Security Testing Measures

Model security testing isn't what you think it is. Most teams are running basic prompt injection tests and calling it a day. Real model security testing looks like: 1. Prompt injection beyond basic jailbreaks → Testing for lateral movement between contexts → Probing for data leakage across tenant boundaries → Exploiting retrieval systems to bypass guardrails 2. Model inversion attacks → Can you extract training data with carefully crafted inputs? → How much PII/sensitive data can be reconstructed? → Are your fine-tuning datasets vulnerable to membership inference? 3. Data poisoning vectors → Testing retrieval augmentation for poisoning susceptibility → Identifying how corrupted training examples propagate through the system → Measuring the blast radius of compromised data sources Your security testing must examine how these attacks interact and compound. Individual tests pass while systemic weaknesses remain hidden.

A Common Misconception I see: Running a Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS) test doesn’t mean you’ve tested the way an adversary actually implements the technique. In the cybersecurity world, we often hear that running a Breach and Attack Simulation (BAS) test for a specific ATT&CK technique ID observed in Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) means we've covered our bases. However, this is a significant misconception. Why? Because simply simulating a technique ID doesn't equate to testing the specific procedures and variations employed by adversaries. The devil is in the details. Here are some key points to consider: 1. Technique vs. Procedure: ATT&CK technique IDs provide a high-level description of tactics, but adversaries implement these techniques using specific, often unique procedures. BAS tests may not cover these nuances. 2. Context Matters: Adversaries adapt their methods based on their goals, target environment, and the tools they have at their disposal. A generic BAS test might not reflect the actual threat landscape your organization faces. 3. Continuous Adaptation: Threat actors continuously evolve their operations. A static BAS test, run once, doesn't account for these changes. Regular updates and adjustments are crucial to stay ahead. To truly understand and mitigate risks: - Integrate CTI: Use threat intelligence to inform your tests, tailoring them to your specific environment. - Diversify Testing: Combine BAS with other testing methods like red teaming and purple teaming to get a comprehensive view. - Stay Informed: Continuously update your tests to reflect the latest threat intelligence and adversary behaviors. Remember, effective cybersecurity is about understanding and adapting to the specific threats your organization faces. Move beyond the checkbox mentality and strive for true resilience. #CyberSecurity #BreachAndAttackSimulation #ThreatIntelligence #CyberResilience #RedTeam #PurpleTeam #SecurityTesting

DIB: The DoD’s Implementation Plan Brings CMMC Level 3 Requirements Before Phase 4 (Full Implementation). While much of the focus has been on CMMC Level 2, it’s equally important to prepare for the significant lift required for Level 3. The transition to L3 will depend on your existing CUI Program, leadership support, and your technical team’s skill set. Key elements to consider: 1. Access Control for only organization-owned/managed devices, no Personal devices (BYOD). Also, apply Golden Images to Level 3 assets, ensuring consistency and security, followed by conditional access controls or systems posture checks. 2. Must protect the integrity of Secure Baseline Configuration/Golden Images. 3. Encryption In Transit and At Rest with Transport Layer Security (TLS), IEEE 802.1X, or IPsec. 4. Bidirectional/Mutual Authentication technology that ensures both parties in a communication session authenticate each other (see encryption). 5. Conduct L3-specific End-User Training, including practical training for end-users, power users, and administrators on phishing, social engineering, and cyber threats and test readiness and response. 6. Continuous Monitoring (ConMon), Automation, and Alerting to remove non-compliant systems promptly. 7. Automated Asset Discovery & Inventory, ensuring full visibility of all assets. 8. Security Operations Center (SOC) and Incident Response (IR): Maintain a 24x7 SOC and IR team to handle security incidents promptly and efficiently. 9. HR Response Plans that include Blackmail Resilience to address scenarios like blackmail, insider threats, and other HR-related security issues. 10. Mandatory Threat Hunting to proactively identify and mitigate threats. 11. Automated Risk Identification and Analytics using Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR), Extended Detection and Response (XDR), etc. 12. Risk-Informed Security Control Selection to ensure tailored and effective protection measures. 13. Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM), Monitoring & Testing of Service Provider Agreements (SPAs): Regularly monitor and test SPAs to ensure compliance with security requirements and to mitigate risks associated with third-party vendors and suppliers. 14. Mandatory Penetration Testing to identify and rectify system vulnerabilities. 15. Secure Management of Operational Technology (OT)/Industrial Control Systems (ICS), including Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE) and other critical infrastructure. 16. Root and Trust Mechanisms to verify the authenticity and integrity of software. Ensure devices boot using only trusted software. Provide hardware-based security functions such as TPM. 17. Threat Intelligence and Indicator of Compromise (IOC) Monitoring to stay ahead of emerging threats and quickly respond. #CUI #hva #ProtectCUI

