CISO Guidance

1) Is this information credible?

• The information appears credible, detailing sophisticated phishing techniques observed in recent cyber threat reports.

2) How could this be relevant to my org’s assets, vendors, or processes?

• These phishing tactics directly target common enterprise communication channels, potentially compromising sensitive data and systems.
• Vendors and third-party partners may also be targeted, posing a risk to supply chain security.

3) What’s the actual technical risk?

• High risk of credential theft and unauthorized access through advanced phishing techniques bypassing traditional security measures.
• Potential for malware deployment and data exfiltration via compromised email accounts.

4) What do we need to do to defend/detect/respond?

• Enhance email filtering systems to detect QR codes and password-protected attachments.
• Implement user training programs focusing on identifying phishing attempts and safe handling of unexpected attachments.
• Deploy advanced threat-hunting tools capable of inspecting encrypted files and multi-stage interactions.
• Regularly update MFA policies to include phishing-resistant methods like FIDO2 tokens.

5) What’s the potential business/regulatory exposure?

• Data breaches resulting from phishing attacks could lead to regulatory fines and damage to reputation.
• Potential non-compliance with data protection regulations if sensitive information is exposed.

6) Does it reveal a bigger trend?

• Yes, there is a trend of increasingly sophisticated phishing attacks leveraging both old and new techniques to bypass security defenses.

7) What actions or communications are needed now?

• Communicate the risks and new phishing tactics to all employees and stakeholders.
• Review and update incident response plans to address these advanced phishing tactics.
• Engage with vendors to ensure they are aware of these threats and have adequate defenses.