Lateral movement is the process that attackers use to move deeper within an infected network to control additional systems or gain access to sensitive data and vulnerabilities.
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Instead of immediately targeting sensitive data or critical systems, attackers take their time to explore the network, escalate privileges, identify high-value targets, and establish persistence within a network. This calculated approach is common in advanced persistent threats (APTs) and other sophisticated cyberattacks.
Even if the breach is discovered, the attacker can maintain their presence to move laterally within the network to avoid detection. If the attackers manage to establish persistence within the network and avoid detection, they can inflict serious damage to an organization through ransomware attacks, data exfiltration, or espionage.
The stages of lateral movement
Lateral movement attacks are not a single stage process, they are carefully executed in a multi-stage process to infiltrate and exploit networks. The following outlines the typical stages of lateral movement:
Reconnaissance
In the reconnaissance stage, attacker's will begin by mapping the network’s architecture, identifying connected devices, and searching for valuable targets. Attackers will explore and map out the network, including the location of sensitive data, credentials, and security configurations. This is a crucial stage for the attacker, as it helps them to understand the relationships between systems and plan their next steps while avoiding detection from security threats.
Credential harvesting
Once reconnaissance is complete, attackers will often focus on harvesting credentials like usernames, passwords, or password hashes from compromised systems. Credential dumping tools like Mimikatz or brute force attacks against weak passwords are common methods used to obtain access to accounts with higher privileges. These stolen credentials allow attackers to impersonate legitimate users, enabling them to move laterally through the network without raising suspicion.
Privilege escalation
Privilege escalation involves exploiting software vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, or poor access controls to obtain higher-level permissions. Attackers might exploit flaws in an application to gain administrative privileges to obtain unrestricted access to critical systems. Privilege escalation is a pivotal stage in a lateral movement attack because it significantly increases the attacker’s ability to move deeper into the network.
Lateral movement
Once attackers have sufficient credentials and privileges, they can proceed to lateral movement. This involves navigating from one system to another within the network, accessing resources, and preparing for the final stages of their attack and also looking out for countermeasures that a security team can use that could stop the attack. Attackers can use legitimate tools like Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), PowerShell, or Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) to blend in with normal operations and avoid detection. Attackers may also install backdoors or establish persistence mechanisms to maintain access to the network even if their initial entry point is discovered and closed.
Target access and execution
After moving laterally, the attackers reach their target systems, which may house sensitive data, intellectual property, or critical infrastructure. Attacks could also execute malicious software, like ransomware to encrypt files, exfiltrate sensitive data, or disable systems to cause operational disruption. This stage is often the culmination of the lateral movement process. The longer attackers can maintain access to the network without detection, the more extensive the damage they can inflict.
What types of attacks use lateral movement?
Ransomware attacks
Lateral movement is a key component of ransomware campaigns. Attackers move across systems to spread malware, maximizing its impact before encrypting files and demanding payment. This strategy increases the likelihood of ransom payments, as entire organizations may become paralyzed.
Data exfiltration
Attackers often rely on lateral movement to locate and extract sensitive information. By infiltrating different parts of the network, they can identify valuable data such as intellectual property, financial records, or personally identifiable information (PII). Successful data exfiltration can result in severe reputational and financial damage for organizations.
Espionage and advanced persistent threats (APTs)
State-sponsored actors and sophisticated hacking groups use lateral movement to infiltrate high-value systems over long periods. These attackers aim to maintain a persistent presence within the network, gathering intelligence and compromising critical infrastructure without detection.
Botnet Infection
In botnet campaigns, lateral movement enables attackers to compromise additional devices within a network. By infecting multiple endpoints, attackers can expand their botnet and increase the scale of their attacks. This could include distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks or large-scale spam campaigns.
How to detect lateral movement
Monitor authentication logs
Authentication logs are a vital source of information for detecting lateral movement. Signs such as repeated failed logins, successful logins from unusual locations, or unexpected access during odd hours can indicate malicious activity. Regularly reviewing these logs helps identify unauthorized access attempts.
Employ EDR and XDR solutions
Endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools monitor individual devices for suspicious activity, such as unauthorized administrative commands. However, EDR alone may not fully detect lateral movement, especially when attackers use evasion tactics or disable protection. Extended detection and response (XDR) addresses this by integrating data across endpoints, network, server, and cloud environments. By correlating activities across these layers, XDR enhances visibility and helps detect threats that might bypass EDR, making it a key solution for identifying lateral movement.
Analyze network traffic
Network traffic analysis (NTA) tools help identify irregular data flows within the network. For example, unexpected file transfers between unrelated systems or excessive data uploads to external destinations are strong indicators of lateral movement.
Establish baselines for behavior
By creating baselines for normal activity, organizations can more easily identify anomalies. For instance, a sudden spike in PowerShell usage on a system that rarely uses it could indicate an attacker's presence. Baseline monitoring requires consistent logging and analysis to remain effective.
How to prevent lateral movement
Enforce network segmentation
Dividing networks into isolated segments limits attackers’ ability to move freely between systems. For example, separating critical infrastructure from general-purpose devices ensures that even if an attacker compromises one segment, their impact is contained.
Adopt zero-trust architecture
Zero-trust principles require strict verification for every request, regardless of whether it originates inside or outside the network. This approach minimizes reliance on perimeter defenses and enforces granular access controls.
Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA)
MFA adds an extra layer of security to user authentication, making it harder for attackers to misuse stolen credentials. By requiring users to verify their identity through multiple factors, organizations reduce the effectiveness of credential theft.
Regularly update and patch systems
Unpatched vulnerabilities provide easy entry points for attackers. Maintaining a consistent patching schedule ensures that systems are protected against known exploits, reducing the risk of lateral movement.
Limit privileges
Applying the principle of least privilege restricts user access to only what is necessary for their roles. This limits attackers' ability to escalate privileges or access sensitive data if they compromise an account.
Conduct employee training
Educating employees about phishing attempts and social engineering tactics helps reduce the risk of initial compromise. Regular training sessions ensure that staff are aware of emerging threats and understand best practices for maintaining security.
Preventing unauthorized access with strong passwords
Strong, unique passwords are crucial in preventing unauthorized access within a network. Weak or reused passwords are common targets for attackers to escalate privileges or move across systems. Enforcing complex password policies, implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA), and regularly rotating credentials can reduce this risk. Encouraging the use of password managers helps ensure passwords are secure and unique. Additionally, applying the principle of least privilege ensures users only have access to the resources they need, further limiting unauthorized access.
What security solutions can help with lateral movement attacks?
Security teams need more than just visibility. They need clarity, prioritization, and fast, coordinated action to protect their organization from lateral movement attacks. Trend Vision One™ Security Operations (SecOps) brings together our award-winning XDR, agentic SIEM, and agentic security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) to help teams stay focused on what matters most.
Joe Lee
Vice President of Product Management
Joe Lee is Vice President of Product Management at Trend Micro, where he leads global strategy and product development for enterprise email and network security solutions.