Definition
Lateral movement is the gradual network infiltration to reach a desired target. After getting access to a network, hackers can navigate from one process to another until they get the best position to steal or compromise data. Lateral movement is part of the advanced persistent threats (APTs).
Lateral Movement Stages
- Reconnaissance: Attacker studies network structure, naming conventions, and other important details needed for infiltration. This stage is similar to cybersecurity vulnerability assessments conducted by cybersecurity experts.
- Infiltration: The attacker stealthily enters the network using reconnaissance data and starts to move across it. Social engineering is a common technique hackers use to steal data and penetrate the network.
- Access: Once hackers acquire the target, they execute attack objectives such as deploying malware, destroying data, or stealing data.
Stopping Lateral Movement
- Implement robust end-point security to prevent hackers from infiltrating the network.
- Protect high-value targets with sufficient security measures and authorization requirements.
- Use micro-segmentation to partition your network into different parts, thus preventing the free flow of sensitive data across unrelated segments.
- Raise cybersecurity awareness by educating various stakeholders about common cybersecurity threats and how to prevent possible attacks.
What Types of Attacks Use Lateral Movement?
- Ransomware: Attackers infect numerous devices to demand ransom. They target internal servers containing vital data, causing significant operational damage.
- Data exfiltration: This is the movement of data from a controlled environment. Attackers steal data for various purposes, including intellectual property theft and ransom demands.
- Espionage: It entails monitoring by nation-states, cybercrime groups, or competitors. Attackers aim to remain undetected within the network for prolonged periods.
- Botnet infection: Attackers enlist compromised devices into a botnet for malicious activities, like DDoS attacks. Lateral movement expands the botnet’s strength.