Pivot Point
In cybersecurity, a pivot point refers to a compromised system or device that an attacker uses as a foothold to launch further attacks deeper into a network. It serves as a bridge, allowing the attacker to tunnel traffic from their external machine through the compromised "pivot" host to reach internal systems that would otherwise be inaccessible directly from the internet.
This technique, known as pivoting or lateral movement, is a critical phase in advanced cyberattacks. It transforms a single infected endpoint—such as a receptionist’s laptop or a public-facing web server—into a launchpad for compromising high-value assets like database servers or domain controllers hidden behind firewalls.
The Mechanics of Pivoting
Pivoting fundamentally works by routing traffic through a chain of compromised network connections. It bypasses network segmentation rules by making malicious traffic appear to originate from a trusted internal device rather than an external threat actor.
The process typically follows these steps:
Initial Compromise (The Beachhead): The attacker gains control of a target system (Host A) that has access to both the internet and an internal network.
Tunnel Establishment: The attacker deploys a tool or script on Host A to establish a communication tunnel (typically via SSH or a dedicated proxy protocol).
Traffic Routing: The attacker configures their external attack tools to send data through this tunnel.
Internal Exploitation: Host A forwards the attacker's traffic to the target system (Host B). To Host B, the connection looks like legitimate internal traffic coming from Host A, bypassing perimeter firewalls.
Common Pivoting Techniques
Attackers utilize various methods to establish pivot points, depending on the tools available on the compromised host and the network architecture.
Proxy Pivoting: This involves setting up a proxy server on the compromised machine. The attacker routes their traffic through this proxy using tools that support SOCKS (Socket Secure) or HTTP proxies. This allows them to run scans and exploits against the internal network as if they were physically plugged into it.
SSH Tunneling (Port Forwarding): Secure Shell (SSH) is a legitimate administrative protocol often used for pivoting. Attackers use "Local Port Forwarding" to access a specific service on an internal host or "Dynamic Port Forwarding" to create a SOCKS proxy that tunnels all traffic through the encrypted SSH connection.
VPN Pivoting: Advanced attackers may deploy a rogue VPN client on the compromised host. This creates a virtual, encrypted tunnel that bridges the attacker's machine directly into the victim's internal network, effectively making the attacker's laptop appear as a "local" device on the corporate LAN.
Application Layer Pivoting: If network-level tunneling is blocked, attackers may pivot through specific applications. For example, they might use a compromised web server to send SQL queries to a backend database that is not directly exposed to the internet.
Strategic Value for Attackers
Pivoting is essential for attackers because modern networks are segmented. Critical data is rarely stored on machines that are directly connected to the internet.
Bypassing Firewalls and NAT: Most internal systems are behind Network Address Translation (NAT) and strict firewalls that block incoming internet connections. Pivoting circumvents this by utilizing an allowed connection from the compromised host.
Evading Detection: By launching attacks from an internal IP address (the pivot point), attackers hide their true location. Security teams analyzing logs will see traffic originating from a legitimate employee's device rather than from a known malicious external IP address.
Accessing Isolated Networks: Pivoting allows attackers to move from a low-security zone (such as a Guest Wi-Fi or DMZ) into high-security zones (such as the Cardholder Data Environment or Operational Technology networks).
Detecting and Preventing Pivots
Defending against pivoting requires strong internal network visibility and strict access controls.
Network Segmentation: Divide the network into small, isolated zones. Ensure that a web server in the DMZ cannot initiate connections to internal user workstations or critical databases unless absolutely necessary.
Monitor East-West Traffic: Traditional security focuses on North-South traffic (entering/leaving the network). Detecting pivoting requires monitoring East-West traffic (movement between internal devices) for anomalies, such as a workstation suddenly performing network scans.
Restrict Administrative Tools: Attackers often "live off the land" by using built-in tools such as SSH, PowerShell, or RDP to pivot. Restrict legitimate use of these tools to specific administrative accounts and block them for standard users.
