What is Threat Hunting in cybersecurity?
Threat hunting in cybersecurity refers to the proactive search for signs of malicious activity within an organization's network or systems. Unlike traditional security measures that react to known threats using predefined rules and signatures (like antivirus software or firewalls), threat hunting involves actively seeking out potential threats that may have bypassed these defenses.
Threat hunters typically use a combination of advanced analytics, threat intelligence, and deep knowledge of the organization's environment to identify unusual patterns or behaviors that could indicate a security breach or the presence of malware.
Types of Threat Hunting
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Structured threat hunting
Structured threat hunting follows a systematic approach, often guided by known Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) or predefined tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) associated with specific threats. This type of hunting leverages threat intelligence and data analysis tools to search for these known indicators within the organization's environment.
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Unstructured threat hunting
Unstructured threat hunting is more exploratory and relies heavily on the threat hunter’s intuition, experience, and expertise. Instead of starting with specific indicators, the hunter examines the environment for anything that seems unusual or out of the ordinary, investigating anomalies that could indicate malicious activity.
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Situational or hypothesis-driven threat hunting
In the implementation phase, developers write the code and incorporate secure coding practices like input validation and proper error handling. Developers can use code analysis tools for secure coding practices and identify vulnerabilities before the code is deployed. Code reviews and testing tools can ensure that the code adheres to security standards.
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Intel-driven threat hunting
This approach is closely tied to structured hunting but focuses more on using the latest threat intelligence to drive the hunting process. Intel-driven hunting involves using specific, timely threat intelligence about active campaigns or emerging threats and searching the environment for related indicators or behaviors.
The Threat Hunting Process
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01. Preparation
The process begins with thorough preparation, which involves setting up the necessary tools and defining the scope of the hunt. The specific environment or systems to be monitored are identified, and resources like threat intelligence, logging data, and access to relevant tools (such as SIEM and endpoint detection solutions) are gathered. During this stage, the team establishes clear goals for the threat hunt, ensuring that all team members are trained and aligned with the objectives. Additionally, a hypothesis or scenario is defined that the hunt will focus on, such as detecting lateral movement or identifying signs of malware persistence.
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02. Hypothesis generation
In this step, a hypothesis is generated to guide the threat hunt. This hypothesis is an educated guess based on the organization's threat landscape, past incidents, and knowledge of the environment. For example, the hypothesis might suggest that an attacker could be using compromised credentials to access sensitive data or that malware might have persisted in the network through unauthorized remote access tools. The hypothesis serves as a starting point for the investigation, providing direction while remaining flexible enough to adapt as new information is uncovered during the hunt.
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03. Data collection
Once the hypothesis is established, the next step is to collect relevant data from various sources across the organization. This includes gathering logs, network traffic data, and endpoint activity. Tools like SIEMs, EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response), and network monitoring systems are used to aggregate and analyze this data. It’s essential that the data collected is comprehensive, covering all potential vectors and areas of interest, such as endpoints, network traffic, and cloud environments. The goal is to have a rich dataset that will allow for thorough analysis in the subsequent steps.
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04. Data analysis
With the data collected, the focus shifts to analyzing it to identify patterns, anomalies, and indicators of compromise (IOCs) that align with the hypothesis. This step involves both automated tools and manual analysis to sift through large volumes of data. The analysis looks for unusual patterns, such as unexpected outbound network connections, abnormal user behavior, or suspicious file modifications. By correlating data across multiple sources, potential threats can be identified that might not be obvious from a single dataset. If needed, the hypothesis may be refined based on the findings, narrowing the focus of the investigation.
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05. Investigation
After identifying suspicious activities during the analysis, an in-depth investigation is conducted to confirm whether they are legitimate threats or false positives. This involves a deep dive into the suspicious activity to understand its nature, scope, and potential impact. The investigation might involve tracing the origins of the activity, determining if it is part of a broader attack, and assessing the potential damage or data exfiltration. If the threat is confirmed, the threat hunting team may engage with other teams, such as incident response or forensic analysis. The findings are documented, and decisions are made on the next steps based on the outcome of the investigation.
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06. Response and mitigation
Once a threat is confirmed, the next step is to respond and mitigate it to prevent further damage. This involves collaborating with the incident response team to contain and eradicate the threat from the environment. Mitigation measures might include isolating affected systems, revoking compromised credentials, and applying security patches. The actions taken are communicated to relevant stakeholders within the organization to ensure that everyone is aware of the situation and the steps being taken to resolve it.
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07. Learning and improvement
The final step is to use the insights gained from the threat hunting process to improve the organization’s security posture. This includes updating threat intelligence feeds, detection rules, and security controls based on the findings. A post-hunt analysis is conducted to identify areas for improvement in the threat hunting process, tools, or techniques. The lessons learned are shared with the broader security team to enhance future threat hunts. Documentation of the hunt is also important for historical reference and compliance purposes.
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08. Automation and feedback loop
To enhance efficiency and effectiveness, automation is introduced into the threat hunting process, particularly for repetitive tasks like data collection and initial analysis. A feedback loop is established where insights from completed hunts inform future hunts, refining hypotheses and improving detection capabilities. The process is continuously updated with the latest threat intelligence and observed threats to ensure it remains effective against evolving cyber threats.
