Out-of-Band Attack

A cyberattack leveraging alternative communication channels to bypass security controls.

Understanding Out-of-Band Attacks

Unlike direct attacks that manipulate data within the main communication channel, OOB attacks leverage secondary, often overlooked channels. These attacks can involve separate network paths, email, SMS, or even physical hardware vulnerabilities.

Common Types of Out-of-Band Attacks

OOB Data Exfiltration: Attackers use a covert channel (e.g., DNS tunneling, HTTP requests, or radio signals) to extract sensitive data from compromised systems.
OOB Authentication Attacks: Exploiting weaknesses in multi-factor authentication (MFA) by intercepting or redirecting one-time passwords (OTP) sent via SMS or email.
OOB Command Execution: Attackers execute malicious commands by injecting scripts or manipulating application logic to communicate with an external system.
OOB SQL Injection: A variation of SQL injection where the attacker forces the database to send responses to an external server, avoiding detection by security tools.

Conclusion

Out-of-Band attacks exploit secondary communication channels to bypass traditional security mechanisms. Organizations must adopt proactive security measures, such as network monitoring, improved authentication methods, and secure coding practices, to mitigate these threats effectively.