Source URL: https://blog.talosintelligence.com/compartmentalized-threat-modeling/
Source: Cisco Talos Blog
Title: Defining a new methodology for modeling and tracking compartmentalized threats
Feedly Summary: How do you profile actors and defend your systems when multiple threat actors are working together? In Part 2, Cisco Talos proposes an extended Diamond Model to analyze complex relationships between attackers.
AI Summary and Description: Yes
**Summary:**
The text presents an in-depth analysis of the challenges posed by compartmentalized attack kill chains in cybersecurity, specifically emphasizing the need for an updated threat modeling approach. The proposed extension of the traditional Diamond Model of Intrusion Analysis introduces a “Relationship Layer” to better analyze multi-actor attacks, enhancing threat attribution and modeling accuracy. This is particularly relevant for IT security professionals dealing with sophisticated, multi-faceted cyber threats and emphasizes the importance of these developments in improving overall security posture.
**Detailed Description:**
The document discusses the evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats, where multiple distinct threat actors engage in a compartmentalized approach to cyber attacks. This shift complicates traditional methods of threat modeling and actor profiling, necessitating advanced methodologies that can accurately reflect these new dynamics. Key points from the text include:
– **Compartmentalized Attack Kill Chains:**
– Distinct phases (e.g., initial compromise, exploitation) are often executed by different threat actors.
– Traditional threat modeling struggles to accurately capture the complexity and nuance of these interactions.
– **Challenges with the Diamond Model:**
– The original Diamond Model, focusing on adversary capabilities, infrastructure, and victims, fails to incorporate the relational context between threat actors.
– This gap can lead to misattributions and inaccuracies in defensive strategies.
– **Proposed Relationship Layer:**
– An additional layer of analysis to the Diamond Model that articulates how different actors interact (e.g., “purchased from,” “handover from”).
– Enhances analysts’ ability to assess and understand the interconnectedness of various adversaries and their tactics.
– **Case Study – ToyMaker Campaign:**
– The documented investigation into the ToyMaker campaign illustrates how initial access was provided to a ransomware group (Cactus), showing the importance of multi-actor participation within a single attack.
– Detailed analysis of TTPs (tactics, techniques, procedures) and time gaps identified a potential handoff of access between two threat actors, substantiating the need for refined analytical models.
– **Integration with Cyber Kill Chain:**
– Linking the extended Diamond Model with the Cyber Kill Chain framework offers a clearer representation of how adversaries collaborate during different stages of an attack, improving threat intelligence and mitigation strategies.
– **Practical Implications for Security Teams:**
– Emphasizes the need for organizations to adapt their incident response and threat hunting strategies in light of this evolving threat landscape to better protect their assets.
– Suggests elevated vigilance towards initial access indicators that may precede more severe attacks, highlighting proactive strategies for defending against potential ransomware incidents.
By adopting a more nuanced approach highlighted through the extended Diamond Model, security professionals can enhance their threat modeling accuracy, thereby leading to more effective responses to today’s increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. This analysis is a crucial development for anyone involved in cybersecurity, as it provides tangible frameworks and methodologies to navigate the complexity of modern cyber operations.