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Brute Force

What is "Brute Force" in the Context of MITRE (IT Security)?

Brute Force refers to a category of cyber attack techniques used to overcome security mechanisms by trying numerous possibilities, such as passwords, until finding a correct one. It is categorized under the ATT&CK matrix by MITRE, which provides a comprehensive taxonomy of known attack behaviors used by adversaries.

How Does Brute Force Work?

  1. Credential Stuffing: This involves using previously breached username/password pairs to gain unauthorized access on different systems, assuming that many users reuse passwords across services.

  2. Password Spraying: Attackers use common passwords against many user accounts to avoid account lockouts typically triggered by multiple failed login attempts on a single account.

  3. Dictionary Attacks: This method uses a list of pre-compiled or commonly used passwords rather than attempting every possible combination as in traditional brute force attacks.

  4. Traditional Brute Force Attack: This is the simplest form, where attackers try every possible combination of characters until the correct password or decryption key is found.

Where Is Brute Force Applied?

Brute force can be applied in various scenarios including but not limited to:

  • Network Services: SSH, FTP, and VPN endpoints are common targets where brute force can be applied to guess credentials.
  • Web Applications: Login interfaces are targeted for credential stuffing or password spraying.
  • Encrypted Data: Trying to decrypt data or communications by guessing the encryption key.
  • API Endpoints: Automated attacks may attempt to brute-force API keys or tokens that are poorly protected.

Why Is Brude Force Used?

Despite being one of the simplest forms of attack requiring minimal technical sophistication, brute force attacks are surprisingly effective due to common security misconfigurations such as weak passwords and lack of rate limiting. They are used because:

  • Prevalence of Weak Passwords: Many users still employ weak passwords that can be easily guessed or found in dictionaries of common passwords.
  • Lack of Proper Account Lockout Policies: Systems without robust security measures like CAPTCHA, account lockout after multiple failed attempts, or multi-factor authentication (MFA) are particularly vulnerable.
  • Automation and Availability of Tools: Tools like Hydra, Aircrack-ng, and others allow attackers to automate these attacks efficiently at scale.

In summary, brute force remains a potent attack vector primarily due for its simplicity and effectiveness against systems with inadequate security practices. Understanding its mechanics helps in designing better defensive strategies such as enforcing strong password policies, implementing rate limiting, using CAPTCHA mechanisms, and encouraging the use of MFA.