A new advisory from signals intelligence and cybersecurity experts at the National Security Agency (NSA) highlights the top 10 most common cybersecurity misconfigurations in large organisations including regular exposure of insecure Active Directory Certificate Services.
It comes as the NSAs Cybersecurity Director Rob Joyce warned that if your infrastructure cant survive a user clicking a link, you are doomed.
"Im the director of cybersecurity at NSA and you can definitely craft an email link I will click he added on X writing as generative AI models make it far easier for non-native speakers to craft convincing phishing emails and as such campaigns remain highly effective for threat actors.
The list is a useful guidebook to those seeking to secure IT estates and is no doubt based in part on the NSAs extensive experience of breaching services, as well as support defending CNI. To The Stack, it is also a crisp reminder that strict organisational discipline is critical for cyber hygiene.
Too many network devices with user access via apps or web portals still hide default credentials for built-in administrative accounts. (Cisco, were looking at you, you, you. (Others are also regularly guilty.) The problem extends to printers and scanners with hard coded default credentials on them but are set up with privileged domain accounts loaded so that users can scan and send documents to a shared drive).
NSA says: Modify the default configuration of applications and appliances before deployment in a production environment . Refer to hardening guidelines provided by the vendor and related cybersecurity guidance (e.g., DISA's Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) and configuration guides)
More specifically on default permissions risks, NSA says it regularly says issues with configuration of Active Directory Certificate Services (ADCS); a Microsoft feature used to manage Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) certificates, keys, and encryption inside of AD environments.
Malicious actors can exploit ADCS and/or ADCS template misconfigurations to manipulate the certificate infrastructure into issuing fraudulent certificates and/or escalate user privileges to domain administrator privileges it warns, pointing to ADCS servers running with web-enrollment enabled; ADCS templates where low-privileged users have enrollment rights and other associated issues with external guidance on a handful of known escalation paths here, here and here.
Ensure the secure configuration of ADCS implementations. Regularly update and patch the controlling infrastructure (e.g., for CVE-2021-36942), employ monitoring and auditing mechanisms, and implement strong access controls to protect the infrastructure. Disable NTLM on all ADCS servers. Disable SAN for UPN Mapping. If not required, disable LLMNR and NetBIOS in local computer security settings or by group policy.
Already have an account? Sign in
Read this article:
Top 10 misconfigurations: An NSA checklist for CISOs - The Stack
- NSA fears quantum computing surprise: 'If this black swan event happens, then we're really screwed' - Washington Times - March 27th, 2024 [March 27th, 2024]
- The NSA Warns That US Adversaries Free to Mine Private Data May Have an AI Edge - WIRED - March 27th, 2024 [March 27th, 2024]
- Five ways to implement zero-trust based on NSA's latest guidance - SC Media - March 27th, 2024 [March 27th, 2024]
- Intel analyst shared classified information on Discord, investigators say - The Washington Post - March 27th, 2024 [March 27th, 2024]
- Water Systems Vulnerable To Cyber Attacks, NSA And EPA Warn Governors - Forbes - March 27th, 2024 [March 27th, 2024]
- Amritpal Singhs mother, kin of other NSA detainees go on hunger strike, want them to be shifted to Punjab jail - The Tribune India - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- Rob Joyce leaving NSA at the end of March - CyberScoop - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- NSA cyber director to step down after 34 years of service - Nextgov/FCW - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- Behind Khattar govts U-turn on NSA against farm leaders, fear of rural blowback, Congress gain - The Indian Express - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- Payday dispute prompts maintenance worker walkout at NSA Naples - Stars and Stripes - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- CISA, NSA, and FBI Warn of Chinese Cyber Hacking Army The Presidential Prayer Team - The Presidential Prayer Team - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- Cyber Security Headlines: Microsoft takes another hit, Energy giant hit by ransomware, the NSA is secretly buying your ... - CISO Series - January 30th, 2024 [January 30th, 2024]
