How we do it

Attack surface mapping

When conducting a black-box adversary simulation, the offensive operations team creates and updates a map of external assets and information related to the scope of work. They use open-source intelligence (OSINT) and active reconnaissance techniques alongside traditional penetration testing methods. The collected information includes publicly available data about the targets, external infrastructure details, and security applications in use. This comprehensive set of target objects with enriched information is continuously maintained.

Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs):

Tactic: Credential Theft

  • Technique: Phishing emails with malicious links or attachments to harvest credentials.
  • Procedure: Use spear-phishing campaigns targeting specific individuals within the organization, followed by credential harvesting tools and techniques.

Tactic: Lateral Movement

  • Technique: Exploit known vulnerabilities in unpatched systems to gain access to other parts of the network.
  • Procedure: Utilize tools like Mimikatz or BloodHound to exploit vulnerabilities, escalate privileges, and move laterally across the network undetected.

Tactic: Data Exfiltration

  • Technique: Encrypt sensitive data and exfiltrate it using covert channels.
  • Procedure: Employ custom malware or tools like FTP, HTTP, or DNS tunneling to bypass detection mechanisms and transfer data to external servers.

Tactic: Command and Control (C2)

  • Technique: Establish communication channels with compromised systems to control and manage malicious activities.
  • Procedure: Set up resilient and covert C2 infrastructure, such as domain generation algorithms (DGA), to maintain persistent access and evade detection.

Tactic: Evasion and Obfuscation

  • Technique: Modify malware or attack vectors to evade antivirus solutions and detection mechanisms.
  • Procedure: Use packers, obfuscation techniques, and polymorphic malware to alter file signatures, behaviors, and indicators of compromise (IoCs), making detection and analysis challenging.

TENENDO IN-HOUSE DEVELOPMENT

PRIVATE TACTICS, TECHNIQUES, AND PROCEDURES (TTPS)

Tenendo constantly upgrades its internal toolkit to stay on top of the latest tactics, techniques and procedures.

INTERNAL RESEARCH

Tenendo’s internal processes cover research for new initial access, lateral movement, escalation or persistence methods.

KNOWLEDGE BASE

The team supports a knowledge base for techniques used in previous engagements to ensure consistent success.

ON-DEMAND TTP DEVELOPMENT

Experience in offensive-specific development allows the offensive security team to emulate an arbitrary known attacker.

The Attack Lifecycle

Reconnaissance

The team conducts external reconnaissance of the target organisation and its public-facing infrastructure

Initial compromise

The offensive operations team conducts a variety of attacks ranging from social engineering to exploitation. The ultimate goal of the step is to obtain initial access to the organisation.

Persistence, escalation, and lateral movement

The team explores opportunities for expanding access and ensuring persistence.

Achieving the objective

The privileges and access obtained are leveraged to achieve the goal of the test, like exfiltration or critical infrastructure access.

Debriefing and purple teaming

After the report is written, the team conducts the debriefing and provides recommendations. If any allocated time is left, the team works with the blue team to develop new detections and mitigation strategies.