CISA Launches New Tool to Streamline Incident Response
▼ Summary
– CISA released the free Eviction Strategies Tool to help organizations quickly remove adversaries from compromised systems.
– The tool allows rapid creation of tailored response plans using frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK or custom threat descriptions.
– It combines COUN7ER (a countermeasure database) and Cyber Eviction Strategies Playbook NextGen for guided eviction efforts.
– Key features include exportable plans in multiple formats and integration with MITRE D3FEND knowledge.
– CISA aims to enhance cyber-resilience by reducing attacker dwell time and improving defense coordination.
The United States Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has unveiled a significant new resource aimed at bolstering organizational defenses: the Eviction Strategies Tool. Developed in collaboration with MITRE, this free, publicly available tool is designed to streamline cyber incident response and empower organizations to effectively evict adversaries from compromised systems. Its core purpose is to help defenders quickly build tailored response plans, simplifying a complex and often chaotic process.
A Blueprint for Threat Actor Removal
The Eviction Strategies Tool prioritizes ease of use and speed, allowing cyber defenders to craft detailed playbooks for containing and removing threat actors within minutes. Users can develop these plans by leveraging structured frameworks, such as MITRE ATT&CK, or by inputting free-text descriptions of observed threat behavior.
The tool integrates two crucial components:
- COUN7ER: A curated database containing over 100 post-compromise countermeasures, meticulously mapped to known tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).
- Cyber Eviction Strategies Playbook NextGen: A web-based interface that aligns specific incident findings with recommended countermeasures.
Together, these elements offer cyber teams a clear, actionable path, providing researched, atomic-level guidance for every phase of adversary eviction.
Enhancing Practical Defense Capabilities
CISA emphasizes the tool’s importance in addressing long-standing challenges faced by incident responders. Jermaine Roebuck, CISA’s associate director for threat hunting, highlighted its value, stating, “How an organization approaches remediation and eviction of an incident is critically important to a successful response effort. This tool will level the playing field by making it easier for IT staff and cyber defenders to coordinate efforts and achieve a successful eviction.”
Key capabilities of the tool include:
* The ability to export plans in various common formats, including JSON, Word, Excel, and markdown.
* Integration of knowledge from the MITRE D3FEND framework.
* Open-source access under the MIT License, encouraging broad adoption.
CISA actively invites public and private sector organizations to incorporate the tool into their incident response workflows and provide feedback through an anonymous survey.
Strengthening National Cyber Resilience
The introduction of the CISA Eviction Strategies Tool marks a strategic stride in enhancing nationwide cyber resilience. This is particularly vital in the ongoing battle against sophisticated state-sponsored actors like Volt Typhoon and APT29. By lowering the barrier to effective response planning, CISA aims to help organizations significantly reducing attacker dwell time, thereby limiting potential damage and strengthening their overall defense posture against persistent threats.
