Introduction
Lateral movement is a crucial phase in a cyberattack. After gaining initial access, attackers rarely stop there. Instead, they move sideways across the network — accessing additional systems, escalating privileges, and looking for valuable data or critical infrastructure to compromise.
Understanding the techniques used for lateral movement, and knowing how to detect them, is essential for containing threats before they cause major damage.
What Is Lateral Movement?
Lateral movement refers to the techniques used by attackers to navigate within a network after initial compromise. The goal is to gain access to additional systems, harvest credentials, and ultimately reach sensitive assets such as domain controllers, databases, or cloud resources.
Common Lateral Movement Techniques
1. Pass-the-Hash (PtH)
Attackers use stolen NTLM password hashes to authenticate without needing the plaintext password.
- Common in Windows environments
- Leverages tools like Mimikatz
Detection Tip:
Look for logon attempts from a single machine to multiple endpoints using the same NTLM hash.
2. Pass-the-Ticket (PtT)
Instead of hashes, attackers use stolen Kerberos tickets (TGTs or service tickets) to authenticate.
- Allows access to services without a password
- Requires initial access to LSASS or ticket storage
Detection Tip:
Monitor for anomalous Kerberos ticket usage, especially from unexpected devices.
3. Remote Service Execution (e.g., PsExec, WMI, WinRM)
Attackers run commands or payloads on remote machines.
- PsExec (Sysinternals tool) is often used
- WMI and WinRM provide stealthier, fileless options
Detection Tip:
Detect remote service creation, especially using psexec, wmiprvse.exe, or winrm.
4. RDP Abuse
Attackers use Remote Desktop Protocol to connect to other machines interactively.
- Allows GUI access to systems
- Often combined with stolen credentials
Detection Tip:
Monitor RDP logons from unusual IPs or between systems that don’t normally communicate.
5. Token Impersonation
Attackers steal access tokens of high-privilege users to perform actions as them.
- Often used by malware post-exploitation
- Can be combined with
SeImpersonatePrivilege
Detection Tip:
Log and alert on token usage anomalies and impersonation attempts.
6. SMB/Shared Drive Access
Malware and attackers use file shares to drop and execute payloads on remote systems.
- Common for spreading ransomware
- May use scripts or batch files
Detection Tip:
Track file writes and executions from shared folders and user profiles.
7. SSH Hopping (Linux Environments)
Attackers pivot through multiple Linux servers using stolen SSH keys or passwords.
Detection Tip:
Monitor .ssh/authorized_keys changes, unusual SSH logins, and sudden increases in SSH activity.
How to Detect Lateral Movement
1. Use EDR/XDR Solutions
These tools track process creation, network connections, and lateral movement attempts across endpoints.
2. Enable and Monitor Windows Event Logs
Especially:
- 4624 (logon events)
- 4672 (privileged logon)
- 7045 (service creation)
- 4769 (Kerberos ticket request)
3. Analyze Network Traffic
- Watch for internal scanning (e.g., port sweeps)
- Look for unusual SMB, RDP, or RPC traffic
4. Baseline Normal Behavior
Lateral movement often looks “normal” — until it’s not. Behavioral baselining helps spot deviations.
5. Use Honeypots and Deception
Deploy fake credentials or machines to trap attackers in the act of moving laterally.
Conclusion
Lateral movement is subtle but deadly. It turns a single compromised endpoint into a full-blown breach. The key to stopping it lies in early detection, strong internal visibility, and smart network segmentation.
Want to test your network’s resistance to lateral movement? Let’s talk — our red team can simulate real-world techniques and show you exactly where you’re vulnerable.