Trustwave SpiderLabs Uncovers Critical Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities Exposing Manufacturers to Costly Attacks

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Trustwave, a leading cybersecurity and managed security services provider, today unveiled comprehensive research highlighting the distinct cybersecurity threats confronting manufacturers. The report, “2023 Manufacturing Threat Landscape: Trustwave Threat Intelligence Briefing and Mitigation Strategies,” explores industry-specific threats and risks, equipping manufacturers with practical insights and actionable mitigation strategies to fortify their defenses.

In its new research, Trustwave SpiderLabs has documented the attack flow utilized by threat groups, exposing their tactics, techniques, and procedures. From email-borne malware to the exploitation of SMB and DCOM protocols for lateral movement, these persistent threats pose significant risks to the manufacturing sector.

In an era defined by rapid technological advancement and interconnected systems, the manufacturing industry is embracing digital transformation to fuel unprecedented efficiency and productivity. However, this evolution is accompanied by profound and growing cybersecurity challenges. Cyberattacks can cripple production lines, resulting in staggering financial losses that can reach thousands of dollars per minute. These disruptions directly contradict the industry's primary objective of maximizing profitability.

“The digital transformation sweeping through the manufacturing industry has led to a convergence of OT and IT business environments, effectively expanding the potential attack surface for cyber threat actors and ransomware,” said Trustwave CISO Kory Daniels. “Our latest threat briefing is a valuable resource for cyber defenders building comprehensive security strategies that strengthen resilience, continuously assess risks of critical infrastructure, and empower the continuity of essential operations.”

The Trustwave SpiderLabs report analyzes threat groups and their methods throughout the attack cycle, from initial foothold through to exfiltration. A few key findings from the report include:

• The threat group LockBit accounted for 36% of ransomware incidents targeting the manufacturing sector.
• 45% of all reported incidents in manufacturing can be attributed to Credential Access.
• 72% of malicious email attachment types sent to manufacturers are HTML attachments.

To access the full Trustwave SpiderLabs threat report, "2023 Manufacturing Threat Landscape: Trustwave Threat Intelligence Briefing and Mitigation Strategies," please click here.

About Trustwave

Trustwave is a globally recognized cybersecurity leader that reduces cyber risk and fortifies organizations against disruptive and damaging cyber threats.

Trustwave’s comprehensive offensive and defensive cybersecurity portfolio detects what others cannot, responds with greater speed and effectiveness, optimizes its client’s cyber investment, and improves security resilience. Trusted by thousands of organizations worldwide, Trustwave leverages its world-class team of security consultants, threat hunters, and researchers, and its market-leading security operations platform to decrease the likelihood of attacks and minimize potential impact.

Trustwave is an analyst-recognized leader in managed detection and response (MDR), managed security services (MSS), cyber advisory, penetration testing, database security, and email security. The elite Trustwave SpiderLabs team provides industry-defining threat research, intelligence, and threat hunting, all of which are infused into Trustwave services and products to fortify cyber resilience in the age of inevitable cyber-attacks.

For more information about Trustwave, please visit: https://www.trustwave.com/en-us/.