Due to the widespread digital transformation through cloud adoption and remote work, the attack surface targeting the cybersecurity of businesses and organizations (hereafter referred to as ‘businesses’) is growing daily. Attack Surface Management (ASM) is a cybersecurity process that proactively and continuously identifies, scans, and monitors IT vulnerabilities from a hacker’s perspective. Today, we will learn about what an attack surface is and how its management works.
Article Summary
- Modern businesses have a vast number of attack surfaces. This article tends to narrow down the range of IT assets accessible via the internet to Attack Surface.
- An Attack Surface is defined as a vulnerability or route that a hacker could utilize to attain unpermitted access to the business’s network or sensitive data.
- The typical Attack Surface is a public IP/domain address, cloud infra service, IoT devices connected to the internet, and a shared database/directory.
- Attack Surface Management (ASM) preemptively and continuously verifies, scans, and monitors any cybersecurity threats due to a business’s IT infrastructure.
- ASM is necessary since it’s difficult to counter the sharp increase of Attack Surface due to businesses’ digital transformation with the previous security process.
Before Starting
Before we start, we would like to specify the range of the Attack Surface.
Attack Surfaces are vast. Terms like LAN/WAN attack surface, physical attack surface, social engineering attack surface, and endpoint attack surface can complicate understanding the concept of an attack surface. This article aims to limit the criteria of attack surface to the most highlighted: “IT asset accessible via the internet”.
What is an Attack Surface?
Before getting into Attack Surface Management, we should learn about an attack surface first. An attack surface is defined as a vulnerability or route that a hacker could utilize to attain unpermitted access to the business’s network or sensitive data as well as cyber-attacks. After the start of COVID-19, online work environments skyrocketed while digital transformation via the cloud accelerated, resulting in the ongoing daily increase of attack surface. Even Gartner, the global market research agency, has identified the growth of the attack surface as the number one trending security and risk management of 2022. The following image shows a list of potential attack surfaces that a business could have:
- Public IP/domain address
- Email server and account
- Cloud infra service
- IoT devices
- Shared database/directory
- Externally exposed administrator page
- Old or outdated IT assets (e.g. device, cloud server, application, etc.)
- Other internet-coordinated assets
What is Attack Surface Management?
Attack Surface Management (ASM) is a process that proactively verifies, scans, and monitors potential cybersecurity threats arising from a business’s IT infrastructure. It aims to find digital assets that are risked of potential security threats while simultaneously decreasing exposure to and warding off cyber threats through threat exposure analysis and real-time monitoring. The Attack Surface Management process could be mainly divided into 3 steps:
Verifying Digital Assets
Attack Surface Management starts by verifying a business’s WAN-exposed IT assets. This process is also called scanning. Scanning is an extremely significant function that acts as an Attack Surface Management solution and allows the discovery of hidden IT assets.
Threat Exposure Analysis
A business’s WAN exposed IT assets verified by scanning are evaluated and analyzed based on their risk factor. This allows businesses to preemptively respond to unknown assets.
Real-time Monitoring
The threat exposure analysis of a business’s WAN-exposed IT assets verified via scanning is fully automated, enabling real-time monitoring. This enables businesses to respond promptly to detected vulnerabilities and build a more resilient and effective security system capable of addressing the expanding Attack Surface.
4 methods for a Business’s Attack Surface Management
A business’s attack surface is very broad, so it either seeks help from a specialized organization, uses a vulnerability scanner, or tries an Attack Surface Management solution. Let us view the pros and cons of each method.
1. Attack Surface Management via vulnerability scanner
The vulnerability scanner is a tool that analyzes an organization’s assets and automatically spots vulnerabilities. An effective scan will require setting the range so all network and system assets can be scanned while establishing a routine scan schedule to synchronize with the most up-to-date vulnerability database. Detected vulnerabilities are prioritized based on severity, and corrective actions are taken through patches or configuration changes. For instance, the conjugation of tools like Nessus and Qualys allows businesses to monitor their cloud environment, applications, and LAN and instantly counter a new vulnerability. The following method impacts the Attack Surface, causing it to continuously shrink. The pros and cons of usage of the vulnerability scanner are as follows:
Pros
- Automated analysis: Repetitive scanning and vulnerability detection are automated, thus conserving both time and human resources.
