DEF CON , Events , Governance & Risk Management

Fixing Unpatched Vulnerabilities Without Traditional Patches

Threat actors continue to exploit known vulnerabilities such as Log4j in large enterprises, often with devastating consequences, said Cato Networks Chief Security Strategist Etay Maor.

See Also: How Enterprise Browsers Enhance Security and Efficiency

Many organizations struggle to patch intricate, complex systems or to identify vulnerabilities in third-party components amid unpredictable risks, and Maor urged companies to adopt virtual patching and cloud-based systems. Virtual patching helps mitigate risks from vulnerabilities without directly applying patches - focusing on blocking exploitation attempts rather than resolving the underlying flaw, he said (see: Why Are Security Fears About ChatGPT So Overblown?).

"You don't actually patch the vulnerability, but you're protecting your systems against the exploitation of that vulnerability," Maor said. "The systems might be vulnerable, but the attack will never reach them because the virtual patching prevents the actual exploitation, the actual attack."

In this video interview with Information Security Media Group at DEF CON 2024, Maor also discusses:

• The persistent challenge of patching known vulnerabilities such as Log4j;
• The effectiveness of virtual patching in mitigating exploitation risks;
• How enterprises can manage risks from AI applications and IntelBroker.

Prior to joining Cato Networks in 2021, Maor was the chief security officer for IntSights, where he led strategic cybersecurity research and security services. Maor has also held senior security positions at IBM, where he created and led breach response training and security research, and RSA Security's Cyber Threats Research Labs, where he managed malware research and intelligence teams.