Introduction

This post is a detailed walkthrough of a simulated cybersecurity incident investigation in a Security Operations Center (SOC) using letsdefend platform. Our investigation included handling the case SOC326 which involved malicious email activity.

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Overview of the Letsdefend Platform

  • The platform has three main alert channels: active alerts, investigation alerts, and closed alerts.
  • Tools like log management, email security, and threat intelligence are available to assist in investigations.

Alert Analysis | Case SOC326

  • The highlighted alert involves a suspected phishing campaign using an impersonated domain.
  • The alert is triggered by a suspicious domain’s MX record change.

Steps in Investigation

  • Initial Details: The domain impersonates the company, using typosquatting techniques to mimic legitimate emails.
  • Email Analysis: Emails sent from the impersonated domain to employees are inspected. These emails contain links designed to lure recipients into clicking, leading to potential phishing forms or malware downloads.
  • Endpoint Analysis: An endpoint’s browser history and network connections are reviewed to identify interactions with the suspicious domain.

Domain and URL Inspection

  • Tools like VirusTotal and Anyrun are used to analyze the domain and its associated URLs. Although inactive, the domain’s structure and intent classify it as malicious.

Key Findings

  • The domain’s use of typosquatting techniques for phishing is confirmed as malicious, even though it is currently inactive.
  • Employee interactions with the phishing email are investigated for potential compromise.

Final Recommendations

  • Include findings in the case report.
  • Highlight the potential risks associated with the inactive domain becoming active later for future campaigns.
  • Educate employees on recognizing and avoiding phishing attempts.

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About the Author

Mastermind Study Notes is a group of talented authors and writers who are experienced and well-versed across different fields. The group is led by, Motasem Hamdan, who is a Cybersecurity content creator and YouTuber.

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