by: Chelsie WyattPosted on:

 Supply Chain Attacks: How They Work & Key Defensive Strategies 

            Supply Chain Attacks: How They Work & Key Defensive Strategies 

A supply chain attack is a type of cyberattack in which attackers target the weaker links within an organization’s supply chain, typically third-party vendors or suppliers, to gain access to its systems or data. Historically, supply chain attacks were targeted at trust relationships, where insecure suppliers in the chain were attacked to gain access to their larger partners.

While traditional supply chain attacks are still a concern, an even bigger threat facing organizations today is the software supply chain. Software supply chains are highly susceptible to attack, because in modern development organizations, software is not created from scratch, and uses many off-the-shelf components such as third-party APIs, open source code, and proprietary code from software vendors. Any of these could be exposed to security threats and vulnerabilities.

How Supply Chain Attacks Work

Supply chain attacks often involve one or more of the following tactics:

  • Software Compromise: Attackers may inject malicious code into software updates or downloadable files provided by a vendor. When these updates are applied by the target organization, the malware is introduced into their systems.
  • Hardware Tampering: Malicious actors can modify physical components or devices supplied to a company, like embedding spyware or trojans in hardware.
  • Service Exploitation: Attackers exploit vulnerabilities in services provided by third parties, like managed IT services or cloud providers, to access and compromise the target organization.
  • Credential Theft: Attackers may steal credentials from a vendor or partner and use them to gain unauthorized access to the target organization.

Why Supply Chain Attacks are Dangerous

  • Widespread Impact: A single attack can affect multiple organizations because it targets commonly used third-party software or services.
  • Bypass of Security Controls: Companies usually trust their vendors and partners, so they often have elevated permissions and access, making it easier for attackers to bypass many security controls.
  • Challenging to Detect: The malware or backdoor can go unnoticed if it’s embedded in a legitimate update or provided by a trusted vendor.

Real-World Example

1. SolarWinds Attack (2020)

  • Attack Overview: Hackers inserted malicious code into SolarWinds’ Orion software updates, impacting thousands of clients, including U.S. government agencies.
  • Prevention Strategies:
    • Secure Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC): Implement security checks at each development stage, such as code signing, static code analysis, and integrity checks.
    • Zero-Trust Architecture: Limit access permissions across network layers, ensuring even trusted third-party applications are heavily monitored.
    • Continuous Monitoring: Use anomaly detection to catch unusual traffic or data movement, which could help identify malicious updates early.

2. NotPetya Malware (2017)

  • Attack Overview: NotPetya spread via a software update from the Ukrainian software provider MeDoc, causing global disruption.
  • Prevention Strategies:
    • Network Segmentation: Separate critical systems from lower-security network areas, so if malware infects one area, it can’t spread easily.
    • Third-Party Software Assessment: Vet vendors more rigorously for security standards, conduct regular vulnerability assessments, and set rules for software patching.
    • Endpoint Protection: Use advanced endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to flag unusual behavior, containing ransomware spread at early stages.

3. Target Data Breach (2013)

  • Attack Overview: Hackers gained access to Target’s network by first breaching an HVAC vendor, exposing over 40 million credit card records.
  • Prevention Strategies:
    • Vendor Access Management: Regularly review and limit third-party access to essential systems, using multi-factor authentication and privileged access management (PAM).
    • Network Access Control (NAC): Ensure that third-party vendors only access the parts of the network they need, reducing exposure to other critical systems.
    • Frequent Security Audits: Conduct vendor risk assessments and audits to ensure partners comply with security policies and are aware of their responsibilities.

4. Kaseya VSA Attack (2021)

  • Attack Overview: REvil ransomware group exploited Kaseya’s software vulnerabilities, impacting thousands of businesses.
  • Prevention Strategies:
    • Regular Patching: Ensure frequent updates and patches for critical software, and work with vendors to address known vulnerabilities.
    • Security Controls for Managed Service Providers (MSPs): Require MSPs to implement robust security protocols, as they often have broad access to client networks.
    • Incident Response Planning: Have a contingency plan to disconnect vulnerable systems and communicate promptly with all stakeholders if an attack occurs.

5. CCleaner Attack (2017)

  • Attack Overview: Attackers inserted a backdoor into the legitimate CCleaner software update, infecting over 2 million users.
  • Prevention Strategies:
    • Code Integrity Verification: Regularly check for any unauthorized code modifications and implement a strict code-signing policy.
    • Use of Application Allowlisting: Restrict software installation to only pre-approved applications, and limit updates from unknown or unverified sources.
    • User Awareness and Training: Educate users on downloading software from legitimate sources and report any unusual activity after updates.

6. Codecov Bash Uploader Attack (2021)

  • Attack Overview: Codecov’s Bash Uploader script was modified, allowing attackers to collect sensitive developer data.
  • Prevention Strategies:
    • Hash Validation on Scripts: Implement automated hash checks on any downloaded scripts to confirm their integrity and catch any modifications.
    • Environment Variable Management: Reduce sensitive environment variable exposure by isolating sensitive data to secure development environments.
    • Access Controls and Secrets Management: Use secure vaults for storing sensitive data and API keys, rather than leaving them accessible in development environments.

General Takeaways

  • Supply Chain Audits and Compliance: Regularly evaluate third-party vendors for compliance with security standards and practices, particularly those with access to critical systems.
  • Enhanced Monitoring and Threat Detection: Employ behavioral analysis and anomaly detection tools to spot unusual actions in real-time.
  • Collaborative Cyber Defense Initiatives: Share threat intelligence with industry peers to stay aware of vulnerabilities in third-party software or tools commonly used across sectors.

These strategies offer a robust defense against the evolving landscape of supply chain cyber threats.

Prevention Measures

Supply chain attacks are challenging to prevent entirely, but companies can reduce their risk through strategies like:

  • Implementing vendor risk management practices,
  • Adopting zero-trust models that continuously verify access even for trusted vendors,
  • Ensuring strict code integrity checks for software and firmware, and
  • Using network segmentation to limit the spread of attacks if they do occur.

Supply chain security is crucial because, as technology ecosystems grow, the reliance on third-party vendors increases, widening the potential attack surface.

Monitoring Remote Sessions

Security monitoring is crucial for preventing ransomware attacks as it enables early detection, identification of vulnerabilities, monitoring for anomalies, data protection, and compliance with regulatory requirements. 

TSFactory’s RecordTS v7 will record Windows remote sessions reliably and securely for RDS, Citrix and VMware systems. Scalable from small offices with one server to enterprise networks with tens of thousands of desktops and servers, RecordTS integrates seamlessly with the native environment.