In this lesson,
we're going to talk about a specific type
of cyber attack known as a Watering Hole attack.
Now, by understanding this attack method,
you are going to be able to understand a sophisticated tactic
that's used by threat actors
to compromise targeted groups or organizations.
Now, a watering hole attack involves the attacker
identifying a website
or online platform that's frequently visited
by members of a specific group or organization.
The attacker will then infect that site
to serve malicious content to its visitors.
The goal here is to infect the computers of the visitors
and gain access to their networks or systems.
That's why we call it a watering hole attack,
because it's similar to how predators
are waiting at a watering hole to attack their prey
when they come to drink out in the desert.
Now, let's break down how this works.
First, the attacker is going to conduct reconnaissance
to identify a website that's commonly visited
by the targeted group.
For instance, if the target group is a group
of software developers, the attacker might focus
on a popular forum, a blog
or a tool repository like GitHub
that's frequented by these developers.
Next, the attacker's going to find a way
to compromise one of these websites.
This can be done by exploiting vulnerabilities
in the site software using social engineering
to trick an administrator into providing access
or even by purchasing ad space on the site
to serve up malicious ads.
Once the site has been compromised,
the attacker will inject malicious code,
often in the form of a drive-by download.
This means that simply visiting the infected site
could cause the visitor's computer to download
and execute the malicious software without them knowing it.
When the members of the targeted group
visit that compromised site,
their computers will be infected with malware.
This malware can then be used
to steal sensitive information
like their login credentials or intellectual property,
or they can use it to gain a foothold
into the organization's network
for further attacks and escalation.
For example, if the target is a financial institution,
the attacker might use malware to capture bank credentials
and then perform fraudulent transactions
on behalf of the person who has been victimized.
A well-known example of a watering hole attack
that was successful occurred all the way back in 2013
when several major websites
were frequented by the US Department of Labor
and other government employees,
and these websites were compromised.
Now, the attackers were using these sites
to serve malware to visitors because they were trying
to infiltrate the government network.
To defend against a watering hole attack,
an organization needs to employ
a multi-layered security approach.
This includes keeping software
and systems up to date with the latest patches,
using web filters to block access
to known malicious sites,
and implementing advanced threat detection tools
to identify and respond to suspicious activity.
Additionally, educating employees about the risks
and signs of such attacks can also help
to reduce the likelihood of success
with these types of attacks too.
So remember, a watering hole attack involves compromising
a website that's frequently visited by the targeted group,
and this will then infect the visitors with malware
when they're trying to access that website,
and this will allow the attacker
to gain access to their systems.
By understanding this attack method
and implementing robust security measures,
you're going to be able to better protect your organization
from this type of sophisticated threat
which we call a watering hole attack.