Warning: Hackers Are Using Your ‘Contact Us’ Form to Breach Your Company
A sophisticated phishing campaign is actively targeting the industrial manufacturing sector, turning a company’s own website into the first step of a cyberattack. This new method bypasses many traditional security measures by exploiting one of the most common features on any corporate site: the “Contact Us” form.
Cybercriminals are weaponizing these forms to initiate contact, build a false sense of legitimacy, and ultimately steal valuable employee credentials. By understanding their tactics, your organization can build a stronger defense against this insidious threat.
Anatomy of the Attack: From Inquiry to Intrusion
This phishing scheme is dangerously effective because it mimics a standard business interaction that sales and administrative teams handle every day. The process unfolds in a few calculated steps.
First, the attacker submits a message through the target company’s public “Contact Us” or “Request for Quote” (RFQ) form. The message appears to be a legitimate business inquiry, often mentioning a large-scale project or the need for a specific product quote. This initial message, generated by the company’s own website, arrives in an employee’s inbox looking completely safe and authentic.
Next, the employee receives a follow-up email from the attacker. In this email, the criminal claims they need to share project specifications or a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) before proceeding. They provide a link, directing the employee to a file hosted on a trusted cloud service like SharePoint, OneDrive, or another well-known platform.
This link is the trap. When the employee clicks it, they are taken to a professionally crafted credential harvesting page. This fake login portal is designed to look identical to a legitimate Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, or other corporate sign-in page. The unsuspecting employee, believing they need to log in to view the document, enters their username and password.
Once submitted, these credentials are sent directly to the attackers, giving them access to the employee’s email account, and potentially the entire corporate network.
Why This Phishing Method is So Effective
This attack strategy is particularly clever for several reasons:
- It Bypasses Email Filters: The initial contact doesn’t come from a suspicious external email address. It’s generated by the company’s own website, making it appear as a trusted, internally generated lead that sails past many security filters.
- It Exploits Normal Business Processes: Sales, customer service, and administrative staff are trained to respond promptly to inquiries. The request for a quote or the signing of an NDA is a routine part of their job, lowering their suspicion.
- It Leverages Trusted Brands: By using links that appear to lead to Microsoft SharePoint or other common file-sharing services, attackers exploit the user’s inherent trust in these platforms.
The High Stakes for Industrial Manufacturing
Manufacturing companies are a high-value target for cybercriminals. A successful breach can lead to devastating consequences far beyond a single compromised email account. With stolen credentials, attackers can:
- Steal Intellectual Property: Gain access to sensitive data, including product designs, proprietary formulas, blueprints, and client lists.
- Launch Supply Chain Attacks: Impersonate the compromised company to defraud its partners, suppliers, or customers.
- Deploy Ransomware: Use the initial access point to move deeper into the network, encrypt critical systems, and halt operations until a massive ransom is paid.
- Commit Financial Fraud: Manipulate invoices or redirect payments by gaining control of an employee’s email communications.
How to Protect Your Business: Actionable Security Steps
Protecting your organization requires a combination of technology, awareness, and clear security protocols. It is crucial to treat every unsolicited request with a healthy dose of skepticism, even if it originates from your own website.
Mandate Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): This is the single most effective defense against credential theft. Even if an attacker steals a password, they cannot access the account without the second authentication factor (like a code from a mobile app or a security key). Enforce MFA across all company accounts without exception.
Conduct Continuous Employee Training: Educate your team, especially those in customer-facing roles, about this specific type of threat. Teach them to hover over all links before clicking to verify the destination URL. A link might say “SharePoint,” but the underlying address could lead somewhere malicious.
Scrutinize Login Prompts: Train employees to be extremely cautious of any link that immediately prompts them for a login. If they are already signed into their corporate accounts (like Microsoft 365), they typically should not need to sign in again to view a shared file. This extra login request is a major red flag.
Implement Advanced Email Security: Use an email security solution that can analyze links and attachments in real-time. Modern systems can often detect and block known phishing sites, even if the link is delivered through a seemingly legitimate channel.
Establish Verification Protocols: Create a clear procedure for handling unsolicited requests that contain links or attachments. This could involve having a manager or IT team member verify the legitimacy of the sender before any links are clicked, especially for large or unusual proposals.
As cybercriminals refine their methods, businesses must adapt. By understanding that even your own website can be used as a launchpad for an attack, you can empower your employees and fortify your defenses against this growing threat.
Source: https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2025/08/29/phishing-manufacturing-supply-chain/
