After conducting over 10,000 automated inside community penetration checks final 12 months, vPenTest has uncovered a troubling actuality that many companies nonetheless have important safety gaps that attackers can simply exploit.
Organizations typically assume that firewalls, endpoint safety, and SIEMs are sufficient to maintain them safe. However how efficient are these defenses when put to the take a look at? That is the place vPenTest, Vonahi Safety’s automated community pentesting platform, is available in. Designed to simulate real-world assault situations, vPenTest helps organizations discover exploitable vulnerabilities earlier than cybercriminals can.
These aren’t complicated, zero-day exploits. They’re misconfigurations, weak passwords, and unpatched vulnerabilities that attackers routinely exploit to realize entry, transfer laterally, and escalate privileges inside networks. Here is how these dangers break down:
- 50% stem from misconfigurations – Default settings, weak entry controls, and missed safety insurance policies.
- 30% are as a consequence of lacking patches – Unpatched programs that go away the door open for recognized exploits.
- 20% contain weak passwords – Companies operating with out correct authentication, making it simple for attackers to get in.
On this article, we’ll cowl the ten most crucial inside community safety dangers, breaking down what they’re, why they’re harmful, and easy methods to repair them earlier than they flip into actual issues. We’ll begin with the least widespread and work our approach as much as the primary concern we have seen throughout hundreds of assessments with vPenTest. If these weaknesses exist in your setting, attackers will discover them—it is only a matter of time.
10. Password Deficiencies – Redis Service
CVSS3: 9.9
% of incidence: 1.3%
What’s it:
- Redis is an in-memory key-value information retailer generally used for caching, message brokering, and real-time analytics. By default, Redis doesn’t implement authentication, permitting shoppers to attach with out credentials.
Safety Impression:
- If an adversary good points entry to the Redis service, they could acquire delicate information saved inside the databases hosted on the server and probably escalate privileges to realize system-level entry, relying on the capabilities of the Redis service and the permissions related to the compromised person account. This might result in unauthorized information manipulation, information exfiltration, or additional exploitation of the system.
Suggestion:
- It’s crucial to configure the Redis service to require a powerful password that meets the group’s password coverage. A sturdy password ought to embody the next standards:
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- Minimal of 12 characters
- Not simply guessable, e.g., not present in a dictionary
- Mixture of upper-case letters, decrease case letters, numerical digits, and/or particular characters
- Verifiable towards recognized compromised password databases (e.g., www.haveibeenpwned.com)
- Moreover, using a password supervisor can improve safety by producing complicated passwords which can be troublesome to retrieve, even within the occasion that the password hash is obtained by way of a breach.
9. Firebird Servers Settle for Default Credentials
CVSS3: 9.0
% of incidence: 1.4%
What’s it:
- Default credentials are sometimes hard-coded usernames and passwords supposed for preliminary setup and ought to be modified promptly to take care of safety. This concern arises when programs are deployed with out reconfiguration or when default settings are missed throughout the setup course of.
Safety Impression:
- The reliance on default credentials for Firebird servers can result in unauthorized entry, permitting attackers to authenticate and conduct reconnaissance on the affected programs. They may enumerate recordsdata or alter system configurations, thereby opening pathways to additional exploitation. If the attacker identifies the situation of Firebird database recordsdata, they could achieve the flexibility to learn or modify delicate database info. Moreover, sure variations of Firebird could be manipulated to execute system instructions, thereby extending an attacker’s management over the distant host.
Suggestion:
- To mitigate this vulnerability, it’s important to make the most of the GSEC device to alter the default credentials related to Firebird servers. Moreover, implementing a coverage for normal credential audits and guaranteeing that each one default settings are modified earlier than deployment can additional improve safety. Repeatedly monitoring server entry logs for unauthorized makes an attempt and enabling alerts for suspicious actions will help in detecting potential exploitations early.
8. Microsoft Home windows RCE (BlueKeep)
CVSS3: 9.8
% of incidence: 4.4%
What’s it:
- BlueKeep is a distant code execution vulnerability in Microsoft’s Distant Desktop Protocol (RDP), recognized as CVE-2019-0708.
Safety Impression:
- Exploitation of the BlueKeep vulnerability permits an attacker to imagine full management over the affected system(s). This degree of entry could facilitate additional assaults inside the group’s infrastructure, together with the potential extraction of delicate information similar to passwords and password hashes. Moreover, the attacker might navigate laterally inside the community, compromising extra programs and companies. The exploit’s nature implies that no particular privileges or authenticated entry are required to execute the assault, thus simplifying the method for the attacker and amplifying the potential impression on the group.
