MITRE ATT&CK Persistence (TA0003)

The MITRE ATT&CK Persistence (TA0003) tactic details methods adversaries use to ensure continuous access to compromised systems, even after events like reboots or credential changes. Persistence techniques include creating or modifying legitimate accounts, manipulating startup programs, or embedding malicious code in trusted applications. This persistence allows attackers to maintain long-term access, enabling them to continue…

The MITRE ATT&CK Persistence (TA0003) tactic details methods adversaries use to ensure continuous access to compromised systems, even after events like reboots or credential changes. Persistence techniques include creating or modifying legitimate accounts, manipulating startup programs, or embedding malicious code in trusted applications. This persistence allows attackers to maintain long-term access, enabling them to continue surveillance, data theft, or further exploitation over time.

Key techniques include exploiting system services, web shells, scheduled tasks, and cloud services.

More details can be found here.

Key Techniques:

Account Manipulation: Attackers create or modify system accounts to guarantee access. They may create backdoor accounts, assign themselves high privileges, or leverage existing accounts.
Startup and Boot Modifications: Adversaries may change system boot sequences or add malicious programs to startup folders or scripts, ensuring that their malware is executed each time the system boots or reboots.
Scheduled Tasks/Jobs: Attackers can establish persistent access by scheduling tasks to run at specific times or system events. This tactic allows for the repeated execution of malicious code.
Browser Extensions: Malicious browser extensions may be installed to ensure attackers maintain a foothold in web environments, allowing them to access sensitive information or control web activities.
Application Layer Persistence: Some attackers hide in application-level code, embedding malicious commands within legitimate software, browser extensions, or user-level applications, ensuring long-term access that is harder to detect.
Web Shells: In web server environments, adversaries may upload or create web shells that allow them to execute commands remotely, maintaining access even if other security measures are implemented.
Cloud Services: In cloud environments, attackers can use compromised credentials to establish persistence through cloud APIs, applications, or services. By exploiting weaknesses in cloud configurations, they can maintain access across multiple cloud platforms and services.

Mitigation Strategies:

To reduce the risk of persistence tactics, organizations can adopt several key measures:

Account Monitoring and Controls: Implement strict controls over account creation, privilege assignment, and modifications. Regularly audit system accounts for unusual activity or unauthorized access.
System Integrity Monitoring: Continuously monitor for changes in system configurations, such as startup programs, scheduled tasks, and boot sequences. Use tools to detect modifications in critical files and services.
Restrict Script and Task Permissions: Limit user access to creating or modifying scheduled tasks, scripts, and system services. This minimizes opportunities for adversaries to exploit legitimate functions for persistence.
Cloud Service Hardening: Apply robust security configurations and regularly audit cloud access permissions. Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for cloud services and monitor API usage to detect abnormal activity.

These actions help organizations identify and neutralize persistence techniques, ensuring that attackers cannot maintain a foothold in their environment.

For more details on how persistence is achieved by adversaries, visit the full MITRE ATT&CK Persistence page here.