By Zac Amos
Working from home is the new normal and many businesses are leveraging Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) to facilitate remote access and streamline collaboration among teams. If you have to connect to a remote computer or external server to do your work, you want to know that the process doesn't compromise your computer’s safety.
Learn about the state of RDP security, the potential risks involved, and handy tips for using it more securely.
What is Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)?
Put simply, RDP technology lets you connect to a computer in a different location and control it as if it were right in front of you.
Perhaps you’re out of town but need to quickly access important documents on your work computer or collaborate with a colleague. With RDP, you can do just that. You can access your files and applications from anywhere, at any time.
RDP also facilitates remote troubleshooting and administration.
How does RDP work?
RDP works as a bridge across a network between two systems—the client computer, which is the machine you’re using, and the host computer, which is the device you want to access remotely.
With the connection established, the RDP protocol processes commands from your computer and transmits them to the host computer. The host’s Remote Desktop Services (RDS) processes the commands and executes the request to send the related data back to the client, which you can see on your display.
RDP allows for more adaptable working conditions so users can work wherever they are as long as they have an internet connection. This accessibility opens up a world of new possibilities for the future of work, especially with 65% of employed workers saying they would be willing to transition to full-time remote work.
Is RDP secure?
RDP sessions operate over an encrypted channel and are secured with the Remote Desktop Protocol Security Layer (RDP SSL). In other words, no one can view your session by listening on the network.
However, this remote desktop protocol security measure is not infallible. There have been notable security vulnerabilities over the years. For example, the hackers exploited the CVE-2022-21893 vulnerability in January 2022 to convince users to connect to a malicious RDP server.
The consequences of transmitting data over an unsecured RDP network can be dire. If cybercriminals successfully exploit a vulnerability, they could gain complete access to computers and servers.
Common vectors in RDP exploits include ransomware, data theft, and malware attacks. Recent research indicates that 95% of ransomware attacks in the first half of 2023 involved RDP exploits.
Most prominent RDP security risk factors
The importance of being proactive with your RDP security has never been greater. It begins with understanding what risk factors to plan for as part of your overall security measures.
Ubiquitous program
Being a Microsoft product, RDP is a built-in server service, meaning every Windows machine, including those used by cybercriminals, can be a client computer.
Weak sign-in credentials
Most people protect their computers with a username and password combo. However, passwords are not always secure. Plus, most people use the same password for multiple accounts, so their desktop password may be the same for their RDP remote logins.
The problem with weak sign-in credentials is that they leave your system vulnerable to brute-force attacks. A hacker could use trial and error to guess your logins. If successful, they can access the host server and execute ransomware attacks.
Open port access
In networking, the port is the designated location for certain connections. The default port setting for remote desktop connections is port 3398. Threat actors know this and target the port often when carrying out RDP cyberattacks.
Tapping into port 3398 connections is a common entry point for man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks. An MITM attack is when a threat actor hijacks RDP connections, allowing them to intercept data communicated from host to client and modify it for malicious purposes.
Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) amplifier
DDoS attacks aim to crash a target website or server by flooding it with traffic. A popular technique for executing DDoS attacks is amplification, which leverages open DNS resolvers to amplify the traffic sent to the target server.
RDP servers rank among the top DDoS amplifiers with an 85.9 amplification factor. This factor represents the ratio of the traffic volume sent to the amount initially requested at the commencement of the DDoS attack. A higher amplification factor means a higher traffic volume and a more potent server attack.
7 tips for using RDP more securely
Photo by Volodymyr Kondriianenko on Unsplash
Follow these guidelines to help you create a robust cybersecurity policy that effectively addresses these RDP vulnerabilities:
1. Strengthen sign-in credentials
Require RDP users to set passwords based on specific criteria. For instance, the password must contain at least one unique character or number. Strong logins across your network make gaining unauthorized access to your system more difficult.
2. Enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA)
MFA requires users to confirm their identity via a secondary method, such as one-time passwords, fingerprints, or authenticator codes. It adds an extra layer of security to your RDP communications, reducing the likelihood of unapproved persons accessing your network. Setting an account lockout policy can also help protect against brute force attacks.
3. Monitor session activity
Monitoring RDP sessions helps ensure there are no suspicious activities or security breaches. Even if there are, you can spot them right away and take action. It’s also good to track login attempts, failed logins, and successful authentications. This process makes it easier to trace and flag suspicious behavior around your network.
4. Restrict RDP access
System administrators can log in to RDP by default. However, this may be problematic if multiple admin accounts are on a computer. In such cases, only provide administrative access to RDP to accounts that need it. Configure the group policy settings to limit how many system admins can modify the RDP setup.
5. Enable Network Level Authentication (NLA)
NLA keeps your RDP servers behind firewalls. The only way to access these configurations is through authorized individuals already on your network.
6. Update your software
A key advantage of using RDP over third-party remote access tools is that it automatically downloads and applies the latest security patches when you update your software. Remember to update the software of both the client and host machines by enabling automatic Microsoft Updates.
7. Educate your team
The World Economic Forum estimates that 95% of cybersecurity issues can be traced to human error. Regularly educating your team on RDP security best practices is crucial.
Should you use remote desktop protocol for your company?
The decision to utilize RDP to facilitate remote working in your company ultimately comes down to your specific requirements and budget. In terms of security, RDP can be secure if you or your IT team properly manage it and follow best practices.
Remote desktop and RDP FAQs
What are the risks of remote desktop?
The main risks of remote desktop are weak sign-in credentials and open port access. Other risks include the ubiquity of the program on Windows machines and its ability to amplify DDoS attacks.
Can RDP be made secure?
By itself, RDP is not very secure, but you can make it more secure by using multi-factor authentication, restricting RDP access, and enabling Network Level Authentication (NLA).
Why do people use RDP?
RDP provides people with remote access to another desktop computer. Often, people will utilize RDP to use their work computer remotely, but it can also be used for collaboration or for resolving computer issues with the IT team.
About the Author
Post by: Zac Amos
Zac Amos is a technology writer who covers cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and business tech. He is also the features editor at ReHack, an online tech magazine.
Company: ReHack
Website:
www.rehack.com
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