Breaking The Kill Chain: A Defensive Approach

Summary

The video script delves into the concept of the 'cybersecurity kill chain,' a model developed by Lockheed Martin to outline the steps an attacker must complete to execute a successful cyber attack. The chain consists of seven stages, starting from reconnaissance to actions on objectives. The video emphasizes the importance of disrupting the chain at any point to prevent a breach. It offers a defensive approach using the NIST cybersecurity framework, discussing tools and strategies to create a multi-layered security plan. The script highlights the need for understanding the attacker's playbook, implementing measures like patch management, user awareness, and technical controls to mitigate risks at each stage. It also stresses the significance of post-infection tools, network segmentation, and the zero trust security model to limit damage and enhance detection capabilities. The video concludes by challenging viewers to evaluate their organization's security posture and dwell time, a critical metric for security directors.

Takeaways

• 🔍 **Reconnaissance**: The first step in a cyber attack is information gathering about the target, which can be done passively (e.g., from public sources) or actively (e.g., probing networks).
• 🛡️ **Defending Against Reconnaissance**: Limiting public exposure of information, disabling unused ports, and using honeypots and firewalls are key defenses against initial attack stages.
• 🔧 **Weaponization**: Attackers use collected information to select or create an exploit for a discovered vulnerability, often utilizing tools like Metasploit or Exploit DB.
• 🛠️ **Patch Management**: A fundamental defense against weaponization is regular patching, which eliminates vulnerabilities that could be exploited.
• ✉️ **Delivery**: The method of delivering the attack can vary widely, including through websites, social media, email, or physical devices like USBs, highlighting the importance of user awareness.
• 🚫 **Blocking Delivery**: Implementing email authentication methods like DKIM and SPF, web filtering, and disabling unnecessary services can limit an attacker's delivery options.
• 💥 **Exploitation**: Once a weapon is delivered, exploitation occurs, which may involve buffer overflows or other forms of attack that execute the attacker's payload.
• 🚨 **Detection and Prevention**: Data Execution Prevention (DEP), anti-exploit features, and sandboxing can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts.
• 📁 **Installation**: After exploitation, the attacker installs malware for persistent access, which can involve DLL hijacking, RATs, or PowerShell scripts.
• 🔗 **Command and Control**: The compromised system is then used to carry out the attacker's objectives, often under the direction of a command and control server.
• 🏛️ **Segmentation and Isolation**: Network segmentation and micro-segmentation can limit an attacker's ability to move laterally and can help contain the damage of a breach.
• 🔑 **Zero Trust Model**: Adopting a zero trust security model treats all users as untrusted until proven otherwise, which can significantly enhance detection and response to breaches.

Q & A

What is the Cybersecurity Kill Chain?

The Cybersecurity Kill Chain is a model developed by Lockheed Martin that describes the seven sequential steps an attacker must complete to carry out a successful attack. These steps include reconnaissance, weaponization, delivery, exploitation, installation, command and control, and actions on objectives.

What are the two stages of reconnaissance in the Cybersecurity Kill Chain?

The two stages of reconnaissance are passive and active. Passive reconnaissance involves gathering information from publicly available sources without interacting with the target, while active reconnaissance includes probing the target's systems to find vulnerabilities.

How can an organization defend against passive reconnaissance?

Defending against passive reconnaissance involves limiting the amount of detail exposed publicly. This can be achieved by controlling information on job postings, training materials, social media use, and by removing specific error messages from public servers.

What is a honey pot and how does it help in cybersecurity?

A honey pot is a decoy tool used in cybersecurity that can mimic attractive targets for attackers. It serves to divert attention away from real systems and can help reveal the attackers' intentions and identities without compromising actual data or systems.

Why is patch management important in the weaponization stage of the Cybersecurity Kill Chain?

Patch management is crucial in the weaponization stage because it involves keeping systems and applications up to date with the latest security patches. This prevents attackers from exploiting known vulnerabilities, as there would be no vulnerabilities left to exploit.

What are some technical controls that can be applied to protect against the delivery stage of an attack?

Technical controls for the delivery stage include email security measures such as DKIM and SPF to detect spoofed emails, web filtering to prevent access to malicious sites, disabling auto-run features on USBs, and not granting users admin rights to limit the avenues of attack delivery.

What is the role of user awareness in defending against the delivery of an attack?

User awareness is critical in defending against the delivery of an attack as it involves educating personnel on good security practices. This includes recognizing phishing attempts, understanding the risks of clicking on unknown links, and knowing how to handle emails and attachments safely.

How does the exploitation stage differ from the weaponization stage?

The weaponization stage involves finding or creating an attack that exploits a vulnerability, while the exploitation stage is where the attack is actually executed. At this point, the attacker has delivered the weapon and is attempting to use it to gain unauthorized access or control over the target system.

What is the purpose of the installation phase in the Cybersecurity Kill Chain?

The installation phase is where an attacker gains better access to the victim's system by injecting a payload that allows for future control. This could involve installing malware, making registry changes for persistence, or using other techniques to ensure they can maintain access even after the system is rebooted or patched.

What is the significance of network segmentation in limiting the damage of a breach?

Network segmentation is significant in limiting the damage of a breach because it restricts the lateral movement of an attacker within the network. By isolating different parts of the network, the potential spread of an infection can be contained, making it easier to detect unusual activity and limiting the attacker's access.

How does the Zero Trust security model help in the command-and-control phase of the Cybersecurity Kill Chain?

The Zero Trust security model assumes that any user or device within the network could be compromised and treats them as untrusted until proven otherwise. This approach helps in detecting infected machines and limiting the damage an attacker can do by eliminating the concept of an 'internal' network that is automatically trusted.

What is the dwell time in cybersecurity and why is it a critical metric?

Dwell time refers to the length of time an attacker remains active within a network before being detected. It is a critical metric because it indicates how quickly an organization can identify and respond to a security breach. A longer dwell time suggests a slower response to threats, which can lead to more significant damage or data loss.