vulnerability isn’t re-weaponized. Instead of waiting for corporate network attacks to take place, DeviceTotal’s solution is predictive and preventative, implementing security measures that stop the attack from happening. DeviceTotal’s predictive solution gives enterprises the peace of mind that their networks
Gartner Report Takes a New Look At Vulnerability Management
Gartner Report Takes a New Look At Vulnerability Management There’s More to Vulnerability Management than CVSS score IoT devices are making their way into every facet of life and business, with almost 4.8 billion IoT devices in use today. These devices are tempting targets for attackers, with 57% vulnerable to high or medium severity attacks. The abundance of these devices leaves gaping holes for attackers to capitalize and pivot to larger targets inside your organization. Understanding the risk that IoT and other endpoints bring to your organization is crucial for maintaining security. It is not simply about the criticality of these vulnerabilities. More often, it is about the exploitability that comes into play. Cybercriminals can chain low-impact attacks to create footholds in your infrastructure that they can exploit. Below we will cover how managing exploitability in vulnerabilities plays a significant role in securing your organization. Exploitability Trumps Impact Gartner’s recent guidance has recognized that managing vulnerabilities are no longer as straightforward as ranking them by CVSS score. Attackers can leverage even lower impact exploits to significant headway into an organization’s security. While this does not mean that all high scores that are both high impact and easily exploited should be ignored, it does mean that there is more nuance to sorting out vulnerabilities that might be scored lower. For example, a low impact yet trivially easy vulnerability might calculate out to a score of 4. In contrast, one with high impact but is insanely challenging to exploit may also be scored a 4. The old rules of thumb would recommend going with the highest impact when prioritizing what to fix first, despite it being unlikely to be exploited. Instead, this new methodology avoids dealing with vulnerabilities that will almost certainly be exploitable. Getting Footholds The reason for reconsidering prioritization in this manner is because quickly executed vulnerabilities can serve as footholds for attacks. While the overall impact of that single vulnerability may not be high nor do much to elevate access, it improves the criminal’s posture during an attack. Think of it like gaining the high ground. If enough of these low impact yet highly exploitable vulnerabilities are utilized, they may lower the difficulty of exploiting higher impact vulnerabilities. This allows attackers to quickly and efficiently escalate up in access to your organization. Chaining Attacks The foothold argument also leads to the challenge of chaining vulnerabilities. Chaining vulnerabilities happen when multiple lower impact vulnerabilities are used together to create a higher impact that could not occur individually. This is similar to the scenario above, but the difference is that it does not require a higher impact vulnerability to exist, only the exploitation of multiple exposures together. While there are ways of identifying scenarios where this can occur, highly trained security personnel require time to spot these scenarios. And in large and complex organizations, this might not even be possible as the amount of data to parse would be overwhelming. In this case, the only reasonable solution is to patch and remediate these holes before criminals can exploit them. Understanding Your Landscape The only way to gain control of the potential vulnerabilities on endpoints and devices in your organization is to have a complete and in-depth understanding of what can access your infrastructure. This partially comes from having an up-to-date inventory that could come from an existing CMDB (Configuration Management Database). The other part of this equation is to take this inventory and deduce what vulnerabilities exist in the items it contains. Everything Contributes Differently It is crucial to understand that every device and endpoint has a slightly different contribution to overall risk when identifying vulnerabilities. Consider something as simple as a smartphone, for example. Even if it runs the same OS and same version as another phone on the network, it has a different set of vulnerabilities due to the various configurations and software. Analyzing this and dealing with each device on a case-by-case basis is crucial for managing your complete threat landscape. Many existing solutions either scan devices with an installed agent or run credentialed scans against them. While agent-based scans can deliver more in-depth results, it also comes with the challenge of maintaining agent installs and troubleshooting when there are issues. On the other hand, Agentless scans are more network intrusive and not functional for off-site devices and connect via VPN or occasionally on site. Making Informed Decisions The other part of knowing your landscape comes before acquiring new technology to integrate. The pre-purchase evaluation of products helps your organization understand what they might be getting themselves into and how much work it will take to keep it secure long term. When new devices come on board, they are often left with factory default software and settings. In many cases, these factory default configurations are less than secure. Studies have shown that cybercriminals can attack some IoT devices in less than a minute after being brought online. Identifying if your new technology solutions are a more considerable risk than they are worth before spending time and resources investing in their deployment can save your organization major security headaches in the long run. Digital Precognition When securing your organization, you need a solution that can thoroughly analyze and assess your attack surface. This solution needs to integrate with the existing data and solutions you already have to deliver in-depth vulnerability information tailored specifically to each device and endpoint. DeviceTotal is the Industry’s 1st – Universal Device Security Repository. Our repository draws from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities. With this, we can deliver 100% risk accuracy and identify attack vector visibility for each device, site, and organization. The granular visibility goes beyond risk to calculate actual exploitability for every device. This data provides your organization with a depth of risk visibility that allows you to determine your real priorities. As a fully automated solution, DeviceTotal protects attack surfaces for large organizations that can scale to meet your needs as they change. Contact us
