What is Mitre ATT&CK and what is its importance for security?
In the ongoing battle against the aggressive expansion of cybercrime, Mitre ATT&CK is one of the strategies that information security professionals are turning to in order to evolve in response to the creativity of malicious actors who relentlessly seek to exploit the vulnerability of unprotected systems and the lack of awareness among individuals and businesses of all sizes.
Thus, Mitre ATT&CK is a security resource that involves identifying patterns in previous breaches to understand the methodologies used by cybercriminals.
In this article, we will explore what Mitre ATT&CK is and how this resource can help security teams make systems more secure. Happy reading!
What is Mitre ATT&CK?
Mitre ATT&CK (Adversarial Tactics, Techniques, and Common Knowledge) is a repository of information containing patterns and methodologies observed in cyberattacks and breaches.
Created by Mitre Corporation in 2013, this framework resulted from a cyberattack experiment involving a Purple Team – a team composed of both attack and defense units.
The data collected during the experiment served as the basis for developing a model framework to categorize cyberattacks and create various breach scenarios to test the security systems of companies and organizations.
Comprising selected matrices, the Mitre ATT&CK models provide information on cyberattacks and defensive response actions, enabling security professionals to understand how cybercriminals operate once they gain access to a system, identifying patterns of "paths" they might follow within the code to avoid detection.
Who uses Mitre ATT&CK and for what purpose?
As mentioned earlier, Mitre ATT&CK is used by information security or IT professionals as a study material for invasion techniques and for consulting models of cybercriminal operations.
Mitre ATT&CK allows for a deep understanding of the goals of cybercriminals during an invasion, as well as the possible preliminary steps they might take to successfully breach the security system and what they need to do to maintain unauthorized access.
In the following sections, we will explore how company security teams can use Mitre ATT&CK to anticipate cyberattacks, scan the “perimeters” of a system, and strengthen vigilance regarding the initial stages to be overcome to initiate a breach. Shall we?
Why is Mitre ATT&CK important for company security?
Mitre ATT&CK serves as a common point of reference for security professionals, acting as a universal language that facilitates quick interpretation and exchange of information on how to respond to a real cybersecurity risk situation.
Understanding this framework is essential to staying one step ahead of the attacker, viewing the scenario from their perspective, and enabling a defensive response before any infiltration attempt. When used correctly, Mitre ATT&CK can ensure company security by providing an intelligent and preventive solution.
Mitre ATT&CK Matrices
There are four matrices that make up the Mitre ATT&CK framework, each targeted at a specific type of security infrastructure:
PRE-ATT&CK
Cybercriminals often start their invasion strategies by analyzing information related to a company’s competencies. They frequently use data available on the internet and inter-business relationships to exploit vulnerabilities. If one of the involved companies has a vulnerability, the attacker may exploit it to reach another.
PRE-ATT&CK provides the necessary data for cybersecurity teams to assess pre-invasion steps, taking the necessary precautions to fortify their systems and prevent the execution of initial steps that would lead to data exposure.
Enterprise ATT&CK
The Enterprise framework focuses on protecting corporate infrastructure, providing detailed information on how cybercriminals can compromise network systems across a wide range of platforms like Windows, macOS, Linux, Azure AD, Office 365, Google Workspace, and other Cloud Computing platforms such as SaaS, IaaS, networks, and containers.
Mobile ATT&CK
Describes the methodology used to breach mobile devices, whether iOS or Android. It is based on the Mobile Threat Catalogue (MTC) from NIST.
ICS ATT&CK
This framework is intended for industrial operations such as agriculture, power supply, and manufacturing. It is similar to the Enterprise framework, except it focuses on systems that rely on sensors, networks, and interconnected machinery.
How to use Mitre ATT&CK in my company?
To use the Mitre ATT&CK framework, it is crucial to fully understand the type of system to be defended and decide which framework to apply. Once these specifications are aligned, the cybersecurity team should act as a constant agent in interpreting the information provided by the matrices and applying it consistently.
Although it also provides attack protocols for different invasion approaches, Mitre ATT&CK focuses on prevention and can be combined with other vulnerability detection measures such as Bug Bounty, which offers continuous security testing with the attention of hundreds of information security professionals focused on your system.
With these two powerful cybersecurity tools combined, your company is sure to stay off the radar of cybercriminals.
Interested in learning more about how Bug Bounty can help make your systems more secure? Contact BugHunt!