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. Adversary tools may also search compromised systems for file extensions relating to cryptographic keys and certificates.(Citation: Kaspersky Careto)(Citation: Palo Alto Prince of Persia)
When a device is registered to Entra ID, a device key and a transport key are generated and used to verify the device’s identity.(Citation: Microsoft Primary Refresh Token) An adversary with access to the device may be able to export the keys in order to impersonate the device.(Citation: AADInternals Azure AD Device Identities)
On network devices, private keys may be exported via Network Device CLI commands such as crypto pki export.(Citation: cisco_deploy_rsa_keys)
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. These private keys can be used to authenticate to Remote Services like SSH or for use in decrypting other collected files such as email.
View in MITRE ATT&CK®| Capability ID | Capability Description | Mapping Type | ATT&CK ID | ATT&CK Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| action.malware.variety.Password dumper | Password dumper (extract credential hashes) | related-to | T1552.004 | Private Keys | |
| attribute.confidentiality.data_disclosure | Confirmed or potential data disclosure | related-to | T1552.004 | Private Keys |
| Capability ID | Capability Description | Mapping Type | ATT&CK ID | ATT&CK Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cloud_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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