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Top 10 Cybersecurity Threats of 2024: How to Identify, Map, and Mitigate Emerging Risks

December 13, 2024 | by Dhaval Parekh

A detailed guide to understanding, analyzing, and defending against the most sophisticated cyber threats of the year.

As the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, the sophistication of cyberattacks is increasing, with adversaries leveraging advanced techniques to bypass conventional defenses. To stay ahead, security professionals must understand these threats at a granular level, including how attackers execute them, how they align with frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK, and how to map these attacks against the Cyber Kill Chain. In this blog, we’ll explore the top 10 cybersecurity threats of 2024, their attack flows, and how to effectively defend against them.

1. Ransomware Attacks

Ransomware attacks have continued to evolve, with attackers employing double and triple extortion tactics, where sensitive data is not only encrypted but also exfiltrated and threatened to be leaked. Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups like Conti and LockBit have been known to deploy these tactics.

  • Attack Flow: Ransomware typically starts with phishing, followed by lateral movement, privilege escalation, and encryption of critical files.
  • MITRE Mapping: Techniques include Initial Access (T1566.001 - Spearphishing), Privilege Escalation (T1055 - Process Injection), and Impact (T1486 - Data Encrypted for Impact).
  • Cyber Kill Chain Mapping: Delivery (phishing email), Exploitation (malicious payload execution), and Installation (ransomware deployed).
  • APT Groups Leveraging This: Conti, LockBit.
  • Defense Strategies: Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions, conduct regular offline backups, and implement least privilege access.

2. Supply Chain Attacks

Supply chain attacks continue to target vulnerabilities in third-party software or services. APT groups such as APT41 have been leveraging these attacks to inject malicious code into trusted updates.

  • Attack Flow: Compromising a trusted vendor, inserting malware into legitimate software updates, distributing malware to clients.
  • MITRE Mapping: Initial Access (T1195 - Supply Chain Compromise), Execution (T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter).
  • Cyber Kill Chain Mapping: Weaponization (compromising software), Delivery (software update pushed to users), Exploitation (malware executed).
  • APT Groups Leveraging This: APT41.
  • Defense Strategies: Enforce strict vendor security assessments, use software bill of materials (SBOM) for transparency, and conduct continuous monitoring of third-party components.

3. Phishing and Spearphishing

Phishing remains a top method for attackers to gain initial access, with spearphishing becoming highly targeted against specific individuals in an organization. APT groups like APT28 are known for their spearphishing campaigns.

  • Attack Flow: Attacker crafts a convincing email, user clicks a link, credential theft or malware installation follows.
  • MITRE Mapping: Initial Access (T1566.001 - Spearphishing Attachment), Credential Access (T1078 - Valid Accounts).
  • Cyber Kill Chain Mapping: Delivery (phishing email), Exploitation (user clicking the link).
  • APT Groups Leveraging This: APT28 (Fancy Bear).
  • Defense Strategies: Implement robust email security gateways, train employees on recognizing phishing attempts, and use multi-factor authentication (MFA).

4. Zero-Day Exploits

Zero-day vulnerabilities are exploited before patches are available, making them particularly dangerous. APT groups like APT29 are known for using zero-day exploits to compromise government and corporate networks.

  • Attack Flow: Discovery of a vulnerability, weaponization, exploitation, and establishment of persistence.
  • MITRE Mapping: Initial Access (T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution), Persistence (T1547 - Boot or Logon Autostart Execution).
  • Cyber Kill Chain Mapping: Exploitation (targeting unpatched vulnerabilities), Installation (malware deployed).
  • APT Groups Leveraging This: APT29 (Cozy Bear).
  • Defense Strategies: Employ virtual patching through intrusion prevention systems (IPS), perform regular vulnerability scans, and ensure quick patch management.

5. Credential Stuffing Attacks

Credential stuffing attacks leverage breached credentials to gain unauthorized access to systems, targeting the weakest passwords.

  • Attack Flow: Collection of breached credentials, automated login attempts, successful access to systems.
  • MITRE Mapping: Credential Access (T1110 - Brute Force), Defense Evasion (T1070 - Indicator Removal on Host).
  • Cyber Kill Chain Mapping: Reconnaissance (collection of credentials), Weaponization (automated attack tools).
  • APT Groups Leveraging This: APT38 (linked to North Korea).
  • Defense Strategies: Use MFA, implement IP rate limiting, and monitor for abnormal login patterns.

6. Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) Attacks

MITM attacks intercept communications to steal information or inject malicious content. Attackers may use compromised routers or public Wi-Fi to execute these attacks. APT groups like APT37 have leveraged MITM attacks for surveillance purposes.

  • Attack Flow: Compromise a network node, intercept traffic, modify or steal data.
  • MITRE Mapping: Collection (T1071 - Application Layer Protocol), Credential Access (T1040 - Network Sniffing).
  • Cyber Kill Chain Mapping: Delivery (network compromise), Action on Objectives (data theft).
  • APT Groups Leveraging This: APT37 (Reaper).
  • Defense Strategies: Use end-to-end encryption (TLS), implement VPNs for remote access, and enable HTTPS for all web applications.

7. Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Attacks

DDoS attacks are designed to disrupt services by overwhelming systems with excessive traffic. Botnets like Mirai are often employed for large-scale DDoS campaigns. APT groups such as APT33 have been known to leverage DDoS attacks.

  • Attack Flow: Compromise IoT devices, use botnet to send large amounts of traffic, exhaust system resources.
  • MITRE Mapping: Impact (T1498 - Network Denial of Service).
  • Cyber Kill Chain Mapping: Weaponization (botnet creation), Delivery (traffic generation).
  • APT Groups Leveraging This: APT33 (Elfin).
  • Defense Strategies: Employ DDoS mitigation solutions, use rate limiting, and diversify server resources to handle traffic spikes.

8. Privilege Escalation

Privilege escalation exploits vulnerabilities that allow attackers to gain elevated permissions, providing deeper access into systems. APT groups like APT10 are known for leveraging privilege escalation tactics.

  • Attack Flow: Exploit vulnerability, gain elevated privileges, access sensitive data.
  • MITRE Mapping: Privilege Escalation (T1068 - Exploitation for Privilege Escalation).
  • Cyber Kill Chain Mapping: Exploitation (vulnerability used to elevate privileges).
  • APT Groups Leveraging This: APT10 (Stone Panda).
  • Defense Strategies: Implement least privilege policies, conduct regular privilege audits, and use endpoint detection tools to monitor for unusual privilege changes.

9. SQL Injection Attacks

SQL injection (SQLi) targets vulnerable web applications to manipulate backend databases. SQLi remains a common method for attackers to gain unauthorized access. APT groups like APT32 have been observed using SQL injection.

  • Attack Flow: Inject malicious SQL query, extract data from database, exfiltrate information.
  • MITRE Mapping: Initial Access (T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application), Collection (T1074 - Data Staged).
  • Cyber Kill Chain Mapping: Delivery (web input fields), Exploitation (SQL command executed).
  • APT Groups Leveraging This: APT32 (Ocean Lotus).
  • Defense Strategies: Implement input validation, use parameterized queries, and deploy web application firewalls (WAF).

10. Insider Threats

Insider threats come from individuals within the organization who misuse their access for malicious purposes, often using their legitimate credentials.

  • Attack Flow: Use legitimate access to gather sensitive data, exfiltrate or sabotage systems.
  • MITRE Mapping: Collection (T1025 - Data from Removable Media), Exfiltration (T1041 - Exfiltration Over C2 Channel).
  • Cyber Kill Chain Mapping: Reconnaissance (gathering data internally), Action on Objectives (data theft or sabotage).
  • APT Groups Leveraging This: Notably used by groups like APT28 where insiders collaborate.
  • Defense Strategies: Monitor user activity using UEBA (User and Entity Behavior Analytics), enforce data loss prevention (DLP), and implement least privilege access.

Conclusion

Understanding the sophistication of cyber threats is essential for staying ahead of adversaries. By leveraging advanced defense strategies, mapping attacks against frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK, and utilizing the Cyber Kill Chain to anticipate and disrupt attacks, cybersecurity professionals can effectively counter the top threats of year 2024. These technical insights, combined with a deep understanding of APT group tactics, help organizations bolster their defenses and ensure proactive cybersecurity postures.

Dhaval Parekh
Threat Researcher Lead - R&D
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