Proactive Malware Threat-Hunting: Benefits, Techniques, and Trends

Author: Uddip Ranjan, VerSprite Threat Intelligence Group Analyst

As the threat landscape continues to evolve, attackers are becoming more evasive. Organizations must take a proactive approach to cybersecurity to identify and mitigate possible threats before they could be an agent of damage or lead to a security breach. Proactive malware threat-hunting is a strategic approach that promotes a security culture within an organization, emphasizing the importance of continuous monitoring, analysis, and proactive defense. 

Benefits of Proactive Threat Hunting: 

Proactive threat hunting allows organizations to take a proactive approach to cybersecurity rather than relying solely on reactive measures: 

• It enables identifying and mitigating possible threats before they could be an agent of damage or lead to a security breach.  
• Proactive threat hunting helps to uncover threats that may have evaded traditional security controls and gone undetected.  

• It also helps to reduce the dwell time of threats within an organization’s environment, minimizing the potential impact and reducing the cost of remediation. 
• It enhances incident response capabilities by identifying threats early, allowing for faster and more effective response and containment. 

Techniques Used for Threat Hunting: 

Understanding where to start the hunt is one of the most significant challenges in threat hunting. You begin with a wide-open field you need to narrow down into a hypothesis you can confirm or invalidate. Seasoned threat hunters have experience with many cybersecurity threats your organization could face. They will be able to help steer the process and develop a plan.  

Techniques used for threat hunting include: 

• Hypothesis-driven approach 
• Behavioral analysis 
• Endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools 
• Network traffic analysis 
• Threat intelligence feeds 

Latest Trends and Attack Techniques: 

Attackers are using sophisticated techniques to evade detection. Some of the latest trends and attack techniques we see include: 

• Fileless malware: Fileless malware is a type of malware that does not rely on files to infect a system. Instead, it uses legitimate system tools to execute its code in memory, making it difficult to detect and remove. 
• Ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS): Ransomware-as-a-service is sold as a service to other cybercriminals. This makes it easier for attackers to launch ransomware attacks without developing their own malware. 
• Supply-chain attacks: Supply-chain attacks are attacks that target the software supply chain, which is the network of vendors and suppliers that provide software components to organizations. These attacks can be difficult to detect and can have a wide-ranging impact. 

• Zero-day exploits: Zero-day exploits are vulnerabilities in software that are unknown to the software vendor. Attackers can use these vulnerabilities to launch attacks that are difficult to detect and mitigate. 
• Advanced persistent threats (APTs): Advanced persistent threats are attacks carried out by skilled and persistent attackers looking to access sensitive information or systems. These attacks can be difficult to detect and go undetected for long periods. 

Examples of Attacks in 2022 and 2023: 
In 2022, there was a significant increase in ransomware attacks, with several high-profile attacks making headlines. One of the most notable attacks was the attack on Colonial Pipeline, which caused widespread disruption to fuel supplies on the East Coast of the United States. The attackers used a ransomware variant called Dark Side, which evaded detection by traditional security controls.  

In 2023, there was an increase in supply chain attacks, with several major software vendors being targeted. One of the most notable attacks was the attack on SolarWinds, which affected several government agencies and private companies. The attackers used a supply chain attack to distribute malware to SolarWinds customers, which evaded detection by traditional security controls. 

How Detections Help in Detecting Malware: 
Detections are an essential part of proactive threat hunting. Detections are indicators of compromise (IOCs) that can be used to identify malicious activity on a system or network. Detections include unusual network traffic, suspicious file activity, or anomalous user behavior. By monitoring these detections, organizations can identify and mitigate possible threats before they could be an agent of damage or lead to a security breach. 

Here are some ways that proactive malware threat-hunting can help organizations defend against these attacks: 

• Identify and Mitigate Possible Threats: Proactive threat hunting enables identifying and mitigating possible threats before they could lead to a security breach. By identifying threats at an early stage, organizations can prevent them from causing damage. 

• Uncover Threats That May Have Evaded Traditional Security Controls: Proactive threat hunting helps to uncover threats that may have evaded traditional security controls and gone undetected. By using a variety of techniques, such as behavioral analysis and threat intelligence feeds, organizations can identify threats that may have otherwise gone unnoticed. 
• Reduce Dwell Time of Threats: Proactive threat hunting helps to reduce the dwell time of threats within an organization’s environment, minimizing the potential impact and reducing the cost of remediation. By identifying threats early, organizations can act to contain and remediate them before they can cause significant damage. 
• Enhance Incident Response Capabilities: Proactive threat hunting enhances incident response capabilities by identifying threats early, allowing for faster and more effective response and containment. By having a proactive approach to cybersecurity, organizations can respond to threats more efficiently and effectively. 
• Promote a Security Culture: Proactive malware threat-hunting promotes a security culture within an organization, emphasizing the importance of continuous monitoring, analysis, and proactive defense. By promoting a security culture, organizations can create a more secure environment and reduce the risk of cyber-attacks. 

 
Proactive malware threat-hunting is essential to the health of an organization’s network. The best time to start threat hunting was years ago, but the next best time is right now. By taking a proactive approach to cybersecurity, organizations can identify and mitigate possible threats before they could be an agent of damage or lead to a security breach. The latest trends and attack techniques highlight the need for a proactive and strategic approach to cybersecurity that emphasizes continuous monitoring, analysis, and proactive defense. VSOC incorporates threat hunting and can help organizations defend against advanced malware attacks by proactively hunting for threats, identifying and mitigating possible threats, uncovering threats that may have evaded traditional security controls, reducing the dwell time of threats, enhancing incident response capabilities, and promoting a security culture within an organization. 
 

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