What Is The Cyber Kill Chain will be described in this article. Since its creation in 2011, the Lockheed Martin cyber death chain, also known as the “cyber-attack chain,” has gained notoriety, especially in the corporate community. We examine the function of the cyber kill chain, how it defends your company from online attacks, and how it may be applied to strengthen security protocols and identify gaps in current defenses.
What Is The Cyber Kill Chain And How Does It Work?
In this article, you can know about What Is The Cyber Kill Chain here are the details below;
What is the cyber kill chain?
The cyber kill chain procedure lays out the phases of a potential cyberattack and enables companies to recognize and defend themselves against threats including ransomware, malware, data theft, and network intrusions. The military’s “kill chain” is where the phrase first appeared.
This Article Contains:
- What is the chain of cyberattacks?
- The seven phases of a focused assault
- Benefits and drawbacks of the cyberkill chain
- Use Avast Business to break the cyber death chain and enhance your protection.
The seven stages of a targeted attack
The original Lockheed Martin “cyber-attack chain” is one instance of a cyber death chain. Seven cyber death chain steps are outlined in this model:
- Hackers with malicious intent gather as much data as they can in order to identify any vulnerabilities in the network.
- Now that the attacker has discovered a “back door,” or point of access into the system, they create a new virus or application that may exploit this weakness.
- Delivery: The hacker sends the attack to the designated recipient by email or USB drive, whereupon the recipient opens it.
- Upon opening and downloading the payload, the hacker can utilize the device as a host, granting them increased network access.
- Setting up. Hackers can now infect a system with malware or install programs that help them remain unnoticed.
- authority and management. Hackers will set up command-and-control (C&C) once cybersecurity operations have been breached, granting them total access to and control over your network.
- activities based on goals. Hackers accomplish their final goal, which can involve stealing client information, encrypting private information and holding it ransom, or, in certain situations, just upsetting several systems to create havoc.
1. Reconnaissance
The attacker gathers as much information as they can in the initial stage. Passive reconnaissance, active reconnaissance, or both can be used to accomplish this.
- Information gathered covertly to find vulnerabilities in the network, including as details on the company’s IT setup and ongoing operations, is known as passive reconnaissance.
- Active reconnaissance, sometimes referred to as alternative reconnaissance, is the process by which a hacker obtains information by interacting with the system to obtain information about finances, personnel, clients, and current security software, including email addresses and social media account details. Another common technique is spoofing, or IP spoofing, in which a malevolent hacker assumes the identity of a person the victim trusts in order to obtain private data.
Individual data collection is frequently utilized in phishing and social engineering schemes.
2. Weaponization
The second phase, which is referred to as “weaponization,” emphasizes the attacker’s goals even more. The attacker now creates a virus or other malicious payload that can exploit this vulnerability after discovering a “back door” into the machine. Also check VPN vs Proxy vs Tor
3. Delivery
In the third stage, the hacker targets the target of their attack, for instance by:
- putting user accounts at risk.
- spreading malware via a USB device.
- attack via phishing.
- breaking through a point of direct access.
The malware is embedded in a corrupted document or PDF, which can subsequently be included in a spear phishing email that uses insider knowledge about corporate personnel to lure recipients into opening the file or associated malicious software.
Distributed denial of service (DDoS) assaults are another tactic used by some hackers to interfere with network connectivity and divert attention.
Here, SQL injection attacks could also be used, giving hackers access to private information and the ability to alter or remove it.
The criminal advances to the next phase as soon as the recipient opens the document.
4. Exploitation
The malicious code of the intruder activates upon delivery to the receiver and opening the payload, granting them more access and vulnerabilities to exploit within the system.
The infection will provide the hacker the ability to carry out commands, seizing control of the system, and possibly installing more software to help achieve this objective.
5. Installation
Once the malicious software has been installed on the system of your firm, all confidential data on the network is now accessible to hackers. Hackers may also use privilege escalation tactics to grant themselves elevated access to a range of tools and programs, enabling them to alter security data that has already been collected. Brute force attacks, installing adware, and stealing confidential information are examples of other acts.
6. Command and control
In order to more easily influence the larger system, distribute additional malware, or add devices to a botnet (a network of linked infected devices), the bad actors will configure the server or another device as the command center. For example, a Trojan horse can set up a framework for command and control (C&C) to allow remote network access. Also check Phishing
The attacker’s command center exchanges signals with compromised devices in order to communicate. We call this “beaconing.” Beacons often use the HTTP or HTTPS protocol, which enables them to blend in with normal network activity.
7. Action on objective
The cybercriminal accomplishes their goal in the final step of the cyberkill chain structure. Goals might include breaking the confidentiality or integrity of sensitive data, as well as erasing, extracting, or encrypting data.
The hacker will attempt to divert attention by posing new questions for IT specialists by erasing, overwriting, or altering data in order to create a smokescreen. In order to deflect security attention while gaining access to data, a number of hackers also frequently initiate another DDoS attack.
It is crucial to remember that not every attacker desires to obtain payment or even steal data. For some hackers, the goal is to get access to the system and cause as much disturbance as they can, for the sake of glory or self-interest.
Pros and cons of the cyber kill chain
The cyber death chain methodology’s goal is to lower attack risk for organizations by illuminating the normal progression of cybercrime. The kill chain can be used to evaluate current security protocols, spot gaps, and address security threats.
But since Lockheed Martin created the cyber death chain in 2011, both technology and cyberattacks have grown dramatically; malevolent hackers now employ a wide range of strategies, methods, and techniques. 2013 saw the discovery of model faults during the US Senate’s probe into the Target retail breach. Since the cyber death chain approach was unable to thwart the attack in this instance, other strategies for safeguarding businesses are required.
Additionally, the model is unable to recognize insider threats that have remote access, as a number of these dangers are now outside the purview of the cyber kill chain. Additionally, the cyber kill chain is not designed to thwart various attack vectors; rather, it is exclusively concerned with network security and stopping malware from being installed.
You should evaluate the virtual conduct of staff members and clients in order to spot threats that the cyber death chain model does not account for. Once a user’s behavior profile and daily activities are completed, anomalies like erratic network traffic or recurrently unsuccessful login attempts will be flagged.
It is advisable to implement a cyber kill chain as a component of a broader security strategy. This should cover a variety of tools and procedures, such as multi-factor authentication, password management, and enterprise antivirus and malware eradication software. Maintaining operational resilience is crucial for providing long-term, effective protection and thwarting Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) end-to-end intrusions.
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