Cisco XDR and StealthMole: Detecting Compromised Credentials

At Cisco Live Melbourne, the Security Operations Centre (SOC) showcased an impressive demonstration of integrated security solutions, specifically highlighting the combination of StealthMole, an AI-powered dark web threat intelligence platform, with Cisco XDR. This powerful integration allowed SOC analysts to swiftly identify compromised user credentials linked to malicious external IP addresses, significantly improving both detection and response capabilities.

Integration Overview

StealthMole stands out as an advanced threat intelligence platform, utilizing AI to furnish real-time insights from the often-hidden dark web. Its primary strength lies in unearthing compromised credentials, data leaks, and other subtle cyber threats that traditional monitoring may overlook.

On the other hand, Cisco XDR features an open integration framework that facilitates seamless connectivity with various third-party tools, including StealthMole. This synergy of systems enabled the SOC team at Cisco Live Melbourne to enrich their investigations with vital dark web intelligence. By matching incidents with leaked or compromised credentials, analysts could achieve a more comprehensive view of potential threats.

Investigative Steps

1. Alert Generation: The first notable action taken by Cisco XDR was the detection of suspicious activity. This involved internal IP addresses communicating with a malicious external IP, already flagged in Cisco XDR’s threat intelligence feeds.
2. Enrichment with StealthMole Intelligence: By harnessing the integrated StealthMole module, SOC analysts were able to pull additional intelligence on the flagged external IP. StealthMole confirmed that this IP was linked to compromised user credentials obtained from the dark web.
3. Correlation and Analysis: Armed with this fresh context, analysts scrutinized the connection between the compromised credentials and the internal assets at risk. The information derived from StealthMole included associated domains and the scope of credential exposure, enabling the SOC team to outline possible attack vectors more effectively.

Takeaway and Response

The merger of StealthMole and Cisco XDR provides a powerful illustration of how open frameworks can enhance SOC operations. Such integrations empower teams to access specialized threat intelligence, resulting in swifter and more informed reactions to potential threats. By fusing real-time dark web monitoring with Cisco’s robust detection capabilities, the team was able to identify credential exposure events that may have otherwise gone unnoticed.

Once the compromise was validated, the SOC analysts swiftly executed their response protocols. This proactive approach included notifying affected users, enforcing credential resets, and ramping up monitoring on compromised endpoints. The depth of insight gained from StealthMole facilitated decisive and targeted actions, underscoring the value of integrating top-tier tools within a cohesive security architecture.

Example Use Case

• Scenario: Internal user credentials are discovered in plaintext on a dark web forum, coinciding with matching indicators in Cisco XDR.
• Action: The integrated systems activate alerts for analysts, correlate the incident, and trigger credential reset workflows promptly.

Note

It’s crucial for SOC teams to consistently review and update their integrations, ensuring the latest intelligence is accessible. Validation against multiple sources is recommended before taking any action on findings.

By leveraging integrated threat intelligence systems like StealthMole and Cisco XDR, SOCs can enhance their visibility into evolving cyber threats, as demonstrated at Cisco Live Melbourne.

Explore additional insights from my colleagues by checking out the Cisco Live APJC 2026 SOC blogs.

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