Discover OffSec's Threat Hunting certification and training course. Our industry-leading program is designed to empower both individual learners and teams, providing the critical knowledge and hands-on experience needed to excel in identifying and neutralizing advanced threats. Equip yourself with the expertise to stay ahead in this rapidly evolving field and become a proactive defender of your organization’s security.
What is the goal of threat hunting?
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Early detection of advanced threats
The goal is to identify and detect threats that traditional security tools, like firewalls and antivirus software, may have missed. These could include sophisticated attacks such as Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), zero-day vulnerabilities, or insider threats. By actively searching for signs of these threats, threat hunters can identify them before they escalate into full-blown security incidents, reducing the risk of severe damage to the organization.
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Minimize dwell time
Reduce the amount of time that a threat actor remains undetected within the network. Dwell time is the period between when a threat actor first gains access to the network and when they are finally detected. The longer a threat actor remains undetected, the more damage they can potentially cause. Minimizing dwell time is critical for limiting the impact of a breach.
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Improve incident response
Threat hunting generates actionable intelligence that can guide and accelerate the incident response process. When an incident occurs, having detailed information about the threat can drastically improve response time and effectiveness. Threat hunters often uncover the root cause, methods of entry, and the scope of an attack, which helps in formulating a targeted response.
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Strengthen security posture
Continuously improve the organization’s security defenses by identifying weaknesses and vulnerabilities that could be exploited by threat actors. Threat hunting helps to refine and strengthen security controls.
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Enhance threat intelligence
Generate and refine threat intelligence by discovering new indicators of compromise (IOCs), tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by attackers. This information is vital for improving future detection and prevention efforts.
Importance of threat hunting training
Threat hunting training is crucial because it equips cybersecurity professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to proactively identify and neutralize advanced threats that traditional security measures might miss. By mastering the techniques of threat hunting, individuals and teams can enhance their ability to detect subtle indicators of compromise, reduce the time threats go undetected, and ultimately strengthen the organization's overall security posture. This training ensures that security teams are not just reacting to incidents, but actively seeking out and preventing potential breaches before they cause significant damage.
Benefits of threat hunting
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Identifying gaps in security tools
One specific benefit of threat hunting is to test the effectiveness of current security tools and processes by identifying threats that have slipped through existing defenses. This allows the organization to assess and enhance the tools and strategies in place.
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Validating threat intelligence
Another benefit of threat hunting is to validate the accuracy and relevance of the organization’s threat intelligence feeds. By hunting for threats based on the latest intelligence, the organization can ensure that its intelligence sources are providing actionable and timely information.
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Reducing false positives
A focused benefit of threat hunting is to reduce the number of false positives generated by automated detection systems. By manually investigating alerts, threat hunters can refine the criteria and thresholds used by automated systems, leading to more accurate and meaningful alerts.
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Testing incident response readiness
Threat hunting can also be used as a way to test the organization’s incident response readiness. By simulating or hunting for specific threat scenarios, the team can evaluate how prepared they are to respond effectively to real incidents.
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Building a proactive security culture
Regular threat hunting fosters a culture of proactivity within the organization. Instead of relying solely on reactive measures after an incident occurs, the organization becomes more forward-thinking, anticipating threats and taking preemptive actions to secure its environment. This proactive mindset can permeate throughout the organization, leading to better overall security practices and awareness.
Threat Hunter Training with OffSec: Secure from the Start
OffSec is a globally recognized and trusted provider of industry-leading cybersecurity training and certification programs. Among the comprehensive suite of learning paths that help learners adopt basic cybersecurity-adjacent concepts and cultivate the mindset necessary for a successful cybersecurity career, OffSec offers secure software development training for developers and security practitioners. Organizations worldwide turn to OffSec to enhance the skills and capabilities of their cybersecurity and developer teams in the following ways:
Master the art of proactive defense: OffSec's foundational threat hunting training
OffSec is a globally recognized and trusted provider of industry-leading training and certification programs for security teams, including threat hunting. Organizations worldwide turn to OffSec to enhance the skills and capabilities of their teams in the following ways:
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TH-200: Foundational Threat Hunting
This course and it’s accompanying certification trains security professionals as proactive threat detectives. Throughout the course, learners gain an understanding of the foundational aspects of threat hunting, such as the tactics of diverse threat actors, and gain hands-on experience analyzing data to uncover hidden threats. OffSec Certified Threat Hunters (OSTH) can protect organizations by remaining ready to disrupt attacks and safeguard assets.
Additional resources
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Ongoing professional development
OffSec's training programs are not limited to initial certification. They offer foundational to advanced courses and continuous learning opportunities to support the ongoing professional development of penetration testing teams. This enables organizations to provide their teams with the resources and support they need to stay at the forefront of the penetration testing field. Through OffSec's training programs, organizations can establish a culture of continuous learning and improvement within their teams.
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Global community and support
By participating in OffSec's training programs, organizations gain access to a global community of like-minded professionals. This community provides valuable networking opportunities, knowledge sharing, and support channels. Organizations can leverage this community to exchange ideas, collaborate on challenging problems, and stay connected with the latest trends and best practices in the threat hunting domain.
Threat hunting training from OffSec is available through several subscription plans, designed to suit different training needs.
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