Working with the MITRE ATT&CK knowledge base
Detective Work

© Photo by Volodymyr Hryshchenko on Unsplash
The MITRE ATT&CK website keeps information on attackers and intrusion techniques. We'll show you how to use that information to look for evidence of an attack.
Security has many facets and angles, and if you really want to be safe, you need to be aware of them all. One important skill is to become familiar with the logfiles on your system and the information they might reveal (see the box entitled "All About Logs"). But the attackers have become increasingly sophisticated in recent years, and to stay ahead of them, you need all the help you can get. Another important source of information is the MITRE ATT&CK website [1]. MITRE ATT&CK is a structured, globally available knowledge base describing tactics and attackers. In addition to tracking the various attack methods used in the wild, MITRE ATT&CK also provides clues that will help you look for evidence.
Searching for Evidence
It's best to learn from examples. One threat facing users today is attacks related to stealing system resources for the purposes of mining cryptocurrency. The techniques that hackers use are quite interesting and sometimes unconventional. The Rocke group is a good example. Rocke is a Chinese group of cyber criminals who specialize in malware attacks to gain access for crypto mining [2][3][4][5]. This group has been operating since 2018 and is dynamically developing its arsenal. The group evolves quickly and changes its techniques. Analysis of a Rocke group attack is not as easy as it might seem, but luckily, you can turn to the MITRE ATT&CK framework. Some of the techniques that MITRE ATT&CK associates with the Rocke group include:
- T1036.005 – Masquerading: Match Legitimate Name or Location
- T1053.003 – Scheduled Task/Job: Cron
- T1574.006 – Hijack Execution Flow: Dynamic Linker Hijacking
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.
-
What Open Source Pros Look for in a Job Role
Learn what professionals in technical and non-technical roles say is most important when seeking a new position.
-
Asahi Linux Runs into Issues with M4 Support
Due to Apple Silicon changes, the Asahi Linux project is at odds with adding support for the M4 chips.
-
Plasma 6.3.4 Now Available
Although not a major release, Plasma 6.3.4 does fix some bugs and offer a subtle change for the Plasma sidebar.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 First Release Candidate Now Available
Linux Torvalds has announced that the release candidate for the final release of the Linux 6.15 series is now available.
-
Akamai Will Host kernel.org
The organization dedicated to cloud-based solutions has agreed to host kernel.org to deliver long-term stability for the development team.
-
Linux Kernel 6.14 Released
The latest Linux kernel has arrived with extra Rust support and more.
-
EndeavorOS Mercury Neo Available
A new release from the EndeavorOS team ships with Plasma 6.3 and other goodies.
-
Fedora 42 Beta Has Arrived
The Fedora Project has announced the availability of the first beta release for version 42 of the open-source distribution.