External Security Posture
In cybersecurity, External Security Posture refers to an organization's security from the perspective of an outside attacker. It encompasses all the aspects of an organization's digital presence and assets that are visible and accessible from the internet.
Here's a detailed explanation:
Visibility is Key: External security posture focuses on what an attacker can see without internal access. This includes websites, applications, servers, cloud services, and any other systems exposed to the internet.
Attack Surface: A significant part of external security posture is the "attack surface." This is the sum of all the points where an unauthorized user could attempt to enter data to or extract data from an environment. A larger attack surface generally means more potential vulnerabilities.
Vulnerabilities and Exposures: External security posture assessments seek to identify vulnerabilities in these externally facing assets. These can include:
Outdated software with known flaws.
Misconfigurations in servers or firewalls.
Lack of encryption.
Exposed sensitive data.
Assessing External Security Posture: Organizations assess their external security posture to understand their risk from external threats. This involves techniques like:
External vulnerability scanning.
Penetration testing from an outside perspective.
Open-source intelligence gathering (OSINT) to see what information is publicly available.
Importance: Understanding and improving external security posture is crucial because:
Many cyberattacks originate from external sources.
It helps prioritize security efforts by focusing on the most exposed areas.
It demonstrates due diligence to customers and partners.
In simpler terms, it's about how secure an organization appears to a hacker looking in from the outside.
Here's how ThreatNG significantly enhances an organization's understanding and management of its external security posture:
External Discovery: Seeing What Attackers See
ThreatNG's external discovery is crucial because it mirrors an attack's reconnaissance phase. ThreatNG maps out the organization's digital footprint exactly as an attacker would perceive it by performing purely external, unauthenticated discovery. This includes identifying all externally facing assets, from websites and applications to cloud services and exposed ports. This capability provides the raw data necessary to assess the external security posture.
External Assessment: Deep Dive into Exposures
ThreatNG goes beyond simple discovery with its comprehensive external assessments, providing detailed insights into specific areas of vulnerability:
Web Application Hijack Susceptibility: ThreatNG analyzes externally accessible parts of web applications to find potential entry points for attackers. For example, it can identify outdated web frameworks or missing security headers, which degrade the external security posture.
Subdomain Takeover Susceptibility: By assessing subdomains, DNS records, and SSL certificates, ThreatNG pinpoints weaknesses that could allow attackers to hijack subdomains. An organization's external security posture is weakened if it has subdomains with expired certificates that an attacker could take over to conduct phishing attacks.
BEC & Phishing Susceptibility: ThreatNG assesses the risk of Business Email Compromise (BEC) and phishing attacks by analyzing domain intelligence and dark web presence. For example, the discovery of lookalike domains or compromised credentials indicates a weaker external security posture regarding email security.
Brand Damage Susceptibility: This assessment evaluates the potential for attackers to harm an organization's reputation through external vectors. For instance, identifying available domain name permutations can highlight a risk to the organization's external security posture.
Data Leak Susceptibility: ThreatNG identifies potential sources of data leaks by analyzing cloud and SaaS exposure and dark web presence. Exposed cloud storage or compromised credentials found by ThreatNG reflect a poor external security posture concerning data protection.
Cyber Risk Exposure: ThreatNG assesses overall cyber risk by examining domain intelligence, code secret exposure, and cloud and SaaS exposure. Exposed code repositories or vulnerable server configurations directly contribute to a degraded external security posture.
Supply Chain & Third-Party Exposure: This assessment evaluates risks arising from vendors and partners. If ThreatNG identifies a vendor using vulnerable technology, it negatively impacts the organization's external security posture.
Breach & Ransomware Susceptibility: ThreatNG assesses the likelihood of breaches and ransomware attacks based on external attack surface and dark web intelligence. Exposed sensitive ports or the presence of compromised credentials increases susceptibility.
Mobile App Exposure: ThreatNG analyzes mobile apps for security vulnerabilities. Discovering hardcoded credentials in a mobile app indicates a poor external security posture.
Positive Security Indicators: ThreatNG doesn't only identify weaknesses but also strengths, providing a balanced view of the external security posture. Identifying a correctly configured Web Application Firewall (WAF) or multi-factor authentication (MFA) improves the organization's external security assessment.
Reporting: Clear Communication of Risk
ThreatNG's reporting capabilities translate complex technical findings into clear, actionable insights. This lets stakeholders quickly understand the organization's external security posture and prioritize remediation efforts.
Continuous Monitoring: Maintaining Vigilance
ThreatNG's continuous monitoring of the external attack surface is essential for maintaining a strong security posture. This proactive approach allows organizations to detect changes in their exposure and respond to emerging threats promptly.
Investigation Modules: Deep Dive into Findings
ThreatNG's investigation modules provide the tools to delve deeper into specific findings and gain a more granular understanding of the external security posture:
Domain Intelligence: This module provides detailed information about an organization's domains, DNS records, email security, and subdomains. This information is invaluable for assessing and improving various aspects of the external security posture.
Sensitive Code Exposure: This module helps security teams understand the risks of exposed code repositories.
Mobile Application Discovery: This module allows for investigating mobile apps and their potential vulnerabilities.
Search Engine Exploitation: This module helps to identify information leakage via search engines.
Cloud and SaaS Exposure: This module provides visibility into the organization's cloud and SaaS footprint, which is crucial for assessing the external security posture in cloud environments.
Sentiment and Financials: This module provides insights into how external factors may affect the organization.
Dark Web Presence: This module monitors mentions of the organization on the dark web, providing early warnings of potential threats.
Intelligence Repositories: Context is Key
ThreatNG's intelligence repositories provide valuable context for understanding and responding to external threats. For example, information on ransomware events and groups can help organizations assess risk and improve their external security posture accordingly.
Working with Complementary Solutions: A Holistic Approach
ThreatNG's external focus complements other security solutions, creating a more robust security ecosystem:
SIEM (Security Information and Event Management): Integrating ThreatNG's external threat intelligence with a SIEM can provide a more complete picture of the threat landscape
Vulnerability Management: ThreatNG's external vulnerability assessments can augment internal scanning, providing a 360-degree view of vulnerabilities.
ThreatNG is a powerful tool for assessing and improving an organization's external security posture. Its comprehensive capabilities provide the visibility, insights, and continuous monitoring needed to stay ahead of external threats.
