Update Software

Perform regular software updates to mitigate exploitation risk.

ID: M1051

Version: 1.0

Created: 11 June 2019

Last Modified: 07 July 2020

Techniques Addressed by Mitigation

Domain	ID		Name	Use
Enterprise	T1548		Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism	Perform regular software updates to mitigate exploitation risk.
		.002	Bypass User Account Control	Consider updating Windows to the latest version and patch level to utilize the latest protective measures against UAC bypass.^[1]
Enterprise	T1176		Browser Extensions	Ensure operating systems and browsers are using the most current version.
Enterprise	T1110	.001	Brute Force: Password Guessing	Upgrade management services to the latest supported and compatible version. Specifically, any version providing increased password complexity or policy enforcement preventing default or weak passwords.
Enterprise	T1555		Credentials from Password Stores	Perform regular software updates to mitigate exploitation risk.
		.003	Credentials from Web Browsers	Regularly update web browsers, password managers, and all related software to the latest versions. Keeping software up-to-date reduces the risk of vulnerabilities being exploited by attackers to extract stored credentials or session cookies.
		.005	Password Managers	Regularly update web browsers, password managers, and all related software to the latest versions. Keeping software up-to-date reduces the risk of vulnerabilities being exploited by attackers to extract stored credentials or session cookies.
Enterprise	T1602		Data from Configuration Repository	Keep system images and software updated and migrate to SNMPv3.^[2]
		.001	SNMP (MIB Dump)	Keep system images and software updated and migrate to SNMPv3.^[2]
		.002	Network Device Configuration Dump	Keep system images and software updated and migrate to SNMPv3.^[2]
Enterprise	T1189		Drive-by Compromise	Ensure all browsers and plugins kept updated can help prevent the exploit phase of this technique. Use modern browsers with security features turned on.
Enterprise	T1546		Event Triggered Execution	Perform regular software updates to mitigate exploitation risk.
		.010	AppInit DLLs	Upgrade to Windows 8 or later and enable secure boot.
		.011	Application Shimming	Microsoft released an optional patch update - KB3045645 - that will remove the "auto-elevate" flag within the sdbinst.exe. This will prevent use of application shimming to bypass UAC.
Enterprise	T1190		Exploit Public-Facing Application	Update software regularly by employing patch management for externally exposed applications.
Enterprise	T1203		Exploitation for Client Execution	Perform regular software updates to mitigate exploitation risk. Keeping software up-to-date with the latest security patches helps prevent adversaries from exploiting known vulnerabilities in client software, reducing the risk of successful attacks.
Enterprise	T1212		Exploitation for Credential Access	Update software regularly by employing patch management for internal enterprise endpoints and servers.
Enterprise	T1211		Exploitation for Defense Evasion	Update software regularly by employing patch management for internal enterprise endpoints and servers.
Enterprise	T1068		Exploitation for Privilege Escalation	Update software regularly by employing patch management for internal enterprise endpoints and servers.
Enterprise	T1210		Exploitation of Remote Services	Update software regularly by employing patch management for internal enterprise endpoints and servers.
Enterprise	T1495		Firmware Corruption	Patch the BIOS and other firmware as necessary to prevent successful use of known vulnerabilities.
Enterprise	T1574		Hijack Execution Flow	Update software regularly to include patches that fix DLL side-loading vulnerabilities.
		.002	DLL Side-Loading	Update software regularly to include patches that fix DLL side-loading vulnerabilities.
Enterprise	T1137		Office Application Startup	For the Outlook methods, blocking macros may be ineffective as the Visual Basic engine used for these features is separate from the macro scripting engine.^[3] Microsoft has released patches to try to address each issue. Ensure KB3191938 which blocks Outlook Visual Basic and displays a malicious code warning, KB4011091 which disables custom forms by default, and KB4011162 which removes the legacy Home Page feature, are applied to systems.^[4]
		.003	Outlook Forms	For the Outlook methods, blocking macros may be ineffective as the Visual Basic engine used for these features is separate from the macro scripting engine.^[3] Microsoft has released patches to try to address each issue. Ensure KB3191938 which blocks Outlook Visual Basic and displays a malicious code warning, KB4011091 which disables custom forms by default, and KB4011162 which removes the legacy Home Page feature, are applied to systems.^[4]
		.004	Outlook Home Page	For the Outlook methods, blocking macros may be ineffective as the Visual Basic engine used for these features is separate from the macro scripting engine.^[3] Microsoft has released patches to try to address each issue. Ensure KB3191938 which blocks Outlook Visual Basic and displays a malicious code warning, KB4011091 which disables custom forms by default, and KB4011162 which removes the legacy Home Page feature, are applied to systems.^[4]
		.005	Outlook Rules	For the Outlook methods, blocking macros may be ineffective as the Visual Basic engine used for these features is separate from the macro scripting engine.^[3] Microsoft has released patches to try to address each issue. Ensure KB3191938 which blocks Outlook Visual Basic and displays a malicious code warning, KB4011091 which disables custom forms by default, and KB4011162 which removes the legacy Home Page feature, are applied to systems.^[4]
Enterprise	T1542		Pre-OS Boot	Patch the BIOS and EFI as necessary.
		.001	System Firmware	Patch the BIOS and EFI as necessary.
		.002	Component Firmware	Perform regular firmware updates to mitigate risks of exploitation and/or abuse.
Enterprise	T1072		Software Deployment Tools	Patch deployment systems regularly to prevent potential remote access through Exploitation for Privilege Escalation.
Enterprise	T1539		Steal Web Session Cookie	Regularly update web browsers, password managers, and all related software to the latest versions. Keeping software up-to-date reduces the risk of vulnerabilities being exploited by attackers to extract stored credentials or session cookies.
Enterprise	T1195		Supply Chain Compromise	A patch management process should be implemented to check unused dependencies, unmaintained and/or previously vulnerable dependencies, unnecessary features, components, files, and documentation.
		.001	Compromise Software Dependencies and Development Tools	A patch management process should be implemented to check unused dependencies, unmaintained and/or previously vulnerable dependencies, unnecessary features, components, files, and documentation.
		.002	Compromise Software Supply Chain	A patch management process should be implemented to check unused applications, unmaintained and/or previously vulnerable software, unnecessary features, components, files, and documentation.
Enterprise	T1552		Unsecured Credentials	Apply patch KB2962486 which prevents credentials from being stored in GPPs.^[5]^[6]
		.006	Group Policy Preferences	Apply patch KB2962486 which prevents credentials from being stored in GPPs.^[5]^[6]
Enterprise	T1550	.002	Use Alternate Authentication Material: Pass the Hash	Apply patch KB2871997 to Windows 7 and higher systems to limit the default access of accounts in the local administrator group.^[7]

References

UACME Project. (2016, June 16). UACMe. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
Omar Santos. (2020, October 19). Attackers Continue to Target Legacy Devices. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
Stalmans, E. (2017, April 28). Outlook Forms and Shells. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
Stalmans, E. (2017, October 11). Outlook Home Page – Another Ruler Vector. Retrieved February 4, 2019.

Update Software

Enterprise Layer

Techniques Addressed by Mitigation

References