#CyberAttackMethods

[osintelligence]

https://bit.ly/3u97qZw - 🔒 Microsoft Access's "Linked Table" feature can be exploited to perform NTLM forced authentication attacks, as discovered recently. Attackers can use this feature to leak a Windows user's NTLM tokens to a server they control. This technique can bypass firewall rules designed to block external NTLM information stealing, raising significant security concerns. #MicrosoftAccess #NTLMAttack #CyberSecurity 🔑 NTLM, an outdated authentication protocol, is vulnerable to several well-known attacks, including brute-force, pass-the-hash, and relay attacks. Simple measures like blocking outbound traffic through NTLM protocol ports can mitigate these attacks, but attackers continually find workarounds, as demonstrated by the recent exploitation of Microsoft Access. #NTLMVulnerability #CyberAttackMethods #InfoSec 💻 The attack method involves setting up a server on port 80 and sending a database file with a linked table to the victim. If the victim opens the file and interacts with the table, their client attempts to authenticate with the attacker-controlled server, leading to potential NTLM credential theft. #CyberThreat #HackingTechniques #DigitalSecurity 🛠️ Defending against this type of attack is challenging but not impossible. Check Point recommends using content-aware firewalls, disabling macros in MS-Access, or removing MS-Access altogether if not essential. Additionally, users should avoid opening attachments from unknown sources. #CyberDefense #DataProtection #CheckPoint 🚨 Despite mitigation efforts by Microsoft, such as introducing warning dialogs in Office 2021, vulnerabilities still exist in various Office/Access versions. Users encountering suspicious dialogs should refrain from interacting and shut down the relevant processes immediately. #MicrosoftOffice #AccessSecurity #UserAwareness 🔍 This technique is different from the recent Outlook zero-day attack but shares the same goal of NTLM credential stealing. While each method has its limitations, they underline the need for comprehensive cybersecurity measures against diverse attack vectors.