Attack Path Mapping with Tenable and Stellar Cyber

By
Edwin Alexander
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In the modern threat landscape, attackers no longer rely on a single point of entry. Instead, they follow a multi-stage progression—exploiting weak configurations, escalating privileges, and pivoting laterally across the network. Understanding and visualizing these potential attack paths is critical for proactive defense.
This article explores how Tenable and Stellar Cyber work together to deliver Attack Path Mapping (APM), empowering Security Operations Centers (SOCs) to anticipate and disrupt adversary movements before a breach occurs. For ISO 27001-certified organizations like ours, APM is more than a capability—it’s a strategic asset for compliance, threat mitigation, and operational resilience.

What Is Attack Path Mapping?

Attack Path Mapping refers to the process of identifying all the possible ways a threat actor can move through an environment—from initial access to critical assets. Unlike traditional vulnerability scanning, APM contextualizes risk based on:
  • Asset criticality
  • User privileges
  • Network topology
  • Exploitable vulnerabilities
  • Security misconfigurations
In short, APM connects the dots between exposures and how they can be chained together to compromise high-value targets.

Tenable: Exposure Management Engine

Tenable.io and Tenable One provide continuous vulnerability assessment and contextual prioritization across:
  • Servers
  • Workstations
  • Cloud workloads
  • Web applications
  • Identity systems (e.g., Active Directory)
Key features that enable APM include:
  • Cyber Exposure Score (CES)
  • Asset criticality tagging
  • Vulnerability chaining detection
  • Attack path simulation (via Tenable Identity Exposure)
For example, Tenable may detect a vulnerable Apache server, exposed credentials in AD, and an unpatched domain controller—forming a full attack path that needs urgent mitigation.

Stellar Cyber: Correlating APM with SIEM/XDR Context

While Tenable identifies exposures, Stellar Cyber correlates them with real-time telemetry and security events. This integration allows:
  • Enrichment of vulnerability data with live endpoint or user behavior
  • Threat scoring based on MITRE ATT&CK TTPs
  • Graph-based visualization of potential attacker lateral movement
  • Automatic playbook triggering to isolate compromised assets
For instance, if Tenable reports an AD misconfiguration and SentinelOne flags unusual LDAP queries, Stellar Cyber will map these into an active attack path and generate a correlated incident.

Benefits of Attack Path Mapping in SOC

Benefit Description
Proactive Defense Fix vulnerabilities before they’re exploited
Risk-Based Prioritization Focus remediation on exploitable paths, not just CVSS scores
Faster Incident Response Visual correlation between vulnerability and active behavior
Compliance Alignment Supports ISO 27001 controls such as A.12.6.1 (technical vulnerability management)
Audit Readiness Clear visibility into how exposure leads to risk

ISO 27001 Alignment:

Relevant ISO 27001:2022 Controls:
  • A.12.6.1: Information systems should be regularly reviewed for vulnerabilities.
  • A.5.31: Threat intelligence and scenario analysis should inform controls.
  • A.8.16: Management of privileged access paths and user rights.
The joint use of Tenable and Stellar Cyber provides continuous evidence of:
  • Proactive threat modeling
  • Exposure management
  • Informed access and vulnerability mitigation strategies
This not only supports audits but reinforces a culture of security by design.

Conclusion

For modern SOCs, the challenge isn’t just finding vulnerabilities — it’s understanding how they connect to form real-world attack paths. Traditional vulnerability scanning provides visibility, but without context, it leaves defenders blind to how attackers actually move.

Attack Path Mapping changes this paradigm. By combining Tenable’s exposure management with Stellar Cyber’s XDR correlation, SOC teams gain a proactive, threat-informed defense strategy. The result: reduced dwell time, smarter prioritization, and measurable ROI through faster detection, streamlined incident response, and stronger ISO 27001 compliance evidence.

For organizations committed to resilience, the choice is clear. Attack Path Mapping isn’t just about closing gaps — it’s about future-proofing your defenses and maximizing the value of your security investments.

🛡️ Don’t wait for adversaries to define your attack paths.

👉 Start with  Exabytes eSecure to map your exposures, align with ISO 27001 controls, and strengthen your defenses against tomorrow’s threats.

References

  • Tenable. (2025). Attack Path Analysis with Tenable One and Identity Exposure. https://www.tenable.com
  • Stellar Cyber. (2025). Attack Path Mapping in the Open XDR Platform. https://www.stellarcyber.ai
  • MITRE. (2024). Enterprise ATT&CK Matrix: Lateral Movement Techniques. https://attack.mitre.org
  • International Organization for Standardization. (2022). ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Information Security Management Controls. https://www.iso.org
  • Verizon. (2025). Data Breach Investigations Report. https://www.verizon.com/business/resources/reports/dbir/

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