Two cybersecurity consultants performing a red team engagement leveraged a physical security lapse by volunteering to shovel snow, allowing them to plant a hidden device inside a company and eventually take control of its network.
- Red teamers used social engineering and physical access to infiltrate the building.
- A concealed Raspberry Pi device was connected inside the network to enable remote attacks.
- Weak password policies allowed the attackers to gain administrative access remotely.
What happened
During a 2023 security assessment, two professional red teamers took advantage of a propped open maintenance door during winter to enter a client’s office building. They posed as new IT employees missing badges and offered to help the maintenance crew shovel snow, which gained their trust and physical access to restricted areas.
Inside, they deployed a Raspberry Pi connected to an Ethernet port in a conference room that lacked proper network access control. Hidden under trash cans, the device stayed undetected for two weeks, allowing the team to remotely access the network and conduct further reconnaissance and password spraying attacks.
Why it matters
This incident highlights how physical security vulnerabilities can be exploited to compromise digital network defenses. Even with network access controls in place, improper enforcement and overlooked areas—such as conference rooms—can serve as gateways for attackers.
Moreover, the use of weak or common passwords like 'winter2023!' compounded the problem by enabling attackers to escalate privileges across the network, demonstrating the necessity for robust password policies alongside physical and network security measures.
What to watch next
Organizations should reassess their physical security protocols, especially around maintenance access points and common areas, to prevent unauthorized entry. Employee awareness and verification procedures for unexpected personnel can mitigate social engineering tactics.
On the network side, strictly enforcing network access control on all ports, ensuring endpoint device monitoring, and strengthening password policies are critical. Regular red team exercises and audits focusing on combined physical and cyber security risks are recommended to detect and respond to such layered threats effectively.