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Watering Hole Attacks

Watering hole attack is a form of cyberattack that targets groups of users by infecting websites that they commonly visit.

The attacker profiles their targets and discovers the types of websites they tend to visit most frequently.

The attacker then searches for a vulnerability within a site, creates an exploit to compromise it, infects the website, and lurks in wait for a victim. When a user visits the infected site, their device may be compromised by malware that gives the attacker remote access to their personal or organizational data.

The attacker may use this data to carry out fraudulent acts such as identity theft or espionage.

Watering hole attacks are relatively rare, but they have a high success rate because they target legitimate websites that cannot be blacklisted, and they use zero-day exploits that antivirus detectors and scanners may not pick up

Some statistics on Watering Hole Attacks are

• Watering hole attacks are relatively rare, but they have a high success rate because they target legitimate websites that cannot be blacklisted, and they use zero-day exploits that antivirus detectors and scanners may not pick up
• In 2013, high-profile websites such as Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft, and Apple were exploited to perform watering hole attacks
• In 2017, Lazarus threat actor group conducted watering hole attacks to infiltrate financial institutions in Poland, Mexico, the U.K, and the United States
• In 2021, Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG) reported that it sees as many as one watering hole attack per month
• In 2021, a watering hole attack compromised the website of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a United Nations agency that sets standards for global air travel, and exposed sensitive data of its members

What can you do

• Practice computer security. It’s important to keep your computer secure. But sometimes, the simplest tasks can slip your mind. For example, you should always update your software, use strong passwords, and avoid clicking on suspicious links and downloads
• Keep work and personal resources separate. Keeping your work and personal resources separate on different drives can help prevent attackers from accessing sensitive data if your device is compromised. You should also avoid using your work email or credentials for personal purposes
• Be wary of social media sites. Social media sites are often used as share points of links to infected websites. You should block social media sites from office networks and avoid clicking on links from unknown sources or messages
• Use a secure web browser. A secure web browser can help you detect and avoid malicious websites. You should also use private browsing features and a VPN to hide your online activities and location from potential attackers
• Monitor your network traffic. You should monitor your network traffic for any unusual or suspicious activity, such as connections to unknown domains or servers. You can use tools such as firewalls, antivirus software, and intrusion detection systems to help you with this task