Why Patch Management Alone Won't Stop Internal Threats

Munich, Germany - September 19, 2025

How internal pentests reveal risks that patching cannot fix

Organizations often consider patch management the cornerstone of their security strategy. While timely patching is essential, Rasotec's internal network penetration tests consistently show that patch compliance alone does not prevent internal breaches. Attackers rarely rely solely on unpatched vulnerabilities. Instead, they actively exploit misconfigurations, weak access controls, and design flaws that patches do not address.

Internal environments are usually flat, complex, and trust-heavy. Once an attacker gains a foothold, they can move laterally without triggering alarms. This is not a patching issue. It is a systemic design problem rooted in overly permissive access, inadequate segmentation, and lack of monitoring. Rasotec's assessments frequently demonstrate how attackers escalate privileges in fully patched networks within hours.

Excessive Active Directory privileges are a recurring weakness. Many organizations grant broad administrative rights or fail to enforce tiered administration models. Even if every endpoint is fully patched, a single compromised admin account can result in domain-wide compromise through built-in management tools. No patch can correct flawed privilege structures.

Credential hygiene is another overlooked factor. Stored plaintext credentials, weak service account passwords, and token reuse often enable privilege escalation without exploiting any vulnerabilities. Rasotec routinely gains elevated access in environments that have perfect patch compliance but poor credential management practices.

"Fully patched does not mean fully secure. Internal breaches usually succeed because of design flaws, not missing updates," said Rick Graßmann, Chief Executive Officer at Rasotec.

Lack of network segmentation magnifies the impact of compromise. Flat internal networks allow attackers to reach sensitive systems from any entry point. Proper isolation, restrictive firewalling, and least-privilege routing are often missing. Patching every system does not prevent lateral movement if nothing restricts it.

Detection gaps further enable stealthy attacks. Many organizations have no telemetry on internal lateral movement, privilege escalation, or abnormal admin behavior. Without visibility, attackers can operate inside a fully patched network for weeks. Rasotec emphasizes that internal detection and response capabilities are as critical as preventive measures.

These issues illustrate a key point: patching addresses software defects, not architectural weaknesses. Internal security requires a layered approach that combines strong identity governance, privilege minimization, segmentation, continuous monitoring, and regular manual testing to verify their effectiveness.

Rasotec's internal network pentests focus on these deeper systemic issues. By simulating real attacker behavior beyond exploiting known CVEs, they uncover weaknesses that patching cannot fix, and that represent the most realistic paths to internal compromise.

About Rasotec: Rasotec is one of CypSec's closest partners and a boutique security firm specializing in manual penetration testing of complex web, mobile, and infrastructure environments. Its team focuses on uncovering logic flaws, chained attack paths, and high-impact vulnerabilities that automated tools miss. For more information, visit rasotec.com.

Media Contact: Rick Graßmann, Chief Executive Officer at Rasotec - rick.grassmann@rasotec.com.