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CTEM-INF-2 - Infected Vendor Owned Device

To be Completed

Documentation has not been completed. This page is a placeholder for future documentation.

An Infected Vendor-Owned Device is a compromised host that is owned and managed by an external vendor. These devices are used by vendors to provide services to your organization, and their compromise poses unique risks due to the trust and access granted to these external parties. Examples include vendor-maintained servers, laptops, or specialized hardware used in the delivery of contracted services.

Characteristics of an Infected Vendor-Owned Device​

  • Vendor Ownership: The device is owned and operated by a third-party vendor, often outside the direct control of your organization's IT and security policies.
  • Service Dependency: The device plays a role in providing critical services to your organization, making its integrity crucial for the ongoing reliability and security of those services.
  • Established Persistence: Attackers have established persistence on the device, which means they have methods to maintain control, such as malware, backdoors, or trojans.

Common Methods of Discovery​

Infected vendor-owned devices are typically discovered through similar means as other compromised hosts, including:

  • Stealer Log Posting: Stolen credentials or sensitive data from the infected device may appear on underground marketplaces.
  • Cybercrime Forums: References to compromised vendor devices may be found on cybercrime forums or communication channels such as Telegram or dark web forums.
  • Botnet Activity: Evidence may suggest that the vendor-owned device is part of a botnet, indicating the device is under the control of an attacker through command-and-control (C2) channels.

Risks and Impact​

The compromise of a vendor-owned device presents significant risks to your organization, including:

  • Third-Party Data Breach: Attackers may gain access to sensitive company data managed by the vendor, leading to a third-party data breach.
  • Credential Compromise: The device may store access credentials that attackers can use to infiltrate your organization's systems or escalate privileges.
  • Supply Chain Attack: An infected vendor-owned device could be leveraged to launch supply chain attacks, compromising additional systems within your organization's environment.
  • Service Disruption: The compromise of these devices can disrupt critical services provided by the vendor, affecting business continuity.

Key Considerations for Threat Exposure Management​

Managing infected vendor-owned devices requires careful coordination between your organization and the vendor:

  • Vendor Communication: Immediate communication with the vendor is essential to ensure that they are aware of the compromise and can take appropriate actions.
  • Detection and Isolation: Any infected vendor-owned device should be detected as quickly as possible, and steps should be taken to isolate it from both the vendor and corporate network to prevent further spread.
  • Vendor Collaboration: Work closely with the vendor to conduct forensic analysis, determine the extent of the compromise, and develop a remediation plan.
  • Review of Access and Trust Relationships: Assess the trust relationships and access levels granted to the vendor to determine if any adjustments are necessary to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Infected vendor-owned devices highlight the importance of managing third-party risk and ensuring that external partners maintain strong security practices. Effective threat exposure management must include proactive monitoring, strong vendor relationships, and clear response protocols.