Traffic Direction Systems (TDS)
A Traffic Direction System (TDS) is a network infrastructure designed to manage and route web traffic in cybersecurity. While legitimate TDS can be used for load balancing, A/B testing, or geo-targeting, malicious actors often leverage them to facilitate cyberattacks.
Malicious TDS typically operate by:
Compromising Websites: Attackers infect legitimate websites with malicious code redirecting visitors to the TDS.
Fingerprinting Visitors: The TDS profiles visitors' browsers, devices, and locations to determine the best attack strategy.
Redirecting to Malicious Payloads: Based on the fingerprint, visitors are directed to tailored phishing pages, exploit kits, or malware downloads.
This targeted approach makes TDS a dangerous tool for cybercriminals, increasing the chances of successful attacks and making detection more difficult.
ThreatNG's Role in Combating Malicious TDS
ThreatNG's comprehensive capabilities help organizations detect and mitigate risks associated with malicious TDS:
Superior Discovery and Assessment:
Domain Intelligence: Uncovers subdomains, hidden pages, and unexpected redirects that could indicate the presence of a TDS.
Web Application Hijack Susceptibility: Assesses the risk of compromised websites being used as entry points for TDS.
Sensitive Code Exposure: This feature detects exposed secrets, such as API keys, that attackers could use to access websites and inject TDS code.
Search Engine Exploitation: Involves finding leaked sensitive information about a website that TDS could use to fingerprint visitors.
Dark Web Presence: Monitors dark web forums and marketplaces to discuss TDS campaigns targeting the organization or its industry.
Archived Web Pages: Detects archived web page code changes, which could reveal injected TDS code.
Known Vulnerabilities: Tracks publicly disclosed vulnerabilities that attackers exploit to inject TDS code into websites.
Compromised Credentials: This feature detects leaked credentials that attackers could use to gain unauthorized website access and deploy TDS.
Working with Complementary Solutions
ThreatNG can integrate with other security solutions to enhance protection against malicious TDS:
Web Application Firewalls (WAFs): WAFs can help detect and block malicious traffic patterns associated with TDS. ThreatNG can identify WAF misconfigurations and assess their effectiveness against TDS attacks.
Content Security Policy (CSP): CSP can prevent unauthorized scripts (like TDS code) from running on websites. ThreatNG can analyze CSP configurations for potential weaknesses.
Browser Isolation: This technology isolates web browsing sessions in a secure environment, protecting users from TDS-driven attacks. ThreatNG can help identify websites that should be prioritized for browser isolation.
Example: Detecting a TDS Attack
ThreatNG's Domain Intelligence discovers suspicious redirects from the organization's website to unknown domains.
Search Engine Exploitation uncovers leaked website data that could be used for fingerprinting.
Dark Web Presence monitoring reveals a discussion about a TDS campaign targeting the organization's industry.
ThreatNG alerts the security team, providing details about the suspected TDS activity. The team can investigate, block malicious domains, and implement additional security measures to protect their website and users.
ThreatNG offers a robust defense against malicious Traffic Direction Systems by proactively identifying vulnerabilities, detecting suspicious activity, and leveraging threat intelligence. By integrating ThreatNG with other security solutions and following best practices, organizations can effectively mitigate the risks posed by TDS and protect their users from targeted attacks.
