Develop A Forensics Data Collection Plan Based On Red Team R

Develop a Forensics Data Collection Plan Based on Red Team Report

Before you begin: Read the Project #1 description attached to the Project #1a assignment folder. Pay close attention to the Red Team's report. Your task is to develop a brief (1-2 pages) forensic data collection plan to be used during a Red Team exercise. This plan will serve as training for incident response personnel to help them learn how to identify and collect evidence effectively. Your plan should include an analysis of the Red Team's report to determine the attack vectors utilized. Additionally, analyze the environment to identify what types of forensic evidence should be collected after the attack(s) and from where that evidence can be obtained.

Consider both volatile sources such as RAM (memory) and static sources such as disk drives, USB storage devices, and other removable media. After identifying the relevant evidence and collection points, document your findings in a concise plan. Your plan must specify evidence collection for at least three specific attack vectors or vulnerabilities exploited by the Red Team during their testing. For each attack vector or vulnerability, describe the type of evidence that could be collected and identify the specific devices or locations from which to collect this evidence.

Paper For Above instruction

The effectiveness of incident response relies heavily on prompt and precise evidence collection, especially during simulated attack exercises such as those conducted by Red Teams. A well-structured forensic data collection plan, informed by thorough analysis of the Red Team’s attack vectors, ensures that responders gather critical evidence necessary for subsequent analysis and mitigation. This paper discusses the development of a forensic collection plan based on the attack vectors identified in a Red Team report, emphasizing evidence types, collection sources, and strategic priorities.

Analysis of Red Team Attack Vectors

The first step involves analyzing the Red Team’s report to pinpoint specific attack vectors or vulnerabilities exploited. Typical attack vectors may include phishing, privilege escalation, lateral movement, malware deployment, or exploitation of unpatched vulnerabilities. These vectors inform the types of evidence that will be relevant and the locations from which such evidence should be collected. For instance, a phishing attack increasing email compromise suggests examining email logs and endpoint email clients, while privilege escalation may require analyzing system logs, user account activities, and installed software artifacts.

Identification of Evidence Types and Collection Points

For each attack vector, appropriate evidence types include volatile data such as RAM contents, running processes, network connections, and active user sessions. Static evidence encompasses disk images, system logs, registry hives, and removable media connected during the attack. The plan must also specify where to collect this evidence from, prioritizing storage devices, system memory, network devices, and logs stored both locally and remotely.

For example, in a privilege escalation attack, evidence collection should include system event logs (e.g., Windows Event Viewer logs), which record user logins and process creation. RAM should be captured to analyze active processes, open files, and network connections at the time of the incident. Disk drives should be imaged to preserve the file system state, particularly areas containing system binaries, scheduled tasks, and registry hives.

Evidence Collection Strategies for Specific Attack Vectors

1. Phishing Attack: Collect email logs, message headers, and attachment details from email servers or client devices. RAM analysis can reveal active email clients and malicious scripts in memory. Disk images should include mail directories and personal folders where malicious attachments might reside.
2. Privilege Escalation: Gather Windows Event Logs, user account logs, and scheduled task records. RAM should be examined for malicious processes or credential theft tools. Disk images should include system registry hives and executable files associated with the escalation.
3. Malware Deployment: Extract network traffic logs, email logs if delivered via email, and system file artifacts. RAM captures can expose malware processes and command-and-control activity. Disk imaging should focus on suspicious directories, executable files, and persistence mechanisms.

Conclusion

A comprehensive forensic data collection plan rooted in the analysis of Red Team attack vectors is vital for effective incident response. By focusing on both volatile and static data sources and targeting specific evidence locations related to the attack vectors, responders can enhance the accuracy and efficiency of evidence gathering. This approach ensures that critical digital artifacts are preserved, facilitating subsequent analysis, legal proceedings, and remediation efforts.

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