Today’s VERT Alert addresses Microsoft’s December 2024 Security Updates. VERT is actively working on coverage for these vulnerabilities and expects to ship ASPL-1136 as soon as coverage is completed. In-The-Wild & Disclosed CVEsCVE-2024-49138The only vulnerability that has been publicly disclosed and exploited this month is CVE-2024-49138, a vulnerability in the Windows Common Log File System...

In today’s data-driven world, collecting information is just the beginning. The real value lies in transforming raw data into actionable insights that drive decisions. For enterprise security, this means making data not only accessible but also organized, relevant, and easy to analyze.Splunk is a powerful tool for analyzing large volumes of data and is widely used to support security operations....

When I was younger, I played a variety of team sports and enjoyed competing against opponents with my teammates. Winning was always a matter of applying sound tactics and strategy, attacking and defending well and using a blend of skill, talent and luck.Now that I'm older, I watch more than I play, and I'm able to appreciate the many lessons team sports teach, especially at the professional level....

Cyber resilience is a constant topic of concern in technology and cybersecurity, as it approaches security from the standpoint of assuming that attacks are inevitable rather than solely attempting to prevent them. Layered cybersecurity is crucial to ensure comprehensive defense against a wide range of threats. Cyber resilience has long been a necessity for hardware and software components, but...

Tripwire's November 2024 Patch Priority Index (PPI) brings together important vulnerabilities for Microsoft and Google Chromium.First on the list are patches for Microsoft Edge, Excel, and Word that resolve remote code execution and security feature bypass vulnerabilities.Next are patches that affect components of the core Windows operating system. These patches resolve over 35 vulnerabilities,...

With the continuing rise of ransomware, malware defenses are more critical than ever before with regard to securing the enterprise. Anti-Malware technologies have become an afterthought in many organizations, a technology that they’ve always had, always used, and never really thought about. This control serves as a reminder that this technology is as critical as it ever was and lays out the...

Vulnerability management (VM) has always been a complex area of concern that requires continuous and active effort to work properly. This can make it challenging for organizations to maintain their VM strategies and solutions over time, as there are many angles to secure and processes to oversee. There are a wide range of potential ways that VM can go wrong, and it is essential for organizations...

Data loss can be a consequence of a variety of factors from malicious ransomware to hardware failures and even natural disasters. Regardless of the reason for data loss, we need to be able to restore our data. A data recovery plan begins with prioritizing our data, protecting it while it is being stored, and having a plan to recover data. Key Takeaways for Control 11Prioritize your data and come...

As cyber threats escalate in frequency and severity, IT and security teams face increased pressure to maintain transparency. With this in mind, the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Cyber Disclosure Rule, released on 26 July 2023, mandates timely and detailed public disclosures about cyber incidents.This rule places a heavy burden on chief information security officers (CISOs), chief...

In recent years, organizations have learned how crucial penetration testing is for enhancing cyber resilience. However, traditional penetration testing is insufficient in today’s dynamic threat landscape. Recent trends highlight the need for a more continuous and proactive approach to security testing, and continuous penetration testing is set to record huge growth over the next few years, both...

When we think about cybersecurity, we think of malicious actors constantly devising new ways to breach our defenses. While this is critical, it's equally important to understand that another menace can be sitting down the hall. The risk of insider attacks is significant and should not be overlooked.These attacks have floored businesses of all sizes and in various industries, frequently with dire...

Most modern organizations have complex IT infrastructures made up of various components like Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), public cloud, and sometimes hybrid environments. While these infrastructures bring significant benefits, including improved scalability, flexibility, and cost savings, increasing complexity has made it...

Zero Trust is a network security model that dictates that no one or no system should be trusted by default and that every attempt to access a network or application is a threat.For those who are naturally trusting of others, this concept is difficult to accept. However, distrusting every entity on a network until it has been verified is imperative today. Security Configuration in Zero TrustWhen...

Networks form a critical core for our modern-day society and businesses. These networks are comprised of many types of components that make up the networks’ infrastructure. Network infrastructure devices can be physical or virtual and include things such as routers, switches, firewalls, and wireless access points. Unfortunately, many devices are shipped from manufacturers with “default”...

As we continue to embrace remote work, it’s crucial to keep our security practices sharp to protect both company and personal data. With increasing cyber threats, adhering to security best practices helps us safeguard our information and maintain our productivity. Here’s a quick guide to help you stay vigilant and secure while working remotely.Secure Your Home OfficePick a space that is private.Do...

Business email compromise (BEC) is a sophisticated type of phishing that uses social engineering and deception to obtain access to sensitive accounts, networks, and data. In these attacks, bad actors pose as organization executives to request funds transfers from other members of the organization. Playing on the trust that employees place in executives, this scam demands that the attacker gather...

The cybersecurity landscape is constantly changing as new technologies and threat trends emerge. Maintaining an effective cybersecurity strategy over time requires updating tools and practices with the evolution of cyberattacks, security capabilities, and business operations. Implementing the best tools for the most pressing issues as they arise has been the predominant tactic for many...

Networks form a critical core for our modern-day society and businesses. People, processes, and technologies should be in place for monitoring, detecting, logging, and preventing malicious activities that occur when an enterprise experiences an attack within or against their networks.Key Takeaways for Control 13Enterprises should understand that their systems and networks are never perfectly...

Data shows that financial motivation is a huge incentive for threat actors, which explains the rising prevalence of ransomware and other extortion breaches in the corporate world. In 2023 alone, business email compromise (BEC) complaints received by the FBI amounted to over 2.9 billion. SourceThis situation highlights an uncomfortable truth that has...

Today’s VERT Alert addresses Microsoft’s November 2024 Security Updates. VERT is actively working on coverage for these vulnerabilities and expects to ship ASPL-1132 as soon as coverage is completed. In-The-Wild & Disclosed CVEsCVE-2024-43451A vulnerability that allows for NTLMv2 hash disclosure has been both publicly disclosed and actively exploited. According to Microsoft, only minimal...