Suggestion:
- It’s important to promptly apply all related safety updates to the affected system(s) to mitigate the BlueKeep vulnerability. Organizations ought to conduct an intensive evaluation of their patch administration processes to establish components contributing to the absence of well timed updates. Given the exploitability of this vulnerability and its potential to severely compromise programs, a right away response is important to safeguarding the group’s digital setting.
7. Microsoft Home windows RCE (EternalBlue)
CVSS3: 9.8
% of incidence: 4.5%
What’s it:
- EternalBlue is a distant code execution vulnerability within the Microsoft Server Message Block (SMBv1) protocol. It permits an attacker to ship specifically crafted packets to a weak system, enabling unauthorized entry and execution of arbitrary code with system-level privileges.
Safety Impression:
- Exploitation of the EternalBlue vulnerability permits an attacker to realize full administrative entry to the affected system(s). This entry can facilitate additional malicious actions inside the group’s community, together with the extraction of cleartext passwords and password hashes, in addition to lateral motion to different programs. Importantly, this vulnerability doesn’t require the attacker to escalate privileges on the compromised system, that means they will provoke reconnaissance and additional assaults with none extra effort.
Suggestion:
- To mitigate the chance related to the EternalBlue vulnerability, it’s crucial to promptly apply the related safety patches to all affected system(s). Moreover, an intensive evaluation of the group’s patch administration program ought to be performed to establish any deficiencies that led to the unpatched standing of those programs. Given the excessive danger and prevalence of exploitation of this vulnerability, rapid remediation efforts are essential.
6. IPMI Authentication Bypass
CVSS3: 10.0
% of incidence: 15.7%
What’s it:
- The Clever Platform Administration Interface (IPMI) is a important {hardware} answer utilized by community directors for centralized administration of server(s). In the course of the configuration of server(s) outfitted with IPMI, sure vulnerabilities could exist that permit attackers to bypass the authentication mechanism remotely. This ends in the extraction of password hashes, and in situations the place default or weak hashing algorithms are employed, attackers might doubtlessly get better the cleartext passwords.
Safety Impression:
- The power to extract cleartext passwords presents a big safety danger, as an attacker might leverage this info to realize unauthorized distant entry to delicate companies, together with Safe Shell (SSH), Telnet, or web-based interfaces. Such unauthorized entry might allow configurations manipulation, negatively impacting the supply and integrity of companies supplied by the compromised server(s).
Suggestion:
- Given the absence of a patch for this vulnerability, it’s important to implement a number of of the next mitigation methods:
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- Restrict IPMI entry strictly to approved system(s) that require administrative functionalities.
- Disable IPMI service on server(s) that don’t want it for enterprise operations.
- Change default administrator password(s) to robust, complicated alternate options to boost safety.
- Make use of safe communication protocols, similar to HTTPS and SSH, to mitigate the chance of man-in-the-middle assaults that might expose delicate credentials.
5. Outdated Microsoft Home windows Techniques
CVSS3: 9.8
% of incidence: 24.9%
What’s it:
- Outdated Microsoft Home windows system(s) current important safety dangers, as they’re now not receiving important updates from Microsoft. These system(s) could lack important safety patches addressing recognized vulnerabilities, successfully rendering them extra inclined to exploitation by attackers. Moreover, the absence of updates can lead to compatibility points with trendy safety instruments and software program, additional diminishing the system(s)’ defenses. Vulnerabilities on outdated programs can typically be exploited in assaults, similar to malware distribution, information exfiltration, and unauthorized entry.
Safety Impression:
- If exploited, an outdated Microsoft Home windows system might permit an attacker to realize unauthorized entry to the affected system(s), exposing delicate information and assets. Moreover, because of the potential similarity in configurations amongst system(s) inside the identical community, an attacker could make the most of the compromised system(s) as a launching level to maneuver laterally, compromising extra system(s) and rising the general footprint of the breach.
Suggestion:
- It’s strongly beneficial to exchange outdated variations of Microsoft Home windows with present working system(s) which can be nonetheless supported by the producer. This could embody conducting an intensive stock of all system(s) to establish and prioritize outdated variations, adopted by implementing a phased improve technique. Commonly confirm that each one system(s) are receiving the most recent updates and patches to take care of safety integrity.
