Quick Guide to MITRE ATT&CK: Matrices, Tactics, Techniques & More

History of the MITRE ATT&CK Framework

The MITRE ATT&CK framework was developed by the MITRE Corporation, a not-for-profit organization that operates multiple federally funded research and development centers. It was created to provide a compendium of known attack tactics and techniques observed in real-world incidents. 

Its development began in 2013 when MITRE started compiling detailed descriptions of adversary behaviors based on studies of real-world attacks. The framework was publicly released in 2015 and has been regularly updated since.

Initially intended to improve post-attack analysis and forensics, the framework has evolved to serve broader security needs including threat detection, analysis, and simulation. It includes the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by threat actors, helping organizations to better understand security threats and strengthen their defenses.

MITRE ATT&CK vs the Cyber Kill Chain: What Is the Difference?

The MITRE ATT&CK framework and the Lockheed Martin Cyber Kill Chain model both provide methodologies for tracking and analyzing cyber attacks, but they differ in scope and detail. 

The Cyber Kill Chain model outlines the stages of a cyber attack from initial reconnaissance to exfiltration of data. It comprises seven phases: reconnaissance, weaponization, delivery, exploitation, installation, command and control (C2), and actions on objectives.

MITRE ATT&CK covers a broader spectrum, including post-compromise techniques and lateral movement within a network. MITRE’s approach provides a more in-depth, technique-specific insight across different platforms and is continually updated to reflect evolving threats, making it more dynamic and adaptable for modern security professionals.

MITRE ATT&CK Matrices

The framework includes several matrices related to different security contexts.

Enterprise Matrix

The Enterprise Matrix covers techniques used by adversaries to compromise enterprise networks (the networks of commercial, government, or other entities). It categorizes techniques under various tactics which represent the different stages of an attack, such as initial access, execution, persistence, and exfiltration.

Mobile Matrix

The Mobile Matrix addresses security threats to mobile environments, cataloging common adversary tactics and techniques affecting mobile platforms. It details how threat actors exploit vulnerabilities in mobile operating systems, apps, and services. Typical use cases include securing corporate mobile devices and developing secure mobile applications.

ICS Matrix

The Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Matrix focuses on techniques that affect industrial systems, commonly found in critical infrastructure sectors like energy, manufacturing, and transportation. It catalogs attack techniques that disrupt ICS operations, such as control process manipulation and ladder logic modification.

Understanding MITRE ATT&CK Tactics and Techniques

The MITRE ATT&CK framework is organized into matrices that outline different stages of an adversary’s attack lifecycle, known as tactics, and the specific methods they use, known as techniques.

Tactics

Tactics represent the “why” of an attack technique. They are the adversary’s tactical goals during an attack, such as achieving initial access, maintaining persistence, or executing malicious code. Each tactic category includes a range of techniques that adversaries use to achieve these goals.

Examples of tactics include:

• Initial access: Techniques that adversaries use to gain an initial foothold within a network.
• Execution: Techniques that result in adversary-controlled code running on a system.
• Persistence: Techniques that allow adversaries to maintain their foothold.
• Privilege escalation: Techniques that result in higher-level permissions.
• Defense evasion: Techniques aimed at avoiding detection.
• Credential access: Techniques for stealing credentials like account names and passwords.
• Discovery: Techniques used to gain information about the system and internal network.
• Lateral movement: Techniques that allow an adversary to move through a network.
• Collection: Techniques used to gather data of interest to the adversary.
• Exfiltration: Techniques for stealing data from the network.
• Impact: Techniques used to disrupt availability or compromise integrity.

Techniques

Techniques are the methods by which adversaries achieve their tactical goals. Each technique may be further broken down into sub-techniques, which provide more granular details on how an adversary accomplishes a particular method.

Examples of techniques include:

• Spear phishing (initial access): Sending targeted, malicious emails to gain access to a network.
• PowerShell (execution): Using PowerShell commands and scripts to execute code.
• Registry run keys / startup folder (persistence): Adding programs to startup folders or registry keys to maintain persistence.
• Exploitation for privilege escalation: Exploiting vulnerabilities to gain higher-level permissions.

Obfuscated files or information (defense evasion): Using complex encoding or encryption to avoid detection.

