A top 10 domestic US airline found itself under attack when a foreign adversary gained unauthorized access to its network. This intrusion posed a severe risk to the airline’s operations, customer data, and overall reputation. With an active threat in progress, the airline needed immediate incident response and strategic security enhancements.
Over the course of the engagement, we supported efforts to investigate the breach, eliminate the adversary’s access, and implement a comprehensive suite of security improvements. By the end of the initiative, the airline not only mitigated the immediate threat but also established a robust cybersecurity framework to protect against future attacks.
The Challenge
The airline faced several interconnected challenges that made this incident particularly concerning:
- Active Intrusion from a Foreign Adversary:
The adversary had gained a foothold within the airline’s network, raising alarms about potential access to sensitive data and critical systems. The presence of an advanced persistent threat (APT) required immediate action to prevent further damage. - Unknown Entry Point:
At the onset of the incident, it was unclear how the adversary had gained access to the network. This knowledge gap made it difficult to eliminate the threat and left the organization vulnerable to repeated attacks. - Disjointed Security Practices:
The airline’s infrastructure and cybersecurity teams lacked cohesive processes and tools. Endpoints, logs, and vulnerabilities were managed in silos, resulting in inconsistent coverage and limited visibility into potential threats. - Credential Exposure:
The adversary’s access to critical systems raised concerns that multiple credentials may have been compromised, increasing the risk of further lateral movement within the network. - Lack of a Comprehensive Vulnerability Management Program:
Vulnerability scanning and remediation efforts were sporadic, leaving critical gaps in the organization’s defenses.
The airline needed a swift and effective response to neutralize the immediate threat while addressing the underlying security weaknesses that had allowed the breach to occur.
The Solution
To address these challenges, we worked collaboratively with the airline’s infrastructure and cybersecurity teams to implement a three-phase approach:
Phase 1: Incident Investigation and Threat Containment
The initial focus was on understanding the scope of the intrusion and eliminating the adversary’s access:
- Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) Deployment:
- Worked with infrastructure teams to deploy a next-generation EDR solution across all endpoints. This provided real-time visibility into endpoint activity, enabling faster detection and containment of malicious behavior.
- Root Cause Analysis:
- Collaborated with the cybersecurity team to conduct a thorough forensic investigation.
- Identified the adversary’s point of entry, which involved a combination of social engineering tactics and exploitation of an unpatched vulnerability.
- Credential Rotation and Access Control:
- Developed and executed a plan to rotate all credentials that may have been accessed by the adversary, including system accounts, privileged access credentials, and user passwords.
- Strengthened access control policies to limit exposure and reduce the risk of unauthorized activity.
- Isolation and Network Hardening:
- Isolated compromised systems to prevent lateral movement.
- Updated firewall rules and hardened external-facing systems to close vulnerabilities and eliminate potential entry points.
Phase 2: Security Enhancements and Risk Mitigation
Once the immediate threat was contained, efforts shifted to strengthening the airline’s cybersecurity posture:
- Vulnerability Management Program:
- Partnered with infrastructure teams to design and implement a robust vulnerability management program.
- Conducted weekly vulnerability scans to identify and prioritize risks.
- Established a process for continuous improvement of the organization’s vulnerability risk score by addressing critical issues promptly.
- SIEM Deployment:
- Collaborated with infrastructure and security teams to implement a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) solution.
- Centralized the management of security logs and incidents, improving visibility across the network.
- Leveraged the SIEM’s correlation capabilities to identify potential threats more efficiently.
- Policy and Process Improvements:
- Reviewed and updated the organization’s cybersecurity policies, focusing on areas such as access control, patch management, and incident response.
- Conducted cybersecurity training to raise awareness among employees and reduce susceptibility to social engineering attacks.
The Results
The engagement delivered transformative results for the airline, both in addressing the immediate incident and in establishing a resilient cybersecurity framework:
- Full Containment of the Intrusion:
- The adversary’s access was completely cut off, and compromised credentials were replaced to secure critical systems.
- Strengthened Threat Detection and Response:
- EDR deployment across all endpoints provided real-time monitoring and faster identification of malicious activity.
- Improved Vulnerability Management:
- Weekly scans and a structured remediation process significantly reduced the organization’s vulnerability risk score.
- Centralized Incident Management:
- The SIEM system enabled proactive detection of potential threats and streamlined incident response workflows.
- Enhanced Employee Awareness:
- Cybersecurity training and updated policies reduced the risk of future incidents stemming from human error.
- Operational Efficiency:
- The collaboration between the vCISO, infrastructure teams, and the MSP created a unified, effective approach to cybersecurity management.
- Long-Term Resilience:
- The airline is now better equipped to detect, respond to, and prevent cyber threats, ensuring continued protection for its operations and customers.
Conclusion
This case study illustrates how a vCISO can play a pivotal role in responding to sophisticated cyber threats and driving long-term improvements in cybersecurity. By combining rapid incident response with strategic security enhancements, the airline successfully mitigated the immediate risk and built a more resilient foundation for the future.