Red Team Tactics

Red Team Tactics

Adversary simulation principles based on MITRE ATT&CK framework.

1. MITRE ATT&CK Phases

Attack Lifecycle

RECONNAISSANCE → INITIAL ACCESS → EXECUTION → PERSISTENCE
       ↓              ↓              ↓            ↓
   PRIVILEGE ESC → DEFENSE EVASION → CRED ACCESS → DISCOVERY
       ↓              ↓              ↓            ↓
LATERAL MOVEMENT → COLLECTION → C2 → EXFILTRATION → IMPACT

Phase Objectives

2. Reconnaissance Principles

Passive vs Active

Information Targets

3. Initial Access Vectors

Selection Criteria

4. Privilege Escalation Principles

Windows Targets

Linux Targets

5. Defense Evasion Principles

Key Techniques

Operational Security

• Work during business hours
• Mimic legitimate traffic patterns
• Use encrypted channels
• Blend with normal behavior

6. Lateral Movement Principles

Credential Types

Movement Paths

• Admin shares
• Remote services (RDP, SSH, WinRM)
• Exploitation of internal services

7. Active Directory Attacks

Attack Categories

8. Reporting Principles

Attack Narrative

Document the full attack chain:

1. How initial access was gained
2. What techniques were used
3. What objectives were achieved
4. Where detection failed

Detection Gaps

For each successful technique:

• What should have detected it?
• Why didn't detection work?
• How to improve detection

9. Ethical Boundaries

Always

• Stay within scope
• Minimize impact
• Report immediately if real threat found
• Document all actions

Never

• Destroy production data
• Cause denial of service (unless scoped)
• Access beyond proof of concept
• Retain sensitive data

10. Anti-Patterns

Remember: Red team simulates attackers to improve defenses, not to cause harm.