Organizations can streamline their vulnerability remediation efforts by pinpointing the vulnerabilities linked to their external attack surface that adversaries or APT groups are most likely to exploit, based on their TTPs. This enables them to concentrate on the vulnerabilities that present the greatest risk to their systems and data, instead of attempting to address all security observations simultaneously. Even with vulnerability prioritization, your external attack surface testing might reveal numerous high-severity vulnerabilities requiring urgent action. Let's explore this further through a real-world use case.

Suppose your high-priority vulnerability list features Pulse Secure VPN CVE-2019-11510, which allows attackers to remotely access sensitive data, such as usernames and passwords, on the compromised systems. Now, let's examine how TTP intelligence related to this issue can assist in making informed and timely decisions for vulnerability remediation.

1. CVE-2019-11510 APT Intelligence:

APT29, also known as Cozy Bear, is a Russian state-sponsored hacking group active since at least 2008. They have been known to exploit the Pulse Secure VPN vulnerability (CVE-2019-11510) in their attacks, allowing them to remotely access their target's network.

2. Regional and Industry type relevance of APT29:

Additional intelligence on APT29's activities, like regions they are active and the type of organizations they target, like below, might be instrumental in making proper decisions.

3. Notable Recent Attacks by APT29:

Additional insights on notable recent attacks from APT29, like those below, can help in informed decision-making.

Understanding the impacts of APT29's attacks can help organizations prioritize their security measures and implement appropriate defenses to mitigate the risks associated with APT29's tactics.

4. Post-Exploitation Tactics of APT29

The knowledge of APT29's post-exploitation tactics can help prioritize vulnerability remediation by identifying the vulnerabilities that APT29 will likely exploit.

APT29's post-exploitation tactics and their potential business impacts:

Understanding these post-exploitation tactics of APT29 can help organizations identify and prioritize vulnerabilities likely to be exploited by this threat actor and take proactive measures to mitigate these risks.

5. Security Control Effectiveness

Knowledge about the effectiveness of perimeter security solutions such as WAF or WAAP in preventing this specific vulnerability, along with Cyber Threat Informed Defense Intelligence (CTIDI) data, which is Machine Readable Threat Intelligence (MRTI), can significantly enhance the capabilities of blue teams.

Utilizing APT Intelligence for Prioritized Vulnerability Remediation:

APT intelligence can aid in prioritizing vulnerability remediation in several ways:

1. Threat awareness: Being aware that APT29, a state-sponsored hacking group, actively exploits the Pulse Secure VPN vulnerability (CVE-2019-11510) emphasizes the severity of the threat. This highlights the importance of prioritizing the resolution of this specific vulnerability to safeguard your network against sophisticated adversaries.
2. Risk assessment: By comprehending the tactics and techniques employed by APT29, you can better evaluate the risk this vulnerability presents to your organization. If your organization aligns with APT29's typical target profile, addressing this vulnerability should be given higher priority.
3. Resource allocation: With the knowledge of APT29's exploitation of this vulnerability, you can more effectively allocate resources towards mitigating it. This could involve assigning a dedicated resource, accelerating patch deployment, or implementing additional monitoring and security measures to reduce the risk of a successful attack.
4. Incident response planning: Recognizing that APT29 is actively exploiting this vulnerability can also guide your incident response planning. You can devise specific response procedures and strategies to counter potential attacks involving this vulnerability, minimizing the potential impact on your organization.

How Can NST Assure Assist?

In the current threat landscape, APTs like APT29 pose considerable risks to organizations. These sophisticated attackers employ advanced tactics to infiltrate and exfiltrate sensitive data, making effective vulnerability management crucial. With numerous vulnerabilities to tackle, prioritizing your remediation efforts can be difficult.

NST Assure's Continuous Security Assurance platform is uniquely designed to help organizations overcome this challenge. Our platform utilizes APT intelligence gathered from observations made during our Threat Surface Testing services. This method offers you a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of your organization's security posture, enabling you to identify and prioritize the most significant vulnerabilities.

By using the NST Assure platform, you can adopt a more proactive approach to your organization's security, minimizing the likelihood of a successful APT attack. Identifying and addressing vulnerabilities before exploitation helps protect your business, customers, and partners from the substantial financial and reputational harm that can result from a successful attack.