Analysis of Patterns
"Analysis of Patterns" refers to the examination of recurring or consistent patterns within the alerts or incidents being investigated. This step aims to identify similarities, trends, or consistent behaviors that could provide insights into the nature of the incident and the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) employed by threat actors.
Object of Analysis of Patterns:
Identification of Coordinated Activity:
- Detecting patterns that suggest a coordinated effort by threat actors, potentially indicating an organized attack.
Understanding Persistent Threats:
- Recognizing recurring patterns associated with persistent threat actors or advanced persistent threats (APTs).
Correlation with Threat Intelligence:
- Aligning identified patterns with known threat intelligence to determine if the incident aligns with established attack patterns.
Process of Analysis of Patterns:
Pattern Recognition:
- Identify recurring elements or sequences within the alerts or incidents under investigation. This may include specific tactics, techniques, or behaviors observed consistently.
Correlation Across Alerts:
- Analyze multiple alerts to determine if there are commonalities or consistent patterns across different incidents.
Timeline Analysis:
- Examine the timeline of events to identify any temporal patterns or periodicities that could indicate specific times of increased activity or quiet periods. Read more here
Behavioral Analysis:
- Evaluate the behavior of the entities involved (e.g., users, systems) to identify patterns that deviate from normal or expected behavior.
Comparison with Historical Data:
- Compare current patterns with historical data to identify changes, anomalies, or deviations from normal activity.
Correlation with Known Indicators:
- Cross-reference identified patterns with known indicators of compromise (IoCs) or attack patterns documented in threat intelligence databases.
Documentation and Reporting:
- Document identified patterns, their significance, and any insights gained from the analysis. This information is crucial for reporting and future reference.
Communication with Threat Intelligence Teams:
- Share findings and identified patterns with threat intelligence teams to enrich the organization’s knowledge base and enhance proactive threat detection.
Example Scenario:
Pattern Identification:
- Detection of repeated lateral movement attempts across multiple systems within a short timeframe.
Correlation:
- Correlating the lateral movement attempts with the use of a specific malware variant identified in a separate incident.
Behavioral Analysis:
- Observing a consistent pattern of data exfiltration following successful lateral movement.
Comparison with Historical Data:
- Noticing a deviation in the pattern compared to historical data, indicating a potential change in the attacker’s tactics.
Correlation with Known Indicators:
- Identifying that the lateral movement attempts align with a known APT group’s established TTPs.
The “Analysis of Patterns” contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the incident, aiding in decision-making, and providing valuable information for subsequent stages of the incident response process.
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