Cyber Kill Chain: Understanding, Anticipating, and Countering Cyberattacks
Developed by Lockheed Martin, the Cyber Kill Chain describes the seven stages of a cyberattack, from recognition to final action. This model helps businesses detect, anticipate, and block threats before they impact critical systems.
In cybersecurity, the Cyber Kill Chain Is a attack analysis framework that makes it possible to identify malicious behavior at each stage of the intrusion cycle. It describes the seven key stages of a cyber attack, from the recognition phase to the achievement of the final objective. It helps security teams identify and stop cyberattacks as quickly as possible. To understand this chain is to acquire a strategic vision of the attack cycle, and know where to act to break it before it damages the organization.
This model follows the same logic as MITRE ATT&CK Or the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, but with a more linear and strategic approach.
In this article, we look back at:
- the definition and origin of the model;
- the 7 steps of the Cyber Kill Chain with concrete examples at each phase;
- the advantages and limitations of the model;
- its integration into a GRC approach with the support of a platform like Egerie.
What is the Cyber Kill Chain Model?
The Cyber Kill Chain, also called a cyber chain of destruction or chain of cyberattacks, is a conceptual framework describing how hackers operate. The kill chain is used for break down a cyberattack into successive stages, allowing security officials to better understand attacks and to intercept them as soon as possible.
This approach was developed by the arms company Lockheed Martin, which was inspired by military attacks to transpose this “strike chain” to the digital world.
In the Kill Chain, each stage represents a specific point in the course of an intrusion : from preparation to the effective compromise of systems. The idea of this model is simple: if we Understand how an attack takes place, we can more easilyInterrupt at any time.
The cyber chain of destruction is based on Seven phases main ones:
- Recognition
- Armament
- Delivery
- Exploitation
- Installation
- Command and control
- Action
The 7 steps of the Cyber Kill Chain
The Cyber Kill Chain is broken down into seven successive steps, which allow map the course of a cyberattack And of identify possible breakpoints.
1. Recognition
It's the preparatory phase : the cybercriminal will try to collect as much information as possible about the company.
Here, the goal for hackers is to analyze and understand the network structure, the technologies used, the key employees, their habits and potential entry points, and the vulnerabilities exposed on the Internet.
It is this step that will condition the success of the cyberattack. It can take two forms:
- La passive recognition : the information needed by hackers is available on sources accessible to the public (e.g.: company website, LinkedIn page, job offers, employee social networks, etc.).
- La active recognition : hackers contact people from within the company to obtain accurate and qualitative information. To do this, they can impersonate a service provider or an institution via emails or by calling employees directly. La employee training is essential to avoid unintentional information leaks.
Typical methods:
- Analysis of IP addresses and open ports (network scan);
- Research OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) on social networks;
- Study of the metadata of public documents;
- Analysis of job offers to identify tools used internally, etc.
How to defend yourself:
- Minimize the exhibition area (hide unnecessary public information);
- Use solutions from Threat Intelligence to monitor data breaches;
- Educate employees about the risks of unintentional disclosure, etc.
2. Armament
Once the information is collected, the attacker will define the means, or attack vector, for exploit a specific flaw.
The digital weapon is chosen based on several criteria such as cost, time, processing power, etc. The objective being to prepare a custom attack vector, capable of penetrating the identified target.
A single vector is sufficient for a successful attack. Once in the system, the cyberattacker scours the network looking for data. It may also look for ways to escalate its privileges to access more critical data.
Examples of the most common attack vectors:
- Phishing;
- Denial of service attacks;
- Malicious software;
- backdoor;
- Stolen logins and passwords, etc.
As part of a GRC approach, a good cyber risk analysis must include the various attack scenarios from this phase.
How to defend yourself:
- Maintain an up-to-date inventory of vulnerabilities and patches (patch management);
- Use sandboxing to test suspicious files;
- Update antivirus and EDR software regularly;
- Use spam filters in email to block phishing attacks;
- Use multi-factor authentication, etc.
3. Delivery
It's the When the threat is delivered to the target. Hackers now have access to the network and can launch their attack immediately or deferred. This is often the first visible interaction between the attacker and the organization.
Good to know : with the rise of cloud computing, many attacks are carried out from the cloud. According to the report Cloud & Threat Report of Netskope, In fact, 68% of malware comes from the cloud.
The most frequent delivery vectors:
- Phishing email;
- Download from a compromised site;
- Infected USB stick;
- Exploitation of a vulnerable online service, etc.
How to defend yourself:
- Install new generation antiviruses and antimalware;
- Use DNS protection;
- Set up advanced email filtering;
- Train employees to detect the weak signals of a fraudulent email;
- Monitor network traffic for suspicious downloads, etc.