4. IPv6 DNS Spoofing
CVSS3: 10.0
% of incidence: 49.9%
What’s it:
- The chance of IPv6 DNS spoofing arises from the potential introduction of a rogue DHCPv6 server inside the inside community infrastructure. Because of the choice of Microsoft Home windows programs for IPv6 over IPv4, IPv6-capable shoppers are inclined to acquire their IP handle configurations from any out there DHCPv6 server.
Safety Impression:
- The deployment of a rogue DHCPv6 server permits an attacker to govern DNS requests by redirecting IPv6-enabled shoppers to make the most of the attacker’s system as their DNS server. This functionality can result in critical penalties, such because the unauthorized seize of delicate information, together with person credentials. When all DNS queries resolve to the attacker’s server, the sufferer’s system could inadvertently talk with malicious companies working on the attacker’s infrastructure, encompassing platforms similar to SMB, HTTP, RDP, and MSSQL.
Suggestion:
- To mitigate the dangers related to IPv6 DNS spoofing, the next methods are beneficial, with emphasis on aligning every strategy with organizational operations and thorough testing previous to implementation:
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- Handle Rogue DHCP on the Community Layer: Implement options similar to Rogue DHCP detection, DHCP snooping, and DHCP authentication on community switches and firewalls to manage unauthorized DHCP servers and reduce the chance of DNS spoofing assaults.
- Choose IPv4 over IPv6: Make the most of Group Coverage Objects (GPOs) or Group Coverage Preferences (GPPs) to deploy registry modifications that configure Home windows programs to favor IPv4 over IPv6. You will need to word that this strategy won’t forestall assaults from affecting non-Home windows units.
- Disable IPv6: Whereas not usually advisable for Microsoft Home windows programs, disabling IPv6 could also be thought of as a final resort precaution, supplied thorough testing ensures there are not any important disruptions to enterprise operations.
3. Hyperlink-Native Multicast Identify Decision (LLMNR) Spoofing
CVSS3: 9.8
% of incidence: 65.5%
What’s it:
Hyperlink-Native Multicast Identify Decision (LLMNR) is a protocol designed for identify decision inside inside community environments when conventional Area Identify System (DNS) companies are both unavailable or ineffective. LLMNR acts as a fallback mechanism, facilitating the decision of DNS names by way of multicast queries. The decision course of unfolds as follows:
- The system first queries its native host file to discover a corresponding IP handle for the desired DNS identify.
- If no native entry exists, the system initiates a DNS question directed at its configured DNS server(s) to resolve the identify.
- Ought to the DNS server(s) fail to offer a decision, the system broadcasts an LLMNR question throughout the native community, looking for responses from different hosts.
This reliance on multicast broadcasts introduces vulnerabilities, as any lively system can reply to the queries, doubtlessly deceptive the requesting system.
Safety Impression:
- The broadcasting nature of LLMNR queries permits any system on the native community to reply with its personal IP handle in reply to a decision request. Malicious actors can exploit this by sending crafted responses containing the attacker’s system’s handle. This functionality opens avenues for important safety breaches, notably if the question is tied to delicate companies similar to SMB, MSSQL, or HTTP. Profitable redirection can facilitate the seize of delicate info together with plaintext and hashed account credentials. It’s pertinent to notice that hashed credentials could be subjected to trendy brute-force assaults, thereby compromising account safety.
Suggestion:
- To mitigate the dangers related to LLMNR spoofing, it’s important to disable LLMNR performance throughout affected programs. This may be completed by way of the next strategies:
- Group Coverage Configuration: Navigate to Pc ConfigurationAdministrative TemplatesNetworkDNS Shopper and set ‘Flip off Multicast Identify Decision’ to Enabled. For administering configurations on a Home windows Server 2003 area controller, make the most of the Distant Server Administration Instruments for Home windows 7 out there at this hyperlink.
- Registry Modification for Home windows Vista/7/10 House Version: Entry the registry at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindows NTDNSClient and modify the ‘EnableMulticast’ key to 0 or take away it to disable the function.
2. NetBIOS Identify Service (NBNS) Spoofing
CVSS3: 9.8
% of incidence: 73.3%
What it’s:
The NetBIOS Identify Service (NBNS) is a protocol utilized by workstations inside an inside community to resolve domains when a DNS server is unavailable or unresponsive. When a system makes an attempt to resolve a DNS identify, it follows these steps:
- The system first checks its native host file for an entry mapping the DNS identify to an IP handle.
