Threat & Vulnerability Management

Threat & Vulnerability Management (TVM) TVM is a critical component of cybersecurity. Vulnerability Management focuses on identifying, assessing, prioritizing, and mitigating security vulnerabilities in computer systems, networks, and software applications. It is a proactive approach to safeguarding digital assets and sensitive information from potential threats and attacks. Threat management is a comprehensive approach to identifying, assessing, mitigating, and responding to security threats and vulnerabilities in computer systems, networks, and digital assets. It is critical in safeguarding sensitive information and ensuring digital resources' integrity, availability, and confidentiality. These disciplines play a pivotal role in maintaining the security and integrity of an organization's technology infrastructure. Significant cybersecurity challenges do not come from vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, viruses, or malware per se. The core challenge is adversaries (or “threat actors”) motivated by profit (“eCrime” actors), social or political causes (“hacktivists”), or perceived state interests (“nation-state” actors). The number and sophistication of these groups, as well as their potential impact, has grown over time, and collectively, they now cause increasingly significant disruptions to organizations worldwide. To effectively defend against these groups, security practitioners must thoroughly understand how these adversaries operate (their tactics, techniques, procedures, or “TTPs”) and their motives. With these insights, security teams can proactively use hypothesis-driven investigations and advanced detection tools to continuously hunt for signs of malicious activity that might evade automated defenses. By doing so, they can detect, understand, and neutralize threats effectively before they can cause significant damage. Threat hunting is a critical component of a mature and comprehensive cybersecurity program. Threat hunting involves several key elements, as outlined below: Human Expertise and Advanced Technology: Effective threat hunting combines the skills of experienced human threat hunters with sophisticated technology. This dual approach ensures that even the most stealthy and advanced threats are identified and mitigated. Threat hunters should be adept at leveraging telemetry, threat intelligence, and security research to uncover attacks. Focus on Identity and Cloud Security: Recent reports highlight a significant increase in identity-based attacks and a rise in cloud exploitation techniques. As adversaries increasingly target these areas, focus on securing identities and cloud environments and hunting for compromised credentials and accounts. Speed and Efficiency: The threat landscape is evolving rapidly, with adversaries moving faster than ever, underscoring the need for rapid detection and response. Use of Legitimate Tools by Adversaries: There has been a notable increase in adversaries' use of legitimate remote monitoring and management (RMM) tools to avoid detection. This trend requires sophisticated threat-hunting techniques to differentiate between legitimate and malicious use of these tools. Visibility: To defend against advanced persistent threats and everyday cyberattacks, organizations must have comprehensive visibility of their IT estate. Modern security tools such as endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions can provide telemetry from these resources and assets for threat hunters to evaluate. Continuous Hunting: Threat hunting should be viewed as an ongoing responsibility, not a periodic task. Mature threat-hunting programs operate in real time to quickly identify potential incidents. Logs: Organizations should collect and retain security-relevant log information to support retroactive threat hunting and investigative use cases. From a proactive standpoint, audit logs are also crucial for detecting and escalating potential security as they occur. Using a Managed Service Provider: A managed service provider (MSP), especially a cloud-native one, can offer the combined benefit of the provider’s incident response team (forensic analysis and breach response), its intelligence team, and its threat hunting team. Such a provider can also offer 24/7 coverage with constant updates on threat hunting and monitoring.\

