The Huntress Tactical Response Team’s Analysis of Real-World Intrusions

2025-02-13

The Huntress Tactical Response team analyzed real-world intrusions and found that most attacks started with:
✅ RDP & VPN compromises – weak credentials, no MFA, open doors
✅ Exposed perimeters – attack surfaces left wide open
✅ Credential stuffing & brute force – simple, effective, devastating

Forget flashy 0-days—attackers are winning with the basics. Are you locking down your defenses?

Read the full breakdown:

🔗 https://lnkd.in/gmg-dEjX

Practice-Verified Codes and Commands

1. Securing RDP Access

• Disable RDP if not needed:

  sudo systemctl disable xrdp 
  sudo systemctl stop xrdp 
  

• Enable Network Level Authentication (NLA):

  Set-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\RDP-Tcp' -Name "UserAuthentication" -Value 1 
  

2. Strengthening VPN Security

• Enforce MFA on VPN logins:

  </li>
  </ul>
  
  <h1>For OpenVPN, integrate with Google Authenticator</h1>
  
  sudo apt-get install libpam-google-authenticator 
  google-authenticator 
  

  – Regularly update VPN configurations:

  sudo openvpn --config /etc/openvpn/client.conf 
  

  3. Mitigating Brute Force Attacks

  • Use fail2ban to block repeated login attempts:

    sudo apt-get install fail2ban 
    sudo systemctl enable fail2ban 
    sudo systemctl start fail2ban 
    

  • Configure SSH to use key-based authentication:

    ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 
    ssh-copy-id user@remote_host 
    

  4. Reducing Attack Surfaces

  • Use nmap to scan for open ports:

    nmap -sV -p- target_ip 
    

  • Close unnecessary ports with iptables:

    sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 22 -j ACCEPT 
    sudo iptables -A INPUT -j DROP 
    

  What Undercode Say

  The Huntress Tactical Response team’s findings highlight the importance of securing basic entry points like RDP and VPNs. Attackers often exploit weak credentials and exposed perimeters, making it crucial to enforce strong authentication mechanisms and reduce attack surfaces.

  To further enhance your defenses, consider implementing the following Linux and Windows commands:

  • Linux:
  • Harden SSH configurations:

    sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config </li>
    </ul>
    
    <h1>Set PermitRootLogin no</h1>
    
    <h1>Set PasswordAuthentication no</h1>
    
    

    – Monitor logs for suspicious activity:

    sudo tail -f /var/log/auth.log 
    

    • Windows:
    • Enable Windows Defender Firewall:

      Set-NetFirewallProfile -Profile Domain,Public,Private -Enabled True 
      

    • Audit user accounts for weak passwords:

      Get-LocalUser | Where-Object { $_.PasswordNeverExpires -eq $true } 
      

    For additional resources, refer to:

    • NIST Cybersecurity Framework
    • OWASP Secure Configuration Guide

    By focusing on these fundamentals, you can significantly reduce the risk of intrusions and protect your systems from common attack vectors. Stay vigilant, and always keep your defenses updated.

    References:

    Hackers Feeds, Undercode AI