Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) companies face relentless cyber threats. Their expansive supply chains—from raw material suppliers to retail distributors—are rich targets for cybercriminals who exploit any digital crack to disrupt operations, steal data, or extort ransoms.

Supply chains have evolved into complex ecosystems enabled by cloud platforms, IoT devices, third-party logistics (3PL), and real-time data sharing. While these innovations drive efficiency, they also expand the attack surface. The more integrated and real-time the supply chain, the more points of failure exist.

This blog dives deep into the Top 5 tactics cybercriminals use to infiltrate CPG supply chains and demonstrates how Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) is the new frontline defense to expose, validate, prioritize, and reduce risk.

1. Compromising Third-Party Vendors and Suppliers

Tactic:

Cybercriminals exploit the weakest links—often small or medium-sized suppliers with limited cybersecurity capabilities. These third parties often have trusted access to core systems or data exchange platforms. Attackers compromise one of these partners and move laterally into the larger CPG ecosystem.

Example Attack:

The 2021 SolarWinds attack remains a textbook case of supply chain infiltration. Malicious actors inserted backdoors into software updates, impacting over 18,000 organizations. Although not CPG-specific, the technique illustrates how easily trust can be weaponized.

CTEM Mitigation:

A robust CTEM program continuously monitors third-party risk exposure by:

• Mapping all vendor connections
  
  
• Performing automated risk assessments
  
  
• Running attack simulations to identify potential breach pathways
  
  
• Prioritizing exposure remediation based on business impact
  
  

Read more: Gartner on Third-Party Risk

2. Exploiting Misconfigured Cloud Infrastructure

Tactic:

CPG companies increasingly adopt cloud platforms for inventory tracking, procurement, and product traceability. However, misconfigurations like open S3 buckets, over-permissive IAM roles, or unsecured APIs are common.

Attackers use automated scanners to identify misconfigured assets and gain access to sensitive data or services.

Example Attack:

In 2020, Decathlon, a major retailer, accidentally left over 123 million records exposed due to misconfigured Elasticsearch servers, leaking employee and customer data.

CTEM Mitigation:

CTEM programs offer autonomous asset discovery and cloud security posture management (CSPM) capabilities:

• Discover all cloud assets—even shadow IT
  
  
• Continuously assess for misconfigurations
  
  
• Validate potential exploitability through red-team simulations
  
  
• Provide remediation guidance prioritized by business context
  
  

Helpful resource: Cloud Security Alliance on Misconfiguration Risks

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3. Weaponizing IoT Devices in Warehouses and Distribution Centers

Tactic:

Modern CPG logistics depend on Internet of Things (IoT) devices like RFID scanners, smart shelves, GPS trackers, and autonomous vehicles. Unfortunately, many of these devices have:

• Outdated firmware
  
  
• Weak passwords
  
  
• Unencrypted communication protocols
  
  

Hackers can use these devices to pivot into broader networks or disrupt real-time operations with denial-of-service attacks.

Example Attack:

The Mirai Botnet, originally targeting IoT, demonstrated how attackers can weaponize devices like CCTV cameras and routers to launch massive DDoS attacks.

In the CPG sector, similar tactics can take down warehouse control systems (WCS) or logistics command centers.

CTEM Mitigation:

CTEM includes cyber-physical risk assessments:

• Identifies all connected IoT devices (including rogue devices)
  
  
• Simulates lateral movement from compromised devices
  
  
• Tests resilience of segmentation and network boundaries
  
  
• Validates detection capabilities of connected endpoints
  
  

Recommended reading: ENISA IoT Threat Landscape

4. Ransomware Targeting Just-in-Time (JIT) Operations

Tactic:

CPG companies often rely on Just-in-Time inventory models, which require high synchronization. Ransomware groups target manufacturing execution systems (MES), enterprise resource planning (ERP), and logistics software.

Disruption to even one component can cause delays, shelf shortages, or massive spoilage—making companies more likely to pay ransoms.

Example Attack:

In 2021, JBS Foods, one of the largest meat processing companies, paid $11 million to ransomware attackers after their IT systems were shut down.

CTEM Mitigation:

CTEM validates ransomware readiness by:

• Running autonomous breach and attack simulations (BAS) across critical systems
  
  
• Identifying single points of failure
  
  
• Highlighting the most business-critical exposures
  
  
• Validating segmentation, backup integrity, and response plans
  
  

Link: CISA Ransomware Guide

5. Business Email Compromise (BEC) in Procurement Chains

Tactic:

BEC is one of the most financially damaging cybercrimes, and in CPG, it targets procurement officers, logistics coordinators, and payment departments. Using spoofed email addresses or stolen credentials, attackers:

• Pose as vendors
  
  
• Change payment instructions
  
  
• Intercept invoices and contracts
  
  

CTEM Mitigation:

A mature CTEM system combines email attack simulations with risk-based user behavior analytics:

• Simulates phishing attacks targeting high-risk roles
  
  
• Assesses exposure of email credentials on the dark web
  
  
• Validates SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configurations
  
  
• Prioritizes training and controls based on employee behavior and access levels
  
  

Further reading: FBI on BEC Trends

CTEM: The Cyber Resilience Blueprint for CPG Supply Chains

CTEM is not a single product—it’s a strategic approach that integrates visibility, validation, prioritization, and remediation into a continuous loop.

According to Gartner, by 2026, organizations implementing CTEM will reduce breach incidents by two-thirds compared to those without.

Core Components of CTEM:

1. Scoping and Asset Discovery:
   
   
   
   • Includes both digital and physical assets
     
     
   • Maps relationships across third-party and internal systems
     
     
2. Exposure Discovery:
   
   
   
   • Finds misconfigurations, vulnerabilities, and gaps in coverage
     
     
   • Includes software, hardware, identity, and process-based flaws
     
     
3. Validation:
   
   
   
   • Leverages red-teaming, BAS, and adversary emulation to test real-world exploitability
     
     
4. Prioritization:
   
   
   
   • Uses business context to score risks
     
     
   • Avoids alert fatigue and wasted remediation
     
     
5. Mobilization:
   
   
   
   • Orchestrates cross-team response workflows
     
     
   • Ensures exposures are remediated or mitigated effectively
     
     

Why CPG Leaders Must Prioritize CTEM Now

While firewalls, EDR, and SIEM solutions are important, they focus on detection and reaction. CTEM is proactive. It empowers CPG companies to pre-empt attacks before real damage occurs.

Implementing CTEM translates into:

• Fewer outages and production delays
  
  
• Lower vendor risk
  
  
• Improved cyber insurance posture
  
  
• Higher customer trust and brand reputation
  
  

In a world where 74% of data breaches are due to human error or unpatched exposures (Verizon DBIR), CTEM provides a measurable ROI in cyber resilience.

Final Thoughts: Thinking Like a Hacker to Defend Like a Pro

Hackers don’t think in silos. They don’t care if the entry point is a misconfigured cloud asset or a phishing email—they think in terms of chaining weak links to reach high-value targets.

That’s exactly how CPG companies must operate their cyber defense strategies—through attack-path thinking.

With CTEM, organizations gain the upper hand:

• They expose attack paths before hackers do.
  
  
• They continuously adapt defenses.
  
  

They protect the heartbeat of their operations—the supply chain.