Attack Interaction
In cybersecurity, Attack Interaction refers to the level of user interaction required for an attacker to exploit a given vulnerability successfully.
Key Points:
User Involvement: It focuses on whether user action is necessary to trigger the exploit.
CVSS Metric: Attack Interaction is a component within the Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) and contributes to the overall severity assessment.
Three Levels: CVSS defines three levels of Attack Interaction:
None: The attacker can exploit the vulnerability without any user interaction.
Required: The attack must succeed with some user interaction. It could include clicking on a malicious link, opening an infected attachment, or visiting a compromised website.
Remote: The attacker can exploit the vulnerability remotely without physical access to the target system or network.
Impact on Risk Assessment:
Vulnerabilities with "None" attack interaction are generally considered higher risk because they can be exploited more efficiently and with a greater chance of success.
Those requiring "Required" interaction pose a somewhat lower risk, as they depend on a user taking a specific action. However, social engineering tactics can still trick users into interacting with malicious content.
Example:
None: A vulnerability in a web server that allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code by simply sending a specially crafted request would have an attack interaction of "None."
Required: A vulnerability in an email client that allows an attacker to execute code when a user opens a malicious attachment would have an attack interaction of "Required."
ThreatNG, with its comprehensive capabilities and focus on external attack surface management, leverages the CVE "Attack Interaction" measure to significantly enhance its risk assessment and mitigation strategies.
Understanding the Impact of "Attack Interaction"
The "Attack Interaction" metric in CVEs provides crucial information about the level of user involvement needed to exploit a vulnerability. ThreatNG can use this information to:
Prioritize Vulnerabilities: Vulnerabilities with "None" Attack Interaction are inherently more dangerous as they can be exploited without user action. ThreatNG can flag these as high-priority threats requiring immediate attention.
Refine Risk Scoring: Incorporate "Attack Interaction" into risk calculations, increasing the severity score for vulnerabilities that require minimal or no user interaction.
Tailor Security Awareness Training: Identify areas where user training can be improved to reduce the risk of vulnerabilities that rely on user interaction for exploitation (e.g., phishing attacks).
Strengthen Third-Party and Supply Chain Assessments: Evaluate the security posture of partners and suppliers based on their exposure to vulnerabilities with different levels of attack interaction.
Enhancing ThreatNG's Investigation Modules
Identify critical vulnerabilities: Highlight vulnerabilities on discovered subdomains that require no user interaction, prompting immediate action.
Contextualize risks: Provide insights into the likelihood of exploitation based on the attack interaction level, helping security teams make informed decisions.
Identify high-risk configurations: Highlight misconfigurations in cloud services and SaaS applications that could be exploited without user intervention and call for immediate action.
Assess third-party risk: Evaluate the security posture of third-party SaaS providers based on the attack interaction level of known vulnerabilities in their products.
Monitor for exploit discussions: Track conversations about vulnerabilities with low attack interaction levels to anticipate and proactively mitigate potential threats.
Complementary Solutions and Collaboration
ThreatNG can further leverage the "Attack Interaction" metric by integrating with:
Security Awareness Training Platforms: Share information about vulnerabilities requiring user interaction to tailor training programs and simulations, making them more effective.
Phishing Simulation Tools: Conduct phishing simulations to assess user susceptibility to attacks that rely on social engineering and user interaction.
Example Scenario
Zero-Click Vulnerability in Web Application
ThreatNG discovers a vulnerability in a subdomain that can be exploited without any user interaction.
Due to its "None" Attack Interaction, this finding is highly severe, triggering immediate alerts and prioritization for remediation.
By incorporating the CVE's "Attack Interaction" metric into its risk assessment and mitigation strategies, ThreatNG further strengthens its ability to:
Proactively identify and prioritize critical vulnerabilities.
Tailor security awareness training to address specific threats.
Enhance the security posture of organizations, their third parties, and supply chain.
ThreatNG continues to be a valuable asset in the fight against cyber threats, offering a holistic approach to external attack surface management, digital risk protection, and security ratings.
