NEWS
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued a warning to chemical facilities about potential data theft following a cyber-attack in January. The attackers targeted CISA’s Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards program, exploiting vulnerabilities in Ivanti remote access VPNs.
Source: Cybersecurity Dive
SITUATION ANALYSIS
From January 23 to January 26, unauthorized actors accessed CISA’s Chemical Security Assessment Tool. Despite extensive investigations, CISA found no evidence of data theft or lateral movement within the system. However, the breach potentially exposed critical security data, including top-screen surveys and site security plans. The attack was linked to zero-day vulnerabilities in Ivanti VPNs, which were exploited before a patch was released on January 31.
CHALLENGES
- Vulnerability Management: The attack exploited previously unknown vulnerabilities, highlighting the challenge of protecting against zero-day exploits.
- Incident Response: Detecting and responding to sophisticated cyber threats remains a significant challenge, especially when the attackers use advanced tactics like webshells.
- Data Protection: Ensuring the security of sensitive data against unauthorized access is critical, especially when the breached system contains information related to national security.
WHY iCOGNATIVE?
In the context of the cyber-attack on CISA’s Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards program, iCognative technology could be invaluable. This method works by measuring brainwave responses to specific, crime-related stimuli. For example, in this case, stimuli could include details of the security breach, images of the compromised system interfaces, or terms related to the exploited vulnerabilities.
- Enhancing Security Protocols: By analyzing brainwave responses to cybersecurity threats and anomalies, iCognative can help identify whether individuals within the organization might be complicit in security breaches.
- Improving Investigation Accuracy: iCognative can determine if suspects possess specific knowledge about the cyber attack, aiding in pinpointing responsible parties.
- Supporting Cyber Defense Measures: By validating the effectiveness of training and security protocols through brainwave analysis, iCognative can ensure that personnel are adequately prepared to recognize and respond to cyber threats.
Using iCognative could strengthen the security measures of agencies like CISA, enhancing their capability to thwart cyber-attacks and protect critical infrastructure.
Source: Brainwave Science