Attack Vectors: How Threats Materialize

Attack vectors represent the paths through which threat actors can reach and compromise your assets. Modern systems present numerous potential entry points, from traditional network vulnerabilities to sophisticated social engineering campaigns. Comprehensive threat modeling requires systematic identification of these attack vectors to ensure no potential path remains undefended.

Technical attack vectors exploit vulnerabilities in software, hardware, or configurations. These include unpatched systems, misconfigured services, weak authentication mechanisms, and insecure APIs. SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and buffer overflows represent classic examples that, despite being well-known, continue to plague organizations. Cloud misconfigurations have emerged as a leading vector, with improperly secured storage buckets and databases regularly making headlines.

Human-factor attack vectors target the people within your organization. Phishing emails remain remarkably effective, especially when crafted with information gathered from social media or data breaches. Social engineering attacks might involve impersonation, pretexting, or physical intrusion. These vectors often bypass technical controls by exploiting human psychology and trust. No amount of firewall configuration can prevent an employee from revealing passwords to a convincing attacker.

Physical attack vectors shouldn't be overlooked, especially for organizations with on-premises infrastructure. Unauthorized facility access, device theft, or tampering with hardware can provide direct system access. Even cloud-centric organizations face physical threats through device compromise or insider access to data centers. Environmental threats like natural disasters or power failures, while not malicious, can impact availability and should be considered in comprehensive threat modeling.