The Mitre ATT&CK framework is the globally accessible go-to resource for cybersecurity professionals when it comes to understanding and mitigating cyber threats and vulnerabilities. Developed by the MITRE Corporation, the ATT&CK (Adversarial Tactics, Techniques, and Common Knowledge) framework is a comprehensive knowledge base of tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) employed by sophisticated adversaries.
It is designed to help organizations identify, detect, and respond to cyber threats by providing a comprehensive approach to understanding and analyzing the lifecycle of an attack. Read on for an overview of the Mitre ATT&CK framework, including its history, phases, and how organizations can use it to mitigate threats.
What Is the MITRE ATT&CK Framework?
The Mitre ATT&CK framework is a comprehensive collection of techniques, tactics, and procedures that can be used to understand, detect, and respond to cyber threats. It provides a structure for organizations to use in order to identify, detect, and respond to malicious activity. The framework is based on the MITRE ATT&CK (Adversarial Tactics, Techniques, and Common Knowledge) matrix, which is an interactive knowledge base that maps out the various steps of an attack. The matrix is organized into a series of “tactics” and “techniques” that adversaries may use during an attack.
The Mitre ATT&CK framework is designed to be a living, evolving platform that organizations can use to constantly assess and update their security posture. It is a comprehensive approach to understanding and responding to cyber threats, and its implementation can help organizations mitigate the risk of costly data breaches. It’s a taxonomy of known cyber threats and attacks and can be considered an offensive and defensive guide for cybersecurity professionals to help protect networks and systems.
History of the Mitre ATT&CK Framework
The Mitre ATT&CK framework was developed by the MITRE Corporation in 2012 in response to the growing prevalence of cyber threats. It is based on the MITRE ATT&CK (Adversarial Tactics, Techniques, and Common Knowledge) matrix, which was developed to provide organizations with a comprehensive approach to understanding and responding to cyber threats.
Since its creation, the Mitre ATT&CK framework has been adopted by a wide range of organizations, including government agencies, Fortune 500 companies, and small businesses. It is widely recognized as one of the most comprehensive approaches to understanding and mitigating cyber threats.
There are now three iterations of the framework:
- Enterprise. Focuses on Windows, Mac, and other cloud environments.
- Mobile. Focuses on threats to iOS and Android systems.
- ICS. Focuses on attacks and threats to an ICS network.
Mitre ATT&CK Matrix
The Mitre ATT&CK matrix is an interactive knowledge base that maps out the various steps of an attack. The matrix is organized into a series of “tactics” and “techniques” that adversaries may use during an attack. Each tactic and technique is associated with a “maturity level” which indicates how difficult it is to detect and respond to.
The matrix is designed to be a living, evolving platform that organizations can use to constantly assess and update their security posture. It provides a comprehensive view of the threat landscape and can help organizations identify potential threats and develop a plan for responding to them.
These are the main tactics of the MITRE ATT&CK Matrix:
- Reconnaissance. Gathering information about a system or organization
- Resource development. Establishing resources to support adversary operations like setting up command
- Initial access. Trying to get into your network
- Execution. Trying the run malicious code
- Persistence. Trying to maintain a foothold, often by changing configurations
- Privilege escalation. Trying to gain higher-level permissions to increase the intensity of the attack
- Defense evasion. Trying to avoid being detected, hiding malware
- Credential access. Stealing accounts names and passwords
- Discovery. Trying to figure out your environment
- Lateral movement. Moving through your environment, often using legitimate credentials
- Collection. Gathering data of interest to the adversary goal
- Command and control. Communicating with compromised systems to control them, like mimicking normal web traffic to communicate
- Exfiltration. Stealing data
- Impact. Manipulating, interrupting, or destroying systems and data
The matrix is designed to be from an attacker’s perspective, so cybersecurity professionals can stay ahead. Within each of these tactics, there are specific attacker techniques that attackers might use to accomplish their goals.
Mitre ATT&CK vs. Cyber Kill Chain
The Mitre ATT&CK framework and the Cyber Kill Chain are two frameworks that are often used to analyze and respond to cyber threats. Cyber Kill Chain was created by Lockheed Martin. These are the seven steps of Cyber Kill Chain:
- Reconnaissance
- Weaponization
- Delivery
- Exploitation
- Installation
- Command & Control (C2)
- Actions on Objectives
While the two frameworks share some similarities, they have some key differences. The MITRE ATT&CK framework goes more in depth (as evident by the number of tactics and steps in both), and it’s regularly updated. Cyber Kill Chain doesn’t include specific techniques attackers might use as a way to achieve the tactics. So MITRE ATT&CK is more comprehensive as well.
How to Use Mitre ATT&CK Framework
Organizations can use the Mitre ATT&CK framework to identify, detect, and respond to cyber threats. The framework provides a comprehensive approach to understanding and responding to malicious activity, and its implementation can help organizations mitigate the risk of costly data breaches.
Here is how an organization can use the MITRE ATT&CK Framework:
- Conduct a security gap analysis and plan security improvements. Find where weaknesses are and where attackers might be finding access and use the matrix to determine how to close access.
- Strengthen cyber threat intelligence. Use the extensive database from MITRE to better understand the current threats and attacks happening in the industry.
- Accelerate alert triaging and investigation. Use the ATT&CK Framework to help you know how to triage and respond to potential threats and where to look to begin investigating.
- Create more realistic scenarios for red team exercises and adversary emulations. The extensive database can help teams train and react to highly realistic and common threats the organization might face.
How Does the Mitre ATT&CK Framework Help Organizations?
The Mitre ATT&CK framework can help organizations identify, detect, and respond to cyber threats. It provides a comprehensive approach to understanding and responding to malicious activity, and its implementation can help organizations mitigate the risk of costly data breaches.
The Mitre ATT&CK framework can help organizations gain a better understanding of their attack surface and potential threats. The framework provides a baseline of “normal” activity, which can be used to identify potential threats and create a plan for responding to them.
In addition, the Mitre ATT&CK framework can help organizations detect indicators of compromise (IOCs) and suspicious activity. The matrix can be used to identify IOCs and suspicious activity, which can then be used to develop a more robust security posture.
Finally, the Mitre ATT&CK framework can help organizations contain and mitigate the threat. The framework provides a comprehensive approach to containing and mitigating the threat, which can help organizations minimize the damage and recover quickly.
Benefits of Using the Mitre ATT&CK Framework
The Mitre ATT&CK framework provides organizations with a comprehensive approach to understanding and responding to cyber threats. The framework can help organizations gain a better understanding of their attack surface and potential threats, detect indicators of compromise (IOCs) and suspicious activity, and contain and mitigate the threat.
The benefits of using the Mitre ATT&CK framework include:
- Improved visibility into the threat landscape
- Better understanding of potential threats
- Ability to detect indicators of compromise (IOCs)
- Ability to contain and mitigate the threat
- Faster response to cyber incidents
- Reduced risk of costly data breaches
The Bottom Line
The Mitre ATT&CK framework is the go-to resource for cybersecurity professionals when it comes to understanding and mitigating cyber threats and vulnerabilities. It provides organizations with a comprehensive approach to understanding and responding to malicious activity, and its implementation can help organizations mitigate the risk of costly data breaches.
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