CTEM-INF-3 - Infected Employee Owned Device (Corporate Credentials)
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An Infected Employee-Owned Device (Corporate Credentials) is a compromised host that is owned by an employee or a device on which an employee has used corporate credentials. These devices are often personal assets, shared devices, or non-corporate environments, such as a hotel workstation, that an employee has used to access corporate accounts or services. The use of corporate credentials on these devices introduces significant risks to the organization's security posture.
Characteristics of an Infected Employee-Owned Device
- Personal or Shared Ownership: The device may be personally owned by an employee or be a shared device, such as a hotel computer, that falls outside the direct control of corporate IT security policies.
- Corporate Credential Usage: The device has been used to access corporate services or accounts, meaning that corporate credentials or sensitive data may be present on the device.
- Established Persistence: Attackers may have gained control of the device and established persistence, using methods such as malware, trojans, or backdoors.
Common Methods of Discovery
Infected employee-owned devices are typically detected through the following means:
- Stealer Log Posting: Credentials or data stolen from the infected device may be posted on underground forums or marketplaces, indicating a compromise.
- Cybercrime Forums: The presence of corporate credentials or references to compromised employee devices may be found on cybercrime forums or other illicit channels.
- Botnet Activity: The device may be identified as part of a botnet, indicating it is communicating with command-and-control (C2) infrastructure controlled by an attacker.
Risks and Impact
The compromise of an employee-owned device presents unique risks to the organization, including:
- Credential Exposure: Corporate credentials stored on or used by the infected device may be compromised, allowing attackers to infiltrate the corporate network or gain unauthorized access to sensitive systems.
- Lateral Movement: Attackers may use the compromised credentials to move laterally within the corporate environment, potentially compromising additional systems.
- Data Theft: Sensitive corporate information accessed through the device may be stolen, resulting in a data breach.
- Lack of Control: Since these devices are not directly managed by corporate IT, the ability to implement security measures or respond to incidents is limited, making remediation more challenging.
Key Considerations for Threat Exposure Management
Managing infected employee-owned devices requires a balanced approach that includes both technical controls and user awareness:
- User Education: Educate employees on the risks of using corporate credentials on personal or shared devices and provide guidelines for secure remote access.
- Detection and Response: Implement monitoring solutions to detect suspicious activity related to the use of corporate credentials on non-corporate devices. When an infected device is detected, take swift action to revoke compromised credentials and limit further exposure.
- Remote Access Security: Enforce the use of secure remote access solutions, such as virtual private networks (VPNs) and multi-factor authentication (MFA), to reduce the risk of compromise when employees use non-corporate devices.
- Review Access Policies: Limit the use of corporate credentials on non-corporate devices by enforcing policies that restrict access to sensitive systems from unmanaged or untrusted devices.
Infected employee-owned devices highlight the challenges of balancing employee flexibility with security. Effective threat exposure management should include proactive user education, strong access controls, and continuous monitoring to mitigate the risks posed by such devices.