Work-from-home conditions have become increasingly prevalent since the pandemic. This shift in working arrangements has made remote desktop applications and VPNs essential tools for accessing enterprise resources within corporate networks.
Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) facilitates remote access to Windows machines. To access a machine remotely, a user must be connected to the same network as the target machine. The default port commonly used for RDP connection is 3389, although other ports can also be configured for RDP access.
Unfortunately, the increased use of RDP has also led to higher security risks. Even simple brute-force attacks can successfully compromise RDP-enabled machines.
If an RDP attack is successful, the hacker gains access to all the resources on the affected machine. They can lock the screen with a full-screen image, encrypt important files, and demand a ransom to restore access. This malware is known as ransomware. In 2023, RDP was the most common initial access method in about 65% of ransomware-related incidents, according to the Sophos Active Adversary Report for 1H 2024.
During an RDP attack, other malware can be installed and allowed to spread through the network from the hacked machine. Company data can be stolen or tampered with. The possibilities are infinite. Hackers utilizing RDP attacks get huge returns with little effort.
With the help of network scanners like Masscan, hackers can find the TCP and IP port ranges that are used in RDP servers in a matter of minutes. The hacker can then track one of them down and try to gain access to the machine using brute-force tools, which automatically try a massive number of username and password combinations within a short time interval. The quickest match can be made within two minutes, but on average, the right username-password match is found in a day or two.
ADSelfService Plus is an identity security solution that offers MFA, SSO, and advanced password management capabilities to help protect your organization from password attacks.
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