Domain Intelligence
In cybersecurity, Domain Intelligence refers to collecting and analyzing information about domain names and their associated infrastructure to identify potential cybersecurity risks and threats. It's like conducting reconnaissance on the digital assets of an organization or individual.
What kind of information is gathered?
Domain registration details: This includes information about who registered the domain, their contact information, registration date, and expiry date. This can help identify potentially suspicious domains or those registered with fake information.
DNS records: Analyzing DNS records like A records, MX records, and NS records can reveal information about the servers hosting the domain, its email infrastructure, and potential subdomains. This can help identify subdomains vulnerable to takeover or malicious activity.
Website content and technologies: Examining the website's content, code, and technologies can reveal vulnerabilities, outdated software, or suspicious scripts that attackers could exploit.
SSL certificates: Analyzing SSL certificates can help identify if they are valid, issued by a trusted authority, and properly configured. This can help prevent man-in-the-middle attacks.
Historical data: Looking at the historical data of a domain, such as past ownership changes, website content updates, and DNS changes, can reveal patterns of suspicious activity or identify potential risks.
WHOIS records: WHOIS records provide publicly available information about domain registration, including contact details and nameservers. While this information can be redacted, it can still provide valuable clues for investigation.
Reputation data: Checking the domain's reputation against blacklists and threat intelligence feeds can reveal if it has been associated with malicious activity like phishing, malware distribution, or spam.
How is Domain Intelligence used in cybersecurity?
Threat hunting: Identifying potentially malicious domains or subdomains that could be used for phishing, malware distribution, or command-and-control activities.
Risk assessment: Assessing an organization's cybersecurity posture by analyzing its domain and associated infrastructure for vulnerabilities and weaknesses.
Incident response: Investigate security incidents by analyzing domain-related information to understand the attacker's tactics, techniques, and procedures.
Brand protection: Identifying and mitigating domain-related threats that could damage an organization's brand reputation, such as phishing attacks or counterfeit websites.
Security awareness training: Educating employees about potential domain-related threats and best practices for online safety.
Tools and Techniques for Domain Intelligence:
WHOIS databases: Publicly available WHOIS databases can provide basic information about domain registration.
DNS analysis tools: Tools like
nslookupanddigcan be used to query DNS records and gather information about a domain's infrastructure.Security information and event management (SIEM) systems: SIEM systems can collect and analyze log data from various sources, including DNS servers, to identify suspicious domain-related activity.
Threat intelligence platforms: Threat intelligence platforms provide access to curated threat data, including information about malicious domains and IP addresses.
Open-source intelligence (OSINT) techniques: Utilizing publicly available information from sources like search engines, social media, and code repositories to gather information about a domain.
By effectively using Domain Intelligence, organizations can proactively defend against cyberattacks, protect their critical assets, and maintain a strong security posture.
ThreatNG's capabilities can be used to address Domain security concerns in the following manner:
1. External Attack Surface Management (EASM)
ThreatNG excels at identifying and mitigating risks across your external attack surface. This includes:
Web Application Hijacking: By analyzing your web applications, ThreatNG can identify vulnerabilities that could allow attackers to take control of them. This includes identifying exposed development environments, misconfigured security settings, and known vulnerabilities in your web application software.
Subdomain Takeover: ThreatNG can identify subdomains vulnerable to takeover due to misconfigured DNS records or expired SSL certificates. This prevents attackers from creating fake websites or phishing pages on your subdomains.
Cyber Risk Exposure: ThreatNG analyzes various factors, including SSL certificates, subdomain headers, vulnerabilities, and sensitive ports, to determine your overall cyber risk exposure. It also identifies exposed code repositories and cloud services that attackers could exploit.
2. Digital Risk Protection (DRP)
ThreatNG helps protect your organization's reputation and prevent financial losses by identifying and mitigating digital risks. This includes:
BEC & Phishing Susceptibility: ThreatNG analyzes your online presence, including social media and the dark web, to identify potential phishing and BEC attacks. This helps you protect your employees and customers from falling victim to these scams.
Brand Damage Susceptibility: ThreatNG monitors online sources for negative news, lawsuits, and SEC filings that could damage your brand reputation. This allows you to address potential issues and protect your brand image proactively.
Data Leak Susceptibility: ThreatNG identifies potential data leaks by analyzing your cloud and SaaS exposure, dark web presence, and financial disclosures. This helps you prevent sensitive data from falling into the wrong hands.
ThreatNG provides comprehensive security ratings that help you understand your organization's security posture. This includes:
ESG Exposure: ThreatNG evaluates your organization's vulnerability to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks. This helps you identify and address potential issues that could negatively impact your reputation or financial performance.
Supply Chain & Third-Party Exposure: ThreatNG assesses the security posture of your supply chain and third-party vendors. This helps you identify and mitigate potential risks associated with your business partners.
Breach & Ransomware Susceptibility: ThreatNG evaluates your vulnerability to breaches and ransomware attacks. This helps you prioritize your security efforts and reduce your risk of being targeted.
4. Complementary Solutions and Examples
ThreatNG can work with complementary solutions to enhance your overall security posture. For example, it can integrate with:
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems: ThreatNG can feed its findings into your SIEM system to provide a more comprehensive view of your security landscape.
Vulnerability scanners: ThreatNG can complement vulnerability scanners by providing additional context and insights into potential vulnerabilities.
Threat intelligence platforms: ThreatNG can integrate with threat intelligence platforms to provide more comprehensive threat information.
Examples:
Identifying a phishing campaign: ThreatNG's Domain Intelligence module identifies a suspicious domain mimicking your company's website. The Dark Web Presence module also finds that this domain is used in a phishing campaign targeting your employees. You can then block the domain and educate your employees about the phishing threat.
Preventing a data breach: ThreatNG's Sensitive Code Exposure module identifies that an API key for your cloud storage service has been exposed in a public code repository. You can then revoke the API key and take steps to secure your code repositories.
Mitigating supply chain risk: ThreatNG's Supply Chain & Third-Party Exposure susceptibility assessment identifies that one of your vendors has a low-security rating. You can then work with the vendor to improve their security posture or consider switching to a different vendor.
ThreatNG's comprehensive capabilities and integration with other security solutions provide a powerful platform for managing your external attack surface, protecting against digital risks, and improving your overall security posture.
