The latest Mandiant M Trends 2025 Report highlights that exploits remain the most common initial infection vector (33%), while stolen credentials have risen to second place (16%) in 2024. This shift underscores the growing sophistication of cybercriminals in leveraging both software vulnerabilities and identity theft.
🔗 Relevant URL:
Episode 132: Reviewing the Mandiant M Trends 2025 Report – Offensive Security Blog – SecurIT360
You Should Know: Key Commands & Practices for Mitigation
1. Detecting Exploits (Linux/Windows)
- Linux:
Check for suspicious processes ps aux | grep -E '(exploit|payload|malware)' Audit installed packages for vulnerabilities apt list --upgradable Scan for open ports (common exploit targets) sudo netstat -tulnp
Windows:
List running processes (look for anomalies) Get-Process | Where-Object { $_.CPU -gt 50 } Check patch status wmic qfe list
2. Preventing Credential Theft
- Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):
Linux PAM configuration for MFA sudo nano /etc/pam.d/sshd
Add:
auth required pam_google_authenticator.so
- Windows Credential Guard (Enterprise):
Enable Credential Guard Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName "DeviceGuard" -NoRestart
3. Monitoring & Logging
- Linux (Auditd):
Track SSH login attempts sudo auditctl -w /var/log/auth.log -p wa -k ssh_logins
Windows (Event Logs):
Filter failed logins Get-WinEvent -FilterHashtable @{LogName='Security'; ID=4625}
What Undercode Say
The rise of stolen credentials signals a shift toward identity-based attacks, requiring stronger IAM policies and behavioral analytics. Meanwhile, exploits demand proactive patch management and zero-trust segmentation. Key takeaways:
– Patch aggressively (prioritize CVEs with public exploits).
– Enforce MFA everywhere (especially cloud services).
– Monitor lateral movement (attackers love Active Directory).
Linux defenders:
Hunt for cron jobs (common persistence) ls -la /etc/cron.
Windows defenders:
Check for unusual scheduled tasks
Get-ScheduledTask | Where-Object { $_.State -eq "Running" }
Expected Output:
A hardened system with:
- Reduced exploit surfaces (updated software, minimized ports).
- Credential theft barriers (MFA, Credential Guard).
- Actionable logs (centralized SIEM alerts).
🔗 For deeper analysis: Mandiant M Trends 2025 Report
Prediction
By 2026, AI-driven phishing will make credential theft even more pervasive, while IoT exploits will emerge as a top-3 vector. Defenders must adopt AI-augmented threat hunting to keep pace.
(Note: Telegram/WhatsApp links and comments were removed per guidelines.)
References:
Reported By: Spenceralessi Episode – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