4. Exploitation
Once the attack is delivered, it is Triggered. Exploitation can take many forms depending on the nature of the attack. The hacker will exploit a vulnerability to execute malicious code on the target machine.
The objective here is to go from a simple presence on the system to a code execution under the control of the attacker. So it is at this stage that the threat is transformed into security incident.
The hacker can disguise this step by using masking techniques or camouflage. The company has little leeway to protect itself during this phase.
Concrete examples:
- Opening an infected attachment;
- Access to a malicious site exploiting a browser flaw;
- SQL or XSS injection on a web application;
- Use of a weak password to penetrate a system.
How to defend yourself:
- Segmenting the network to limit lateral movements;
- Apply the least privilege policy;
- Monitor logs to identify runtime anomalies, etc.
5. Installation
From the exploitation phase, hackers analyze opportunities for future attacks. They will thus install a backdoor (backdoor) or malicious programs for maintain access to the system in the long term and without constraints.
This step allows them to enter and leave the corporate network without being detected by security teams. The idea is to maintain a stealthy and lasting presence on the compromised system.
Common techniques:
- DLL hijacking;
- Installing a Trojan horse;
- Modification of the register;
- Deploying a rootkit to mask the presence of the attacker, etc.
At this point the network is already infected and solutions like an antivirus are no longer relevant to ensure their security.
How to defend yourself:
- Use EDR (Endpoint Detection & Response);
- Check software installation permissions;
- Regularly check the integrity of critical systems and files, etc.
6. Command and control
The attacker is now establishing a remote communication between the compromised computer and its command server. It's the nerve center of attack : he can now give instructions remotely, transfer files, download data, etc.
To muddy the waters, hackers often use denial of service attacks in order to distract security professionals from their true objective. The objective is to obtain a total control without being detected.
Typical C&C means:
- Encrypted HTTPS connection to an external server;
- Use of standard protocols (DNS, HTTP, Slack API, etc.);
- Encrypting and hiding traffic (steganography, tunneling), etc.
How to defend yourself:
- Equip yourself with EDR tools to identify suspicious activities;
- Set up network segmentation and an application firewall;
- Use a proxy or security gateway to filter outgoing traffic;
- Formalize roles and responsibilities (who monitors, who reports, who manages), etc.
7. Action
This is the last step: the attacker implements his final objective, the one for which the whole operation was carried out. This is the time when business impact is critical: the consequences for the business depend on the hacker's motivations.
Examples:
- Theft or exfiltration of sensitive data;
- Encrypting files for ransom (ransomware);
- Sabotaging critical systems;
- Industrial espionage or reputation destruction, etc.
How to defend yourself:
- Set up the Business Resumption Plan Information technology (PRI);
- Save and test data regularly;
- Deploy DLP tools (Data Loss Prevention);
- Continuously analyze security logs and SIEM alerts, etc.
What are the benefits of the Cyber Kill Chain model?
By adopting the model Cyber Kill Chain, businesses can transform their approach to proactive cybersecurity And of the risk management.
Improving risk management
Understanding each stage of an attack allows organizations to identify and mitigate risks early on, thus reducing the probability and the impact attacks. Each stage is an opportunity for interruption: the sooner a threat is detected, the lower the impacts will be.
Plus, it allows security teams to understand How an attack evolves, rather than focusing only on symptoms (infected files, one-off alerts).
The Cyber Kill Chain thus offers a strategic vision of the attack cycle.
Better compliance
Many regulations require proactive detection and response to threats, such as Directive NIS 2, DORA or ISO 27001. The Cyber Kill Chain thus provides a structure to meet these requirements, especially in regulated sectors such as finance, for example.
Strategic security governance
The clear steps in the Cyber Kill Chain framework help to align security initiatives on organizational policies and to support long-term governance goals.
In addition, the Cyber Kill Chain allows a better coordination between teams. It offers a common language between IT teams, SOC, and management: everyone knows what phase an incident corresponds to and how to respond to it.
What are the limits of the Cyber Kill Chain?
Despite its relevance, the model Cyber Kill Chain has some limitations to be aware of before fully integrating it into a defence strategy.
Originally designed to describe linear and targeted attacks, it does not always reflect the Complexity of modern threats, especially in hybrid and cloud environments.
Among the main limitations:
- La linearity of the model, not very suitable for multi-phase or simultaneous attacks (for example, evolving ransomware);
- One focus on external threats, leaving internal attacks or human errors aside;
- One limited consideration of SaaS or cloud-native environments, where the intrusion vectors differ from traditional networks;
- One lack of technical granularity, which makes it more difficult to accurately map the tactics and techniques used by attackers.
