So this is the first of a sub series about security and hacking. By
understanding what the hacker does one can better understand how to address and
mitigate for said actions. Now this is general overview and I must qualify it
with this site provides information for the intent of allowing security
individuals to grow. How you use this information is in your hands and this
site and it’s author are not responsible for any outcome your actions may cause
so please THINK before you act.
Any “Attack” will be comprised of five stages. They are:
1.
Reconnaissance (what options do I have)
2.
Scanning (looking through the looking glass)
3.
Gaining Access (Chink in amour)
4.
Maintaining Access (think back door)
5.
Cleaning Tracks (Clean up in aisle one please)
Now I will cover all these in more detail later on but for now here is
a brief on each one.
Reconnaissance
OK think who and why; In technical terms this is your: target, Target
of Evaluation (TOE) or victim take your pick it is really all Symantec’s in
this stage. You need to know who (person or organization) you want to collect
data about. Now notice how I am not going into your motivation. This is your
issue, legal or illegal. Hopefully if you are reading this blog you are in the first
camp.
IMPORTANT SIDE NOTE: even if you think you are doing something legal in
that you were paid by someone in the company to do what you are doing. Verify
that they really work for the company (and no a business card does not count).
Also get EVERYTHING in writing on company letter head and signed by verifiable
company employees WHO HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO APPROVE ABOVE SAID ACTIONS. The guy
in the mail room can NOT approve penetration testing of a fortune 500
corporation or any corporation for that matter. I have known colleagues to get burned
for not doing their due diligence.
Scanning
OK you have chosen or been hired by Company X. The key to any
successful hacking endeavor is really simple: DATA. You want to acquire as much
data as you can about the technology infrastructure. Unlike Hollywood you need:
time, patience and resolve. This is the MOST time consuming phase and NO you do
not just run NMAP and say all done. To do this right you had better get you
journal ready and be prepared to spend a minimum of one week and more realistically
weeks or even months. In this stage preparation separates the amateurs from the
professionals.
Let me put it this way the best hackers and even security people are
the ones who stay in the shadows and are never seen or heard. They come in get
what they need and leave, they do not post about exploits they committed. They
may or may not like to teach others. But one thing is for sure they will NEVER
seek the spot light.
SO TAKE YOUR TIME AND THNK “QUIET AS A FIELD MOUSE WEARING REALLY QUIET
SHOES”.
Seriously guys scanning to so often rushed, botched or over looked. Go slow, think methodical, look at relationships Company X has with other
organizations for example.
Gaining Access
Right so you have been a good little scanning person and have reams of
data. The goal of the scanning it so find the logical door, crack or other such
entrance which nobody thought of and use it. Again think QUIET. Noise bad silence
good. Every situation will be different so do not assume what worked for X will
work for Y. Remember information security is dynamic (this is what makes it so
fun J
Maintaining Access
Got in? Great now it is time to leave that piece of paper in the door
lock or maybe that window latch oiled for easy re-entry. You worked hard to
make your hole now you want to hide it and be able to use it again. Be extra careful
though does the word Honey Pot mean anything to you? If not look it up.
Clearing Tracks
All done? OK time to clean the sand box. Logs, records,
bread crumbs etc. Think fine paint brush and not 500 HP lead blower. Cleaning
to much or too fast can be the same as putting up a neon sign saying “Eat at
Joes!”. Daisy Chaining and misdirection will be discussed later. It should be
noted that the reconnaissance phase it active here again in that perhaps things
have changed since got in and now you may need to clean using brush size 0
instead of 1. So DO YOUR HOMEWORK, and eat all your vegetables J
Well that is it for this postings, for further reading and
more coming soon….(promise)
Check out these site to help you in phase 2
http://www.darkreading.com/
(Cute)
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