The Pyramid of Pain: How to Frustrate Attackers and Strengthen Cyber Defenses

Cybersecurity is often viewed as a game of defense, but what if security teams could actively frustrate and disrupt attackers?

Enter the Pyramid of Pain, a concept introduced by David J. Bianco that categorizes Indicators of Compromise (IOCs) based on how much difficulty they cause adversaries. The higher up the pyramid you go, the more pain you inflict on attackers, forcing them to change tactics and expend more resources.

This blog breaks down the Pyramid of Pain, how it impacts threat intelligence and incident response, and how you can use it to build resilient security operations.

Pyramid of Pain

Understanding the Pyramid of Pain

The Pyramid of Pain categorizes threat intelligence indicators into six levels, each representing the difficulty attackers face when defenders detect and block these indicators.

1. Hash Values (Easiest for Attackers to Evade)

   1. Definition: Unique fingerprints of malicious files (MD5, SHA1, SHA256).

   2. Example: A malware sample identified by its SHA256 hash.

   3. Pain for Attackers:  Minimal - Attackers can easily recompile malware with a new hash.

   4. Defense Strategy: Instead of relying solely on hashes, use behavioral analysis to detect malicious files.

      
      

2. IP Addresses

   1. Definition: Attackers use IPs to host C2 servers, phishing sites, and exploit kits.

   2. Example: Blocking malicious IPs used in a botnet attack.

   3. Pain for Attackers: Low - They can quickly switch to new IPs using VPNs, proxies, or cloud providers.

   4. Defense Strategy: Use threat intelligence feeds and geolocation-based blocking, but correlate with other indicators for better detection.

      
      

3. Domain Names

   1. Definition: Attackers register domains to host malware, phishing pages, or C2 servers.

   2. Example: A fake banking login page on a lookalike domain.

   3. Pain for Attackers:  Moderate - Buying new domains is easy, but keeping them operational takes effort.

   4. Defense Strategy: Implement domain monitoring, DNS filtering, and brand protection services.

      
      

4. Network/Host Artifacts

   1. Definition: Traces left on systems and networks by malware or attacks.

   2. Example: Registry modifications, suspicious PowerShell scripts.

   3. Pain for Attackers: High - Attackers must modify tools and techniques, making operations slower.

   4. Defense Strategy: Use endpoint detection & response (EDR) solutions to track behavior patterns.

      
      

5. Tools

   1. Definition: Attackers rely on tools like Mimikatz, Cobalt Strike, Metasploit to execute attacks.

   2. Example: Detecting Mimikatz usage in an Active Directory environment.

   3. Pain for Attackers: Very High - If defenders detect and block their tools, they must develop or purchase new ones.

   4. Defense Strategy: Monitor tool execution, analyze behavioral patterns, and block well-known attacker frameworks.

      
      

6. Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) (Most Painful for Attackers)

   1. Definition: The methods and strategies attackers use to execute their campaigns.

   2. Example: Identifying lateral movement techniques used by ransomware groups.

   3. Pain for Attackers: Extreme - Changing TTPs requires a complete overhaul of their operations.

   4. Defense Strategy: Use MITRE ATT&CK mapping, behavior-based detections, and threat hunting to proactively track evolving TTPs.

Why the Pyramid of Pain Matters in Threat Intelligence

The higher up the pyramid you target, the more disruptive you are to attackers. Instead of just blocking IPs and hashes, security teams should focus on detecting attacker tools, behaviors, and TTPs which forces adversaries to constantly adapt.

• Move Beyond Basic IOCs: Don’t just rely on hashes and IP blocks, focus on detecting attacker behaviors.

• Leverage MITRE ATT&CK: Map attack techniques to real-world threat actor tactics for proactive defense.

• Adopt Threat Hunting & Behavior Analytics: Instead of waiting for alerts, actively search for anomalies.

• Utilize EDR & XDR Solutions: Endpoint and extended detection can identify behavioral patterns of attackers.

• Automate TTP-Based Detection Rules: Set up YARA & Sigma rules to detect specific adversary techniques.

The Pyramid of Pain isn’t just a theoretical model, it’s a battle-tested framework for cybersecurity teams to fight back against adversaries.

By shifting focus from low-impact IOCs (like IPs & hashes) to high-impact TTPs, organizations can disrupt attackers at their core and build a proactive security posture.

Happy cyber-exploration! 🚀🔒

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-AJ