In the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape, threat actors are constantly seeking new ways to bypass defenses. One increasingly prevalent and challenging technique involves exploiting tools and functionalities that are already present and considered safe within an organization’s network. Instead of bringing in new, easily detectable malware, attackers are using the trusted tools and utilities that systems rely on for legitimate operations, turning them into instruments for malicious purposes.
This approach is a powerful technique because these built-in or widely accepted tools are often signed by legitimate vendors, pre-approved by security policies, and frequently used by administrators and regular users alike. Their presence and normal activity can easily mask nefarious actions, making detection incredibly difficult for traditional security measures focused on blocking unknown or explicitly malicious files. Attackers can leverage scripting languages, remote administration tools, and other standard utilities already on a machine to execute commands, move laterally across networks, escalate privileges, and exfiltrate sensitive data – all while appearing to use legitimate software.
This presents a significant challenge for security teams. Distinguishing between legitimate use of a tool and its abuse for malicious activity requires looking beyond simple file signatures or process names. Effective defense necessitates a deeper understanding of expected system behavior and the ability to detect anomalies. Advanced techniques like behavioral analysis and sophisticated monitoring through endpoint detection and response (EDR) systems are becoming crucial. These tools help security professionals identify suspicious sequences of actions or unusual parameters used with otherwise benign applications. Adapting digital defenses to recognize the signs of trusted tools being weaponized is essential to staying ahead of these sophisticated attack techniques. The focus must shift from simply blocking known bads to understanding and monitoring activity patterns.
Source: https://blog.talosintelligence.com/when-legitimate-tools-go-rogue/
