Lateral movement is the secret weapon of top-tier attackers and one of the most common attack tactics that attackers use once they're inside an organization. It’s stealthy, strategic, and designed to turn a small breach into a full-blown network-wide crisis. If you’ve heard the term but aren’t exactly sure how it fits into the world of cyberattacks, you’re not alone. But understanding what it is (and how to defend against it) can make or break your organization’s defenses.
Think of it this way: Lateral movement is what happens after a bad actor gains access to your network. It’s how they explore, dig deeper, and move closer to their ultimate goal, whether that’s sensitive data, control over your systems, or wreaking total havoc.
This guide will walk you through what lateral movement means, how it works, and most importantly, how to stop attackers in their tracks. If you care about keeping your business secure, grab a coffee; we’ve got work to do.
Lateral movement in cybersecurity refers to an attacker’s ability to move across a network after gaining initial access. It’s not about how they get in—that’s “initial access.” It’s about what they do once they’re inside. Attackers use lateral movement to gain deeper access, steal valuable data, escalate privileges, or even set the stage for a massive ransomware attack.
Key goals of lateral movement:
Access high-value targets: attackers aim for sensitive databases, domain controllers, backups, or intellectual property.
Establish persistence: they ensure they can maintain access, even if their initial breach is discovered.
Escalate privileges: attackers look to gain admin-level permissions that grant them full control over the network.
What sets lateral movement apart is how deliberate and stealthy it is. Attackers often mimic normal user behavior to avoid detection, making it one of the most dangerous phases of a cyberattack.
Lateral movement doesn’t happen all at once. It’s a calculated process that attackers execute step by step. Here’s how it typically unfolds:
The attacker starts by infiltrating one system through methods like phishing, malware, or exploiting vulnerabilities. They now have a “base” of operations within your network.
Next, they map out the network. Using tools like Netstat or PowerShell, attackers explore your environment to locate critical systems, users, and resources. Think of this phase as their “scoping out the joint.”
Before moving deeper, attackers use tools and attacks involving credentials for various means. They use tools like Mimikatz to dump cached passwords or Pass-the-Hash attacks to steal password hashes, allowing them to bypass normal system access controls.
Equipped with credentials and a strong understanding of the network, threat actors begin hopping from system to system. This could involve leveraging protocols such as Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) or Server Message Block (SMB) to bypass access controls.
After spreading through the network, they hit the jackpot. Whether it’s exfiltrating critical data, deploying ransomware, or taking over a domain controller, this is where the damage becomes catastrophic.
Still not sold on the danger lateral movement poses? Here are a few infamous cases where it was a key player:
NotPetya: This malware spread laterally using SMB vulnerabilities, crippling entire companies in minutes.
SolarWinds: Attackers gained initial access via a backdoored software update, then used malware for lateral movement and deploying additional payloads.
LockBit: functions as a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) model where affiliates are recruited to conduct ransomware attacks using LockBit ransomware tools and infrastructure
A single compromised system can escalate to an organization-wide breach faster than you think.
Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) plan their movements step by step, making proactive monitoring essential.
Here’s the scary part: lateral movement is hard to detect. Once attackers slip past your perimeter defenses, they blend into “normal” network activity. Combine this with human intervention and rapidly evolving techniques, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.
Key risks include:
Extended dwell times: Attackers can remain undetected for weeks or months.
Bypassing perimeter security: Firewalls and endpoint protection won’t save you if attackers are mimicking legitimate users.
Mass disruption: Once they reach critical systems, the fallout can be exponential.
That’s why detecting lateral movement is a race against the clock.
Stopping lateral movement starts with understanding how attackers operate. Here’s a playbook for building your defenses:
Isolate systems so that attackers can’t move freely. Adopting a zero trust architecture ensures every user and device is continually authenticated based on behavior.
EDR solutions like Huntress Managed EDR can spot suspicious behavior and proactively isolate compromised systems.
Install tools for monitoring lateral (east-west) traffic within your network to catch anomalies early.
ITDR solutions like Huntress ITDR can deliver proactive protection against OAuth-based threats and more.
Proactively hunt for signs of lateral movement, such as unexpected account usage or unusual command-line activity.
Huntress and Microsoft Defender make a powerhouse team when it comes to detecting and stopping lateral movement in cybersecurity. Microsoft Defender provides robust endpoint protection, identifying and blocking common threats before they can spread. Meanwhile, Huntress takes it a step further, hunting down the subtle, persistent threats that often fly under the radar, like rogue admin tools and hidden attack footholds. Together, they create a robust defense system, with Defender handling broad endpoint coverage and Huntress focusing on uncovering attacker tactics that enable lateral movement.
This combination ensures comprehensive network security by pairing automated threat response with human-led analysis for deeper scrutiny. Defender monitors endpoint behavior and stops the obvious threats, while Huntress digs into potential persistence mechanisms and stealthy attack paths. Whether you’re a small business or a larger organization, this duo provides the tools you need to lock down your network and prevent attackers from moving freely once inside.
Harden your environment with these best practices:
Implement least privilege access to ensure users only have permissions they truly need.
Disable unnecessary services/protocols that attackers commonly exploit, like SMBv1.
Maintain credential hygiene by regularly rotating passwords and using multi-factor authentication (MFA).
Audit systems frequently to patch vulnerabilities and identify misconfigurations.
Simulate attacks via red teaming exercises to test your defenses against lateral movement.
Lateral movement isn’t just a technical term; it’s a wake-up call for businesses everywhere. Understanding how attackers move within networks is critical for stopping breaches before they escalate. The stronger your detection and prevention measures, the safer your organization will be.
At Huntress, we don't believe in “chasing” every technique. We build features that drive real value for our customers and give our SOC team the appropriate visibility to identify maliciousness, while keeping the collection noise low. Test drive Huntress’ Managed EDR today with a free trial or demo to learn more about our approach in defense.
