Pivoting in Incident Response

Sean Hannity

2 min read

·

09-11-2024

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Pivoting is a crucial technique used in incident response, particularly during cybersecurity investigations. It refers to the ability to move from one compromised system to another within a network, allowing investigators to gather further intelligence and understand the scope of an incident.

What is Pivoting?

Pivoting involves leveraging access to a compromised system to explore other systems or network resources. This can be achieved by using legitimate credentials, exploiting vulnerabilities, or employing various tools that facilitate lateral movement within the network. The goal is to identify other potentially compromised systems, data breaches, and understand the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by attackers.

Types of Pivoting

1. Credential Pivoting:

   • Utilizing stolen credentials to access other systems.
   • Often involves the use of tools like Mimikatz for credential harvesting.

2. Protocol Pivoting:

   • Exploiting weaknesses in network protocols to move across systems.
   • Commonly used protocols include SMB, RDP, and SSH.

3. Application-Level Pivoting:

   • Accessing web applications or services to interact with databases or other systems.
   • Can involve SQL injection or exploiting APIs.

Importance of Pivoting in Incident Response

Pivoting is vital for several reasons:

• Comprehensive Investigation: It helps in uncovering the full extent of a security incident by identifying other affected systems.
• Root Cause Analysis: Understanding how an attacker moved through the network aids in addressing vulnerabilities and preventing future incidents.
• Data Recovery: Identifying critical systems affected during an attack can help organizations recover data and restore services more efficiently.

Challenges of Pivoting

Despite its advantages, pivoting poses several challenges:

• Detection: Advanced security systems may detect pivoting attempts, leading to alerts that could hinder investigations.
• Complex Environments: Large, complex networks with multiple layers of security can complicate the pivoting process.
• Attribution: Determining the original source of an attack can be difficult when multiple systems are involved.

Best Practices for Effective Pivoting

To enhance the effectiveness of pivoting during an incident response, organizations should consider the following best practices:

1. Strong Logging and Monitoring:

   • Implement comprehensive logging to track suspicious activity and facilitate investigations.

2. Network Segmentation:

   • Use segmentation to limit lateral movement and contain potential breaches.

3. Incident Response Plan:

   • Develop and regularly update an incident response plan that includes procedures for pivoting.

4. Regular Security Assessments:

   • Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify and remediate vulnerabilities.

Conclusion

Pivoting is an essential technique in the field of incident response, allowing responders to investigate incidents thoroughly and efficiently. By understanding the methods and challenges of pivoting, organizations can strengthen their security posture and better prepare for potential threats. Implementing best practices will enhance the effectiveness of incident response efforts and help mitigate the impact of security breaches.