Phishing attacks are deceptive attempts by malicious actors to trick individuals into divulging sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, or other personal details.
These attacks often involve impersonating trustworthy entities, such as websites, to gain the trust of victims. Websites play a crucial role in phishing attacks, serving as the platform where attackers host fake or fraudulent pages designed to mimic legitimate sites.
How Websites are used for Phishing Attacks
Bad actors often use benign websites as mediums for phishing attacks by exploiting vulnerabilities or injecting malicious content. Here are some common techniques employed by attackers:
| Type | Method | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Compromised Websites | Attackers may compromise legitimate websites by exploiting vulnerabilities in their software, content management systems (CMS), or plugins. | Once a site is compromised, attackers can inject phishing pages or scripts, turning the legitimate website into a host for phishing activities. |
| Malicious Advertisements (Malvertising) | Attackers may place malicious advertisements on legitimate websites, taking advantage of ad networks’ trust in these sites. | When users click on these ads, they can be redirected to phishing pages or sites designed to deliver malware. |
| Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) | If a website has an XSS vulnerability, attackers can inject malicious scripts that execute in users’ browsers. | These scripts can redirect users to phishing pages, steal session cookies, or manipulate the content displayed on the compromised site. |
| Typosquatting or Domain Spoofing | Attackers register domains that closely resemble legitimate websites through typos or variations. | Users mistyping URLs or clicking on deceptive links may end up on these fake sites, where phishing attacks are conducted. |
| Watering Hole Attacks | Attackers identify websites frequently visited by their target audience and compromise those sites. | By compromising sites that the target audience trusts, attackers can maximize the success of phishing attacks. |
| SEO Poisoning | Attackers may manipulate search engine results by injecting malicious content or links into benign websites. | Users searching for specific terms may be directed to compromised sites hosting phishing pages. |
| Credential Harvesting through Forms | Attackers may inject malicious forms into legitimate websites that prompt users to enter sensitive information. | Users, believing they are interacting with a trustworthy site, may inadvertently provide their credentials, which are then sent to the attackers. |
| Malicious Extensions/Add-ons | Attackers create malicious browser extensions or add-ons that, when installed, modify the behavior of browsers. | These extensions may inject phishing content into web pages, leading users to fraudulent sites. |
If you suspect your website is being used for Phishing attacks contact our Incident Response team at support@noc.org for more information on our malware removal services.