Aligning Malware Analysis Stages with the MITRE ATT&CK Framework: A Unified Approach to Threat Detection and Response

Background: In incident response, knowing how to analyze malware is crucial. Relying only on sandboxes to study malware behavior often isn't enough. Sandboxes might miss important details that could be vital for understanding how the malware affects your system.

Malware analysis is both a skill and an art. It involves breaking down the process into clear stages to get a full picture of how the malware works. This is similar to how you would investigate a potential threat actor in your environment. By carefully examining each stage of the malware, you can uncover critical information that might be missed if you only use automated tools like sandboxes.

Analyze Stages: The first stage is "Execution". In this stage, if we look at the MITRE ATT&CK framework, it aligns with the "Execution" techniques used by threat actors. The malware developer must decide how and when the malware will first execute on the machine. This initial execution sets up the necessary conditions for any subsequent payloads. Understanding execution methods—such as JavaScript, PowerShell, and other execution types—is crucial.

The next stage is "Evasion". This stage is particularly interesting because the malware developer must figure out how to avoid detection by antivirus (AV) systems and endpoint detection and response (EDR/XDR) tools. Similarly, threat actors within a system will attempt to evade detection by disabling AV protections through methods like Group Policy Objects or system calls.

Following that is the "Persistence" stage. Here, the malware developer must determine how the malware will persist on the system even after a reboot. Threat actors face the same challenge, needing to ensure their presence remains even if a compromised account is deleted.

The "Command and Control (C2)" stage involves the malware contacting a C2 server to download the main payload or additional code, which is then executed on the system. Threat actors also face this challenge, as they need to drop their tools and manage their operations remotely.

The next stage is "Reconnaissance". In this stage, the malware attempts to gather information about the system, such as network details, connected devices, and other system characteristics to build its operational profile. Threat actors perform similar reconnaissance to understand the system’s privileges and structure.

The "Payload Build or Drop" stage is where the core functionality of the malware is either dropped or compiled onto the system. This is a critical step where the actual malicious components are established.

Finally, the "Exfiltration" stage involves the malware sending out stolen data to an external location.

Each of these stages reflects both the malware’s actions and the corresponding strategies that threat actors use, emphasizing the importance of understanding and analyzing each step to effectively respond to and mitigate threats.

Conclusion: Malware analysis is often likened to an art form. This topic will delve into the intricate world of malware, providing a deep understanding of how chunks of malicious code execute. By exploring these concepts, you’ll gain insights into the nature of malware, enabling you to develop effective defenses and countermeasures to protect against such threats.