Cybersecurity professionals discuss MITRE nation-state cyberattack

MITRE Corporation recently announced that it fell victim to a cyberattack carried out by a nation-state. This cyberattack exploited two zero-day vulnerabilities and compromised a network known as Networked Experimentation, Research, and Virtualization Environment (NERVE), used for unclassified research and prototyping.

Insights from Security Leaders

Ken Dunham, Cyber Threat Director at Qualys Threat Research Unit:

“The urgency to patch vulnerabilities and minimize risks is heightened in a world where adversaries are constantly waiting for an opportunity to strike. In 2024, organizations must practice diligence throughout every phase of the threat and vulnerability management (TVM) lifecycle, swiftly prioritizing patching and other remediation efforts in response to escalating threats. The significance of robust cyber threat intelligence (CTI) programs has never been more vital in proactively reducing risk, promptly detecting and eliminating threats in the fight against cyber threats. Excelling in security operations (SecOps) involves swiftly identifying and eliminating threats internally to minimize the impact of an incident and reducing the damage caused by an attack.”

Darren Guccione, CEO and Co-Founder at Keeper Security:

“The repercussions of this cyberattack should not be underestimated, especially considering the foreign ties of the attackers and their exploitation of two critical zero-day vulnerabilities to compromise MITRE’s NERVE network. This breach has the potential to expose sensitive research data and intellectual property.

“In the modern era, it is evident that cyber and traditional warfare tactics are merging, with threat actors using cyberattacks to support physical attacks. Nation-state actors often have strategic motives behind their cyber operations and targeting esteemed research institutions like MITRE could be part of a larger agenda. The increasing threat of cyberattacks underscores the need for sustained cybersecurity focus and investment in both public and private sectors.

“The attackers were able to infiltrate an administrator account and traverse the network horizontally. Organizations should implement a zero-trust architecture with least-privilege access to ensure employees only have access to necessary resources. Privileged access management (PAM) platforms can help secure privileged credentials and enforce least-privilege access, limiting the impact of cybercriminals gaining network access. Implementing security event monitoring and a zero-trust framework can empower organizations to identify and effectively respond to attacks, minimizing potential damage.”

Callie Guenther, Senior Manager, Cyber Threat Research at Critical Start:

“The utilization of two zero-day vulnerabilities in Ivanti Connect Secure appliances indicates a high level of sophistication attributed to nation-state actors. These vulnerabilities allowed the attackers to bypass authentication and execute malicious commands, posing severe threats with high CVSS scores (8.2 and 9.1, respectively). This demonstrates a deliberate and well-planned effort to target critical infrastructure, likely driven by intelligence or disruption objectives.

“While NERVE is labeled as an unclassified network providing storage, computing, and networking resources, its involvement in research and prototyping suggests it could contain valuable data related to experimental technologies. Despite being unclassified, the information held within could be of interest to adversaries seeking insights into emerging technologies or security defenses. The breach, though contained within NERVE without affecting MITRE’s primary enterprise network or affiliated systems, emphasizes the ongoing risks faced by organizations engaged in national security and advanced research. MITRE’s response, encompassing containment, recovery, and forensic analysis, will be crucial in mitigating immediate risks and fortifying future defenses. The security community will undoubtedly seek to learn from MITRE’s experience to enhance their defensive strategies in response to evolving threat actors.”