Attackers intensify their strategies, focusing on infiltrating software links and connections
In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, the importance of securing third-party vendors has never been more critical. Recent incidents at Twilio and Mailchimp serve as a stark reminder of this fact, as third-party intrusions have demonstrated the potential for attacks to spread quickly and far.
Curtis Franklin, senior analyst at Omdia, warns that there are no inherently safe partnerships, and any connection can potentially be exploited. This sentiment is echoed by Tyler McLellan, who highlights the amplification effect, making third-party vendor attacks increasingly common and successful.
Threat actors are taking advantage of these vulnerabilities, opting for shortcuts that offer maximum reward for minimum effort. They are mapping out third-party supply chains, using seemingly aimless attacks on third-party systems to gain access to multiple victims.
Managed service providers, with their access to victims, third-party data, and opportunities to infect software in the supply chain, are particularly attractive targets. These providers can offer threat actors a gateway to multiple organizations, making the potential damage far-reaching.
Social engineering attacks, such as phishing, are a common method used by threat actors to gain unauthorized access. For instance, a phishing attack against Twilio impacted 125 customers, exposing the phone numbers and verification codes for 1,900 Signal users. Similarly, when social engineering attacks compromised Mailchimp's internal tooling, it identified 214 affected accounts, including DigitalOcean.
Chester Wisniewski, principal research scientist at Sophos, likens this situation to smuggling things in and out of a prison, emphasizing the need for organizations to be vigilant about their third-party security risks.
Recent weeks have seen a rise in supply-chain attacks, with CrowdStrike experiencing a compromise involving npm packages. This incident underscores the need for organizations to be aware of the potential risks associated with third-party tools and services.
As the digital world becomes more interconnected, it is essential for organizations to take a proactive approach to securing their third-party relationships. This includes mapping out third-party security risks, strengthening security measures, and educating employees about the dangers of social engineering attacks.
In the words of Tyler McLellan, "Threat actors are patient and persistent, and knowing more about a company's relationships and automated processes can put a company in serious danger." Ignoring this reality could lead to costly and damaging consequences.
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