Why Adversaries Target VPN Appliances: The Pathway from IT to OT Cyber Attack

Supplier Questions:

1. What primary motivations drive adversaries to target VPN appliances in critical infrastructure sectors like energy and manufacturing?
2. Can you explain the potential consequences of adversaries pivoting from IT to OT environments once they breach a VPN appliance?
3. What proactive measures can organizations in critical infrastructure sectors implement to defend against these types of brute-force attacks targeting VPN appliances?

CISO Focus:

Cyber Threat Intelligence

The Hidden Pathway: From IT to OT via VPN Appliances

Adversaries are ramping up their brute-force operations targeting VPN appliances, aiming to exploit a crucial junction in critical infrastructure sectors, including energy, manufacturing, and utilities. A recent intelligence brief from cybersecurity firm Dragos reveals the broader implications and potential threats posed by such targeted attacks.

Dragos’s report uncovers a campaign where attackers employ brute-force login attempts using a combination of random and authentic credentials associated with both existing and former employees. These efforts are directed at significant VPN appliances like Cisco SSL-VPN, Fortinet VPN, and Palo Alto Global Protect VPN across several sectors including electric/energy, oil and gas, water, wastewater, and manufacturing.

Interestingly, the infrastructure supporting these attacks often utilizes virtual private servers (VPS) provided by Stark Industries Solutions, a known bulletproof hosting service frequently used for launching denial-of-service attacks. This setup grants adversaries a layer of anonymity and stability, making it harder for defenders to trace the attack’s origins and dismantle their operations.

Critical Infrastructure in Crosshairs

The immediate target for these adversaries are IT systems, serving as a gateway through which they can potentially penetrate and compromise operational technology (OT) environments. The crossover from IT to OT is particularly alarming in sectors critical to public safety and national security. If adversaries successfully infiltrate OT networks, the consequences could be catastrophic, potentially causing physical damage or disrupting essential services.

The patterns recognized in this brute-force campaign echo broader trends in the targeting of critical infrastructure. The observed tactics tie in well with existing methodologies of cyber attackers, focusing on areas with possibly severe downstream impacts. The severity of these attacks places an emphasis on the urgent need for bolstered defenses and proactive intelligence sharing among industries.

The Brute-Force Strategy

Brute-force attacks are not a novel concept, but the combination of previously acquired employee credentials with random username generation is what sets these attempts apart. By leveraging credentials obtained from past breaches or phishing attacks, adversaries increase their chances of successful authentication and subsequently breaching high-value VPN appliances.

The use of virtual private servers from a bulletproof hosting provider like Stark Industries Solutions allows attackers to launch persistent and resilient brute-force attacks while maintaining a level of operational obfuscation. Bulletproof hosting offers a haven for these malicious activities, knowing full well that their operations may not be quickly disrupted by law enforcement or security entities.

Sector-Specific Threats

The intelligence gathered paints a stark picture for sectors like electric, water, and oil and gas. These industries rely heavily on the uninterrupted operation of both IT and OT systems. Therefore, any breach in the IT realm that facilitates unauthorized access to OT can lead to significant risks, including widespread outages, environmental hazards, and potential threats to human life.

Dragos points out that while the initial forays by these adversaries target IT systems, the long-term focus appears to be on exploiting weaknesses to pivot to OT environments. Attackers’ success in this area could grant them control over physical processes, posing severe security risks to critical infrastructure.

Defensive Measures

Organizations in these critical sectors must adopt comprehensive security measures to defend against such attacks. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) for VPN access, robust password policies, regular auditing and updating of employee credentials, and continuous monitoring of network traffic can act as essential barriers against brute-force logins.

Additionally, sharing intelligence insights across sectors and with relevant security entities can enhance collective defense measures. Understanding the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) of adversaries allows for early detection and mitigation of potential intrusions.

Moreover, incident response plans should be in place and frequently rehearsed to ensure that organizations can swiftly and effectively respond to breaches. Investing in cybersecurity training for both IT and OT staff is crucial to creating an environment of heightened vigilance and preparedness.

Conclusion

The pathway from IT to OT through VPN appliances is a critical vulnerability that adversaries are exploiting with increasing sophistication. The findings from Dragos underscore the need for timely and informed defensive strategies within critical infrastructure sectors. By reinforcing defenses and promoting inter-sectoral collaboration, the risks posed by these cyber threats can be mitigated, protecting both digital and physical domains from potential devastation.

Sentiment: Negative

Time to Impact: Short (3-18 months)