Vulnerability Management with Network Detection and Response (NDR)
Combine vulnerability scan data with NDR-detected threats to prioritize vulnerabilities that attackers are exploiting in your environment, not just in the wild.
While Vulnerability Management (VM) traditionally focuses on identifying and remediating software and configuration weaknesses, integrating NDR (Network Detection and Response) enhances this process by adding real-time threat visibility and risk-based context to vulnerabilitiesespecially those that are actively being exploited in the network.
What NDR adds to vulnerability management
| NDR Capability | How It Enhances Vulnerability Management |
|---|---|
| 1. Live Exploitation Detection | Detects real-time signs that a vulnerability is being exploited (e.g., C2 traffic, lateral movement). |
| 2. Contextual Prioritization | Helps prioritize vulnerabilities that are actively targeted or exploited in your environment. |
| 3. Visibility of Unmanaged Assets | Identifies devices not covered by traditional scanners (e.g., shadow IT, rogue hosts, IoT). |
| 4. Behavioral Correlation | Detects anomalies or suspicious behavior on assets with known vulnerabilities. |
| 5. Post-Scan Verification | Validates whether patched systems stop exhibiting risky behavior. |
Role of Behavioral Analytics in Incident Response
Behavioral analytics integrates into various stages of the Incident Response Lifecycle:
1. Preparation
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Define normal behavior profiles (based on logs, access patterns, usage).
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Deploy UEBA-enabled tools and integrate with SIEM/SOAR platforms.
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Establish thresholds for triggering behavioral alerts.
2. Detection & Analysis
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Behavioral models detect suspicious activity, such as:
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Logins from unusual geolocations
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Rapid privilege escalations
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Unusual file access or data exfiltration
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These anomalies are flagged and correlated for:
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Lateral movement
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Credential misuse
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Insider threats
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Example: A user logs in at midnight from a different country and downloads 3GB of sensitive data behavior not aligned with their baseline.
Key Use Cases of NDR
1. Risk-Based Vulnerability Prioritization
Combine vulnerability scan data with NDR-detected threats to prioritize vulnerabilities that attackers are exploiting in your environment, not just in the wild.
2. Identify Vulnerable and Exploited Assets
Use network detection and response (NDR) to detect signs of compromise (e.g., unusual lateral connections or privilege escalation) on assets with known high-risk CVEs.
3. Asset Discovery
NDR detects devices on the network that vulnerability scanners may have missed due to misconfigurations, network segmentation, or being off-scope.
4. Validate Patching and Mitigation
After patching, use NDR to monitor whether malicious behavior continues (e.g., persistence mechanisms).
How NDR Works in the vulnerability management lifecycle
It starts with Vulnerability Scan (VM) wherein it will correlate with NDR Alerts such as:
- C2 traffic
- Lateral movement
- Beaconing & exfiltration
Those alerts will be segregated for the next course of action - Prioritization and Remediate potential High-risk along with Exploited vulnerabilities. The data coming out of prioritization of high-risk vulnerabilities will be passed on for post-remediation monitoring.
Integrating NDR into Vulnerability Management
| Tool | Integration Use |
|---|---|
| 1. SIEM (Splunk, QRadar) | Correlate scan results with NDR alerts |
| 2. VM Platforms (Tenable, Qualys, Rapid7) | Feed asset data to NDR platform for enhanced visibility |
| 3. CMDB / Asset Inventory | Enrich asset context in NDR for accurate detection |
| 3. SOAR | Automate ticketing and response based on NDR + VM findings |
Example Scenario
You scan your environment and find that CVE-2023-23397 (Outlook vulnerability) exists on several endpoints.
NDR solutions detects unusuallateral movement and SMB traffic originating from one of those endpoints.
? Youprioritize that asset for immediate response as it's likely being exploited.
NDR + VM = Proactive, Not Just Reactive
Traditional vulnerability management often relies on periodic scans and CVSS scores alone. NDR platform enhances this by:
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Providing real-time evidence of exploitation
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Exposing stealthy attacks that traditional scanners miss
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Helping you focus remediation efforts where they matter most
