Enhancing Cybersecurity Defenses in the Financial Sector

Cyclad was tasked with conducting comprehensive penetration testing for a major player in the financial sector. This case study outlines the meticulous approach taken to bolster the bank's cybersecurity measures.

Client

Bank

Service

Cybersecurity

Industry

Banking

Country

France

Challenge

  • The bank identified the need for a comprehensive security assessment of an internal server's web application to identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities.

Solution

Our cybersecurity team used the Burp Proxy tool to conduct an in-depth penetration test, intercepting and analyzing communication between the web browser and the application to identify security flaws. We discovered that the application's monitoring feature, designed to execute scripts to check the server's status, could be exploited to run arbitrary commands on the server and thereby access the server's file system. With the client's permission, we further explored vulnerabilities that might allow higher privilege access. Despite the server's robust security measures, we identified a shell script with insufficient permissions that was executed as the root user. By exploiting the weakly protected shell script, we were able to perform actions on the server with root-level privileges. This vulnerability exposed the server to a complete compromise, potentially allowing attackers to pivot to other targets within the bank's network.

Results

Upon identifying these critical security issues, the bank was promptly notified, enabling swift action to address the vulnerabilities. The bank immediately rectified the weak permissions on the shell script and removed the function that allowed arbitrary script execution, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized server access and potential internal threats. The bank's proactive response to our findings led to an enhancement of their server's security posture, ensuring that similar vulnerabilities could be prevented in the future. The main benefits included mitigation of critical security risks, as the penetration test uncovered and helped mitigate vulnerabilities that could have allowed attackers to gain unauthorized access and control over the bank's internal server. By addressing the identified weaknesses, the bank strengthened its defenses against potential internal threats, safeguarding sensitive data and systems. The comprehensive assessment and subsequent improvements in security protocols reinforced the bank's confidence in its cybersecurity measures, setting a strong foundation for maintaining a secure and resilient IT infrastructure.