Inside the Clone: Understanding Email-Access Attacks

Attackers are increasingly targeting email accounts, harvesting internal threads and using them to craft cloned emails that appear legitimate. These emails often impersonate colleagues, managers, or trusted vendors and are designed to trick employees into performing unauthorized actions.

The danger lies in the attacker’s knowledge. By monitoring inbox activity, they can craft messages that are timely and highly contextual. For example, if a pending invoice exists, an attacker can inject themselves into the conversation with a seemingly routine follow-up, prompting employees to act without suspicion.

Such attacks often bypass traditional phishing filters and rely heavily on social engineering. Organizations may not even notice until a financial transaction fails or sensitive data is exposed.

Mitigation Strategies:

• Audit Email Access: Regularly review mailbox logins and device access.

• Rule Monitoring: Detect unauthorized forwarding rules or auto-replies.

• Incident Response Plans: Establish clear steps to follow if an account compromise is suspected.

• Behavioral Detection: Monitor for anomalies such as unusual times or locations of email access.

• Process Controls: Enforce dual approvals for payments and sensitive data requests.

A proactive approach that combines technical controls with human vigilance is essential. Early detection can prevent attackers from executing sophisticated cloned-email campaigns.

How CyberGrade Can Help
We specialize in helping organizations navigate the complexities of remote work security. Our vendor-agnostic approach allows us to assess your unique needs and recommend tailored solutions to mitigate cybersecurity risks effectively.