Password Policies: Set and enforce secure password policies for accounts to reduce the likelihood of unauthorized access. Strong password policies include enforcing password complexity, requiring regular password changes, and preventing password reuse. This mitigation can be implemented through the following measures:
Windows Systems:
- Use Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) to configure:
- Minimum password length (e.g., 12+ characters).
- Password complexity requirements.
- Password history (e.g., disallow last 24 passwords).
- Account lockout duration and thresholds.
Linux Systems:
- Configure Pluggable Authentication Modules (PAM):
- Use
pam_pwquality to enforce complexity and length requirements.
- Implement
pam_tally2 or pam_faillock for account lockouts.
- Use
pwunconv to disable password reuse.
Password Managers:
- Enforce usage of enterprise password managers (e.g., Bitwarden, 1Password, LastPass) to generate and store strong passwords.
Password Blacklisting:
- Use tools like Have I Been Pwned password checks or NIST-based blacklist solutions to prevent users from setting compromised passwords.
Regular Auditing:
- Periodically audit password policies and account configurations to ensure compliance using tools like LAPS (Local Admin Password Solution) and vulnerability scanners.
Tools for Implementation
Windows:
- Group Policy Management Console (GPMC): Enforce password policies.
- Microsoft Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS): Enforce random, unique admin passwords.
Linux/macOS:
- PAM Modules (pam_pwquality, pam_tally2, pam_faillock): Enforce password rules.
- Lynis: Audit password policies and system configurations.
Cross-Platform:
- Password Managers (Bitwarden, 1Password, KeePass): Manage and enforce strong passwords.
- Have I Been Pwned API: Prevent the use of breached passwords.
- NIST SP 800-63B compliant tools: Enforce password guidelines and blacklisting.
Active Directory Configuration: Implement robust Active Directory (AD) configurations using group policies to secure user accounts, control access, and minimize the attack surface. AD configurations enable centralized control over account settings, logon policies, and permissions, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and lateral movement within the network. This mitigation can be implemented through the following measures:
Account Configuration:
- Implementation: Use domain accounts instead of local accounts to leverage AD’s centralized management, including group policies, auditing, and access control.
- Use Case: For IT staff managing shared resources, provision domain accounts that allow IT teams to log in centrally, reducing the risk of unmanaged, rogue local accounts on individual machines.
Interactive Logon Restrictions:
- Implementation: Configure group policies to restrict interactive logons (e.g., direct physical or RDP logons) for service accounts or privileged accounts that do not require such access.
- Use Case: Prevent service accounts, such as SQL Server accounts, from having interactive logon privileges. This reduces the risk of these accounts being leveraged for lateral movement if compromised.
Remote Desktop Settings:
- Implementation: Limit Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) access to specific, authorized accounts. Use group policies to enforce this, allowing only necessary users to establish RDP sessions.
- Use Case: On sensitive servers (e.g., domain controllers or financial databases), restrict RDP access to administrative accounts only, while all other users are denied access.
Dedicated Administrative Accounts:
- Implementation: Create domain-wide administrative accounts that are restricted from interactive logons, designed solely for high-level tasks (e.g., software installation, patching).
- Use Case: Create separate administrative accounts for different purposes, such as one set of accounts for installations and another for managing repository access. This limits exposure and helps reduce attack vectors.
Authentication Silos:
- Implementation: Configure Authentication Silos in AD, using group policies to create access zones with restrictions based on membership, such as the Protected Users security group. This restricts access to critical accounts and minimizes exposure to potential threats.
- Use Case: Place high-risk or high-value accounts, such as executive or administrative accounts, in an Authentication Silo with extra controls, limiting their exposure to only necessary systems. This reduces the risk of credential misuse or abuse if these accounts are compromised.
Tools for Implementation:
- Active Directory Group Policies: Use Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) to configure, deploy, and enforce policies across AD environments.
- PowerShell: Automate account configuration, logon restrictions, and policy application using PowerShell scripts.
- AD Administrative Center: Manage Authentication Silos and configure high-level policies for critical user groups within AD.
Privileged Account Management: Privileged Account Management focuses on implementing policies, controls, and tools to securely manage privileged accounts (e.g., SYSTEM, root, or administrative accounts). This includes restricting access, limiting the scope of permissions, monitoring privileged account usage, and ensuring accountability through logging and auditing.This mitigation can be implemented through the following measures:
Account Permissions and Roles:
- Implement RBAC and least privilege principles to allocate permissions securely.
- Use tools like Active Directory Group Policies to enforce access restrictions.
Credential Security:
- Deploy password vaulting tools like CyberArk, HashiCorp Vault, or KeePass for secure storage and rotation of credentials.
- Enforce password policies for complexity, uniqueness, and expiration using tools like Microsoft Group Policy Objects (GPO).
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):
- Enforce MFA for all privileged accounts using Duo Security, Okta, or Microsoft Azure AD MFA.
Privileged Access Management (PAM):
- Use PAM solutions like CyberArk, BeyondTrust, or Thycotic to manage, monitor, and audit privileged access.
Auditing and Monitoring:
- Integrate activity monitoring into your SIEM (e.g., Splunk or QRadar) to detect and alert on anomalous privileged account usage.
Just-In-Time Access:
- Deploy JIT solutions like Azure Privileged Identity Management (PIM) or configure ephemeral roles in AWS and GCP to grant time-limited elevated permissions.
Tools for Implementation
Privileged Access Management (PAM):
- CyberArk, BeyondTrust, Thycotic, HashiCorp Vault.
Credential Management:
- Microsoft LAPS (Local Admin Password Solution), Password Safe, HashiCorp Vault, KeePass.
Multi-Factor Authentication:
- Duo Security, Okta, Microsoft Azure MFA, Google Authenticator.
Linux Privilege Management:
- sudo configuration, SELinux, AppArmor.
Just-In-Time Access:
- Azure Privileged Identity Management (PIM), AWS IAM Roles with session constraints, GCP Identity-Aware Proxy.