Strong Authentication: Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all internal access points. Even if an attacker compromises a machine, MFA can prevent them from authenticating to the next system in the chain.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a jump box and a pivot point? A jump box (or bastion host) is a secure, legitimate server designed to provide authorized administrators access to a segmented network. A pivot point is a compromised system that an attacker uses to gain access to other systems.
Can pivoting happen without malware? Yes. Attackers can perform "fileless" pivoting by using native operating system tools (such as SSH or PowerShell) already present on the compromised machine, eliminating the need to install malicious code.
Is pivoting the same as lateral movement? Pivoting is a specific technique used to enable lateral movement. Lateral movement is the broader goal of traversing the network, while pivoting is the mechanism of routing traffic through a compromised host to achieve that movement.
Does network pivoting work across different operating systems? Yes. Attackers can pivot from a compromised Linux server to attack a Windows network, and vice versa. Standard protocols such as TCP/IP, SSH, and SMB enable cross-platform pivoting.
ThreatNG and the Prevention of Network Pivot Points
ThreatNG acts as a preemptive defense system against Pivot Points by securing the external perimeter, which is invariably the attacker's necessary "Beachhead." Before an attacker can pivot internally (move from Host A to Host B), they must first compromise Host A externally.
ThreatNG identifies, assesses, and monitors these potential initial entry points. By hardening assets at the boundary between the public internet and the internal network, ThreatNG removes the foothold required to establish a tunnel, effectively denying attackers the ability to pivot.
External Discovery: Locating the Beachhead
The first step in a pivoting attack is finding an exposed asset to compromise. ThreatNG’s External Discovery engine prevents this by finding these assets before the attacker does. It maps the organization's "Jump Boxes," VPN concentrators, and forgotten servers that are most likely to be targeted as pivot points.
Identifying Remote Access Gateways: ThreatNG recursively scans the digital footprint to locate assets running remote access protocols. It identifies servers exposing SSH (Port 22), RDP (Port 3389), or Telnet. These services are the primary tools attackers use to tunnel traffic. If ThreatNG discovers a forgotten "Test Server" with SSH exposed to the open internet, it has identified a high-probability pivot point.
Shadow Infrastructure Discovery: Attackers prefer Shadow IT because it is unmonitored. ThreatNG discovers unmanaged subdomains and cloud instances (e.g.,
dev-access.company.com). By bringing these shadow assets to light, ThreatNG ensures they cannot be used as a silent backdoor for lateral movement.
External Assessment: Validating the Tunnel Capability
Not every exposed server can be used as a pivot point. It requires specific vulnerabilities or configurations. ThreatNG’s Assessment Engine evaluates the "Pivot Potential" of external assets.
Technical Assessment (Technical Resources):
The Scenario: A web server is found on the perimeter.
ThreatNG Assessment: The engine analyzes the server's configuration. It detects that the server supports "HTTP CONNECT" methods or has an open proxy configuration. This alerts the security team that the asset is configured to function as a proxy pivot, allowing an attacker to route traffic through it.
Supply Chain Assessment (Financial & Legal Resources):
The Scenario: A third-party partner has a trusted connection to the internal network.
ThreatNG Assessment: ThreatNG uses Financial and Legal Resources to assess the partner's stability. If the partner is in financial distress or facing legal issues related to data security, they represent a "Trusted Third-Party Pivot." ThreatNG identifies this risk, warning the organization that the partner's weak security posture could provide a gateway into their own network.
Investigation Modules: Forensics of Access
ThreatNG’s investigation modules allow analysts to examine external assets to determine if they are currently compromised or leaking the credentials needed to establish a pivot.
Sanitized Dark Web Investigation:
The Pivot Precursor: Pivoting often relies on valid credentials (e.g., SSH keys or VPN passwords).
The Investigation: Analysts use the Sanitized Dark Web module to search for compromised credentials associated with the organization’s remote access gateways. Finding a "VPN Access" listing for sale provides definitive proof that an attacker is preparing to establish a pivot point.
