The document provides comprehensive guidance on Living Off The Land (LOTL) techniques and network defense weaknesses, authored by the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), National Security Agency (NSA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and other international agencies. It highlights the increasing use of LOTL techniques by cyber threat actors, including state-sponsored actors from China and Russia, to compromise critical infrastructure organizations. The guide emphasizes the importance of detecting and mitigating LOTL activities, offering recommendations for network defenders and software manufacturers.
Living Off The Land
LOTL techniques involve cyber threat actors leveraging native tools and processes on systems to evade detection. The document outlines common LOTL techniques used by threat actors and the need for organizations to enhance their cyber defense capabilities to counter these tactics effectively.
Network Defense Weaknesses
The guide identifies gaps in network defense capabilities, such as inadequate incident response practices, lack of robust identity and credential access management, and insufficient control over remote access tools. It stresses the importance of applying best practices for securing remote access software and implementing incident response and remediation strategies.
Best Practice Recommendations
Recommendations for network defenders include enhancing detection capabilities, hardening systems, and implementing tailored detection examples for specific tools like NTDSUtil.exe and PSExec.exe. Additionally, the document provides remediation guidance and urges software manufacturers to prioritize secure by design principles to reduce software vulnerabilities that enable LOTL techniques.
In conclusion, the document serves as a comprehensive resource for organizations to understand and combat the evolving threat landscape of LOTL techniques. By following the guidance provided, network defenders can strengthen their defenses against cyber threats and mitigate the risks associated with malicious activities leveraging LOTL tactics.
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