Understanding the Risks: Historical Cyberattacks Involving Non-Human Identities (NHIs)

In today’s digital world, Non-Human Identities (NHIs) — such as service accounts, machine credentials, and application IDs — play an essential role in IT systems. They automate tasks, facilitate communication between microservices, and streamline system integrations. While these functions are critical for efficiency, the widespread use of NHIs has introduced significant security challenges. Threat actors—both insiders and external attackers—have increasingly targeted NHIs to execute some of the most notable cyberattacks in history.

The Threat Landscape: Learning from Past Incidents

Cyberattacks exploiting NHIs often lead to catastrophic outcomes, including data breaches, financial losses, and operational disruptions. Let’s explore historical cases that highlight the real risks associated with NHIs and the lessons they offer.

Top Insider Attacks Targeting NHIs

1. Capital One Data Breach (2019)
   A former AWS employee exploited misconfigured AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) roles tied to a web application firewall (WAF). This misuse of machine credentials enabled unauthorized access to over 100 million customer records.
    
2. Tesla Insider Sabotage (2018)
   An unhappy employee tampered with Tesla’s Manufacturing Operating System. Using service account credentials, they caused production disruptions by inserting malicious code.
    
3. Anthem Data Breach (2015)
   Attackers misused database service account credentials to access nearly 80 million patient records. This breach demonstrates the risks of improperly secured internal identities.
    
4. UBS PaineWebber Logic Bomb (2002)
   A systems administrator used privileged service account credentials to plant a logic bomb, causing over $3 million in damages by deleting critical server files.
    
5. FDIC Insider Data Theft (2016)
   A departing employee downloaded sensitive data to personal storage devices. This was made possible through legitimate service account access.
    
6. Fannie Mae Logic Bomb (2008)
   A disgruntled engineer planted malicious code designed to wipe all company data. Thankfully, another employee discovered and neutralized the threat before it was executed.
    
7. Medina County IT Sabotage (2019)
   Following termination, an IT manager used administrative credentials to delete vital files and databases, severely disrupting operations.
    
8. Sage Employee Data Breach (2016)
   Insider access to internal service accounts allowed the theft of personal data from employees across 300 UK businesses.
    
9. Schneider Electric Insider Attack (2014)
   A former employee gained unauthorized access using stolen credentials, stealing sensitive trade secrets.
    
10. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Malware Incident (2018)
    An employee introduced malware into the network by visiting malicious websites. The malware exploited system service account credentials to spread internally.

Top Malware and Ransomware Attacks Exploiting NHIs

1. SolarWinds Supply Chain Attack (2020)
   Attackers inserted malicious code into SolarWinds’ Orion software updates. This compromise of digital certificates allowed unauthorized access to thousands of organizations worldwide.
    
2. Codecov Bash Uploader Attack (2021)
   The Bash Uploader script was modified by attackers to steal environment variables, including sensitive credentials from customers’ CI/CD environments.
    
3. NotPetya Ransomware (2017)
   NotPetya exploited stolen machine credentials to spread rapidly, causing extensive operational damage across global networks.
    
4. WannaCry Ransomware (2017)
   This ransomware leveraged a vulnerability in the SMB protocol, compromising machine accounts to encrypt data and paralyze systems.
    
5. Target Data Breach (2013)
   Stolen credentials from a third-party vendor enabled attackers to infiltrate Target’s point-of-sale systems, stealing millions of credit card details.
    
6. Equifax Data Breach (2017)
   Attackers exploited an unpatched software vulnerability, using compromised application service accounts to access databases. This breach exposed the personal information of 147 million individuals.
    
7. Maersk NotPetya Infection (2017)
   Maersk’s IT systems were crippled by NotPetya ransomware, which used compromised administrative credentials to propagate across its network.
    
8. SingHealth Data Breach (2018)
   Attackers escalated privileges using compromised system service accounts, accessing the medical records of individuals including Singapore’s prime minister.
    
9. Bad Rabbit Ransomware Attack (2017)
   Disguised as fake software updates, this malware harvested machine credentials to spread through networks via SMB shares.
    
10. Ukraine Power Grid Attack (2015)
    Attackers exploited machine identities within SCADA systems, taking control of power grid operations and causing significant outages.

Securing NHIs: A Call to Action

The above incidents reveal that Non-Human Identities are not just abstract risks—they are actively targeted and exploited. Organizations must adopt proactive measures to safeguard these critical assets. Key steps include:

• Implement Robust Access Controls: Limit access rights for NHIs to only what is essential.
   
• Monitor and Audit Continuously: Regularly track NHI activity and maintain audit logs to detect anomalies.
   
• Protect Credentials: Use secure storage solutions like vaults and enforce periodic rotation of keys and secrets.
   
• Educate Employees: Ensure staff understand the risks and best practices for handling NHI credentials.
   
• Leverage Advanced Security Tools: Deploy solutions designed to monitor and protect NHIs, including tools for anomaly detection and identity threat response.

Ignoring NHI security is no longer an option. By prioritizing it within risk management frameworks, organizations can significantly mitigate threats, prevent devastating breaches, and safeguard critical operations.

Article Resource: Viresh Garg