Cybersecurity Tools Akamai - API Security Akamai - Client-Side Protection & Compliance Akamai - Hunt Anchore - Grype Anchore - Syft AT&T Alien Labs - Alien Vault Threat Intelligence AT&T Alien Labs - Managed Threat Detection and Response (MTDR) AT&T Alien Labs - Open Threat Exchange AT&T Alien Labs - Unified Security Management (USM) AT&T Cybersecurity - Alien Labs Open Threat Exchange - OTX AT&T Cybersecurity - Alien Labs Open Threat Exchange - OTX - Endpoint Security AVG - AVG Antivirus Pro AWS - AWS IoT Device Defender Barracuda - Application Protection Barracuda - Cybersecurity Platform BhaiFi - Network Security & Management Platform BhaiFi - Network Visibility & Planning Platform Binary Edge Blumira - Automated Threat Detection & Response Blumira - XDR Platform Bot Sentinel - Bot Sentinel Broadcom Threat Intelligence Services Centripetal - CleanINTERNET CISA - ICS Network Protocol Parsers CISA - Malcolm CISA Vulnerability Scanning Cisco - Cisco ISE Cisco - Industrial threat defense Cisco Vulnerability Management Cloud Security Alliance - CSA Cyber Incident Sharing Center CloudCover - CyberSafety Platform CloudCover - Generative-AI XDR-SASE Automated Threat Management Platform Cloudflare - Threat Intelligence Coalition Control Scanning CrowdStrike - Falcon Intelligence Elite CrowdStrike - Falcon Intelligence Premium CrowdStrike - Falcon Intelligence Recon CrowdStrike - Falcon Threat Intelligence & Hunting Debricked - Automate Open Source Security Management Dragos Platform Forescout - Forescout Forescout - Medical Device Security Forescout - OT Security Forescout - Security Automation FortifyData - FortifyData Google Jigsaw - Project Shield Google Security Command Center Greenbone - OpenVAS Heimdal - Application Control Heimdal - Threat Prevention Endpoint DNS Security Heimdal - Threat Prevention Network Perimeter DNS Security Hybrid-Analysis - Sandbox Scryer IBM X-Force Exchange Lumu Technologies - Lumu Free Malcolm - Hedgehog Mandiant Attack Surface Management Mandiant Azure AD Investigator Mandiant Red Team and Investigative Tools Mandiant Threat Intelligence Metasploit - Metasploit Microsoft - Azure IoT Hub Microsoft - Microsoft Defender for IoT Microsoft - MSTICpy Microsoft SecCon Framework Microsoft Threat Modeling Tool Open Information Security Foundation - OISF - Suricata Open source - Enterprise Log Search and Archive (ELSA) Open Source - Ettercap Open Source - Kismet Open Source - Nikto Open Source - RITA Open Source - Security Onion Open Source - Tsunami Security Scanner Open Source Insights Open Source Vulnerabilities - OSV OpenEDR - Open EDR Opentext - BrightCloud Threat Intelligence Opentext - Network Detection & Response (NDR) Palo Alto Networks - Checkov Patch My PC - Third-Party Patch Management for ConfigMgr and Intune Perception Point Remedy Cloud - Vulcan Cyber SANS Institute - arp SANS Institute - Fiddler SANS Institute - FireEye HELM SANS Institute - FOCA SANS Institute - Gabion SANS Institute - Harpy SANS Institute - Kismet SANS Institute - Maltego SANS Institute - MFCMAPI SANS Institute - Nessus SANS Institute - Nmap SANS Institute - OpenVAS SANS Institute - ping SANS Institute - Plesk Scanner SANS Institute - SecopsGenie SANS Institute - Shodan SANS Institute - SolarWinds Security Essentials SANS Institute - STIX SANS Institute - Wireshark SANS Institute - Wireshark Plugins SANS Institute - XSpider Secureworks - Vane2 Shadowserver - Network Reporting Tenable - Nessus Professional Tenable Nessus Tenable Nessus Essentials Trend Micro - Vision One Platform Tripwire - Security Configuration Management (SCM) Solution Tripwire - Tripwire IP360 - Vulnerability Management Veltec Networks - Harnessing The Power Of Microsoft Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection For Email Security Wireshark - Wireshark Zscaler - Internet Threat Exposure Analysis