Domain Intelligence and Pivoting (Data Link Analysis):
The Analysis: "Pivoting" in an investigation context means tracing relationships. If ThreatNG detects a suspicious IP address attempting to connect to the network, analysts use Recursive Attribute Pivoting. They trace the IP back to its owner. If the IP is from a known "Bulletproof Hosting" provider, often used for proxy networks, it indicates the connection is likely an attempt to establish a command-and-control tunnel.
Continuous Monitoring: Detecting the Open Door
Assets change. A secure server today can become a pivot point tomorrow if its configuration changes. ThreatNG’s Continuous Monitoring watches for these specific dangerous changes.
Port Drift Detection: If a firewall rule is changed and suddenly opens Port 3389 (RDP) on a web server that previously only allowed Port 443 (HTTPS), ThreatNG detects this Drift immediately. It alerts the team that a potential pivot channel has been opened, allowing them to close the port before an attacker finds it.
Intelligence Repositories: Threat Actor Profiling
ThreatNG’s Intelligence Repositories provide context on how adversaries use specific assets to pivot.
Infrastructure Reputation: The repository tracks IPs and domains used by threat actors. If a discovered external asset communicates with an IP address known to host "Cobalt Strike" (a common tool for beaconing and pivoting), ThreatNG flags the asset as likely compromised.
Reporting: The Attack Path Audit
ThreatNG’s Reporting generates the documentation needed to harden the perimeter against lateral movement.
Remote Access Exposure Reports: These reports specifically list all assets that expose management interfaces (SSH, RDP, VPN) to the public internet. This serves as a "To-Do List" for the network engineering team to place these services behind a VPN or firewall, effectively dismantling the infrastructure required for easy pivoting.
Complementary Solutions
ThreatNG secures the entry (the pivot host), while internal tools secure the movement (the pivot traffic). They work together to break the attack chain.
Network Detection and Response (NDR) ThreatNG identifies the door; NDR watches the hallway.
Cooperation: ThreatNG identifies external assets that could act as pivot points (e.g., a web server with SSH open). It feeds this context to the NDR solution. The NDR then monitors traffic specifically originating from that web server into the internal network. If the NDR sees that web server attempting to scan internal databases (East-West traffic), it confirms a pivot is active based on the risk profile established by ThreatNG.
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) ThreatNG spots the tool; EDR stops the execution.
Cooperation: Pivoting often requires installing tools like
plink.exeorngrokon the beachhead. ThreatNG identifies external vulnerabilities (e.g., an unpatched RCE) that would allow an attacker to deploy these tools. This intelligence allows the EDR team to tighten policies on those specific vulnerable entry points, blocking the execution of tunneling software.
Firewall and Segmentation Gateways ThreatNG audits the rules.
Cooperation: Firewalls enforce segmentation to stop pivoting. ThreatNG validates the firewall's effectiveness from the outside. If a firewall rule is supposed to block external SSH access, but ThreatNG’s external scan successfully connects to Port 22, ThreatNG provides the "Ground Truth" validation. This prompts the firewall team to fix the misconfiguration, re-establishing the barrier against pivoting.
Identity and Access Management (IAM) ThreatNG creates the context for Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
Cooperation: MFA is the strongest defense against credential-based pivoting. ThreatNG identifies which systems are exposed to the internet. IAM teams use this data to enforce strict "Always On" MFA policies for those specific external-facing assets, ensuring that even if an attacker steals a password, they cannot authenticate to the pivot point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can ThreatNG stop a pivot that is already inside the network? ThreatNG focuses on the External attack surface. It stops the initial compromise that enables the internal pivot. Once the attacker is inside, internal tools like NDR and EDR take over, but ThreatNG prevents them from getting there in the first place.
How does ThreatNG find "Reverse Shells"? Indirectly. A reverse shell connects from inside to outside. ThreatNG’s Domain Intelligence can identify if an internal asset is communicating with a known malicious external command-and-control domain, signaling that a reverse tunnel has likely been established.
Does identifying exposed ports really stop pivoting? Yes. Protocols like RDP and SSH are the "highways" for pivoting. By identifying and closing these exposed ports (or moving them behind a VPN), you force the attacker to use much more difficult and detectable methods to move laterally.
