Cybersecurity is an ever-evolving field, where staying one step ahead of attackers is essential. Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) is a concept that embodies this proactive approach.

While the terminology might sound new, the idea behind CTEM has been around for years, to continuously monitor for threats, gather actionable insights, and mitigate risks effectively. The dynamic nature of cybersecurity means threats are constantly evolving, and any pause in vigilance can lead to significant vulnerabilities.

CyberMindr, a leader in automated and continuous attack path and threat exposure discovery, recently hosted an insightful webinar to discuss a revolutionary approach to Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM). CTEM focuses on maintaining constant vigilance against evolving cyber threats, ensuring organizations can proactively address vulnerabilities before they lead to breaches.

Brett Gordon, Vice President at CyberMindr, captured the essence of the challenge stating: “We’re playing a game with the bad guys. They’re trying to find ways in, and we’re trying to keep them out.” Joining him was Sudheer Kanumalli, Chief Technology Officer at CyberMindr, who provided expert insights into how CTEM principles can help organizations secure their digital landscapes and outpace adversaries.

Understanding Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM)

Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) is not just a buzzword, it is a proactive framework designed to address the dynamic nature of cyber threats. Unlike traditional snapshot assessments, CTEM emphasizes ongoing vigilance, evolving with the threat landscape to ensure comprehensive protection.

• Continuous Monitoring: Cybersecurity is not a one-and-done process. Regular, iterative assessments ensure that new vulnerabilities and threats are promptly addressed.
• Proactive Approach: By identifying and addressing potential issues before they escalate, CTEM prevents breaches rather than reacting to them.
• Scalability: Effective CTEM frameworks can adapt to the size and complexity of an organization’s attack surface.
• Validation and Prioritization: Not all vulnerabilities are created equal. CTEM frameworks emphasize actionable intelligence, focusing on the most critical risks.

Why CTEM Matters

The CTEM approach is built on the understanding that cybersecurity is a dynamic field where threats evolve daily. As Sudheer highlighted, most organizations lack a comprehensive grasp of their digital inventory, which can leave them vulnerable.

CTEM addresses this by:

• Continuously mapping an organization’s attack surface.
• Discovering emerging threats and vulnerabilities.
• Prioritizing remediation efforts based on real-world risks.
• Validating fixes to ensure they are effective and not just theoretical.

Challenges with Current Tools and Frameworks

While numerous tools exist to support elements of cybersecurity, many fall short when it comes to comprehensive CTEM. Brett outlined some common tools and their limitations:

• Attack Surface Management (ASM): Useful for mapping assets but limited in actively scanning for new threats.
• Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS): Excellent for internal network testing but often overlooks external threats.
• Threat Intelligence Platforms: Provide high-level insights but lack the granularity needed for actionable remediation.
• Vulnerability Management Tools: Generate vast amounts of data, often plagued with false positives and a lack of prioritization.

The CyberMindr Approach to CTEM

CyberMindr platform stands out in the cybersecurity market with its active, multistage attack and validation engine. Unlike passive solutions, CyberMindr actively scans and tests assets, providing organizations with real-time insights into their vulnerabilities and threats.

Key Features of CyberMindr’s Solution:

• Dynamic Asset Discovery: Automatically maps all assets, including cloud and on-premises technologies, to maintain an up-to-date inventory.
• Vulnerability Validation: Goes beyond identifying vulnerabilities by testing their exploitability to reduce false positives.
• Proactive Threat Monitoring: Continuously scans for emerging threats, leveraging intelligence from attacker forums and other sources.
• Actionable Intelligence: Provides clear, prioritized remediation steps to address vulnerabilities effectively.

Lessons From Real-World Breaches

The webinar also examined notable breaches that has occurred in the past to highlight how CTEM could have mitigated them:

• Uber Subdomain Hijacking (2016 & 2017): Developers left a subdomain, writer.uber.com, dangling after discontinuing its use. Attackers exploited this subdomain to redirect users to malicious websites, enabling phishing attacks and session hijacking. Continuous asset discovery and subdomain validation could have flagged the dangling subdomain and prevented its misuse.
• WeChat API Exploitation: Poor coding practices led to API keys being exposed in public code repositories. Attackers leveraged this exposure to gain unauthorized access to backend services. Coupled with an unpatched vulnerability (CVE-2023-3420), they escalated their access to sensitive data. Regular scans for exposed secrets and validation of code practices would have mitigated this breach.
• Snowflake Developer Credential Leak (2024): A developer’s mobile device, compromised by malware, synced sensitive credentials saved in a browser. These credentials were exfiltrated and used to bypass multi-factor authentication on Snowflake’s admin accounts. Continuous monitoring for credential leaks and enforcing strict authentication protocols could have thwarted this attack.
• Equifax Vulnerability Exploitation (2017): A known vulnerability (CVE-2017-5638) in Apache Struts went unpatched, enabling attackers to gain an initial foothold. Compromised environmental variables, stored in plain text, facilitated further escalation. A robust CTEM process could have prioritized patching efforts and flagged insecure credential storage practices.
• eBay Cross-Site Scripting Attack: Attackers injected malicious scripts into custom HTML fields allowed in auction listings, gaining unauthorized access to session cookies and user data. This led to phishing attacks and user impersonation. Advanced validation of user inputs and regular security testing could have prevented this exploitation.

Building a Proactive Defense with CTEM

Cyber threats are not static, and neither should cybersecurity practices be. The CTEM framework, as discussed in CyberMindr’s webinar, provides a proactive, comprehensive approach to staying ahead of attackers. By leveraging tools like CyberMindr’s platform, organizations can:

• Maintain an up-to-date inventory of their attack surface.
• Detect and prioritize vulnerabilities effectively.
• Validate fixes to ensure robust security.

As Brett aptly concluded, “The goal is to be more secure today than you were yesterday.” CyberMindr’s innovative approach to CTEM equips organizations with the tools and insights needed to achieve this goal.