Privileged Accounts: 6 Risks managed by PAM

Within any organisation, there are several risks associated with privileged accounts: some are common and easy to address, while others are rare but complex to manage. The use of a Privileged Access Management (PAM) solution helps to manage these risks by minimising or even eliminating them.

Privileged accounts: dynamic risks

Risks related to privileged accounts can come from both intentional actions and simple mistakes or negligence. From the use of generic accounts to the transfer of malicious files, we have identified six key risks — a non-exhaustive list — that organisations face, ranging from common, easily mitigated threats to rare yet complex challenges.

• Generic accounts. The use of generic accounts presents a significant security risk, as it does not provide the ability to trace access to systems. In the event of a data breach or malicious activity, identifying the source becomes impossible, which encourages such actions.
• Shadow admin. An internal administrator or third party creates an unauthorised administrator account that is hidden from the system. While the administrator has an official account, they may — either maliciously or unintentionally — create a parallel admin account to expedite their tasks without going through proper authorisation channels. These hidden accounts are difficult to trace and control, creating a risk of data leakage, since the administrator can use one to access sensitive data without oversight. This unmonitored access could also facilitate the spread of ransomware.
• Former administrator. An administrator leaves the company but retains knowledge of the credentials used to access the administration network. Even after leaving, they may still have access to critical resources and sensitive data. If they act maliciously, they could steal sensitive information or cause system disruption.
• Connection with a compromised device. A third-party maintainer or an administrator connects to the company’s administration network through a workstation that has been compromised. The infected workstation can act as a gateway, spreading ransomware or similar malicious software throughout the administration network.
• Identity theft, or hijacking. An attacker gains access to a user’s session either physically or remotely. Alternatively, an attacker might steal the provider’s identity despite the presence of strong authentication mechanisms, allowing them to connect using legitimate credentials. Once logged in, the attacker could carry out malicious actions or steal confidential data.
• Transfer of infected files. An administrator, needing to update a server, uses their personal device to connect to the administration network. If they download an update file from the internet and transfer it to the administration network without proper validation, a corrupted file can introduce ransomware or other malicious software, spreading the infection throughout the system.

PAM: a solution to prevent cyber risks

PAM solutions offer various functionalities to reduce or even eliminate these risks.

• Automatic password injection. Injecting passwords into resources or applications automatically helps mitigate risks associated with generic accounts, as administrators no longer have direct knowledge of the passwords. This ensures that credentials are not shared with third parties, and since administrators access their own sessions, all actions are fully traceable.
• Account discovery. Regular scans identify shadow admin accounts. Once detected, these accounts can either be reintegrated into the official account list with traceability and control mechanisms, or deleted — ensuring better management and security of privileged accounts.
• Automatic password rotation. Rotating passwords regularly prevents former administrators from accessing the system with outdated credentials once the rotation is complete.
• A secure exchange gateway. CyberElements offers a secure exchange gateway. It ensures that transferred files are authorised, properly scanned for viruses, and checked against the user’s permissions before being validated for transfer.

CyberElements, as a PAM solution, drastically reduces the complexity of the operational response to these risks — and in particular to certain risks that are rarely handled by third-party PAM solutions.