Introduction

Modern corporations implement robust, multi-layered network defenses to protect their valuable digital assets. Despite this, skilled hackers at times successfully penetrate these defenses using a variety of sophisticated methods and tools. This detailed examination outlines the common strategies and tactics hackers use to bypass the strong security measures in place within large organizations.

Reconnaissance

Before any attack is executed, hackers spend considerable time gathering information about their target. This phase, known as reconnaissance, involves:

• Public Information Harvesting: Collecting data from public records, websites, and social media that can reveal organizational structure, employee details, & network information.
• Phishing Attempts: Sending crafted emails to employees to gain access credentials or to map out the organization’s network through careless clicks.
• Network Scanning: Using tools to remotely scan the corporation’s network to identify open ports, services running, and vulnerable applications.

Weaponization and Delivery

After reconnaissance, hackers create or adapt tools tailored to exploit identified vulnerabilities, a process called weaponization. They then deliver these tools to the target system:

• Malware Embedding: Infecting documents or software with malware that will execute upon opening or installation.
• Exploit Kits: Utilizing a package of exploits that can be delivered via compromised websites known to be visited by employees.
• Spear Phishing Campaigns: Sending targeted, personalized emails to specific individuals with the aim of tricking them into executing the malicious payload.

Exploitation

Following the successful delivery of their weaponized payload, hackers begin the exploitation phase:

• Software Vulnerabilities: Exploiting known but unpatched vulnerabilities in widely used software to gain unauthorized access.
• Zero-Day Exploits: Taking advantage of undisclosed vulnerabilities in software or hardware before the vendor has released a fix.
• Credential Exploitation: Using obtained credentials to access restricted areas of the network.

Installation

Upon exploitation, hackers establish a foothold within the system:

• Backdoors: Installing software that allows for persistent access to the network, bypassing normal authentication processes.
• Rootkits: Deploying tools that grant them privileged access and help them remain undetected within the system.
• Tunneling: Creating encrypted channels that facilitate the transfer of data and commands, often undetected by standard network monitoring.

Command and Control (C2)

Hackers set up a command and control infrastructure to maintain communication with the compromised system:

• Establishing C2 Servers: Using external servers to communicate with the malware or backdoors installed on the compromised network.
• Botnets: Controlling large networks of compromised computers (bots) to carry out commands en masse.
• Data Exfiltration Channels: Configuring methods to stealthily extract data from the corporation to the attacker’s systems.

Lateral Movement

Once inside, hackers move laterally across the network to reach valuable data:

• Privilege Escalation: Exploiting system or network flaws to gain higher-level access rights.
• Pivoting: Using a compromised system to move to another system, getting around network segmentation.
• Pass-the-Hash: Utilizing stolen password hashes to authenticate to other systems without needing to know the actual passwords.

Data Exfiltration

The ultimate goal is often to exfiltrate data:

• Stealth Techniques: Slowly moving data in small amounts or during off-hours to avoid detection by Data Loss Prevention (DLP) systems.
• Encryption: Encrypting stolen data to bypass content inspection tools.
• Misdirection: Creating decoy network traffic to distract attention from the actual data exfiltration.

Conclusion

Despite robust defenses, hackers craft intricate strategies to breach large corporation networks. Understanding the steps and methods involved in such breaches is essential for security teams to properly plan, implement, and manage countermeasures. Ongoing vigilance, regular updates, employee training, and rigorous testing of security systems are imperative to stay one step ahead of hackers.