What is Cobalt Strike? Examples & Modules

Cobalt Strike is a tool for simulating advanced attacks. Discover its capabilities and how to defend against its use in the wild.

Cobalt Strike is a popular penetration testing tool used by security professionals and attackers alike. This guide explores the features of Cobalt Strike, its legitimate uses, and the risks associated with its misuse.

Learn about the importance of understanding tools like Cobalt Strike in developing effective defense strategies. Understanding the Cobalt Strike is crucial for organizations to enhance their cybersecurity awareness. Overall, Cobalt Strike is a comprehensive and powerful tool commonly used by security professionals to assess networks and systems’ security and identify and exploit potential vulnerabilities and weaknesses.

What is the Main Use of Cobalt Strike?

The main use of Cobalt Strike is to assess the security of networks and systems. It is a commercial penetration testing tool that is commonly used by security professionals to test the security of networks and systems, and to identify and exploit potential vulnerabilities and weaknesses.

While Cobalt Strike is primarily used by security professionals to assess the security of networks and systems, it is also used by cybercriminals for malicious purposes. For several reasons, Cobalt Strike has also become a favorite tool of malicious hackers. Some of the key reasons include its power and versatility and its ability to remotely control and monitor attacks and generate detailed reports on their activities.

Sometimes instead of blogging I feel like making a big old Twitter thread, so let’s talk about Cobalt Strike for people only vaguely familiar (or misinformed) with the concept. Maybe I’ll blog it later.

— Lesley Carhart (@hacks4pancakes) July 12, 2021

Additionally, Cobalt Strike includes a command and control (C2) framework that allows attackers to remotely control and monitor their activities and manage their attacks’ data and results. It also includes a reporting and analysis system that allows attackers to generate detailed reports on their activities and analyze the results and findings of their attacks.

Examples of Cobalt Strike Being Used for Malicious Campaigns

As mentioned above, Cobalt Strike can also be used for malicious purposes. Some examples of Cobalt Strike being used for malicious campaigns include:

• In 2018, the APT29 hacking group was found to use Cobalt Strike in their attacks on the U.S. energy sector. The group used Cobalt Strike to infiltrate networks, to execute payloads, and to steal sensitive information, such as login credentials and financial data.
• In 2019, the Lazarus hacking group was found to be using Cobalt Strike in their attacks on banks and financial institutions. The group used Cobalt Strike to infiltrate networks, execute backdoors, and steal sensitive information, such as customer records and transaction data.
• In 2020, the Emissary Panda hacking group was found to be using Cobalt Strike in their attacks on government agencies and defense contractors. The group used Cobalt Strike to infiltrate networks, execute malware, and steal sensitive information, such as classified documents and research data.
• In 2020, Trickbot operators utilized PowerTrick and Cobalt Strike to deploy their Anchor backdoor and RYUK ransomware.
• APT attackers used a CobaltStrike beacon with a then-unknown persistence method using DLL hijacking. The attackers connected to the company’s VPN through a public PureVPN node.
• LockBit ransomware finds a new way to evade security controls by leveraging a Windows Defender command line tool to decrypt and load Cobalt Strike payloads.

What are the Most Popular Modules of Cobalt Strike

The most popular modules of Cobalt Strike include:

1. The Beacon payload is a modular and extensible remote access tool that allows attackers to remotely control and monitor their activities and manage the data and results of their attacks.
2. The Empire payload is a powerful and versatile post-exploitation framework that allows attackers to conduct various activities, such as lateral movement, privilege escalation, and data exfiltration.
3. The Web Drive-By module allows attackers to conduct drive-by attacks, where users are infected with malware when they visit a compromised website.
4. The Malleable C2 module allows attackers to customize and configure their Beacon payloads to evade detection and to blend in with legitimate network traffic.
5. The External C2 module allows attackers to use third-party infrastructures, such as cloud services or content delivery networks, to control and communicate with their Beacon payloads.

How Can I Learn How to Use Cobalt Strike?

To learn how to use Cobalt Strike, you can follow these steps:

1. Read the documentation and tutorials provided by the creators of Cobalt Strike, which can be found on the official website. This will provide you with an overview of the features and capabilities of the tool, as well as detailed instructions on how to use it.
2. Join online communities and forums, such as Reddit or LinkedIn, where users of Cobalt Strike share tips, tricks, and advice on how to use the tool. This can provide you with valuable insights and perspectives from other users, and can help you to learn from their experiences.
3. Attend workshops, conferences, or training sessions focused on Cobalt Strike or related topics, such as penetration testing or cyber security. These events can provide you with hands-on experience and practical knowledge on how to use the tool, and can also help you to network with other professionals in the field.
4. Practice using Cobalt Strike in a safe and controlled environment, such as a virtual machine or a lab network. This will allow you to experiment with the tool and learn how it works without risking the security of your networks or systems.