Threat Management Concept Definition Threat Detection Threat detection involves using various tools and technologies to identify abnormal behavior or potential security breaches. Intrusion detection systems (IDS) and intrusion prevention systems (IPS) are commonly used. Risk Assessment Risk assessment is the process of evaluating the potential impact of a threat on an organization's assets and determining the likelihood of an attack occurring. This helps prioritize security measures and resource allocation. Incident Response Incident response plans are essential for effectively handling security incidents when they occur. They outline the steps, roles and responsibilities, and communication protocols to minimize damage and recover quickly.	Vulnerability Management Concept Definition Vulnerability Assessment Vulnerability Management begins with a comprehensive assessment of an organization's digital environment. This involves scanning systems and applications to identify weaknesses, misconfigurations, and potential entry points for attackers. Risk Prioritization Once vulnerabilities are identified, they are assessed based on factors such as potential impact, exploitability, and the value of the affected assets. This prioritization helps organizations focus on addressing the most critical vulnerabilities first. Patch Management Timely application of security patches and updates is a fundamental aspect of Vulnerability Management. This process ensures that known vulnerabilities are mitigated by applying the latest fixes provided by software vendors. Continuous Monitoring Cyber threats are constantly evolving. Vulnerability Management is an ongoing process that requires continuous monitoring and assessment to stay ahead of emerging threats. Asset Inventory Maintaining an up-to-date inventory of digital assets is crucial for effective Vulnerability Management. This includes hardware, software, and network components. Compliance and Regulations Many industries are subject to specific regulations and compliance requirements regarding cybersecurity. Vulnerability Management often plays a crucial role in ensuring compliance with GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI DSS standards.	Tools Method Definition Vulnerability Scanners Automated scanners can be used to scan networks and systems for vulnerabilities. They provide reports detailing identified vulnerabilities and their severity. Penetration Testing Penetration testers, or ethical hackers, simulate real-world attacks to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses that may not be detected by automated scanners. CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) standardized system for identifying and tracking vulnerabilities in software and hardware. Can be used to reference and address specific vulnerabilities. Vulnerability Databases Databases like the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) and the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) provide information about known vulnerabilities, including severity scores and remediation guidance. Automation and Orchestration Automation tools and orchestration platforms help streamline the vulnerability management process by automating routine tasks, enabling faster response to emerging threats.	Best Practices * Regularly update and patch systems and software * Establish a clear process for reporting and remediating vulnerabilities. * Conduct security awareness training to educate employees about the importance of security hygiene. * Implement network segmentation to limit the potential impact of breaches. * Implement firewalls, intrusion detection, and prevention systems. * Maintain an incident response plan to address vulnerabilities that may be exploited. * Organizations should have a policy in place for receiving and addressing vulnerability reports from external researchers (bug bounty programs) or internal teams, encouraging responsible disclosure. * Promoting good security hygiene across the organization is key. This includes ensuring that employees use strong passwords, avoid sharing sensitive information, and follow best practices for secure computing. * Implementing strong access control measures, such as multi-factor authentication and role-based access control, can limit the exposure of sensitive data to unauthorized users. * Data encryption is vital for protecting data in transit and at rest. Strong encryption algorithms ensure that even if data is intercepted, it remains unreadable without the decryption key.	Additional Considerations Term Definition Vulnerability Lifecycle Vulnerabilities have a lifecycle. They are discovered, reported, patched, and exploited. It's crucial to understand this lifecycle to effectively manage vulnerabilities. Timely patching and mitigation can prevent exploitation. Third-Party Software Organizations often use third-party software and libraries in their applications. These components can introduce vulnerabilities. Threat/Vulnerability Management should extend to third-party software, including keeping track of updates and patches. Threat Intelligence Integrating threat intelligence into Threat/Vulnerability Management can provide valuable context. It helps organizations understand the current threat landscape and prioritize vulnerabilities that are actively being targeted by cybercriminals. Asset Classification Not all assets are equal. Threat/Vulnerability Management should consider the criticality of assets. High-value assets, such as servers containing sensitive data, should receive greater attention than less critical assets. Documentation and Reporting Keeping detailed records of vulnerability assessments, remediation actions, and their outcomes is essential. Reporting helps in accountability, compliance, and demonstrating the effectiveness of the Threat/Vulnerability Management program. Integration with IT Operations Threat/Vulnerability Management should integrate with IT operations to ensure that security patches and updates do not disrupt critical business processes. Coordination is essential to maintain system uptime. Legal and Ethical Considerations Organizations must operate within legal and ethical boundaries when conducting vulnerability assessments and penetration testing. Understand the laws and regulations that apply to your activities. Business Continuity Threat/Vulnerability Management should align with an organization's business continuity and disaster recovery plans. This ensures that critical systems can continue to operate in the face of security incidents. Cloud and Mobile Security As organizations migrate to cloud environments and adopt mobile technologies, they must adapt their Vulnerability Management practices to secure these platforms effectively. External Dependencies Be aware of external dependencies, such as vendor-supported software or open-source libraries. If a critical external component has a vulnerability, the organization's response may be limited by external factors. Feedback Loop Establish a feedback loop between security teams and system administrators. This helps in addressing recurring issues and improving the overall security posture over time. Incident Response A well-defined incident response plan should be in place to address security incidents that may result from exploited vulnerabilities. Vulnerability Management and incident response should be closely aligned.

Conclusion

Threat & Vulnerability Management are the bedrock of cybersecurity, offering a proactive defense against evolving threats. By prioritizing risk, embracing best practices, and leveraging a diverse toolkit, organizations can secure their digital assets. These practices are adaptable to new technologies and external dependencies and safeguard digital integrity while ensuring resilience in the face of emerging threats.