Episode 121: How We Evade Detection During Internal Pentests
Jan 24, 2025
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Dive into the intriguing world of evasion in internal penetration testing. Discover how security professionals cleverly navigate detection systems using customized tools and obfuscation methods. Learn about adapting techniques to overcome modern security challenges, as well as the role of languages like PowerShell and C#. Explore advanced tactics like token duplication for lateral movement, emphasizing the need for better monitoring to catch subtle threats. This insightful discussion bridges the gap between offensive strategies and defensive measures in cybersecurity.
40:44
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Quick takeaways
Understanding evasion techniques helps defenders strengthen security measures against sophisticated threats, elevating their preparedness in a dynamic landscape.
The use of trusted tools and modified binaries by pen testers highlights innovative strategies to blend into network operations while simulating real threats.
Deep dives
Understanding Evasion in Internal Pen Testing
Evasion is a crucial aspect of internal penetration testing, as it enables pen testers to avoid detection while exploring vulnerabilities within a network. The conversation highlights the need for defenders to grasp various evasion techniques used by threat actors to better prepare their defenses. By understanding common methods of evasion, cybersecurity professionals can engage in more informed discussions about security products and what to expect from penetration tests. The podcast emphasizes the importance of these discussions, which are often overlooked in IT circles, despite their significance in the field of offensive security.
The Challenge of Avoiding Detection
Internal networks are becoming increasingly difficult for threat actors to navigate undetected due to the advancement of security technologies such as Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) systems. As pen testers encounter these sophisticated defenses, they must adapt by employing stealthy methodologies to remain unnoticed while executing their assessments. The increasing detection capabilities challenge traditional offensive strategies, prompting the need for innovative approaches to evade security measures during internal tests. It is stressed that understanding the evolution of these defenses is essential for both pen testers and defenders.
Common Evasion Techniques Used in Pen Testing
The podcast discusses specific evasion techniques that internal pen testers leverage, such as utilizing trusted tools to perform actions without raising alarms. By using commonly accepted administrative tools, like PowerShell and Active Directory Explorer, pen testers can often perform their tasks while blending into the network’s normal operations. Additionally, modifying binary tools to evade detection signifies a proactive approach, ensuring that the code does not trigger security alerts typically associated with known malicious activities. Such techniques showcase the innovative ways that testers can simulate actual threat actor behaviors.
Value of Evasion in Strengthening Security Posture
Evasion techniques provide significant value not only for pen testers but also for organizations looking to fortify their security posture. By understanding how adversaries attempt to bypass defenses, organizations can evaluate the effectiveness of their existing security measures and look for blind spots. This process encourages a more comprehensive approach to security where the focus shifts from merely identifying vulnerabilities to actively testing the robustness of defenses against sophisticated attacks. Overall, integrating evasion strategies into pen testing can ultimately assist in developing a more resilient organizational security architecture.
In this episode, Spencer and Brad discuss the ever popular and highly debated topic of evasion. In this podcast we talk about evasion from the context of evading defense controls, not necessarily EDR specific evasion techniques. Our hope with this episode is to shed light on this topic and help defenders understand various methods of evasion and this topic more in general.