Top 10 Vulnerabilities We Found in Indian SMBs (Q1 2025 Insights)
- komalghare3
- May 22
- 3 min read
As cyberattacks against Indian SMBs continue to rise, Q1 2025 has revealed a disturbing trend: small and mid-sized businesses are still plagued by avoidable security weaknesses. At Microscan Communications, our VAPT audits across diverse sectors — from manufacturing to fintech — uncovered a consistent pattern of vulnerabilities that attackers could easily exploit.
This blog outlines the top 10 vulnerabilities we discovered in Indian SMBs during Q1 2025 and offers actionable steps to mitigate them.
Why This Matters?
Over 80% of SMBs targeted in ransomware or phishing campaigns in India had at least one of the vulnerabilities listed below.
The average time to detection for a breach? 23 days — more than enough for attackers to do serious damage.
Compliance mandates under the DPDP Act and CERT-In guidelines require urgent remediation of security gaps.
Top 10 Vulnerabilities in Indian SMBs (Q1 2025)
1. Exposed RDP, SSH, and Admin Interfaces
Severity: Critical
Description: Publicly accessible remote access services like RDP or SSH without IP whitelisting or MFA.
Impact: Direct entry point for brute-force attacks and credential stuffing.
✅ Fix:
Block all admin interfaces from the public internet.
Enforce VPN + MFA for remote access.
2. Outdated Firmware and Software
Severity: High
Description: Legacy routers, firewalls, and operating systems running unpatched firmware or EOL software.
Impact: Known CVEs remain exploitable, especially in edge devices.
✅ Fix:
Maintain a patch management policy.
Subscribe to vendor security bulletins.
3. Hardcoded or Default Credentials
Severity: Critical
Description: Devices and apps with default or hardcoded credentials (e.g., “admin/admin”).
Impact: Allows attackers to instantly log in and pivot within the network.
✅ Fix:
Enforce credential rotation policies.
Use password managers and centralized authentication (e.g., LDAP, TACACS+).
4. Lack of Network Segmentation
Severity: High
Description: Flat LANs with no VLANs or isolation between departments, servers, and IoT.
Impact: Malware or insider threats can spread rapidly across the network.
✅ Fix:
Implement VLANs by user role or function.
Use firewalls or ACLs between VLANs.
5. Improper Firewall Rules / Open Ports
Severity: Medium
Description: Firewalls configured with overly permissive rules, including “ANY/ANY” access or unused open ports.
Impact: Expands attack surface unnecessarily.
✅ Fix:
Follow a "default deny" rule.
Periodically audit and prune firewall rules.
6. Missing SSL / TLS on Internal Web Apps
Severity: Medium
Description: Internal dashboards and tools run over HTTP instead of HTTPS.
Impact: Enables data sniffing or session hijacking on internal networks.
✅ Fix:
Install self-signed or internal CA TLS certificates.
Redirect all HTTP traffic to HTTPS.
7. Improper Email Security Configurations (SPF, DKIM, DMARC)
Severity: High
Description: Domains missing one or more essential email authentication records.
Impact: Enables spoofing, phishing, and brand abuse.
✅ Fix:
Configure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records.
Monitor domain reputation regularly.
8. No Endpoint Detection or Logging
Severity: High
Description: Laptops, desktops, and servers lack endpoint protection or central log visibility.
Impact: Malware or insider actions go undetected for weeks.
✅ Fix:
Deploy EDR/XDR agents.
Centralize logs to a SIEM platform for alerting.
9. Weak or Reused Passwords
Severity: Medium
Description: Users sharing passwords or using easily guessable combinations (e.g., Company@123).
Impact: A single leaked credential can compromise multiple systems.
✅ Fix:
Enforce password complexity and expiration.
Adopt passphrases or passwordless authentication.
10. Unprotected Cloud Buckets and SaaS Misconfigurations
Severity: Critical
Description: S3 buckets, Google Drive folders, or Microsoft 365 apps set to “public” or “anyone with the link.”
Impact: Massive data exposure without direct hacking.
✅ Fix:
Audit SaaS and cloud storage permissions quarterly.
Use CASB or cloud security posture management (CSPM) tools.
Vulnerability Frequency Chart (Q1 2025 Sample Set)
Vulnerability | % of Audited SMBs Affected |
Exposed RDP/SSH/Admin Ports | 72% |
Outdated Firmware | 68% |
Hardcoded Credentials | 51% |
No Network Segmentation | 60% |
Missing SPF/DKIM/DMARC | 57% |
How Microscan Communications Can Help?
At Microscan Communications, we specialize in securing SMBs through:
Vulnerability Assessment & Penetration Testing (VAPT Service)
Firewall and cloud misconfiguration audits
ZTNA and SASE deployment for perimeterless security
SOC as a Service (SOCaaS) with real-time breach detection
Compliance alignment with DPDP, ISO 27001, and CERT-In norms
We understand that SMBs operate on lean IT teams — our solutions are cost-effective, scalable, and policy-driven.
Conclusion:
Most of the vulnerabilities listed above are low-effort to fix but high-risk if ignored. Q1 2025 has shown that Indian SMBs remain exposed not because they lack technology — but because they lack security visibility and discipline.
Don’t wait for a breach to take action.
Ready to Secure Your Business?
Schedule a free VAPT consultation with Microscan Communications security experts and get a customized remediation roadmap.
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