Fast Facts
- Around 75% of ransomware incidents begin with stolen or misused login credentials, not technical exploits, emphasizing the critical importance of securing access credentials.
- Modern attackers exploit publicly accessible entry points like remote logins, APIs, and third-party system interfaces, often using methods such as phishing or credential stuffing.
- Unsecured accounts, especially outdated or unmanaged service and privileged accounts, enable attackers to move laterally within networks and escalate their access undetected.
- Many security strategies focus on infrastructure rather than identity protection, resulting in gaps like inactive privileged accounts and lack of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), which hinder early attack detection.
The Issue
The story, reported by cybersecurity analysts, highlights the persistent threat posed by ransomware to businesses, despite increased investments in IT defenses. The core issue is that cybercriminals often gain initial access through compromised identities—such as stolen login credentials—rather than sophisticated technical exploits. These attackers frequently exploit publicly accessible points like remote login systems, APIs, and third-party interfaces, using methods like phishing or credential stuffing. Once inside, they move stealthily across networks, elevating their privileges through weak or unchecked accounts, and preparing their ransom demands—all while often remaining undetected until it’s too late. The report emphasizes that many companies still rely heavily on infrastructure protection without adequately securing digital identities, notably neglecting proper account management and multi-factor authentication (MFA), creating blind spots that allow intruders to remain hidden and cause severe damage to the affected organizations’ operations, reputation, and compliance.
Risk Summary
Ransomware remains one of the most significant threats to organizations, primarily because cybercriminals often gain initial access through compromised identities rather than technical exploits, with approximately 75% of breaches involving stolen or misused credentials. These attackers operate strategically, leveraging publicly accessible surfaces such as remote logins, APIs, and third-party interfaces, often using methods like phishing, credential stuffing, or exploiting data leaks to infiltrate systems. Once inside, they move laterally within the network, escalating privileges through poorly secured or unmonitored accounts, all while remaining undetectable for extended periods—posing risks that threaten data integrity, operational continuity, reputation, and regulatory compliance. Despite increased security investments, many defenses still focus on infrastructure rather than identity, leaving gaps such as inadequate access control, persistent privileged accounts, outdated login procedures lacking multi-factor authentication, and poor visibility into user activities. These vulnerabilities hinder early detection and response, allowing malicious activity to unfold stealthily until significant damage is done.
Possible Next Steps
Addressing access controls swiftly is crucial because it plays a vital role in preventing ransomware from spreading and causing extensive damage. Effective remediation ensures that potential vulnerabilities are promptly closed, safeguarding valuable data and maintaining operational continuity.
Mitigation Steps
- Conduct Regular Access Audits
- Enforce Strong Authentication
- Implement Least Privilege Policies
- Use Multi-Factor Authentication
- Restrict Administrative Rights
Remediation Steps
- Isolate Infected Systems
- Restore from Clean Backups
- Update Security Patches
- Revise Access Permissions
- Enhance Security Training
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Disclaimer: The information provided may not always be accurate or up to date. Please do your own research, as the cybersecurity landscape evolves rapidly. Intended for secondary references purposes only.
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