A supply chain attack permeates a target’s system or network using third-party tools or services, which are referred to as a supply chain. In this article, we will understand the Types of Supply Chain Attacks, Risks of Supply Chain Attacks, etc.
What is a Supply Chain Attack?
Supply Chain Attack is one kind of cyberattack that targets companies that intensify on the weakest connections in the company’s supply chain. The network exhaustive all the people, companies, assets, processes, and technological advancements convoluted in the production and marketing of a product and is known as the supply chain. Everything from the transportation of materials from the supplier to the producer to the final consumer is included in the supply chain.
It comes in many forms. They might affect big businesses, like the Target security breach, or they can target reliable systems, like when malware is used to steal cash from automated teller machines (ATMs). They have also been employed against governments, as demonstrated by the Stuxnet computer worm, which was created to break into Iran’s nuclear installations.
What Supply Chain Attacks Do?
An organization’s supply chain can be attacked to cause harm by infiltrating and disrupting a system’s weak spot. Typically, this is accomplished by targeting a vendor or third-party source that is associated with the real target. Attackers usually target third parties they believe to have the least effective cybersecurity defenses. The hackers may concentrate on using the supply chain attacks to target the primary target after they have determined where the weakest link in the chain is.
Identify Supply Chain Attack
A business should first have a methodical verification procedure in place for all potential paths into a system to identify supply chain attacks efficiently. Making an inventory of all the resources and data channels in a supply chain will aid in identifying any possible security holes in the system.
Making a threat model of the environment in which the company operates would be the next stage. Asset categorization for adversaries is one of the possible features of threat models. Mutual exclusion files, registry keys, and malware file activity should all be detectable by tests designed to identify supply chain attacks. Automated tools should also be used for this procedure.
Types of Supply Chain Attacks
- JavaScript attacks: JavaScript attacks make use of flaws in JavaScript code already in place or insert malicious scripts into websites that run automatically when a user loads them.
- Browser-based attack: Attacks utilizing browsers inject harmful code into users’ browsers. Attackers could target browser extensions or JavaScript libraries that cause programs on user devices to run automatically.
- Magecart attacks: In Magecart attacks a malicious JavaScript code is used to steal credit card information from website checkout forms, which are frequently run by other parties.
- Open-source attacks: Susceptibility in open-source code is exploited by open-source attacks. Organizations may speed up the development of applications and software by utilizing open-source code packages.
- Watering hole attacks: Attacks known as watering hole locate websites that are often visited by lots of people. Attackers may employ a variety of strategies to find security holes in the website, then take advantage of those holes to infect unwary visitors with malware.
Risks of Supply Chain Attack
- Attacks on the supply chain may be really dangerous for businesses nowadays.
- Systems in the financial and governmental sectors along with those in the retail, pharmaceutical, and information technology sectors may be impacted.
- In an organization, the number of supply chain attacks rises as the number of vendors it uses rises.
- Sharing data with suppliers, vendors, or third parties poses a powerful risk to a business and exposes it to supply chain attacks.
Defend Against Supply Chain Attack
- Adopt browser isolation: To ensure that malware is found and eliminated before it can affect its intended target, browser isolation tools isolate, also known as sandboxing, webpage code prior to its execution on end-user devices.
- Avoid zero-day exploits: Unpatched zero-day exploits are frequently used in supply chain attacks.
- Enable patching and vulnerability detection: It is the commitment of organizations engaging third-party technologies to make sure those products are secure.
- Adopt Zero Trust: This access guarantees that all users within an organization’s network, including contractors, vendors, and employees are repeatedly validated and monitored.
- Detect shadow IT: Shadow IT describes the programs and services that staff members employ without the IT department of their company’s consent.
- Employ malware protection: To stop harmful code from running, malware prevention tools such as antivirus software automatically search devices for it.
Conclusion
In conclusion Supply Chain Attack One kind of cyberattack that targets companies that intensify on the weakest connections in the company’s supply chain. A cyberattack may have a higher chance of success if it targets a weak spot in the supply chain and takes advantage of the confidence that businesses may have in outside providers. One kind of island-hopping attack is the supply chain attack.
Frequently Asked Questions on Supply Chain Attack – FAQs
What is the purpose of a supply chain attack?
Supply chain attack aim to take advantage of the bonds of trust that exist between an organization and outside parties.
What mitigates the risk of supply chain attacks?
A vital aspect of mitigating supply chain attacks is implementing a robust vendor risk management process.
What is the most famous supply chain attack?
The Russian hacking organization was famous for the SolarWinds attack, which was also known as the SolarWinds supply chain attack.
What type of risk is supply chain risk?
Risks related to the products and services moving through the supply chain as well as exposures, threats, and vulnerabilities within the supply chain itself are all included in supply chain risks.