What Is A Supply Chain Attack?
In the world of cybersecurity, the term “supply chain attack” is used quite often to describe an increasingly common occurrence in which an attacker breaches a system by targeting a third-party vendor or supplier. Unfortunately, supply chain attacks are becoming more frequent and sophisticated, and they can cause devastating damage to businesses and organizations.
But what exactly is a supply chain attack, and how does it work? Let’s take a closer look.
Supply Chain 101
Before we dive into supply chain attacks, it’s important to understand what a supply chain is. A supply chain is a network of organizations, individuals, and resources that work together to create a product or service. This can include manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and retailers.
Supply chains can be quite complex, involving multiple layers of suppliers and distributors, as well as transportation and logistics providers. In many cases, these organizations are spread across multiple countries and continents. This complexity can create vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit.
What Is A Supply Chain Attack?
A supply chain attack is an attack in which an attacker targets a third-party supplier or vendor that is part of a target organization’s supply chain. The objective of a supply chain attack is to gain access to the target organization’s systems and data, often by exploiting vulnerabilities in the supplier’s systems.
There are several ways that a supply chain attack can be carried out:
- Malware insertion: Attackers can insert malware into a vendor’s product or software before it is delivered to the target organization. This malware can then infect the target organization’s systems when the product is installed.
- Credential theft: Attackers can steal passwords or other credentials from a vendor’s systems and use them to gain access to the target organization’s systems.
- Server compromise: Attackers can compromise a vendor’s server and use it as a launchpad to attack the target organization.
- Physical tampering: Attackers can physically tamper with a vendor’s hardware or software before it is delivered to the target organization.
Why Are Supply Chain Attacks So Dangerous?
Supply chain attacks are dangerous because they can be difficult to detect and mitigate. Since the attacker is targeting a third-party supplier, the target organization may not even be aware of the attack until it is too late. Additionally, supply chain attacks can be very sophisticated, making them difficult to analyze and track.
Another reason why supply chain attacks are so dangerous is that they can have far-reaching consequences. If the target organization is a government agency or a critical infrastructure provider, the impact of a successful supply chain attack could affect many people and organizations.
Real-Life Examples
There have been several high-profile supply chain attacks in recent years. Here are a few examples:
- SolarWinds: In December 2020, it was discovered that Russian hackers had breached SolarWinds, a software company that provides network monitoring and management tools to many government agencies and Fortune 500 companies. The attackers inserted malware into a software update that was distributed to SolarWinds customers, allowing them to gain access to the target organizations’ systems.
- Target: In 2013, hackers breached Target’s systems by stealing credentials from a third-party HVAC company that had access to Target’s network. The attackers used this access to install malware on Target’s point-of-sale systems, compromising the credit card information of millions of customers.
- NotPetya: In 2017, a malware attack nicknamed “NotPetya” spread across the world, infecting organizations in Ukraine, Russia, and several other countries. The attack was carried out by exploiting a vulnerability in Ukraine’s tax software, which was then used to distribute the malware to other organizations.
Protecting Against Supply Chain Attacks
So, what can organizations do to protect themselves against supply chain attacks? Here are a few steps that can be taken:
- Evaluate vendors: Before working with a vendor, it’s important to evaluate their security posture and make sure that they are taking appropriate security measures. This can include reviewing their security policies, conducting security audits, and checking for any security incidents in their history.
- Monitor supply chains: Organizations should monitor their supply chain for any signs of suspicious activity, such as changes in vendor behavior or unexpected data flows.
- Implement security controls: Organizations should implement security controls to protect against supply chain attacks, such as network segmentation, strong passwords, and multi-factor authentication.
- Plan for incidents: Organizations should have an incident response plan in place that includes procedures for responding to supply chain attacks.
Final Thoughts
Supply chain attacks are a growing threat to organizations of all sizes, and they can have devastating consequences. By understanding what they are, how they work, and how to protect against them, organizations can reduce the risk of falling victim to these attacks. As the complexity of supply chains continues to increase, it’s more important than ever to take supply chain security seriously.
