Adversaries may search for private key certificate files on compromised systems for insecurely stored credentials. Private cryptographic keys and certificates are used for authentication, encryption/decryption, and digital signatures.(Citation: Wikipedia Public Key Crypto) Common key and certificate file extensions include: .key, .pgp, .gpg, .ppk., .p12, .pem, .pfx, .cer, .p7b, .asc.
Adversaries may also look in common key directories, such as <code>~/.ssh</code> for SSH keys on * nix-based systems or <code>C:\Users\(username)\.ssh\</code> on Windows. These private keys can be used to authenticate to Remote Services like SSH or for use in decrypting other collected files such as email.
Adversary tools have been discovered that search compromised systems for file extensions relating to cryptographic keys and certificates.(Citation: Kaspersky Careto)(Citation: Palo Alto Prince of Persia)
Some private keys require a password or passphrase for operation, so an adversary may also use Input Capture for keylogging or attempt to Brute Force the passphrase off-line.
View in MITRE ATT&CK®| Capability ID | Capability Description | Mapping Type | ATT&CK ID | ATT&CK Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cloud_hardware_security_module_(hsm) | Cloud Hardware Security Module (HSM) | technique_scores | T1552.004 | Private Keys |
Comments
Google Cloud's HSM may protect against adversary's attempts to compromise private key certificate files (e.g., .key, .pgp, .ppk, .p12). Variations of this technique are difficult to mitigate, so a partial score was granted for this control's medium to high coverage factor.
References
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| cloud_key_management | Cloud Key Management | technique_scores | T1552.004 | Private Keys |
Comments
This control's protection is specific to a minority of this technique's sub-techniques and procedure examples resulting in a Minimal Coverage score and consequently an overall score of Minimal.
References
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