Cyber Kill Chain: Understanding the Stages of a Cyber Attack

In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, understanding the tactics and techniques employed by threat actors is crucial. One such framework that provides valuable insights into the lifecycle of a cyber attack is the Cyber Kill Chain. This blog post will dive into the seven?different?stages of the Cyber Kill Chain, providing you with the knowledge to better defend against and mitigate these threats.

1. Reconnaissance (Information Gathering): The first stage of the Cyber Kill Chain involves gathering information about the target organization. Attackers may conduct passive reconnaissance by targeting public sources such as LinkedIn, Instagram, job postings, and partner documentation. They may also engage in active?reconnaissance, probing and scanning web?applications,?and IP addresses, and identifying the organization's cybersecurity defenses, including antivirus, network architectures, or endpoint detection and response (EDR) technologies.

2. Weaponization:?In this stage, the attacker develops malware that will?be used?for the initial access. The malware?is designed?to be lightweight and undetectable by the target organization's security measures, often embedded into an exploit or deliverable payload. These malware are designed to be sophisticated for bypassing and defense mechanisms employed in the form of AV/EDR and also replicating and spreading among multiple hosts to spread infection.

3. Delivery:?The attacker now delivers the exploit or payload to the victim.?This?can be done?through traditional methods like phishing emails containing malicious attachments or links to compromised websites. These websites may mimic legitimate ones or host malicious payloads to bypass email security scanning tools. Another method is connecting infected devices to machines or spreading it through network-based channels bypassing any defence mechanisms.

4. Exploitation:?When the exploit or delivered payload is triggered, the attacker attempts to execute code on the target system, gaining access or control.

5. Installation:?The initial malware stager is executed and runs on the compromised machine.?This?may involve?the use of?droppers, backdoors, or rootkits to establish a persistent presence on the system.

6. Command and Control:?The attacker establishes a remote access capability to the compromised machine, allowing it to maintain control and potentially move laterally within the network. Advanced groups may utilize multiple?variants of their malware?to ensure continued access if one is discovered and contained. This is the stage where the infected machine becomes what is popularly called C2 or a bot system through which other attacks are launched in the internal network.

7. Actions on Objectives:?The final stage of the Cyber Kill Chain is the attacker's ultimate goal, which can include data exfiltration, obtaining the highest level of access possible, or deploying ransomware.

It's important to note that the Cyber Kill Chain is not a linear process; adversaries may repeat certain stages, such as?reconnaissance, to identify additional targets and vulnerabilities to exploit, ultimately achieving their objectives.

Our primary objective as defenders is to disrupt the attacker's progress at the earliest possible stage, ideally during the reconnaissance or weaponization phases. By understanding the Cyber Kill Chain and implementing robust security measures, organizations can enhance their resilience against these sophisticated cyber threats.

Happy securing the world!!