SaaS Squatting (aka SaaSquatting)
SaaS squatting is a form of cybersquatting that specifically targets Software as a Service (SaaS) providers and their users. It involves attackers registering domain names that are very similar to legitimate SaaS providers, often with slight misspellings or variations.
Here's how SaaS squatting works:
Mimicking Legitimate SaaS Domains: Attackers register domain names that closely resemble those of popular SaaS providers. For example, they might register "salesforec.com" instead of "salesforce.com" or "[invalid URL removed]" instead of "microsoft365.com".
Creating Fake Login Pages: These domains are often used to host fake login pages that mimic the legitimate SaaS provider's website.
Tricking Users: When users accidentally mistype the URL or click on a phishing link, they land on the fake login page.
Stealing Credentials: Unsuspecting users enter their login credentials on the fake page, which are then captured by the attackers.
SaaS Squatting in the Cybersecurity Context:
SaaS squatting poses a significant cybersecurity threat because:
Exploits Trust: Users often trust SaaS providers and may not pay close attention to the URL when logging in.
Bypasses Security Measures: Traditional security tools might not flag these fake websites as malicious because they often use SSL certificates and appear legitimate.
Leads to Account Takeover: Attackers can gain access to sensitive data and functionality within the SaaS application using stolen credentials.
Facilitates Further Attacks: Compromised SaaS accounts can be used to launch further attacks, such as phishing campaigns or malware distribution.
Examples:
An employee tries to access their company's Slack account by typing "[invalid URL removed]" (a typo) and lands on a fake login page. Their credentials are stolen, giving the attacker access to sensitive company communications.
A user receives a phishing email with a link to "dropboxx.com" (a misspelling of "dropbox.com"). They click the link, enter their login details, and their account is compromised.
Mitigating SaaS Squatting:
User Education: Train employees to be vigilant about URLs and to recognize phishing attempts.
Strong Passwords and MFA: Enforce strong passwords and multi-factor authentication for all SaaS accounts.
Domain Monitoring: Use domain monitoring services to identify potentially malicious domains that mimic your SaaS providers.
Anti-phishing Solutions: Implement anti-phishing tools that can detect and block fake websites and phishing emails.
Organizations can protect their users, data, and business operations by understanding the risks of SaaS squatting and taking proactive measures.
ThreatNG offers a comprehensive suite of tools that can effectively combat SaaS squatting. Here's how its various modules and capabilities address this threat:
1. Identifying Potential SaaS Squatting Domains:
Sanctioned Cloud Services: ThreatNG maintains an inventory of your organization's sanctioned SaaS applications. This allows it to identify any unauthorized or suspicious domains that closely resemble those of your legitimate SaaS providers.
Cloud Service Impersonations: This module actively scans for domains that mimic your critical SaaS applications' login pages or functionalities, alerting you to potential phishing sites.
Domain Name Permutations: This module complements the "Cloud and SaaS Exposure" module by generating variations of your SaaS providers' domain names, including common misspellings and alternative TLDs. It then checks if these variations are registered, further expanding your visibility into potential SaaS squatting attempts.
2. Analyzing Suspicious Domains:
DNS Intelligence: Identifies the registrant of suspicious domains, providing valuable information for investigation and potential takedown requests.
Certificate Intelligence: Analyzes SSL certificates on suspicious domains. Inconsistencies or fraudulent certificates can be a strong indicator of malicious intent.
IP Intelligence: Examines the IP address associated with the domain. It raises red flags if it's linked to known malicious activity or located in a high-risk country.
3. Detecting and Mitigating Phishing Attempts:
BEC & Phishing Susceptibility: This score assesses your organization's susceptibility to phishing attacks, including those originating from SaaS squatting domains.
Social Media: ThreatNG monitors social media for mentions of your organization and potential phishing links related to SaaS squatting, helping you identify and respond to active campaigns.
4. Protecting Your Brand and Users:
Brand Damage Susceptibility: This score evaluates your organization's vulnerability to brand damage, including that caused by SaaS squatting.
Dark Web Presence: ThreatNG scours the dark web for leaked credentials related to your organization and its employees. This can help you identify compromised accounts that may have resulted from SaaS squatting attacks, even if the initial phishing attempt wasn't directly observed.
5. Continuous Monitoring and Reporting:
Continuous Monitoring: ThreatNG constantly scans for new SaaS squatting domains and provides real-time alerts when potential threats are detected.
Executive Reporting: Provides high-level summaries of SaaS squatting risks and trends.
Technical Reporting: Offers detailed information for security teams to investigate and remediate SaaS squatting incidents.
How ThreatNG Works with Complementary Solutions:
Anti-phishing Solutions: Integrate ThreatNG's intelligence with anti-phishing tools to block emails and websites associated with SaaS squatting domains.
Security Awareness Training: Use ThreatNG's findings to educate employees about SaaS squatting and how to avoid falling victim to these attacks.
Identity and Access Management (IAM) Solutions: IAM solutions with features like multi-factor authentication (MFA) and conditional access policies can help prevent unauthorized access to SaaS applications, even if attackers obtain user credentials through SaaS squatting.
Examples:
Scenario: ThreatNG's "Cloud and SaaS Exposure" module detects a suspicious domain mimicking the login page of your organization's Salesforce account.
Action: ThreatNG alerts the security team, providing details about the domain and its potential for phishing attacks. The team then blocks the domain and educates users about the threat.
Scenario: ThreatNG's "Dark Web Presence" module discovers employee credentials for your organization's Dropbox account being traded on an underground forum.
Action: ThreatNG alerts the security team, who can investigate the potential compromise, reset passwords, and implement additional security measures to prevent further unauthorized access.
Key Takeaway:
While ThreatNG doesn't directly monitor login activity within your SaaS applications, it provides a robust set of external attack surface management capabilities that help you proactively identify and mitigate the risks associated with SaaS squatting. By combining ThreatNG's intelligence with other security tools and best practices, you can protect your organization and its users from this growing threat.
