CSC News Table of Contents
Security Risks of Improper User Administrator Privilege Separation: The separation of user and administrator privileges is a critical aspect of network security. Inadequate separation can expose organizations to significant risks, making it essential to address this issue effectively.
In an NCA and CISA top 10 common network misconfigurations, they gave the details.
Key Takeaways to Security Risks of Improper User Administrator Privilege Separation:
- Common Misconfigurations: Organizations often struggle with common misconfigurations related to user and administrator privileges, including excessive account privileges and elevated service account permissions.
- Risk of Privilege Creep: Privilege creep can occur when account privileges become overly permissive, potentially leading to unauthorized access and data exposure.
- Service Account Vulnerabilities: Compromised service accounts can grant malicious actors extensive access and control within a network, making them attractive targets.
The Challenge of User/Administrator Privilege Separation
Maintaining a clear separation between user and administrator privileges is a fundamental security practice.
However, organizations frequently encounter challenges in effectively managing this separation, which can result in significant security vulnerabilities.
Excessive Account Privileges
Account privileges are designed to control access to resources, ensuring that users only have access to what they need. When privileges are overly permissive, users may gain access to sensitive information or perform actions that pose security risks.
This phenomenon, known as privilege creep, often occurs when organizations undergo changes in personnel or access requirements.
Malicious actors can exploit privilege creep by identifying user accounts with excessive privileges. By analyzing active directory (AD) groups, they can pinpoint accounts that have been granted more access than necessary.
This excess access provides unauthorized pathways to data and resources, facilitating privilege escalation within the targeted domain.
Elevated Service Account Permissions
Applications often use service accounts to access resources. These accounts often require elevated privileges to function effectively. If a malicious actor compromises an application or service that utilizes a service account, it inherits the same privileges as the service account itself.
Elevated service permissions can be a tempting target for malicious actors. These accounts typically have heightened permissions within a domain due to their role. Any valid domain user can request access to use the service, making them accessible targets.
Malicious actors often use techniques like kerberoasting to crack service account credentials, gaining control over critical systems.
Non-Essential Use of Elevated Accounts
Administrator accounts, including domain administrators, are crucial for system and network management due to their elevated privileges. However, using these accounts for routine, non-administrative tasks can expose them to security risks.
When an administrator account is logged into a compromised host, a malicious actor can seize the account’s credentials and use them to navigate throughout the network with elevated permissions.
Obtaining valid domain credentials is a primary objective for malicious actors upon gaining access to a network. These credentials allow them to execute further enumeration techniques, gaining insights into the domain and its structure.
Targeting elevated accounts used for day-to-day tasks provides a direct path to domain escalation, significantly expanding the attack surface for adversaries.
Real-World Impact
In real-world scenarios, compromised accounts with administrative permissions can lead to swift and extensive compromises. For instance, a phishing attack targeting an end-user with administrative permissions allowed an assessment team to compromise an entire domain in under a day.
This rapid escalation highlights the importance of addressing privilege separation issues promptly and effectively.
In conclusion, proper separation of user and administrator privileges is vital for network security. Addressing common misconfigurations and ensuring that privileges align with job roles can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access and data exposure.
About Network Security: Network security is a critical component of cybersecurity, encompassing practices and measures to protect an organization’s network infrastructure from threats and vulnerabilities. Proper privilege separation is essential for maintaining the integrity and security of network resources.
