Vulnerability Remediation - CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 - 4.3

Mitigating Vulnerabilities in IT Systems

Importance of Security Patches

• The majority of identified vulnerabilities can be mitigated by installing security patches, which are often released on a standard schedule (weekly or monthly).

• In cases of severe vulnerabilities or zero-day exploits, unscheduled patches may be issued to address the issue promptly.

Continuous Process of Patch Management

• IT professionals must continuously test and deploy these patches to production environments as they are provided by manufacturers or software developers.

Cybersecurity Insurance as a Mitigation Strategy

• Organizations can transfer risk through cybersecurity insurance policies, which cover losses from data recovery processes and potential lawsuits following attacks.

• However, not all incidents are covered; intentional acts and certain financial transactions may fall outside policy protections.

Network Segmentation for Risk Limitation

• To limit the impact of attacks, organizations can implement network segmentation by isolating devices onto separate networks or VLANs.

• This approach does not prevent access but restricts attackers' ability to move laterally within the network.

Handling Unpatchable Systems

• If patching is not feasible due to conflicts with other software or installation issues, moving vulnerable segments off the main network (air-gapping) is recommended.

Monitoring Traffic Between Segments

Role of Next-Generation Firewalls

• Next-generation firewalls help monitor traffic flows between different segments and identify unusual application communications.

Implementing Air Gap Segmentation

• Air gap segmentation involves using separate switches for different customers to ensure no connectivity between their networks.

Utilizing VLAN for Logical Segmentation

• Virtual LAN (VLAN) technology allows logical assignment of interfaces on a switch so that only devices within the same VLAN can communicate with each other.

Compensating Controls When Patching Isn't Possible

Alternative Security Measures

• If patching isn't an option due to conflicts, disabling vulnerable services or revoking user access can prevent exploitation but also disrupt service availability.

Edge Firewall Policies

• Most organizations utilize edge firewalls that set policies preventing external access to internal applications/services.

Decision-Making in Patch Management

Role of Security Committees

Understanding Vulnerability Management and Patching Decisions

Decision-Making in Exemptions for Vulnerabilities

• Not all vulnerabilities are equal; some can only be exploited locally, making them less of a risk in secure environments like data centers.

• The committee may decide not to patch certain systems if the risk is deemed acceptable, but this decision involves multiple stakeholders rather than a single individual.

Importance of Patch Verification

• After identifying and rolling out a critical patch, organizations must verify that the vulnerability has been effectively addressed across all systems.

• Conducting a vulnerability scan post-patch deployment helps confirm proper installation and identifies any unpatched systems that may still be vulnerable.

Auditing and Reporting on Patch Deployment

• It's essential to audit systems to ensure patches are installed correctly; this may involve manual checks alongside automated reporting from patch management tools.

• Large organizations require robust reporting systems to track patch deployments, especially when managing hundreds or thousands of systems.

Monitoring Vulnerabilities Over Time

• Organizations should maintain reports on identified vulnerabilities, patched versus unpatched systems, and new threat notifications over time.