- India now cooperating with Nijjar probe: Canada's NSA - IndiaTimes - January 30th, 2024 [January 30th, 2024]
- Google, WhiteSnake, Outlook, NSA, Juniper, Jason Wood, and More SWN #358 - SC Media - January 30th, 2024 [January 30th, 2024]
- Readout of NSA Jake Sullivan's Meetings with PM Srettha and DPM/FM Parnpree - US Embassy in Thailand - USEmbassy.gov - January 30th, 2024 [January 30th, 2024]
- NSA Admits Secretly Buying Your Internet Browsing Data without Warrants - The Hacker News - January 30th, 2024 [January 30th, 2024]
- Readout of NSA Jake Sullivan's Meeting with CCP Politburo Member, Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs ... - US Embassy & Consulates in... - January 30th, 2024 [January 30th, 2024]
- Former NSA Saint has a chance to become repeat Super Bowl champion - The Suffolk News-Herald - Suffolk News-Herald - January 30th, 2024 [January 30th, 2024]
- NSA is buying Americans internet browsing records without a warrant - TechCrunch - January 30th, 2024 [January 30th, 2024]
- As NSA buys up Americans' browser records, Uncle Sam is asked to simply knock it off - The Register - January 30th, 2024 [January 30th, 2024]
- NSA buys sensitive data on Americans without any court order - KJZZ - January 30th, 2024 [January 30th, 2024]
- NSA Veteran Teresa Shea Joins Board of Directors of Two Six Technologies - ExecutiveBiz - January 30th, 2024 [January 30th, 2024]
- How the FBI, NSA are preparing for deepfakes and misinformation issue ahead of 2024 elections - CNBC - January 14th, 2024 [January 14th, 2024]
- AI is helping US spies catch stealthy Chinese hacking ops, NSA official says - CyberScoop - January 14th, 2024 [January 14th, 2024]
- AI aids nation-state hackers but also helps US spies to find them, says NSA cyber director - TechCrunch - January 14th, 2024 [January 14th, 2024]
- NSA Director Paul Nakasone to Step Down in Early February - Bloomberg - January 14th, 2024 [January 14th, 2024]
- NSA says cybersecurity will gain many benefits with generative AI - ReadWrite - January 14th, 2024 [January 14th, 2024]
- FBI and NSA directors discuss their concerns about AI - WCBE 90.5 FM - January 14th, 2024 [January 14th, 2024]
- Looking back at 2023 with the NSA's Rob Joyce and Morgan Adamski - CyberScoop - January 14th, 2024 [January 14th, 2024]
- NSA: Benefits of generative AI in cyber security will outweigh the bad - ITPro - January 14th, 2024 [January 14th, 2024]
- AI Identified as Emerging Threat in Cyber Crime by NSA Director - CoinGape - January 14th, 2024 [January 14th, 2024]
- AI is helping China-backed hackers but it's also helping to hunt them down, NSA says - TechRadar - January 14th, 2024 [January 14th, 2024]
- CISA and NSA Issues New Identity and Access Management Guidance for Vendors - TechRepublic - October 20th, 2023 [October 20th, 2023]
- How to Protect Against Evolving Phishing Attacks - National Security Agency - October 20th, 2023 [October 20th, 2023]
- NSA Shares Recommendations to Advance Device Security Within ... - National Security Agency - October 20th, 2023 [October 20th, 2023]
- Nansemond-Suffolk tennis falls to Norfolk Academy Thursday - The ... - Suffolk News-Herald - October 20th, 2023 [October 20th, 2023]
- NSA calls for a 'root and branch' review of Red Tractor - Farmers Guardian - October 20th, 2023 [October 20th, 2023]
- Israel's NSA warns of US intervention as Gaza conflict escalates - IndiaTimes - October 20th, 2023 [October 20th, 2023]
- The U.S. government is still in its Tumblr era. - Slate - October 20th, 2023 [October 20th, 2023]
- Biden's Cyber Command and NSA nominee seen as a pick for continuity - The Record from Recorded Future News - July 17th, 2023 [July 17th, 2023]
- 5 Reasons to Work for the NSA - ClearanceJobs - ClearanceJobs - July 17th, 2023 [July 17th, 2023]
- I will do my best as NSA: Ribadu promises - FRCN HQ - Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria - July 17th, 2023 [July 17th, 2023]
- Plateau killings: Reps ask NSA to declare national emergency - TheCable - July 17th, 2023 [July 17th, 2023]
- 7th Deputy NSA Meeting of Colombo Security Conclave held in ... - ANI News - July 17th, 2023 [July 17th, 2023]
- Young shepherd from region wins NSA North Sheep trophy ... - Darlington and Stockton Times - July 17th, 2023 [July 17th, 2023]
