PostgreSQL, also known as Postgres, is a powerful, open-source object-relational database management system (ORDBMS). It's known for its extensibility, reliability, and robust feature set, making it suitable for various applications, from simple websites to complex enterprise systems and data warehouses.

Critical features of PostgreSQL:

• SQL Compliance: Adheres to the SQL standard, allowing easy migration and integration with other database systems.

• ACID Compliance: Guarantees data integrity despite errors, power failures, or other disruptions.

• Extensibility: The database supports custom data types, functions, and operators, allowing you to tailor it to your specific needs.

• Scalability: Handles both small and large datasets efficiently.

• High Availability & Disaster Recovery: Supports various replication and clustering mechanisms to ensure continuous operation and data protection.

Importance of Securing Internet-Facing PostgreSQL Instances

Internet-facing PostgreSQL instances are those directly accessible from the public internet, often serving web applications or APIs. These instances are at a significantly higher risk of attack than internal databases. The consequences of a successful attack on an internet-facing PostgreSQL instance can be severe, including:

• Data Breaches: Sensitive customer information, financial data, or intellectual property could be stolen or leaked.

• Data Manipulation: Attackers could alter or delete data, leading to operational disruptions and financial losses.

• Service Disruption: A successful attack might render the database unavailable, impacting application functionality and user experience.

• Reputation Damage: Security breaches can damage your organization's reputation and erode customer trust.

Therefore, it is critical to identify all internet-facing PostgreSQL instances and ensure they are adequately secured. It involves:

• Strong Authentication: Enforcing complex passwords, multi-factor authentication, and limiting access to authorized users.

• Network Security: Implementing firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and network segmentation to restrict access and detect malicious activity.

• Database Hardening: Configuring the database server securely, disabling unnecessary services, and applying the latest security patches.

• Encryption: Protecting sensitive data at rest and in transit using encryption protocols.

• Regular Backups: Ensuring you have recent data backups in case of a breach or accidental data loss.

• Monitoring and Auditing: Implementing logging and monitoring solutions to detect and respond to suspicious activity.

PostgreSQL is a powerful and versatile database system, but internet-facing instances require extra attention to security. Organizations can significantly reduce the risk of data breaches and other security incidents by taking proactive measures to protect these instances.

ThreatNG's extensive capabilities can significantly help identify, assess, and secure internet-facing PostgreSQL instances. It achieves this by working with other security solutions to create a multi-layered defense mechanism.

Identification of Internet-Facing PostgreSQL Instances

ThreatNG employs several investigation modules to discover potential PostgreSQL instances exposed to the internet:

• Domain Intelligence:

  • Subdomain Intelligence & DNS Intelligence: Uncover subdomains that might host PostgreSQL instances.

  • Application Discovery: Identify web applications using PostgreSQL as their backend database.

  • Exposed API Discovery: Detect APIs that interact with PostgreSQL databases, potentially revealing access points.

  • Known Vulnerabilities: Identify vulnerabilities in web applications or servers that could be exploited to access PostgreSQL databases.

• Search Engine Exploitation:

  • Potential Sensitive Information & Susceptible Files: Discover instances where database connection strings, configuration files, or error messages containing database information might have been inadvertently leaked via search engines.

• Cloud and SaaS Exposure:

  • Sanctioned & Unsanctioned Cloud Services: Identify environments where PostgreSQL instances can run.

  • Cloud Service Impersonations: Detect attempts to impersonate cloud services that could lead to unauthorized access to cloud-hosted PostgreSQL databases.

  • Open Exposed Cloud Buckets: Uncover misconfigured cloud storage buckets that may contain database backups or sensitive data.

• Technology Stack:

  • Databases: Directly identify the use of PostgreSQL within the organization's technology stack.

Assessment of Security Posture

Once potential PostgreSQL instances are identified, ThreatNG helps assess their security posture through:

• Domain Intelligence:

  • Known Vulnerabilities: Highlight vulnerabilities in web applications, servers, or APIs that could be leveraged to attack the PostgreSQL database.

  • Web Application Firewall Discovery: Determine if a WAF is in place to protect against web application attacks that could target the database.

• Sensitive Code Exposure:

  • Exposed Public Code Repositories: Identify code repositories containing exposed secrets like database credentials that could grant unauthorized access.

• Archived Web Pages:

  • API, Login Pages, Configuration Files: Discover archived instances of APIs, login pages, or configuration files that could provide clues about PostgreSQL database access or vulnerabilities.

• Dark Web Presence:

  • Associated Compromised Credentials: Detect any leaked or compromised credentials that could be used to access PostgreSQL instances.

  • Organizational mentions & Ransomware Events: Monitor discussions or threats on the dark web related to the organization or PostgreSQL databases.

Continuous Monitoring and Reporting

ThreatNG's continuous monitoring capabilities ensure that any changes to the identified PostgreSQL instances or their security posture are promptly detected and reported. It allows security teams to address new vulnerabilities or threats proactively.

Working with Complementary Solutions

ThreatNG seamlessly integrates with existing security tools to provide a comprehensive defense strategy:

• Vulnerability Scanners: ThreatNG's findings can be fed into vulnerability scanners to prioritize and focus scans on identified PostgreSQL instances and associated vulnerabilities.

• Database Activity Monitoring (DAM): ThreatNG's external threat intelligence can enhance DAM solutions by providing context and early warnings of potential attacks, allowing for more proactive threat mitigation.

• Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): ThreatNG's intelligence feeds and alerts can be integrated into SIEM systems, correlating external threats with internal security events for a more holistic view of the security landscape.

Examples of ThreatNG in Action

• ThreatNG discovers a subdomain hosting a development version of a web application that uses PostgreSQL. This instance has weaker security configurations and could be exploited to access the production database.

• ThreatNG identifies an exposed API endpoint that interacts with a PostgreSQL database. An attacker could exploit this API to extract sensitive data or perform unauthorized operations on the database.

• ThreatNG detects leaked database credentials on a code-sharing platform. Security teams can take immediate action to change the credentials and prevent unauthorized access.

• ThreatNG alerts on a dark web forum discussing a vulnerability in a specific PostgreSQL version the organization uses. It allows for proactive patching and mitigation before the vulnerability is exploited.

By leveraging ThreatNG's comprehensive capabilities and integrating them with existing security solutions, organizations can proactively identify and secure internet-facing PostgreSQL instances, minimizing the risk of data breaches and other security incidents.