- Broad scoping: A general vulnerability scanning is available upon all of the organization’s assets
- Persistent updates: Synchronizing with the most up-to-date vulnerability database provides coping strategies for potential new threats.
Cons
- Risk of system failure: An error may occur since vulnerability detection directly influences the server and system.
- Risk of failing to identify or misinterpret: Unknown vulnerabilities and unidentified assets are not detected. Some of the vulnerabilities require further analysis as some may not be a valid threat.
- Immediate resolution limitations: Countermeasures for a detected vulnerability may require additional resources.
- Insufficient real-time detection: A non-periodical scanning may induce the failure of real-time vulnerability detection.
2. Attack Surface Management via penetration(pen) test
Penetration testing is a method of viewing an organization’s security from the attacker’s perspective, identifying the practical vulnerabilities of the system. To start, a specific test range and goal must be set. For example, a specific application or network configuration may be set as an objective. Then, various Attack surfaces are simulated by penetration test tools like Metasploit, and Burp Suite. Vulnerabilities spotted by the test may be corrected or blocked depending on its priority. The pen test may be done as a routine or after a system alternation (e.g. Deployment of a new service, Large-scale patch) to preserve security levels. This helps identify and address potential vulnerabilities. The pros and cons of the penetration test are as follows:
Pros
- A real attack simulation: Evaluation of security vulnerability from the attacker’s perspective.
- Customized Testing: The ability to design tests tailored to specific systems and network environments of an organization.
- A preventing effect: Allows identification and fixing of key vulnerabilities before an attack occurs.
Cons
- Risk of system failure: Errors may occur as vulnerability detection directly impacts servers and systems.
- Budget issues: Requiring a group of experts and tools, and repetitive testing may cause large sums of cost.
- Time consumption: Significant time is required for test preparation, execution, and reporting.
- Scope limitations: The test is conducted only within the specified range and scenarios, and may not detect unexpected threats.
3. Attack Surface Management method via threat intelligence
Threat intelligence is a strategy that enhances an organization’s security response capabilities by analyzing the latest cyber threat information and attack surfaces. To leverage this, organizations first collaborate with threat intelligence providers (TIP) like Criminal IP to acquire the most up-to-date threat data. Subsequently, the collected information is analyzed to identify potential risks that may impact the organization’s attack surface. For instance, if a specific type of ransomware is on the rise, systems vulnerable to that ransomware are proactively reinforced. The pros and cons of utilizing threat intelligence for attack surface management are as follows:
Pros
- Decreasing risk of system failure: Unlike vulnerability scanning and the penetration test, using the attack surface management solution could reduce the risk of system failure.
- Intelligent Security Response: Enables rapid and accurate preventive measures based on the latest threat information.
- Proactive Defense: Facilitates preparation against potential attacks, dramatically reducing the likelihood of successful breaches.
- System implementation Capability: Enables automated threat response by implementing security management systems like SIEM.
Cons
⦁ Reliability Issues: If the quality or source of threat information is unreliable, it can lead to incorrect decisions.
⦁ Complexity: Specialized knowledge and skills are required to analyze and utilize threat data effectively.
⦁ Budget issues: Implementing advanced threat intelligence services or solutions may induce additional expenses.
4. Attack Surface Management Solution via AI Automation
Businesses can streamline attack surface management using AI-powered solutions. A prominent AI-powered attack surface management solution is Criminal IP ASM. AI-powered attack surface management solutions scan exposed assets across networks, cloud environments, and applications, mapping vulnerabilities in real-time.
