Adversaries may impersonate a trusted person or organization in order to persuade and trick a target into performing some action on their behalf. For example, adversaries may communicate with victims (via Phishing for Information, Phishing, or Internal Spearphishing) while impersonating a known sender such as an executive, colleague, or third-party vendor. Established trust can then be leveraged to accomplish an adversary’s ultimate goals, possibly against multiple victims. In many cases of business email compromise or email fraud campaigns, adversaries use impersonation to defraud victims -- deceiving them into sending money or divulging information that ultimately enables Financial Theft. Adversaries will often also use social engineering techniques such as manipulative and persuasive language in email subject lines and body text such as `payment`, `request`, or `urgent` to push the victim to act quickly before malicious activity is detected. These campaigns are often specifically targeted against people who, due to job roles and/or accesses, can carry out the adversary’s goal. Impersonation is typically preceded by reconnaissance techniques such as Gather Victim Identity Information and Gather Victim Org Information as well as acquiring infrastructure such as email domains (i.e. Domains) to substantiate their false identity.(Citation: Crowdstrike BEC) There is the potential for multiple victims in campaigns involving impersonation. For example, an adversary may Compromise Accounts targeting one organization which can then be used to support impersonation against other entities.(Citation: VEC)
Monitor Mail.app activity or unified logs for anomalous SMTP usage, including mismatches between display name and authenticated AppleID or Exchange credentials. Detect use of third-party mail utilities that attempt to send on behalf of corporate identities.
Monitor SaaS mail platforms (Google Workspace, M365, Okta-integrated apps) for SendAs/SendOnBehalfOf operations where the delegated permissions are unusual or newly granted. Detect impersonation attempts where adversaries configure rules to auto-forward or auto-reply with impersonated content.
Monitor Office Suite applications (Outlook, Word mail merge, Excel macros) for abnormal automated message sending, especially when macros or scripts trigger email delivery. Detect patterns of impersonation language (urgent, payment, executive request) combined with anomalous execution of Office macros.
User Training
User Training involves educating employees and contractors on recognizing, reporting, and preventing cyber threats that rely on human interaction, such as phishing, social engineering, and other manipulative techniques. Comprehensive training programs create a human firewall by empowering users to be an active component of the organization's cybersecurity defenses. This mitigation can be implemented through the following measures: Create Comprehensive Training Programs: - Design training modules tailored to the organization's risk profile, covering topics such as phishing, password management, and incident reporting. - Provide role-specific training for high-risk employees, such as helpdesk staff or executives. Use Simulated Exercises: - Conduct phishing simulations to measure user susceptibility and provide targeted follow-up training. - Run social engineering drills to evaluate employee responses and reinforce protocols. Leverage Gamification and Engagement: - Introduce interactive learning methods such as quizzes, gamified challenges, and rewards for successful detection and reporting of threats. Incorporate Security Policies into Onboarding: - Include cybersecurity training as part of the onboarding process for new employees. - Provide easy-to-understand materials outlining acceptable use policies and reporting procedures. Regular Refresher Courses: - Update training materials to include emerging threats and techniques used by adversaries. - Ensure all employees complete periodic refresher courses to stay informed. Emphasize Real-World Scenarios: - Use case studies of recent attacks to demonstrate the consequences of successful phishing or social engineering. - Discuss how specific employee actions can prevent or mitigate such attacks.
Threat Intelligence Program
A Threat Intelligence Program enables organizations to proactively identify, analyze, and act on cyber threats by leveraging internal and external data sources. The program supports decision-making processes, prioritizes defenses, and improves incident response by delivering actionable intelligence tailored to the organization's risk profile and operational environment. This mitigation can be implemented through the following measures: Establish a Threat Intelligence Team: - Form a dedicated team or assign responsibility to existing security personnel to collect, analyze, and act on threat intelligence. Define Intelligence Requirements: - Identify the organization’s critical assets and focus intelligence gathering efforts on threats targeting these assets. Leverage Internal and External Data Sources: - Collect intelligence from internal sources such as logs, incidents, and alerts. Subscribe to external threat intelligence feeds, participate in ISACs, and monitor open-source intelligence (OSINT). Implement Tools for Automation: - Use threat intelligence platforms (TIPs) to automate the collection, enrichment, and dissemination of threat data. - Integrate threat intelligence with SIEMs to correlate IOCs with internal events. Analyze and Act on Intelligence: - Use frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK to map intelligence to adversary TTPs. - Prioritize defensive measures, such as patching vulnerabilities or deploying IOCs, based on analyzed threats. Share and Collaborate: - Share intelligence with industry peers through ISACs or threat-sharing platforms to enhance collective defense. Evaluate and Update the Program: - Regularly assess the effectiveness of the threat intelligence program. - Update intelligence priorities and capabilities as new threats emerge. *Tools for Implementation* Threat Intelligence Platforms (TIPs): - OpenCTI: An open-source platform for structuring and sharing threat intelligence. - MISP: A threat intelligence sharing platform for sharing structured threat data. Threat Intelligence Feeds: - Open Threat Exchange (OTX): Provides free access to a large repository of threat intelligence. - CIRCL OSINT Feed: A free source for IOCs and threat information. Automation and Enrichment Tools: - TheHive: An open-source incident response platform with threat intelligence integration. - Yeti: A platform for managing and structuring knowledge about threats. Analysis Frameworks: - MITRE ATT&CK Navigator: A tool for mapping threat intelligence to adversary behaviors. - Cuckoo Sandbox: Analyzes malware to extract behavioral indicators. Community and Collaboration Tools: - ISAC Memberships: Join industry-specific ISACs for intelligence sharing. - Slack/Discord Channels: Participate in threat intelligence communities for real-time collaboration.