Can I Block Cobalt Strike on My Network?

There is no simple way to block Cobalt Strike on your network. Implementing advanced tools like SentinelOne Singularity XDR would keep your endpoint and other assets safe from this risk. To improve your risk from malicious activity done using Cobalt Strike, you can follow these steps:

1. Identify the IP addresses and domain names used by Cobalt Strike using share threat intel, consulting the tool’s documentation or monitoring network traffic for known indicators of Cobalt Strike activity.
2. Update your firewall and intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS) with the identified IP addresses and domain names to block any incoming or outgoing traffic associated with Cobalt Strike.
3. Conduct regular security assessments and audits using tools and techniques specifically designed to detect and identify Cobalt Strike, such as network traffic analysis, security logs, and vulnerability scanning.
4. Implement security controls and best practices, such as network segmentation, access controls, and encryption, to prevent unauthorized access to your network and to limit the potential impact of a Cobalt Strike attack.
5. Train your employees on security awareness and best practices to help them identify and avoid potential threats, such as malicious emails, websites, or software that may be used to deliver or execute Cobalt Strike on your network.

Overall, blocking Cobalt Strike on your network requires a combination of technical controls, security assessments, and security awareness training to identify and prevent potential threats and vulnerabilities.

What is the Difference Between Cobalt Strike and Metasploit?

Cobalt Strike and Metasploit are commercial penetration testing tools commonly used by security professionals to assess the security of networks and systems. However, there are some key differences between the two tools that are worth noting:

• Capabilities: Cobalt Strike is known for its advanced capabilities, such as its ability to stealthily infiltrate networks, steal sensitive information, and evade detection. On the other hand, Metasploit is known for its extensive collection of exploits and payloads, which can test many vulnerabilities and weaknesses.
• Features: Cobalt Strike includes features such as a team server, social engineering capabilities, and post-exploitation tools, which are unavailable in Metasploit. On the other hand, Metasploit includes features such as a web interface, a database, and a scripting language, which are not available in Cobalt Strike.
• Pricing: Cobalt Strike is typically more expensive than Metasploit, with licenses starting at $3,500, compared to $2,000 for Metasploit. Additionally, Cobalt Strike offers different pricing options based on the license duration, while Metasploit offers only annual licenses.

While Cobalt Strike and Metasploit are both powerful and useful tools for penetration testing, they have different capabilities and features and may be more suitable for different security assessments and scenarios.

What is the Difference Between Cobalt Strike and Powershell Empire?

Empire is a free and open-source post-exploitation tool commonly used by security professionals to assess the security of networks and systems. Empire is based on the popular PowerShell scripting language and allows users to create, manage, and execute various types of payloads, such as backdoors, remote shells, and keyloggers, on infected systems.

Empire is known for its ability to stealthily infiltrate networks, evade detection, and steal sensitive information, such as login credentials, passwords, and financial data. It is also highly modular, allowing users to easily extend their capabilities and adapt to different environments and scenarios.

Empire is often used as part of a broader penetration testing process, in which security professionals simulate real-world attacks to identify and address potential vulnerabilities and weaknesses in an organization’s networks and systems. It is also frequently used by hackers and cybercriminals to gain unauthorized access to networks and systems, and to steal sensitive information.

Cobalt Strike and PowerShell Empire are commercial penetration testing tools commonly used by security professionals to assess the security of networks and systems. However, there are some key differences between the two tools that are worth noting:

• Capabilities: Cobalt Strike is known for its advanced capabilities, such as its ability to stealthily infiltrate networks, to steal sensitive information, and to evade detection. On the other hand, PowerShell Empire is known for its ability to execute various types of payloads, such as backdoors, remote shells, and keyloggers, on infected systems.
• Features: Cobalt Strike includes features such as a team server, social engineering capabilities, and post-exploitation tools, which are unavailable in PowerShell Empire. On the other hand, PowerShell Empire includes features such as a web interface, a database, and a scripting language, which are not available in Cobalt Strike.
• Licensing: Cobalt Strike is a commercial tool, with licenses starting at $3,500, while PowerShell Empire is a free and open-source tool available to anyone interested in using it.

While Cobalt Strike and PowerShell Empire are both powerful and useful tools for penetration testing, they have different capabilities and features and may be more suitable for different security assessments and scenarios.

