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Topic

Living Off the Land

"Living Off the Land" (LOL) attacks refer to a technique where attackers use legitimate tools and features already present in the victim's environment to conduct their malicious activities.
  • Research indicates that over 50% of cyber attacks in recent years have involved the use of LotL techniques, underscoring their prevalence.
  • A survey by the Ponemon Institute found that 70% of security professionals report difficulty in distinguishing between normal and malicious activity due to the use of legitimate tools in attacks.

What are Living Off the Land (LotL) attacks?

"Living Off the Land" (LotL) refers to a strategy employed by attackers where they use legitimate tools and features already present in the target environment to conduct malicious activities. This technique is increasingly significant as it allows attackers to blend in with normal operations, making detection by traditional security measures challenging.

Example of the Volt Typhoon Lotl attack

Living Off the Land (LotL) attacks exploit legitimate tools and software present within the target's environment to conduct malicious activities, making detection notably challenging for security teams. These tactics enable attackers to blend in with normal network activity, bypassing traditional security measures.

Common LotL Tools and Techniques

Tool Name Description Why Would the Attacker Use It? Impact on Business

PowerShell

 A task automation and configuration management framework from Microsoft. Allows execution of commands and scripts stealthily, making it difficult for traditional security tools to detect. Can lead to data breaches, unauthorized access, and persistent threats within the network.

Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)

 Used for system management and can execute scripts and gather system information. Enables remote execution and information gathering without the need for additional tools or payloads. May result in data exfiltration, disruption of operations, and compromised system integrity.

PsExec

 A lightweight telnet-replacement tool that allows the execution of processes on remote systems. Facilitates the spread of malware or ransomware across the network quickly and efficiently. Can cause widespread infection, operational downtime, and significant financial loss.

Office Macros

 Scripts embedded in Office documents that can download and execute malicious payloads. Exploits common business tools, leveraging social engineering to trick users into enabling macros. Leads to unauthorized access, data theft, and potential financial and reputational damage.

How Vectra AI Can Help

Vectra AI's platform enhances your defense against Living Off the Land attacks by leveraging AI-driven behavioral analysis to identify and respond to unusual activities involving legitimate tools. Our solution provides deep visibility and context, enabling SOC teams to quickly detect and mitigate LotL attacks. To see our platform in action, we encourage you to watch a self-guided demo of our platform.

Read more about LotL attacks

Attack Anatomy
Attack Anatomy: Living Off The Land

State-sponsored cyber actor, Volt Typhoon evades traditional detection tools with ‘Live Off The Land’ techniques.

Read more

FAQs

What Are Living Off the Land (LotL) Attacks?

What Tools Are Commonly Exploited in LotL Attacks?

What Are Effective Strategies to Mitigate LotL Attacks?

Can Threat Hunting Help in Identifying LotL Attacks?

How Can Organizations Improve Their Defense Against LotL Attacks?

Why Are LotL Attacks Hard to Detect?

How Can Security Teams Identify LotL Attacks?

How Important Is Threat Detection and Response in Countering LotL Attacks?

What Role Does Network Segmentation Play in Protecting Against LotL Attacks?

Are There Any Notable Examples of LotL Attacks?