In the context of cyber attacks, pivoting is a technique attackers use to move laterally within a compromised network — expanding their access from one system to others that were previously unreachable. It’s a critical step in multi-stage attacks, especially those targeting large organizations or sensitive infrastructure.
🔄 What Is Pivoting in Cybersecurity?
Pivoting refers to using a compromised system (called a foothold or plant) as a launchpad to access other systems within the same network. Once inside, attackers can explore internal resources, escalate privileges, and exfiltrate data — all while appearing as legitimate internal traffic.
🧪 How Pivoting Works in a Cyber Attack
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Initial Access
The attacker breaches one machine — often via phishing, malware, or exploiting a vulnerability. -
Establish Foothold
They install tools or backdoors to maintain access and begin reconnaissance. -
Network Discovery
The attacker scans the internal network to identify other machines, services, and credentials. -
Lateral Movement
Using the compromised machine, they “pivot” to other systems — often more sensitive ones like domain controllers or file servers. -
Privilege Escalation & Data Theft
They escalate privileges, harvest credentials, and extract valuable data.
🧰 Common Pivoting Techniques
| Technique | Description |
|---|---|
| Proxy Pivoting | Routes traffic through the compromised host using proxy tools |
| VPN Pivoting | Creates a full tunnel through the compromised host, mimicking internal access |
| Port Forwarding | Uses SSH or other tools to forward ports from internal systems |
| Credential Dumping | Extracts passwords to access other systems |
🕵️♂️ Real-World Example
In the Scattered Spider attacks on U.S. critical infrastructure, attackers used social engineering to gain access to Active Directory accounts. From there, they pivoted into virtual environments like VMware ESXi, bypassing endpoint detection tools and exfiltrating sensitive data.
🛡️ How to Defend Against Pivoting
| Defense Strategy | Description |
|---|---|
| Network Segmentation | Isolate sensitive systems to limit lateral movement |
| Least Privilege Access | Restrict user permissions to only what’s necessary |
| Behavioral Monitoring | Detect unusual internal traffic patterns |
| Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) | Monitor for post-compromise activity like credential dumping |
