Case Study

Cyber Attack Report:

Acme Corporation

© Copyright IBM Corp. 2023

 On April, 15, 2024, Acme Corporation experienced a
cyber attack that resulted in unauthorized access to
customer data and disruption of critical services. This
report details the attack timeline, potential attack
vector, the extent of the breach and ongoing
response efforts
Attack Category: Based on initial investigations, the attack is suspected to
Social Engineering Attack/Miliou s have originated through phishing email campaign and
Code Attack
exploitation of a software vulnerability. Further forensic
analysis is ongoing to confirm the exact method of
intrusion.

Sources for research:

sources, Wikipedia,
X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2023
https://www.affinitytechpartners.com/3n1blog/2023/10/11/how-acme-co-survived-
their-first-cyber-attack-part-iii
 Provide a company description and breach summary.
Acme Corporation recently experienced a cyber attack.
The exact nature of the attack is still under investigation,
but it may have involved phishing emails or exploiting
software vulnerabilities. The attack resulted in
unauthorized access to data, disruption of services and
much more.
Acme's IT security team is working to contain the threat,
Company investigate the source, and recover affected systems.
They are also considering notifying customers if their data
Description and was compromised.
The focus now is on preventing similar attacks in the
Breach Summary future. This likely involves improving employee security
awareness, patching software vulnerabilities, and
implementing stronger access controls
 Event 1
1 Initial Signs of suspicious activity detected by security software
, unusual login attempts, unauthorized access attempts .

Event 2
2 Security team investigates and confirms a security incident

Event 3
3 Containment procedures initiated (e.g., isolating infected
systems, shutting down affected services).
Timeline
Event 4
4 Incident response team fully activated and begins investigation.

Event 5
5 Law enforcement and relevant authorities notified

Event 6
6 Public announcement regarding the incident considered
Vulnerabilities
Based on this report, we can identify several potential vulnerabilities that might have been exploited in the cyber
attack on Acme Corporation. The report also highlights the importance of investigating the exact method of
intrusion. This will help Acme identify the specific vulnerabilities that were exploited and take steps to address
them

Vulnerability 1 Vulnerability 2 Vulnerability 3 Vulnerability 4

Phishing Email Campaign:
The report mentions a
potential phishing email
campaign as an attack
vector. This vulnerability
relies on human
error. Employees tricked
into clicking malicious links
or opening attachments in
phishing emails could
unknowingly download
malware or grant access to
hackers.
Software Vulnerability: Unauthorized Access:
Another possibility is the The report mentions
exploitation of a software unauthorized access
vulnerability. Outdated attempts. This could
software or unpatched indicate weak password
systems with known policies, lack of multi-
security holes can provide factor authentication, or
easy access for attackers. stolen credentials being
used to gain access to
systems.
Misconfiguration:
Improper configuration of
systems or network
devices can create security
gaps that attackers can
exploit.
The report also highlights
the importance of
investigating the exact
method of intrusion. This
will help Acme identify the
specific vulnerabilities that
were exploited and take
steps to address them.
 Costs
The cost of a cyber attack can vary significantly
depending on several factors:
1. Type of attack: Ransomware attacks often have
high financial costs due to ransom demands and
data recovery efforts. Data breaches can involve
regulatory fines, legal fees, and reputational
damage. Disruption of critical services can lead to
Costs and lost revenue and productivity.
Prevention
2.Scale of the attack: The number of users
affected, the amount of data compromised, and
the duration of the disruption all contribute to the
overall cost.
3.Organization size and preparedness: Larger
organizations with more complex systems may
incur higher costs. Businesses with strong incident
response plans tend to recover faster and
minimize expenses.
Prevention
There's no foolproof way to prevent cyber attacks
entirely, but organizations can significantly reduce the
risk by implementing strong security measures:
1. Employee Training: Regularly educating employees
on cybersecurity best practices, including phishing
awareness and password hygiene, is crucial.
2. Software Updates: Maintaining all software and
systems up-to-date with the latest security patches is
essential.
3. Strong Passwords & Multi-Factor Authentication
(MFA): Enforcing complex passwords and requiring MFA
adds an extra layer of security beyond passwords.
4. Network Security: Implementing firewalls, intrusion
detection systems, and other network security tools can
help identify and block malicious activity.
5. Data Backups: Having regular backups of critical data
allows for quicker recovery in case of an attack.
6. Incident Response Plan: Establishing a plan for
responding to cyber attacks helps minimize damage and
expedite recovery.