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Encrypt Sensitive Information

Protect sensitive information with strong encryption.

ID: M1041
Version: 1.0
Created: 11 June 2019
Last Modified: 11 June 2019
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Enterprise Layer
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Techniques Addressed by Mitigation

Domain ID Name Use
Enterprise T1557 Adversary-in-the-Middle

Ensure that all wired and/or wireless traffic is encrypted appropriately. Use best practices for authentication protocols, such as Kerberos, and ensure web traffic that may contain credentials is protected by SSL/TLS.
.002 ARP Cache Poisoning

Ensure that all wired and/or wireless traffic is encrypted appropriately. Use best practices for authentication protocols, such as Kerberos, and ensure web traffic that may contain credentials is protected by SSL/TLS.
Enterprise T1119 Automated Collection

Encryption and off-system storage of sensitive information may be one way to mitigate collection of files, but may not stop an adversary from acquiring the information if an intrusion persists over a long period of time and the adversary is able to discover and access the data through other means. Strong passwords should be used on certain encrypted documents that use them to prevent offline cracking through Brute Force techniques.
Enterprise T1020 .001 Automated Exfiltration: Traffic Duplication

Ensure that all wired and/or wireless traffic is encrypted appropriately. Use best practices for authentication protocols, such as Kerberos, and ensure web traffic that may contain credentials is protected by SSL/TLS.
Enterprise T1659 Content Injection

Where possible, ensure that online traffic is appropriately encrypted through services such as trusted VPNs.
Enterprise T1530 Data from Cloud Storage

Encrypt data stored at rest in cloud storage.[1][2] Managed encryption keys can be rotated by most providers. At a minimum, ensure an incident response plan to storage breach includes rotating the keys and test for impact on client applications.[3]
Enterprise T1602 Data from Configuration Repository

Configure SNMPv3 to use the highest level of security (authPriv) available.[4]
.001 SNMP (MIB Dump)

Configure SNMPv3 to use the highest level of security (authPriv) available.[4]
.002 Network Device Configuration Dump

Configure SNMPv3 to use the highest level of security (authPriv) available.[4]

Enterprise T1213 Data from Information Repositories

Encrypt data stored at rest in databases.

Enterprise T1565 Data Manipulation

Consider encrypting important information to reduce an adversary’s ability to perform tailored data modifications.
.001 Stored Data Manipulation

Consider encrypting important information to reduce an adversary’s ability to perform tailored data modifications.
.002 Transmitted Data Manipulation

Encrypt all important data flows to reduce the impact of tailored modifications on data in transit.
Enterprise T1114 Email Collection

Use of encryption provides an added layer of security to sensitive information sent over email. Encryption using public key cryptography requires the adversary to obtain the private certificate along with an encryption key to decrypt messages.
.001 Local Email Collection

Use of encryption provides an added layer of security to sensitive information sent over email. Encryption using public key cryptography requires the adversary to obtain the private certificate along with an encryption key to decrypt messages.
.002 Remote Email Collection

Use of encryption provides an added layer of security to sensitive information sent over email. Encryption using public key cryptography requires the adversary to obtain the private certificate along with an encryption key to decrypt messages.
.003 Email Forwarding Rule

Use of encryption provides an added layer of security to sensitive information sent over email. Encryption using public key cryptography requires the adversary to obtain the private certificate along with an encryption key to decrypt messages.
Enterprise T1070 Indicator Removal

Obfuscate/encrypt event files locally and in transit to avoid giving feedback to an adversary.
.001 Clear Windows Event Logs

Obfuscate/encrypt event files locally and in transit to avoid giving feedback to an adversary.
.002 Clear Linux or Mac System Logs

Obfuscate/encrypt event files locally and in transit to avoid giving feedback to an adversary.
Enterprise T1040 Network Sniffing

Ensure that all wired and/or wireless traffic is encrypted appropriately. Use best practices for authentication protocols, such as Kerberos, and ensure web traffic that may contain credentials is protected by SSL/TLS.
Enterprise T1003 OS Credential Dumping

Ensure Domain Controller backups are properly secured.
.003 NTDS

Ensure Domain Controller backups are properly secured.[5]
Enterprise T1649 Steal or Forge Authentication Certificates

Ensure certificates as well as associated private keys are appropriately secured. Consider utilizing additional hardware credential protections such as trusted platform modules (TPM) or hardware security modules (HSM). Enforce HTTPS and enable Extended Protection forAuthentication.[6]
Enterprise T1558 Steal or Forge Kerberos Tickets

Enable AES Kerberos encryption (or another stronger encryption algorithm), rather than RC4, where possible.[7]
.002 Silver Ticket

Enable AES Kerberos encryption (or another stronger encryption algorithm), rather than RC4, where possible.[7]
.003 Kerberoasting

Enable AES Kerberos encryption (or another stronger encryption algorithm), rather than RC4, where possible.[7]
.004 AS-REP Roasting

Enable AES Kerberos encryption (or another stronger encryption algorithm), rather than RC4, where possible.[7]
Enterprise T1552 Unsecured Credentials

When possible, store keys on separate cryptographic hardware instead of on the local system.

.004 Private Keys

When possible, store keys on separate cryptographic hardware instead of on the local system. For example, on Windows systems use a TPM to secure keys and other sensitive credential material.[8]
Enterprise T1550 .001 Use Alternate Authentication Material: Application Access Token

File encryption should be enforced across email communications containing sensitive information that may be obtained through access to email services.

References

  1. Amazon. (2019, May 17). How can I secure the files in my Amazon S3 bucket?. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  2. Amlekar, M., Brooks, C., Claman, L., et. al.. (2019, March 20). Azure Storage security guide. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  3. Google. (n.d.). Key rotation. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  4. US-CERT. (2017, June 5). Reducing the Risk of SNMP Abuse. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  1. Metcalf, S. (2015, January 19). Attackers Can Now Use Mimikatz to Implant Skeleton Key on Domain Controllers & BackDoor Your Active Directory Forest. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
  2. Schroeder, W. & Christensen, L. (2021, June 22). Certified Pre-Owned - Abusing Active Directory Certificate Services. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  3. Metcalf, S. (2015, December 31). Cracking Kerberos TGS Tickets Using Kerberoast – Exploiting Kerberos to Compromise the Active Directory Domain. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  4. Microsoft. (2022, September 9). What is a Primary Refresh Token?. Retrieved February 21, 2023.