Cyber Deception 101 - Taking the Fight to the Enemy Using Canary Files
"In the dynamic battlefield of cybersecurity, where threats evolve faster than shadows shift, the deployment of Cyber Deception stands as a beacon of innovation. It's not about building higher walls but creating a maze that ensnares the adversary, turning their strengths into vulnerabilities. Begin the journey of deception, and let curiosity be your guide as you explore the art of making the unseen seen and the hunter hunted. Dive into the world of Cyber Deception, where every false step you orchestrate for an attacker illuminates the path to your true defenses." - -Lawrence Cruciana, CorpInfoTech President and Founder - CISSP, CISM, CISA, GCCC, CMMC-RPA
Canary Files Acts as a Cornerstone of an Effective Cyber Deception Program
In the realm of cybersecurity within a modern midmarket organization, a canary file acts as a cornerstone of an effective cyber deception program. These are decoy files placed strategically within an organization's IT environment, designed to mimic valuable assets. Their purpose is to lure potential attackers, acting as early warning systems when accessed. By monitoring these files for unauthorized interactions, businesses can detect breaches early, gaining critical time to respond and mitigate potential threats. Implementing canary files is a proactive defense measure, allowing companies to stay one step ahead of cybercriminals by turning their intrusion attempts into opportunities for detection and defense.
Canary files and their related cousins canary tokens are innovative cybersecurity tools designed to alert organizations of potential breaches or unauthorized access by acting as digital tripwires. These mechanisms are particularly effective in the early detection of malicious hacker activities, providing an additional layer of security that complements traditional defense mechanisms like firewalls and intrusion detection systems.
Canary Files: These are decoy files placed strategically within an organization's network. These files are crafted to appear valuable to attackers, such as documents labeled as sensitive financial data, passwords, or confidential plans. However, they are actually monitored closely for any unauthorized access. When an attacker interacts with these files, the organization is immediately alerted. This not only helps in identifying the breach but also in tracking the attacker's movements within the network, providing valuable intelligence on the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) being used.
Canary Tokens: Similar to Canary Files, these are a more sophisticated variant of the same concept. They are small, web-based pieces of code, web devices, or scripts that trigger an alert when accessed. These tokens can be embedded in various types of resources, such as URLs, email addresses, API keys, or even DNS records. When a hacker stumbles upon a token and triggers it—by visiting a URL, for example—the organization receives an alert along with details like the IP address, time, and the type of access attempted. This immediate notification allows for a swift response to the intrusion attempt.
Implementing canary files and tokens within an enterprise environment offers several benefits. Firstly, they serve as an early warning system, detecting potential intruders and potentially malicious or unauthorized insider threats, that might bypass other security measures. Secondly, they are relatively low-cost and easy to deploy, making them accessible for organizations of varying sizes and security budgets. Thirdly, they can be customized to fit the specific context of the organization, increasing the likelihood of deceiving attackers.
Moreover, canary files and tokens contribute to a broader defensive strategy known as "deception technology." By creating a deceptive environment, organizations can mislead attackers, waste their resources, and gather intelligence for law enforcement and future defense strategies. This approach not only helps in mitigating the impact of an attack but also enhances the overall security posture of the organization by making it a less attractive target.
The overall practice of deception technologies is best adopted using a framework-based approach. One such framework is the MITRE Engage Framework. Engage is an innovative framework developed by MITRE, aimed at enhancing cybersecurity through adversary engagement, deception, and denial. It empowers cybersecurity professionals, decision-makers, and vendors to effectively plan and execute strategies against cyber threats. Engage leverages real-world adversary behaviors to inform and guide defensive measures, promoting a proactive stance in cyber defense.
Framework Based Approach
Incorporating canary files and tokens within an enterprise organization as part of its overall cybersecurity strategy provides a valuable tool to detect potentially malicious activity that may be otherwise missed or overlooked by other security tools. One method that has been proven to be successful in maximizing the value of canary files and tokens is to utilize a framework-based approach in the deployment of these and similar Adversarial Engagement technologies.
The importance of using framework-based approaches in an organization’s overall cybersecurity strategy has been covered extensively on this blog. One of the leading Adversarial Engagement frameworks is the MITRE Engage framework. This framework, launched by MITRE, emphasizes the importance of cyber adversary engagement, deception, and denial activities in defending against cyber attacks. It provides a structured approach to cyber defense, focusing on making attackers' efforts more costly and less valuable, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of security measures including the use of canary files and tokens.
The MITRE Engage framework is built upon the concept that network compromise, while undesirable, is often inevitable. The goal then shifts from mere prevention to engagement, where defenders use methodologies to ensure that such compromises do not lead to significant loss. By implementing canary files and tokens as part of this strategy, organizations can create deceptive targets that, when interacted with by an adversary, reveal their presence and tactics. This method aligns with Engage's emphasis on deception and engagement, turning the tables on attackers by making every wrong move a potential for detection. Canary files and tokens are one method that is covered by Engage.
The framework is structured around five key activities: Prepare, Expose, Affect, Elicit, and Understand, with canary files and tokens fitting primarily into the "Expose" category by revealing adversary actions, and "Understand," by providing insights into their tactics. This strategic use of deception and engagement helps defenders not just to detect intrusions but to collect intelligence that informs their broader security posture and strategy.
Main Takeaways
Canary Files and Canary Tokens are effective tools for detecting potentially malicious hacker activity within an enterprise organization. By serving as digital tripwires, they provide early warnings of intrusions, allowing for timely responses to mitigate threats. Their integration into an organization's cybersecurity strategy enhances detection capabilities and contributes to a more robust defense against cyber threats.
The incorporation of canary files and tokens within the MITRE Engage framework's broader context of adversary engagement and deception offers a nuanced and proactive approach to cybersecurity. This alignment emphasizes not just the detection of threats but also the gathering of actionable intelligence, ultimately enhancing an organization's ability to defend against and adapt to cyber threats. The strategic integration of such tools within the comprehensive approach of an adversarial engagement framework underscores the evolving nature of cyber defense, where understanding the adversary and leveraging their vulnerabilities becomes key to strengthening security measures.
CorpInfoTech (Corporate Information Technologies) provides small to mid-market organizations with expert I.T. services, including security assessment, cybersecurity penetration tests, managed services (MSP), firewall management, and vulnerability management. CorpInfoTech can help organizations, quantify, create, refine, and mitigate the risks presented by business threatening disasters in whatever form they may be disguised.