| Item | Pre-AI automation | Post-AI automation |
|---|---|---|
| Detection speed | Long time consumption due to manual scanning assets and identifying vulnerabilities. | Real-time detection and updates significantly improve response speed. |
| Accuracy | Human errors may lead to some assets being missed or incorrectly judged. | AI comprehensively analyzes data, providing high accuracy. |
| Efficiency | Wasting the security team’s time on repetitive tasks. | Automation of simple tasks allows the security team to focus on high-value activities. |
| Risk response | Difficulty in prioritizing vulnerabilities, and resources consumed inefficiently. | AI evaluates the risk level and suggests the optimal response strategy. |
| Cost reduction | Manual processes lead to high labor costs and the potential for additional damage due to errors. | Automating tasks leads to cost efficiency and reduced operational risks. |
Ultimately, by utilizing AI automation for attack surface management solutions, businesses can respond in real-time to newly discovered attack surfaces daily, leading to increased productivity and cost efficiency. This enables businesses to proactively respond to potential cyber threats, which directly links to enhancing their business competitiveness.
The Future of Attack Surface Management
Attack surface management goes beyond simple asset identification, ultimately building a robust security ecosystem. As cloud-centric digital transformation accelerates, the attack surface threatening cybersecurity is expected to expand further.
In line with this, attack surface management is also evolving. AI-enhanced IT asset identification and threat analysis functions will be implemented into existing security monitoring systems, enabling proactive responses to various cybersecurity threats. Additionally, by implementing Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) solutions, a more robust security ecosystem will be established. This implementation will automate the entire process from asset identification to threat detection and response, enhancing efficiency simultaneously.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Attack Surface Management necessary?
As digital transformation accelerates today, businesses aim to strengthen their competitiveness by adopting innovative technologies. Meanwhile, the number of cybersecurity threats is also increasing rapidly. Due to digital transformation centered around the cloud, the expansion of remote work, and the explosive growth of IoT devices, the attack surface that businesses need to protect has become much more complex and vaster than ever. In this context, attack surface management has become more than an option, an essential cybersecurity strategy for modern businesses. Previous cybersecurity processes are not only inefficient in responding to the growing attack surface, but they also hold limitations in detecting unknown assets.
What is the difference between Attack Surface Management and penetration testing?
There are three main differences: 1) It does not cause any disruptions, 2) It is fully automated and provides real-time monitoring, and 3) It enables visibility into unknown assets. Penetration testing is conducted within a fixed period and only on identified assets. As a result, between penetration tests, vulnerabilities may go undetected, and there may be no way to prepare for potential threats. Additionally, it’s impossible to prepare for possible threats that may arise from unknown assets, and the vulnerability scanner tools used during penetration testing can potentially cause disruptions on the server. This is because such tools often stress the server during the testing process. However, attack surface management solutions address all these issues. They’re fully automated and can identify not only known assets but also unknown assets in real time while analyzing vulnerabilities and threats. Additionally, they’re designed in a non-intrusive manner, taking system stability into account, and allowing for 24/7, year-round attack surface management without placing any direct load on the system. These three points can be identified as the key differences.
Do I still need Attack Surface Management even with a firewall?
Yes, it is necessary. While firewalls have various functions and purposes, the basic role of a firewall is to defend against external intrusions. In other words, the firewall only activates once an attack has already begun. However, attack surface management operates under the goal of proactive defense by analyzing potential cybersecurity threats before an attack occurs. Therefore, even if you are running a firewall, it is crucial to build an efficient and robust defense system through attack surface management.
Conclusion
Attack Surface Management refers to the process of identifying, analyzing, and monitoring all IT assets that could potentially pose cybersecurity threats to a business. Through Attack Surface Management, businesses can leverage fully automated monitoring capabilities to identify not only known assets but also unknown assets, and conduct analysis on cybersecurity threats, thereby establishing an efficient security process. All the while, Attack Surface Management is preparing for further advancement into a stronger security ecosystem through the implementation of AI and automated security response solutions like SOAR.
Criminal IP ASM, as an Attack Surface Management solution, offers powerful threat analysis capabilities through implementing OSINT-based cyber threat intelligence. Additionally, by utilizing AI, it effectively identifies and analyzes a company’s unknown assets. Moreover, it is designed in a non-intrusive manner that does not strain the system, providing fully automated monitoring without causing disruptions. It also helps proactively respond to cybersecurity threats through real-time reporting of detected threats. If you wish to try the Criminal IP ASM free trial, please apply through the link below.