Adversaries may buy and/or steal code signing certificates that can be used during targeting. Code signing is the process of digitally signing executables and scripts to confirm the software author and guarantee that the code has not been altered or corrupted. Code signing provides a level of authenticity for a program from the developer and a guarantee that the program has not been tampered with.(Citation: Wikipedia Code Signing) Users and/or security tools may trust a signed piece of code more than an unsigned piece of code even if they don't know who issued the certificate or who the author is.
Prior to Code Signing, adversaries may purchase or steal code signing certificates for use in operations. The purchase of code signing certificates may be done using a front organization or using information stolen from a previously compromised entity that allows the adversary to validate to a certificate provider as that entity. Adversaries may also steal code signing materials directly from a compromised third-party.
View in MITRE ATT&CK®| Capability ID | Capability Description | Mapping Type | ATT&CK ID | ATT&CK Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| action.hacking.variety.Unknown | Unknown | related-to | T1588.003 | Code Signing Certificates | |
| value_chain.development.variety.Other | The variety of development required is known, but is not listed. | related-to | T1588.003 | Code Signing Certificates |
| Capability ID | Capability Description | Mapping Type | ATT&CK ID | ATT&CK Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cloud_hsm | Cloud Hardware Security Module (HSM) | technique_scores | T1588.003 | Code Signing Certificates |
Comments
Google Cloud's HSM may protect against adversary's attempts to compromise code signing certificates that can used during targeting to run compromised code and other tampered executables. 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 | T1588.003 | Code Signing Certificates |
Comments
This control manages symmetric and asymmetric cryptographic keys for cloud services and protects against stealing credentials, certificates, keys from the organization.
References
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| cloud_storage | Cloud Storage | technique_scores | T1588.003 | Code Signing Certificates |
Comments
The cloud service provider's default encryption setting for data stored and written to disk in the cloud may protect against adversary's attempt to manipulate customer data-at-rest. This technique was rated as partial due to the medium to high protect coverage factor against variations of this attack.
References
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| Capability ID | Capability Description | Mapping Type | ATT&CK ID | ATT&CK Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| aws_cloudhsm | AWS CloudHSM | technique_scores | T1588.003 | Code Signing Certificates |
Comments
Certificate credentials can be stored in AWS CloudHSM which reduces the attack surface and threat from these sub-techniques.
References
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| aws_key_management_service | AWS Key Management Service | technique_scores | T1588.003 | Code Signing Certificates |
Comments
The encryption key for the certificate can be stored in KMS, reducing its attack surface. Score is capped at Partial because adversaries can still misuse keys/certs if KMS and KMS resources are compromised.
References
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