- If no native mapping exists, the system sends a DNS question to its configured DNS server(s) in an try to retrieve the corresponding IP handle.
- If the DNS server(s) can not resolve the identify, the system broadcasts an NBNS question throughout the native community, soliciting responses from different programs.
This dependency on broadcasts makes the NBNS weak to spoofing assaults, whereby an attacker can reply with a false IP handle.
Safety Impression:
- The broadcasting nature of NBNS queries implies that any system on the native community can reply. This vulnerability could be exploited by malicious actors who could reply these queries with the IP handle of the attacker’s system, redirecting site visitors supposed for reputable companies. For example, companies similar to SMB, MSSQL, or HTTP might inadvertently ship delicate information, together with cleartext or hashed account credentials, to the attacker’s system. Furthermore, trendy computational capabilities can facilitate the cracking of hashed credentials, doubtlessly permitting unauthorized entry to person accounts.
Suggestion:
- To mitigate the chance of NBNS spoofing, it’s advisable to disable the NetBIOS service throughout all hosts inside the inside community. This may be completed by way of a wide range of strategies together with configuration of DHCP choices, changes to community adapter settings, or modifications to the system registry. Implementing these modifications will considerably scale back the potential assault floor related to NBNS.
1. Multicast DNS (mDNS) Spoofing
CVSS3: 9.8
% of incidence: 78.2%
What it’s:
Multicast DNS (mDNS) serves as a reputation decision protocol for native networks, facilitating the decision of domains when a devoted DNS server is unavailable. The decision course of happens in phases:
- The system first consults its native host file for any applicable DNS identify/IP handle mappings.
- Within the absence of a configured DNS server, the system resorts to mDNS, broadcasting an IP multicast question requesting identification from the host equivalent to the DNS identify. This protocol habits exposes a possible vulnerability that malicious actors can exploit, enabling them to impersonate reputable programs by responding to those queries.
Safety Impression:
- mDNS queries, that are transmitted throughout the native subnet, could be answered by any gadget able to receiving them. This vulnerability permits an attacker to reply with their system’s IP handle, doubtlessly deceptive the querying system. Such exploitation could result in interception of delicate info, together with unencrypted and hashed credentials, relying on the precise service the sufferer is making an attempt to entry (e.g., SMB, MSSQL, HTTP). It ought to be famous that hashed credentials can typically be compromised inside a comparatively brief timeframe utilizing modern computing assets and brute-force assault methodologies.
Suggestion:
- To mitigate the chance of mDNS spoofing, the first advice is to fully disable mDNS if it isn’t in use. On Home windows programs, this may typically be accomplished by implementing the ‘Disable Multicast Identify Decision’ group coverage. As many functions have the potential to reintroduce mDNS performance, another technique is to dam UDP port 5353 by way of the Home windows firewall. For non-Home windows programs, disabling companies similar to Apple Bonjour or avahi-daemon can present related safety.
- You will need to word that disabling mDNS could disrupt functionalities similar to display casting and sure convention room applied sciences. Ought to full disabling not be possible, contemplate isolating affected programs inside a managed community phase and mandating the usage of robust, complicated passwords for any accounts that entry these programs.
What Pentesting Reveals About Safety Gaps
After analyzing tens of hundreds of community assessments, one factor is evident—many safety gaps aren’t the results of superior hacking strategies however easy, avoidable errors. Weak passwords, forgotten misconfigurations, and unpatched programs create simple alternatives for attackers. These aren’t once-in-a-lifetime vulnerabilities. They’re recurring issues that present up in networks of all sizes, 12 months after 12 months.
Pentesting is like stress-testing your safety earlier than an actual attacker does. It reveals how somebody might break in, transfer round, and escalate privileges utilizing the identical ways real-world attackers depend on. Again and again, assessments show that even corporations with robust defenses typically have hidden weaknesses ready to be exploited.
The issue? Most organizations nonetheless depend on annual pentests for compliance, leaving months of blind spots in between. That is the place vPenTest from Vonahi Safety is available in. It delivers automated, on-demand community pentesting, so as a substitute of ready for an audit to inform you what went flawed, you could find and repair exploitable vulnerabilities year-round.
Cyber threats aren’t slowing down, so safety testing should not both. Whether or not accomplished manually or by way of automation, common community pentesting is the important thing to staying forward of attackers—not simply checking a field for compliance. Need to discover vPenTest and see the facility of automated community pentesting for your self? Schedule a free demo of vPenTest!