MITRE ATT&CK Primary Use Cases

The framework is useful for informing different aspects of an organization’s security strategy. It is commonly used for:

• Alert triage, threat detection and response: Assists security teams in prioritizing and responding to alerts by correlating them with known tactics, techniques, and procedures. By mapping alerts to ATT&CK techniques, teams can quickly understand the context of attacks and prioritize responses based on threat severity and potential impact.
• Threat hunting: Involves proactively searching for cyber threats that are typically not detected by traditional security measures. MITRE ATT&CK provides a structured methodology for this process, offering hunters a detailed guide to hypothesizing and investigating potential malicious activities within their environments.

Red teaming: Simulates realistic cyber attacks based on known adversary behaviors. The framework’s detailing of attack techniques helps these teams in planning and executing operations that test organizational defenses.

What Is MITRE Engenuity?

MITRE Engenuity is a tech foundation launched by the MITRE Corporation to advance its public interest work through partnerships with the private sector, academia, and government. Its purpose is to foster innovation and collaboration on challenges that demand public good solutions, including cybersecurity and next-generation technology like artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

The foundation focuses on projects that extend the capabilities of the MITRE ATT&CK framework. Key projects and initiatives include:

• Center for Threat-Informed Defense: A collaborative project to improve threat intelligence and defense strategies by sharing knowledge and resources among industry partners.
• ATT&CK Evaluations: Provides independent evaluations of security products and services using the ATT&CK framework to help organizations make informed decisions about their cybersecurity investments.

Engenuity Open Generation 5G: Promotes the secure development and deployment of 5G technologies by creating open, adaptable frameworks and best practices for industry stakeholders.

Implementing the MITRE ATT&CK Framework in Your Organization

Here’s an overview of how organizations can use MITRE ATT&CK.

1. Build Your Cyber Security Strategy

The MITRE ATT&CK framework helps organizations build a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. Mapping out potential attack paths and prioritizing defenses based on known methods allows teams to create a focused, effective security posture.

Strategies built around the framework are resilient, adaptable, and preemptive, anticipating attacks before they occur. This planning process is essential for maintaining the integrity and continuity of IT operations across all types of enterprises.

2. Run Adversary Emulation Plans

Adversary emulation involves simulating attacks to test defenses. Using the MITRE ATT&CK framework, organizations can map out scenarios that use known adversary tactics and techniques to challenge their security systems. This process helps identify weaknesses in defensive measures and drives improvements in incident response strategies.

Planning and executing such simulations provide critical insights into an organization’s readiness, enhancing overall cybersecurity health through continuous refinement and reassessment of tactics and controls.

3. Identify Gaps in Defenses

The MITRE ATT&CK framework allows organizations to review and identify vulnerabilities in their security infrastructure by comparing existing defenses against known adversary behaviors. By understanding where gaps exist, security teams can prioritize the relevant improvements and implement more effective mitigations.

This gap analysis is important for strengthening defenses against targeted attacks and improving the overall security landscape of an organization.

4. Integrate Threat Intelligence

Integrating threat intelligence with the MITRE ATT&CK framework improves an organization’s ability to anticipate and respond to threats. By aligning real-time intelligence about active threats with the framework’s structured data on adversary tactics and techniques, organizations can quickly adapt their security measures to address emerging threats.

This integration transforms reactive security postures into proactive defenses, significantly reducing the risk of successful cyber attacks and ensuring continuous security improvements.

Cynet Performs Strongly in 2023 MITRE Evaluation Results

Cynet emerged as a top performer in the 2023 MITRE ATT&CK Evaluation, achieving impressive results that placed it ahead of many other vendors in multiple crucial sectors.

Key achievements:

• Full Visibility and Detection: Cynet demonstrated a comprehensive detection capability, achieving 100% visibility and detection across each of the 19 MITRE ATT&CK steps evaluated.
• Exceptional Prevention Rate: The cybersecurity solution was adept at halting threats in their tracks, boasting a 100% prevention rate across the 9 tests MITRE conducted.
• High Rankings in Speed and Prevention: Cynet’s effectiveness in halting attacks was evident in its rankings. The product stood as the third-best vendor in terms of the number of prevented attacks and speed of prevention.
• Outstanding Detection Coverage: When it came to detecting threats, Cynet secured its position as the third-best vendor by achieving a detection coverage of 100% across the 143 substeps that were part of the MITRE ATT&CK® Evaluation.

Given the diverse threat landscape, cybersecurity solutions need to be agile, robust, and comprehensive. Cynet’s performance in the 2023 MITRE ATT&CK Evaluation is an affirmation of its capabilities and its commitment to providing advanced detection solutions for businesses and organizations.

Learn more about Cynet in the MITRE 2023 Evaluations