2023's Top Cyberattacks You Must Know to Stay Safe

Advanced Persistent Threats (APT)

An Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) is a type of cyber-attack that is designed to remain undetected for a long time while attackers carry out their malicious activities. APTs are often used in espionage and sabotage, where attackers aim to acquire sensitive information or disrupt a system's operations.

APT attacks are typically long-term and persistent, using multiple techniques to evade detection and gain access to a target's systems or networks. These attacks are carried out by skilled and organized attackers, who can use various tactics to achieve their objectives.

Advanced Persistent Threat Tactics and Techniques

Port Hopping:

Port hopping is a technique used by attackers to evade detection and launch cyber-attacks. It involves randomly changing ports to avoid being detected by security systems. Attackers use port hopping to gain access to a system or network without being detected. This technique is often used in combination with other techniques such as IP spoofing, packet fragmentation, and encryption to make it harder for security systems to detect the attack. By randomly changing ports, attackers can bypass firewalls and intrusion detection systems that are designed to detect malicious traffic on specific ports.

Fast Flux DNS:

Fast Flux DNS is a technique used by cyber-attackers to hide malicious domains and IP addresses. It is a type of APT attack that uses a network of compromised computers to rapidly change the IP address associated with a domain name. This makes it difficult for security teams to detect and block the malicious activity. Fast Flux DNS attacks are often used in conjunction with other techniques such as phishing, malware distribution, and data exfiltration. By using this technique, attackers can remain undetected for longer periods of time while they carry out their malicious activities.

Data Exfiltration:

Data exfiltration is a type of cyber-attack that involves the unauthorized transfer of data from an organization's network to an external source. It is often carried out by threat actors who are able to gain access to a company's systems and then use various techniques to extract sensitive information. Data exfiltration attacks can be used for malicious purposes such as stealing intellectual property, financial data, or customer information. APT attacks prioritize undetected access and transfer of data over long periods of time. Attackers can use various techniques such as encryption, steganography, or exfiltration over covert channels to remain undetected while they extract data.

Advanced Persistent Threats are a significant threat to organizations of all types and sizes. Attackers can use various techniques and tactics to evade detection and carry out their malicious activities. To defend against APTs, organizations need to implement robust security measures, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and security information and event management (SIEM) tools. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments, including penetration testing and vulnerability scanning, to identify and address potential vulnerabilities in their systems and networks.

APT Cyber Kill Chain

The Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) Cyber Kill Chain is a model that describes the stages of an APT attack. It is a seven-step process that outlines the steps taken by attackers to gain access to a system, exploit it, and then cover their tracks. Understanding the APT Cyber Kill Chain is critical for organizations to detect and respond to threats quickly and effectively. It also provides insight into how attackers operate and can be used as a tool for developing better security strategies.

Attacking Phases

The seven phases of the APT Cyber Kill Chain are as follows:

1. Reconnaissance - In this phase, attackers gather information about the target organization, such as email addresses, public information, and employee information available on social media. This information is used to identify vulnerabilities that can be exploited in subsequent phases.

2. Weaponization - Once attackers have gathered information on the target, they create a malware payload that is tailored to exploit the identified vulnerabilities. They also create a backdoor that allows them to maintain access to the compromised system.

3. Delivery - In this phase, attackers deliver the weaponized malware to the victim via email (phishing or otherwise), web, or USB.

4. Exploitation - Once the victim opens the infected attachment/link or inserts an infected USB into a device, the malware is activated, and the attacker can exploit a vulnerability to execute code on the victim's system.

5. Installation - After the attacker has executed code on the victim's system, they install malware on the asset. This allows them to maintain persistent access to the system and continue to gather data.

6. Command & Control - At this point, the attacker has gained remote access to the device and network and begins looking for valuable information or specific private data. They use a command channel for remote manipulation of the victim.

7. Actions on Objectives - With 'Hands on Keyboard' access, intruders accomplish their original goal by stealing and transferring data outside the organization without being detected.

Defending Each Phase

To defend against APT attacks, organizations need to understand each phase of the APT Cyber Kill Chain and implement appropriate security measures to mitigate the risks.

1. Reconnaissance - Reducing the attack surface and limiting the amount of confidential or private information shared can help prevent attackers from gathering information about the organization.

2. Weaponization - User awareness training and education are critical in this phase. Employees should be trained to recognize phishing attacks and not open suspicious attachments or links.

3. Delivery - Technical controls such as mass storage restrictions, email filtering, and web proxy filtering can help prevent malware delivery.

4. Exploitation - Regular operating system and software patches, disabling unnecessary services, and proper web proxy filtering can help prevent exploitation of vulnerabilities.

5. Installation - Endpoint security, restricted user privileges, and administrator rights only for users who need it can help prevent installation of malware.

6. Command & Control - Advanced firewall, endpoint detection and response (EDR), anti-virus, and filtering outbound traffic can help detect and prevent command and control activities.

7. Actions on Objectives - Data loss prevention technologies can help minimize the damage if an attack makes it to this phase of the cyber kill chain. Proper data encryption, access controls, and network segmentation can also help limit the impact of data exfiltration.

The APT Cyber Kill Chain is a valuable tool that can help organizations understand the different stages of an APT attack and develop appropriate security measures to mitigate the risks. By implementing best practices for each phase, organizations can better protect themselves from APT attacks and minimize the potential impact of a breach.