Reevaluating Security Testing Approaches
Security teams have made strides in evaluating their defenses against potential threats. Whether it’s assessing the effectiveness of an EDR agent or determining the success of a phishing simulation, these evaluations often occur continuously in advanced organizations. However, these efforts frequently focus on isolated techniques, missing the broader context of interconnected threats.
Today’s attackers, especially those leveraging AI, do not rely on singular techniques. Instead, they craft sequences of actions, or attack chains, that exploit vulnerabilities at various stages. A phishing attempt leading to credential theft, followed by escalating privileges and lateral movement, can culminate in significant data breaches. It’s the gaps between these stages that often go untested, allowing attackers to exploit overlooked vulnerabilities.
Understanding the Gap in Security Postures
Many breach and attack simulation programs, such as those using the MITRE ATT&CK framework, often focus on individual techniques. While these provide some insights, they fail to address the real question: can an adversary seamlessly execute a series of techniques to breach an organization’s defenses?
The Filigran State of Threat Management report highlights this issue, noting that 93% of organizations experienced a significant cyberattack despite having validated their defenses. This underscores the complexity of cyber risk exposure and the need for more comprehensive testing methods.
Real-world incidents, like the breach of France’s tax authority in 2025, demonstrate how coordinated attacks can bypass isolated security measures. The sequence of actions, rather than any single step, led to the breach, despite each control potentially functioning correctly on its own.
Adopting Attack Chaining for Realistic Testing
Attack Chaining offers a solution by simulating multi-stage attack paths, replicating real-world adversary methods. This approach links individual techniques into a continuous sequence, adapting to findings in real-time. It provides the realism of a manual red-team exercise without the associated costs and delays.
With Attack Chaining, security teams can observe how an adversary might navigate their environment, identifying potential vulnerabilities in the process. The system captures real outputs, like harvested credentials, to determine subsequent actions, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of security postures.
These simulations offer transparency and traceability, allowing teams to pinpoint chokepoints where a single fix can thwart entire attack chains. This targeted approach contrasts with traditional methods that often result in long lists of issues to address.
The Role of XTM One in Autonomous Attack Testing
Attack Chaining capabilities can operate in two modes: operator-led or autonomous. In the latter, AI agents powered by XTM One can autonomously plan, execute, and adapt attack paths, reacting dynamically to new findings. This method allows for realistic, end-to-end simulations that keep pace with evolving threats.
This autonomous approach provides a constantly updated view of organizational vulnerabilities, ensuring that security measures remain relevant and effective. As environments change, Attack Chaining offers a repeatable, efficient way to assess and address potential threats.
The Imperative for Holistic Security Testing
Organizations often succeed in individual control tests but fail to evaluate the interconnected attack chains that adversaries exploit. As attackers increasingly leverage AI to accelerate their activities, the necessity for comprehensive, chain-focused testing becomes more critical.
To address this need, Filigran is hosting a live webinar on operationalizing attack chain testing, providing insights into implementing these strategies effectively. By embracing holistic testing, organizations can better protect against the complex threats they face.
