A recent case study conducted by Hackmosphere for a furniture retailer, referred to as ExCorp, revealed how physical access to facilities could compromise internal networks despite robust cybersecurity measures. The team was particularly interested in identifying weaknesses that could provide access to the internal network, as this would represent a significant security breach with potentially severe consequences. Physical penetration testing provides crucial insights into real-world security vulnerabilities that might be overlooked in purely digital assessments. The case study demonstrates that comprehensive security requires attention to physical vulnerabilities alongside digital protections. Besides this, Hackmosphere analysts affirmed that even robust cybersecurity investments can be undermined by overlooking basic physical security measures. The team connected a LanTurtle device to an exposed network socket hidden under a desk, obtaining an IP address (10.3.86.30) within the internal network. The network configuration revealed multiple interfaces as shown in the connection data, including eth0 (172.16.84.1) and eth1 (10.3.86.30), showing complete network penetration. This highlighted serious deficiencies in physical access controls and employee security awareness. The penetration test identified four critical vulnerabilities that could potentially allow malicious actors to breach the company’s digital infrastructure without sophisticated hacking techniques. Cyber Security News is a Dedicated News Platform For Cyber News, Cyber Attack News, Hacking News & Vulnerability Analysis. The device established an SSH connection encapsulated in TLS on port 443 to bypass firewall restrictions, providing remote access to ExCorp’s internal systems. With years of experience under his belt in Cyber Security, he is covering Cyber Security News, technology and other news. The Hackmosphere team employed a methodical approach to their physical penetration testing engagement. Network logs showed the successful compromise, with the device establishing a connection to the ExCorp.com.local domain. Finally, the assessment team gained unauthorized access to the manager’s office by consulting the building’s emergency evacuation map, which improperly disclosed the office location. The penetration testers were able to connect a “Rubber Ducky” USB device to the terminals during brief periods when staff were away from their stations. This device allowed them to execute commands and gain control of machines connected to the internal network. This case demonstrates that cybersecurity strategies must encompass both digital and physical dimensions to be truly effective. During the assessment, the analysts at Hackmosphere observed that store computers were frequently left unlocked and unattended during employee breaks.
This Cyber News was published on cybersecuritynews.com. Publication date: Fri, 07 Mar 2025 22:15:20 +0000