In fiscal year 2023, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) published a comprehensive analysis based on 143 risk and vulnerability assessments (RVAs) conducted across multiple critical infrastructure sectors. These assessments aim to map 11 of the 14 tactics commonly employed by cyber threat actors to gain and maintain unauthorized access to systems. The RVAs, which cover federal civilian, private sector, and state and local infrastructure, highlight common attack vectors like phishing, use of valid accounts, and default credentials. The report emphasizes that many organizations exhibited similar vulnerabilities, largely due to weaknesses in system design, misconfigurations, and a failure to secure critical systems by default.
CISA’s findings also outline a detailed attack path, from gaining initial access through various exploitation techniques to escalating privileges and evading defenses. The analysis provides insights into how threat actors can use compromised credentials to move laterally through networks, steal sensitive data, and ultimately exfiltrate it. It identifies common techniques used by attackers, such as credential access, lateral movement, and command and control to maintain persistence. This attack path, mapped to the MITRE ATT&CK framework, is a clear illustration of how vulnerabilities within critical infrastructure can lead to significant breaches if left unaddressed.
The report also stresses the need for critical infrastructure entities to implement stronger protective measures to defend against common exploitation tactics. CISA recommends organizations adopt robust cybersecurity frameworks, including phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication (MFA), strong password policies, and identity access management (IAM) systems. Furthermore, improving visibility through detailed access and network logs is critical in detecting and responding to abnormal activity. The guidance suggests organizations deploy layered security measures such as next-generation firewalls, network segmentation, secure communications, and SIEM/SOAR tools to detect and mitigate threats before they can cause significant damage.
In addition to specific security recommendations, CISA has launched an Infrastructure Resilience Planning Framework (IRPF) to guide organizations in enhancing their security and resilience. While the framework is primarily aimed at state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments, it is also versatile enough for broader use by any organization seeking to improve its defense mechanisms. CISA’s initiative encourages organizations to share these best practices with leadership and implement tailored security changes to better protect against cyber threats. The agency also advises critical infrastructure sectors to prioritize these cybersecurity strategies and work collaboratively to ensure national resilience against evolving cyber risks.
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