Data Exfiltration Attack Analysis: Tactics and Mitigation in Manufacturing Sector Breach

When firewalls fail, and your data’s already on vacation.

In July 2024, a data exfiltration attack targeted a manufacturing firm using a Fortinet firewall exploit. Attackers brute-forced a privileged service account, facilitating lateral movement and data exfiltration. Freely available tools, such as SCP, were used to steal sensitive business information. The ReliaQuest Threat Hunting team assisted in response and remediation, using their GreyMatter Response Playbooks to mitigate damage. Key lessons from the breach include patching perimeter devices, ensuring complete endpoint detection, and controlling service account privileges.

The July 2024 data exfiltration breach targeting a ReliaQuest customer within the manufacturing sector highlights critical cloud and network security gaps. The threat actors gained initial access via an internet-facing Fortinet firewall, potentially compromised by brute-forcing administrator credentials. From there, the attackers used a privileged service account, SVC_1, and attempted multiple logins across different machines, exploiting weaknesses in security controls and gaining access to crucial development servers.

The incident shows how attackers leveraged free tools such as SCP and SSH to facilitate data exfiltration while using “living off the land” (LotL) techniques to remain undetected by using built-in system utilities. The threat actors also employed a strategy of privilege escalation by manipulating essential files such as /etc/sudoers on Linux systems and creating administrator accounts on Windows hosts, giving them elevated access without raising immediate suspicion.

Initial Access and Movement Tactics

The attackers penetrated the environment through a compromised Fortinet firewall, potentially brute-forcing access to the privileged service account. Following this, they initiated lateral movement within the organization using SSH and Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) to access further undetected systems. ReliaQuest noted that this combination of LotL techniques and targeted attacks on accounts lacking proper monitoring allowed the threat actors to pivot within the compromised network efficiently.

At one point, the attackers created new administrative user accounts under the guise of legitimate IT support users, which helped prolong their stay within the environment. They manipulated both Windows and Linux systems using local command line access, avoiding detection from more sophisticated intrusion detection systems.

Data Exfiltration Techniques

The attackers used SCP to compress and transfer data to external servers over less monitored ports, such as HTTPS port 443, which is typically reserved for secure web traffic. By exploiting these commonly used ports, they evaded detection, making it harder for security teams to spot unusual network activity.

The attack, however, was eventually intercepted thanks to the deployment of a User Behavior Analytics (UBA) tool. The tool helped identify anomalies in the account activities, specifically noting the creation of new accounts and suspicious network behavior.

Swift Response and Remediation

ReliaQuest's Threat Hunting team, utilizing their GreyMatter Response Playbooks, quickly isolated compromised hosts and reset service accounts. By implementing endpoint detection and response (EDR) protocols, they were able to block further malicious activity and secure vulnerable endpoints. The organization’s ability to respond within a tight timeframe minimized the potential damage, preventing further data loss.

The success of the remediation came down to three core factors:

• Perimeter Patching: Ensuring that firewalls and external-facing services are patched regularly could have prevented initial entry.
• Service Account Hardening: Reducing the privileges of service accounts and employing strong password management practices would have prevented attackers from moving laterally within the network.
• Comprehensive EDR Coverage: Extending endpoint detection across the entire network would have closed detection gaps that allowed attackers to evade security controls on several machines.

Lessons and Long-Term Mitigation

For organizations in the manufacturing sector, the ReliaQuest analysis underscores the importance of endpoint monitoring and account management. Given that 85% of breaches in 2024 involved service account exploitation, better controls over these accounts are imperative. Additionally, enforcing tighter network segmentation, especially between development and production systems, can significantly reduce an attacker’s ability to escalate privileges.

It’s also crucial to monitor commonly abused ports, such as 443, and deploy more sophisticated tools capable of analyzing data flows and blocking anomalies. The breach also demonstrated the need for organizations to maintain a strong incident response plan that integrates advanced detection techniques, such as behavior analysis, to catch and mitigate threats early.

The manufacturing sector, with its reliance on legacy systems and complex supply chains, is particularly vulnerable to these kinds of breaches. Organizations should prioritize security updates on perimeter devices and regularly audit their network for potential misconfigurations that could provide attackers with an easy foothold.

Wakey-wakey, cables 'r' snakey.

The July 2024 breach serves as a wake-up call for businesses in the manufacturing sector, demonstrating the evolving sophistication of cyberattacks and the critical need for a proactive security strategy. Organizations can significantly reduce their risk of similar data exfiltration attacks by integrating tools such as ReliaQuest’s GreyMatter Playbooks and strengthening security protocols around service accounts. The fight against cyber threats is an ongoing battle, but by learning from incidents like this, businesses can be better prepared for future challenges.