Hackable Subdomains
In the context of security and cybersecurity, hackable subdomains refer to the subdomains of a domain that are susceptible to exploitation or unauthorized access due to vulnerabilities or misconfigurations in their web applications, servers, or underlying infrastructure. Subdomains are prefixes to a primary domain name and are often used to organize and manage different services or departments within an organization's online presence. Hackable subdomains may arise due to various factors, including:
Misconfiguration: Subdomains may be configured with insecure settings or default credentials, making them vulnerable to exploitation by malicious actors.
Outdated Software: Subdomains may be running out-of-date or unpatched software, including plugins, web servers, or content management systems (CMS), which have vulnerabilities that hackers are known to exploit.
Weak Authentication: Subdomains might need stronger authentication procedures, which could allow unauthorized people to access private data or resources.
Insecure Development Practices: Subdomains hosting web applications may contain vulnerabilities introduced during the development process, such as input validation flaws, SQL injection, or cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities, which attackers can leverage to compromise the subdomain.
Third-Party Integrations: Subdomains may integrate third-party services or APIs that introduce security risks, such as insecure data transmission or access control issues.
Due to their potential to act as entry points for ransomware infections, data breaches, and unauthorized access to sensitive information, hackable subdomains provide serious security concerns to enterprises. Organizations should regularly scan their digital footprint for vulnerabilities, implement robust security controls and access management policies, maintain software and system updates, perform security assessments and penetration tests, and continuously monitor for suspicious activity or unauthorized access attempts to reduce the risks associated with hackable subdomains. Organizations could also train personnel on security awareness and implement best practices to lessen the chance that attackers may exploit a subdomain.
External Attack Surface Management (EASM), Digital Risk Protection (DRP), and security ratings solutions like ThreatNG with Domain Intelligence, Subdomain Intelligence, and Certificate Intelligence play critical roles in identifying and mitigating hackable subdomains by providing comprehensive visibility into an organization's digital footprint, assessing the security posture of domains and subdomains, and analyzing digital certificates associated with them. For instance, ThreatNG's Domain Intelligence can identify all the subdomains related to an organization, including those vulnerable to exploitation due to misconfigurations or outdated software. Subdomain Intelligence can further analyze these subdomains to identify vulnerabilities or weaknesses, such as insecure authentication mechanisms or obsolete software versions. Certificate Intelligence can assess the validity and trustworthiness of digital certificates used by subdomains, flagging any issues such as expired certificates or certificates signed by untrusted Certificate Authorities. When integrated with complementary security solutions like web application firewalls (WAFs), vulnerability scanners, and intrusion detection systems (IDS), ThreatNG can facilitate seamless handoffs by providing actionable intelligence and alerts. For example, if ThreatNG detects a vulnerable subdomain, it can trigger alerts in the WAF to implement additional protections or in the vulnerability scanner to conduct targeted scans and remediation efforts, thereby reducing the risk of subdomain exploitation by cyber attackers. This collaborative approach strengthens an organization's ability to identify and mitigate hackable subdomains, enhancing overall cybersecurity posture.
