Performing a transfer on behalf of another customer in a financial company's mobile app. Uncovering a bug capable of disrupting or rendering a web page inaccessible via a denial-of-service (DoS) attack. Identifying breaches in user role validation within a hospital management application. Or gaining physical access to an office and retrieving documents from a printer. These examples merely scratch the surface of the extensive list of vulnerabilities and risks that can be uncovered through a security audit.
What types of audits exist?
Footprinting. Is among the initial hacking techniques and involves gathering comprehensive information about a system or organization. Essentially, it entails understanding the digital footprint a company leaves through publicly available online data, spanning from domain names and subdomains to IP addresses and employee profiles on platforms like LinkedIn. The objective is to gain an overview of an organization's attack surface, identify potential vulnerabilities, and bolster security measures, all without directly interacting with the entity's assets.
Cloud Security. Specialized teams assess the security of systems, data, applications, and resources hosted in the cloud. This analysis involves reviewing the configuration of cloud services to ensure there are no exploitable breaches and to validate compliance with regulatory standards. Additionally, it verifies the correct storage of logs. With the increasing demand for Software as a Service (SaaS), these audits are essential to guarantee the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of data and resources in the cloud.
Social Engineering. According to Verizon's latest Data Breach Investigations Report, 74% of security breaches involve a human element. One of the most prevalent methods of exploiting these vulnerabilities is social engineering, which aims to gain unauthorized access to systems, networks, or applications through deception or manipulation of employees. To assess an organization's susceptibility to such threats, simulated phishing attacks via email or vishing attacks via phone calls are often conducted. These techniques not only evaluate the digital landscape to gauge potential access by attackers but also include real-world tests, such as sending a bouquet of flowers containing a malicious USB drive to an employee, to observe adherence to the organization's security protocols.
IT Infrastructure Security. This audit zeroes in on safeguarding a company's assets exposed to networks, whether on the Internet or within internal networks. The goal is to assess information accessibility for external attackers that could jeopardize systems, identifying vulnerabilities such as outdated services, configuration errors, default credentials, improper port filtering, or systems susceptible to known vulnerabilities, among others. In essence, it entails a thorough examination of security systems and processes to ensure alignment with regulatory standards and the organization's security policy.
Web Application Security.Specialized technical teams conduct thorough reviews of web applications to pinpoint potential gaps in code, architecture, and configuration. Common tests include authentication and login testing, ensuring resistance to code injection, and evaluating security measures concerning sensitive data handling, file uploads, and downloads. The overarching objective is to identify and rectify any bugs or implementation issues that could compromise application security.
Source Code Security. This audit zeroes in on scrutinizing the source code of software utilized or developed by a company to uncover potential vulnerabilities, programming errors, or insecure practices that might pave the way for attacks or data theft. These analyses provide detailed insights into the current state of applications in terms of security, quality, and performance.
Hardware Device Security. This audit encompasses reviewing the configuration, updating, and credential management of all devices linked to an organization's network. This entails analyzing various devices such as printers, photocopiers, video surveillance cameras, ATMs, digital locks, NAS storage servers, or energy management thermostats. It's crucial to ensure that IoT devices connected to the internal corporate network are secure, as they can potentially serve as entry points for attacking other elements within the network.
Mobile App Security. This audit mirrors that of web applications but is tailored specifically for mobile platforms. It encompasses various aspects such as server connections, adherence to app store security policies, and verification that sensitive information isn't stored unnecessarily, among other considerations.
Other supplementary audits
While these audits are among the most common, there are other types of pentests that complement a company or public administration’s security analysis. For instance, Wi-Fi audits are conducted to identify entry points and deficiencies in configurations, ensuring that connections are well-protected and properly isolated to prevent unauthorized access and safeguard sensitive information. This precise issue occurred in several Asian hotels and the Mexico City subway’s free Wi-Fi network, where cybercriminals successfully obtained user data.
Audits of blockchain infrastructures are also conducted to ensure the integrity of smart contracts and decentralized applications.
In companies with advanced cybersecurity practices, more sophisticated techniques are employed. One such method is red teaming, where external teams simulate attacks to test the organization's defenses. They seek access points and attempt to penetrate as far as possible. Malware simulation is another advanced risk assessment technique. It involves designing customized malware to assess its potential impact. For instance, simulating a ransomware attack by encrypting data and sending a ransom note can gauge an organization's detection and response capabilities.
«A security audit serves to identify areas for improvement within a company, enabling the implementation of additional measures and the development of a robust cybersecurity strategy»
How is an audit performed?
Collect information
Analyze
Identify vulnerabilities
Report findings and recommendations
Most frequent vulnerabilities
Access Control Failures. Errors are identified in user authentication when accessing the system or application, leading to a lack of differentiation between different user types. For instance, an audit uncovered that a hospital management application failed to verify the user's role, allowing all users, regardless of whether they were doctors or patients, to perform functions restricted to healthcare personnel, such as accessing patient information.
Weak Encryptio. Audits can expose the use of weak or outdated encryption in systems, creating vulnerabilities that could potentially lead to intercepted communications. In certain instances, audits have discovered "tailor-made" encryption systems that could decrypt data in less than a second using an ordinary computer.
Configuration Failures. Given the multitude of systems involved in service provision and the extensive array of configuration options, it's common for certain settings to be overlooked, potentially leading to adverse effects on systems. For instance, a service left with its default configuration may enable attackers to exploit known credentials to access administration panels. Alternatively, a service might inadvertently reveal its versions, facilitating attacker identification of vulnerabilities.
Validation Failures. These errors arise when user-entered data formats are not properly validated and their outputs are not adequately encoded. Consequently, vulnerabilities may arise that allow for code injection into the database, potentially resulting in data extraction or even seizure of control of the server hosting the applications by injecting commands into the system.
Phishing. One of the most prevalent assessments conducted during security audits involves simulating phishing attacks. This entails launching a campaign via an email containing deceptive links or soliciting credentials to gauge the organization's security posture. In essence, it serves as a risk assessment measure while also acting as a means of training staff and raising awareness.
What is the impact of a security audit?
At Sofistic, the cybersecurity division of Cuatroochenta, we boast highly skilled professionals who specialize in analyzing and assessing the current state of any component within your organization's environment. By undergoing a security audit, you'll receive a comprehensive report detailing the vulnerabilities and risks identified, along with recommendations to fortify your security strategy. While this type of analysis serves as a fundamental preventive measure, it shouldn't be viewed as a one-off or standalone intervention; it must be complemented by a proactive and resilient security strategy.
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