- HBO film based on NSA leaker Reality Winner slated for May 29 ... - Military Times - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Tina Satter on why her NSA whistleblower film Reality is stranger than fiction - Financial Times - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Gen. Paul Nakasone Plans to Step Down as NSA Director ... - Executive Gov - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Readout of NSA Jake Sullivan's Meeting with CCP Politburo ... - US Embassy & Consulates in China - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Young sheep farmers to be given genetic boost by new NSA giveaway - The Scottish Farmer - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Sydney Sweeney wanted to be challenged by Reality: Its a different muscle playing someone who is real [Exclusive Video Interview] - Yahoo... - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Intercepted: The Biggest Whodunnit of the Century - The Intercept - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Personal injury + the No Surprises Act - Chiropractic Economics - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- PM Narendra Modi e-inaugurating new office complexes of CBI at Shilong, Pune and Nagpur, commemorating the CBI diamond jubilee on Monday. Also seen... - April 4th, 2023 [April 4th, 2023]
- Special Collection Service - Wikipedia - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- What is the NSA and how does it work? - SearchSecurity - February 5th, 2023 [February 5th, 2023]
- Watch: NSA Ajit Doval is Ambitious, Very Good at Sniffing Power and Being on the Right Side of itAS Dulat - The Wire - December 21st, 2022 [December 21st, 2022]
- Shockwaves win another championship, this time at the NSA Fresno Pilgrimfest - Lompoc Record - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- EFCC secures forfeiture of N755m, luxury assets from ex-AGF, former aide to NSA The Nation Newspaper - The Nation Newspaper - November 23rd, 2022 [November 23rd, 2022]
- What is the National Security Agency? - Norwich University - October 25th, 2022 [October 25th, 2022]
- Cyber Security Today, Oct. 19, 2022 A warning from the NSA about nation-state attacks, and more - IT World Canada - October 21st, 2022 [October 21st, 2022]
- In the Alphabet Soup of Regulations, the NSA, GFE and AEOB Have Yet to Coalesce - RACmonitor - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Do not ignore any communication shared by NSCS, NSA: PM Modi to ministers - The Hindu - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- NSA Announces Date of the National Cryptologic Museum Grand Opening - National Security Agency - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- NSA and ACLU may face off in the Supreme Court over Wikipedia - Grid - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- The NSA is Here to Help | Decipher - Duo Security - September 27th, 2022 [September 27th, 2022]
- Hollen, Raskin Join with NSA Bethesda Fire Fighters, IAFF Leaders to Highlight Progress on Efforts to Improve Base Conditions, Build New Facility |... - September 27th, 2022 [September 27th, 2022]
- CISA, FBI, NSA, Treasury, Cyber Command, and International Partners Release Advisory on Malicious Cyber Actors Affiliated with Iranian Government... - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- NATFORCE: Buhari Finally Disbands Security Outfit After Senate Ignored NSA To Recognize Body The Whistler Newspaper - The Whistler Nigeria - September 20th, 2022 [September 20th, 2022]
- China Accuses NSA of Hacking Its Military Research University - VICE - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- Behind the Toque: An Interview with NSA Noodle Bar Executive Chef Brooke Apfelbaum - greenpointers.com - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- In the Garden: Tour gives Omahans a chance to see how a 'Bloom Box' works - Omaha World-Herald - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- Three area teams pickup wins to start football season - The Suffolk News-Herald - Suffolk News-Herald - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- NSA to reveal identities of big men behind oil theft in Nigeria Presidency - Daily Post Nigeria - August 22nd, 2022 [August 22nd, 2022]
- Former US Cyber Command and NSA chief makes the case for a cyber competition strategy | The Strategist - The Strategist - August 22nd, 2022 [August 22nd, 2022]
- Inaugural India-Central Asia NSA meeting to be held in December - WION - August 22nd, 2022 [August 22nd, 2022]
- Home | Open Source @ NSA - August 8th, 2022 [August 8th, 2022]
- Kennesaw State named top institution for cybersecurity outreach - Kennesaw State University - August 8th, 2022 [August 8th, 2022]
- US city of Boston to mark 75th anniversary of India's Independence with two-day extravaganza - NewsDrum - August 8th, 2022 [August 8th, 2022]
- Pakistan's top probe agency to trace those behind online campaign against Army over Balochistan copter crash - ThePrint - August 8th, 2022 [August 8th, 2022]