Most security programs can tell you what controls they deployed. Very few can prove those controls stop the attack path that matters. That gap is where breaches happen. Here is what the modern identity attack path looks like, and why traditional measurement misses it. The attacker does not exploit a vulnerability. They phish, proxy, or register a malicious OAuth app. The user authenticates legitimately. MFA is satisfied. The attacker captures the session token (MITRE T1528). That token is now the credential. Tokens may remain valid after authentication depending on platform and revocation controls. If tied to a non-human identity or refresh token, access can persist indefinitely without explicit revocation (T1078). The attacker queries APIs instead of scanning networks, enumerating mailboxes, file stores, and identity relationships through legitimate interfaces. Using trusted integrations, they pivot across SaaS and cloud with no malware, just delegated access through paths the organization built (T1199). Data leaves via APIs expected to move data (T1537). Google’s Threat Intelligence Group detailed a campaign where attackers used compromised OAuth tokens from the Salesloft Drift integration to access Salesforce environments. Cloudflare confirmed the mechanics in their incident response disclosure. This is not a control failure. It is a measurement failure. Would your current program detect this? Most programs measure coverage: endpoints with EDR, identities with MFA, vulnerabilities patched within SLA. Coverage measures what you deployed. Exposure measures what an attacker can reach. These are fundamentally different. CTEM addresses this through five phases. Scoping must include OAuth tokens, non-human identities, and API credentials or the model has a blind spot where attackers target. Organizations often operate with triple-digit ratios of non-human identities to human users. Discovery must extend to that full population. Prioritization must reflect attack path context. A moderate misconfiguration chained with a stolen token and trusted SaaS integration reaches sensitive data faster than a critical CVE on an isolated server. Equally important is whether existing compensating controls already reduce exploitability. Validation is the phase most programs skip. Validation means testing whether controls stop token theft, consent phishing, and NHI abuse against your own defenses. Start by testing one identity attack path end-to-end: token theft, API access, lateral movement across a trusted integration. Mobilization turns validated findings into remediation with clear ownership, enriched context, and tracked execution. Without it, findings sit in queues and exposure persists. Not “Do we have controls?” But “Did we prove those controls stop the attack path that matters?” Views are my own #CTEM #ExposureManagement #IdentitySecurity #MITREATTACK #CISOLeadershipy

𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟬: 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲 We know the cost of response can be 100 times the cost of prevention, but when unprepared, the consequences are astronomical. A key prevention measure is a 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 to anticipate and neutralize threats before they cause harm. Many enterprises struggled during crises like 𝗟𝗼𝗴𝟰𝗷 or 𝗠𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗶𝘁 due to limited visibility into their IT estate. Proactive threat management combines 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲, and 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲. Here are few practices to address proactively: 1. 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 Having a strong understanding of your assets and dependencies is foundational to security. Maintain 𝗦𝗕𝗢𝗠𝘀 to track software components and vulnerabilities. Use an updated 𝗖𝗠𝗗𝗕 for hardware, software, and cloud assets. 2. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 Identify vulnerabilities and threats before escalation. • Leverage 𝗦𝗜𝗘𝗠/𝗫𝗗𝗥 for real-time monitoring and log analysis. • Use AI/ML tools to detect anomalies indicative of lateral movement, insider threat, privilege escalations or unusual traffic. • Regularly hunt for unpatched systems leveraging SBOM and threat intel. 3. 𝗕𝘂𝗴 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 Uncover vulnerabilities before attackers do. • Implement bug bounty programs to identify and remediate exploitable vulnerabilities. • Use red teams to simulate adversary tactics and test defensive responses. • Conduct 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 exercises to share insights and enhance security controls. 4. 𝗜𝗺𝗺𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘂𝗽𝘀 Protect data from ransomware and disruptions with robust backups. • Use immutable storage to prevent tampering (e.g., WORM storage). • Maintain offline immutable backups to guard against ransomware. • Regularly test backup restoration for reliability. 5. 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘀 Stay ahead of adversaries with robust intelligence. • Simulate attack techniques based on known adversaries like Scatter Spider • Share intelligence within industry groups like FS-ISAC to track emerging threats. 6. 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆-𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 Employees are the first line of defense. • Train employees to identify phishing and social engineering. • Adopt a “𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗦𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴” approach to foster vigilance. • Provide clear channels for reporting incidents or suspicious activity. Effectively managing 𝗰𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 requires a 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, investment in tools and talent, and alignment with a defense-in-depth strategy. Regular testing, automation, and a culture of continuous improvement are essential to maintaining a strong security posture. #VISA #Cybersecurity #IncidentResponse #PaymentSecurity #12DaysOfCybersecurityChristmas