In short, the Cyber Kill Chain remains an excellent framework for strategic analysis, but it needs to be complemented by more detailed and dynamic models for a comprehensive view of the threat landscape.
Towards a hybrid approach: MITRE ATT&CK and Cyber Kill Chain
By combining the Kill Chain (strategic vision of the attack cycle) and MITRE ATT&CK (tactical vision of opposing techniques), the RSSI get a full coverage of the attack cycle, from initial detection to response and remediation.
This hybrid approach makes it possible to combine Understanding the phases of an attack To the concrete knowledge of adverse behaviors, thus strengthening the detection, prioritization and management of risks within an approach CRM global.
Application of the Cyber Kill Chain in a GRC strategy
La Cyber Kill Chain becomes particularly powerful when integrated into a GRC approach (Governance, Risk and Compliance).
So the Cyber Kill Chain has become a essential tool to structure a cyber defense strategy. By detailing the stages of an attack, it helps businesses Think like an attacker, to identify their weaknesses and to build a proactive defense, aligned with operational realities.
But to be really effective, it must be integrated into a global strategy. The Cyber Kill Chain adapts to your approach CRM by offering a structured approach to detect, parse and mitigate security threats.
Each stage addresses specific aspects of the risk management, of compliance requirements And of the security governance, thus guaranteeing an approach global and coherent of cybersecurity.
A platform like Egerie assists you in integrating the Cyber Kill Chain model into the heart of your processes governance, risk management and compliance (GRC) :
- Conduct a cyber risk map based on the seven phases of the Cyber Kill Chain, to connect each threat to your critical assets and identify major points of vulnerability.
- Analyze and prioritize threats through dynamic risk assessment, integrating tolerance levels and monitoring thresholds specific to your organization.
- Manage safety centrally thanks to dashboards that translate technical data into clear and actionable decision-making indicators.
- Simulate attack scenarios and test the effectiveness of your protection measures at each stage of the kill chain in order to improve operational resilience.
- Evaluate your GRC maturity model and prioritize corrective actions according to the severity and potential impact of the risks identified.
- Strengthen regulatory compliance (NIS 2 directive, RGPD, ISO 27001, DORA...) and facilitate your audits thanks to a clear map of the controls associated with each phase of the attack cycle.
By combining Cyber Kill Chain and GRC, organizations are moving from reactive logic to a predictive approach to cybersecurity.
Ask for a personalized demo and discover how Egerie supports you in the implementation of a global and coherent cybersecurity strategy.
Cyber Kill Chain FAQ
What is the Cyber Kill Chain in cybersecurity?
It is a model developed by Lockheed Martin to break down a cyberattack into 7 steps, in order to better understand and stop threats at each phase of the intrusion process.
What is the Cyber Kill Chain for?
It helps to identify intervention points possible to block an attack before it reaches its objectives (data theft, sabotage, ransomware, espionage...).
Does the kill chain apply to internal attacks?
The Cyber Kill Chain was designed for external attacks, but its principles can be adapted to internal or hybrid threats by adjusting scenarios.
How does the kill chain help prevent ransomware?
By detecting and blocking attacks front the action phase (delivery, operation, installation), it often prevents the encryption of systems or the exfiltration of data.
What is the difference between Cyber Kill Chain and MITRE ATT&CK?
The Cyber Kill Chain describes the 7 general steps of a classic attack, while the matrix MITRE ATT&CK lists tactics in more detail and concrete techniques used by attackers. It does not follow a linear order.
Why is the Cyber Kill Chain important for CISOs?
La Cyber Kill Chain allows RSSI and safety managers to adopt a structured vision of the attack cycle, from recognition to data exfiltration.
By mapping each phase of an intrusion, CISOs can identify the most effective detection and intervention points, prioritize protective measures and manage security in a risk management logic.
This model also facilitates communication between technical teams and management, by translating cyber incidents into strategic and business issues.
How to adapt the kill chain to cloud and SaaS environments?
The environments Cloud and SaaS require an adaptation of the traditional model of Cyber Kill Chain, because network boundaries are more diffuse and the responsibility for security is shared between the provider and the company.
To be effective, the kill chain must include specific elements:
- The identity and access monitoring (IAM, MFA, Zero Trust);
- The mapping cross-application data flows ;
- the monitoring cloud configurations to detect errors or exposure flaws;
- And the alert correlation from SaaS platforms via SIEM or XDR tools.
This adaptation makes it possible to maintain the analytical benefits of the model while taking into account the operational realities of Cloud computing modern.