Cybersecurity testing is crucial for demonstrating that the controls you've implemented are effective in a real-world security context. 🔬 FDA expects to see a comprehensive and well-documented cybersecurity testing program in premarket submissions. A common FDA objection in this area is: "you did not provide adequate cybersecurity testing which is important to comply with the requirements specified in section 524B(b)(2) of the FD&C Act to provide a reasonable assurance that the device and related systems are cybersecure." This highlights the need to go beyond standard software testing and include specific cybersecurity testing activities. The FDA guidance, "Cybersecurity in Medical Devices: Quality System Considerations and Content of Premarket Submissions," provides helpful recommendations on cybersecurity testing (page 26). This includes testing activities such as requirement verification, threat mitigation, and vulnerability testing (including fuzz testing, vulnerability scanning, and penetration testing). Remember to provide detailed test reports that clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of your controls in mitigating identified threats. 📑 This helps build confidence in the safety and security of your device.

Cybersecurity is not proven by policies alone—it is proven by testing how defenses perform under pressure. A mature security program goes beyond preventive controls. The real measure of resilience lies in continuous cybersecurity testing across people, process, and technology. This infographic highlights the end-to-end cybersecurity testing lifecycle, showing how organizations validate their control environment against real-world threats. 🔹 1) Vulnerability Assessments Identify weaknesses across infrastructure, endpoints, applications, and cloud environments before attackers do. 🔹 2) Penetration Testing Simulate controlled attacks to validate whether exploitable vulnerabilities can lead to unauthorized access or business impact. 🔹 3) Red Team Testing A full-scope adversary simulation that tests not just technical controls, but also detection, response, escalation, and resilience. 🔹 4) Social Engineering Testing Evaluate human-layer risks such as phishing susceptibility, manipulation, and awareness effectiveness. 🔹 5) End-to-End Testing Process A strong testing lifecycle typically follows: ✔ Planning & scoping ✔ Discovery & scanning ✔ Controlled exploitation ✔ Reporting & risk rating ✔ Remediation validation ✔ Retesting & closure 🔹 6) Key Testing Enablers Modern programs combine: ✔ Automated scanning ✔ Manual validation ✔ Attack simulation tools ✔ Phishing platforms ✔ Threat intelligence inputs ✔ Continuous exposure monitoring The real strength of testing is that it supports the CIA triad in action: ✔ Confidentiality – Protect sensitive data ✔ Integrity – Prevent unauthorized changes ✔ Availability – Strengthen operational resilience Most importantly, cybersecurity testing transforms security from a compliance requirement into measurable assurance. The goal is not to “pass a test.” The goal is to continuously improve defense readiness before threats become incidents. Kalesha & co Next Gen Assure #CyberSecurity #PenetrationTesting #VulnerabilityManagement #RedTeam #SocialEngineering #InformationSecurity #CyberResilience #RiskManagement #SecurityTesting #GRC #Compliance #ISO27001 #SOC2

𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞. DevSecOps embeds security into every stage from requirements to production and back. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐎𝐩𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝟏. 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 • Security development guides • Trainings • Security requirements (Gap analysis) • Critical Assets Identification • Threat modelling • Privacy implementation assessment Security starts before code is written. Identify critical assets. Model threats. Assess privacy requirements. Training ensures teams know what secure looks like. 𝟐. 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 • Critical Assets Identification • Threat modelling • Privacy implementation assessment • Security architecture review • Security Baseline Design phase locks in security architecture. Threat modelling maps attack surfaces. Security baseline defines minimum controls. Get design wrong and you are patching vulnerabilities forever. 𝟑. 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 • Third-party software tracking • Security code review • Static code analysis Code is written with security in mind. Static analysis catches vulnerabilities before commit. Security code reviews validate logic. Third-party tracking prevents supply chain attacks. 𝟒. 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 • Risk based security testing • Dynamic security testing Testing is not just functional. Risk-based security testing prioritizes high-impact vulnerabilities. Dynamic testing runs against live code to catch runtime issues. 𝟓. 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 • Security operations Deployment is where security controls activate in production. Security operations monitor, detect, and respond to threats in real-time. 𝟔. 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫 • Vulnerability Management & Patching • Penetration testing • Maintenance, Monitoring, and Analytics of Audit Logs Release isn't the end. Vulnerability management patches flaws. Penetration testing finds gaps. Monitoring and audit logs track threats continuously. 𝟕. 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐚 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 Beta testing validates security in real-world conditions before full release. Next Iteration Feedback loops from production feed back into requirements. Security findings in production inform the next design. This is continuous security improvement. The Culture Shift DevSecOps is not a tool. It is a culture where: • Developers think like attackers. • Security teams think like builders. • Operations teams think like defenders. Security is not a gate at the end. It is a practice at every stage. Most teams treat security as a checkbox. DevSecOps teams treat security as a continuous loop from requirements to production and back. 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲? ♻️ Repost this to help your network get started ➕ Follow Jaswindder for more #DevSecOps #DevOps #SecureSDLC

How to Test SOC 1 and SOC 2 Reports: Testing SOC 1 and SOC 2 reports in IT audits is essential for verifying the design and operating effectiveness of controls related to a service organization. These reports are critical for evaluating the internal controls of service providers, ensuring compliance with industry standards, and providing assurance to user organizations. 1. Understanding the Service Organization’s System and Controls The first step is to obtain the SOC report and review its details, including the service organization’s system description and key controls. Identify which control objectives are relevant: financial reporting for SOC 1 and trust service criteria (security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy) for SOC 2. 2. Testing SOC 1 Report Focus: SOC 1 testing centers on controls that impact financial reporting. Testing Process: Design Effectiveness (Type I): Evaluate if the design of controls meets control objectives. This involves assessing whether documented controls would effectively mitigate risks related to financial reporting. Operating Effectiveness (Type II): Analyze the results of the service auditor’s tests over the defined period. Determine if controls were consistently applied and assess any exceptions noted. Test CUECs: Verify that user organizations have implemented necessary controls that complement those of the service provider. Evaluate Exceptions: Any deficiencies identified must be assessed for their impact on financial reporting, determining if additional substantive testing is required. 3. Testing SOC 2 Report Focus: SOC 2 testing involves non-financial controls related to data security and privacy. Testing Process: Design Effectiveness (Type I): Review controls against relevant Trust Service Criteria. Assess whether the described controls can mitigate risks associated with data security, availability, and privacy. Operating Effectiveness (Type II): Examine the service auditor’s test results, particularly for critical controls like security monitoring and incident response. Specific Controls to Test: Security: Test access controls, encryption protocols, and system monitoring tools. Availability: Evaluate system uptime and disaster recovery plans. Processing Integrity: Ensure procedures for data processing are accurate and timely. Confidentiality: Verify sensitive data protection through encryption and access controls. Privacy: Ensure compliance with regulations like GDPR. 4. Review and Test Complementary User Entity Controls (CUECs) Both SOC reports may rely on user organizations to implement CUECs. It's vital to ensure that these controls are in place and functioning effectively, especially for critical controls that could impact the audit outcomes. Testing Process: Confirm that the user entity has implemented necessary CUECs. Perform additional testing at the user entity level as needed, particularly for controls that significantly affect overall risk.

🌐 Unlocking Web Application Penetration Testing Insights 🌐Excited to share insights from the comprehensive guide on Web Application Penetration Testing, co-authored by Muratcan and me. This guide dives deep into the essential strategies and tools for securing web applications against a myriad of threats. 🔍 Inside the Guide: Information Gathering: Techniques like search engine discovery, web server fingerprinting, and metadata analysis to uncover potential vulnerabilities. Testing Strategies: Detailed exploration of authentication, session management, and input validation testing. Security Best Practices: Deployment management testing, including configuration reviews and sensitive information handling. 🛡️ Why This Matters: In the digital age, robust web application security is crucial. From startups to large corporations, ensuring that applications are resistant to attacks not only protects sensitive data but also maintains customer trust and compliance with regulations. 📘 Dive into our guide to enhance your understanding and skills in web application security, and stay ahead in the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape. Let’s connect and discuss more on fortifying digital platforms! #WebSecurity #PenTesting #CyberSecurity #InformationSecurity #EthicalHacking #DigitalDefense #VulnerabilityManagement #InfoSec #SecureCoding #TechInnovation #CyberResilience