What is the Difference Between Cobalt Strike and BruteRatel C4?

BruteRatel C4 is a commercial penetration testing tool commonly used by security professionals to assess the security of networks and systems. BruteRatel C4 is known for its ability to rapidly generate and try different combinations of passwords to gain unauthorized access to systems and networks.

BruteRatel C4 is highly customizable, allowing users to specify the type of passwords to generate, the length and complexity of the passwords, and the number of passwords to try. It can also run multiple instances in parallel to increase the speed and efficiency of the password-cracking process.

BruteRatel C4 is often used as part of a broader penetration testing process, in which security professionals simulate real-world attacks to identify and address potential vulnerabilities and weaknesses in an organization’s networks and systems. It is also frequently used by hackers and cybercriminals to gain unauthorized access to networks and systems and to steal sensitive information.

Overall, BruteRatel C4 is a powerful and versatile tool for password-cracking and is commonly used by security professionals and hackers alike to assess the security of networks and systems.

While Cobalt Strike and BruteRatel C4 are both powerful and useful tools for penetration testing, they have different capabilities and features and may be more suitable for different security assessments and scenarios. Here are some key differences between the two tools that are worth noting:

• Capabilities: Cobalt Strike is known for its advanced capabilities, such as its ability to stealthily infiltrate networks, to steal sensitive information, and to evade detection. On the other hand, BruteRatel C4 is known for its ability to rapidly generate and try different combinations of passwords to gain unauthorized access to systems and networks.
• Features: Cobalt Strike includes a team server, social engineering capabilities, and post-exploitation tools, which are unavailable in BruteRatel C4. On the other hand, BruteRatel C4 includes password customization, parallel processing, and a user-friendly interface, which are not available in Cobalt Strike.
• Licensing: Cobalt Strike is a commercial tool, with licenses starting at $3,500, while BruteRatel C4 is also a commercial tool, with pricing that varies depending on the license type and duration.

Conclusion

From the perspective of security professionals, Cobalt Strike is a great tool, as it allows them to simulate real-world attacks, identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in an organization’s networks and systems, and provide recommendations for improving security. However, from the perspective of cyber criminals, Cobalt Strike is also good, as it allows them to gain unauthorized access to networks and systems and steal sensitive information. Therefore, while Cobalt Strike is a powerful and useful tool for penetration testing, it can also be used for malicious purposes, which raises some ethical and security concerns. Protect your organization from advanced threats like Cobalt Strike by using Singularity’s AI-driven platform for proactive security.

Cobalt Strike FAQs

What Is Cobalt Strike?

Cobalt Strike is a commercial penetration testing tool designed for red teams and adversary simulations. It provides a command and control framework that allows security professionals to test network defenses and simulate advanced persistent threats.

How Cobalt Strike Works?

Cobalt Strike consists of three main components: the team server, client, and Beacon payload. The team server acts as the command and control center, while the client provides the user interface for operators. The Beacon payload gets deployed to target systems and establishes communication back to the team server. Beacon uses various communication methods like HTTP, HTTPS, DNS, and SMB to stay hidden.

It can execute commands, steal credentials, move laterally through networks, and deploy additional payloads. The tool uses “Malleable C2” profiles to customize network traffic and evade detection by mimicking legitimate applications or other malware families.

What Are Some Indicators Of A Cobalt Strike Infection?

Network traffic showing periodic beaconing to external servers, especially with unusual user agents or URL patterns. Process injection techniques like process hollowing or reflective DLL loading. Unusual PowerShell execution or suspicious command-line activity. Lateral movement attempts using legitimate tools like PsExec or WMI.

Named pipe communications for peer-to-peer beacon connections. Specific registry modifications and persistence mechanisms. Memory artifacts from beacon payloads. DNS requests to suspicious domains. All these are some indicators of a Cobalt Strike Infection.

How Can Organizations Detect And Defend Against Cobalt Strike?

Network traffic analysis is the first line of defense against Cobalt Strike attacks. You should use continuous monitoring and analysis solutions like SentinelOne to identify invasion attempts before they can escalate and become full-scale data breaches. Next-generation firewalls can also be used to fight against Cobalt Strike attacks. Assess your SSL/TLS certificates and implement network segmentation and access controls to limit attack movements and minimize surfaces. You should also conduct proactive threat hunting and look for indicators of compromise that evade traditional detection tools.

Also use SentinelOne’s Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services to identify and respond to threats fast.

Why Is Cobalt Strike Popular Among Threat Actors?

Several features make Cobalt Strike attractive to attackers. Here’s why it’s so popular among them:

• It receives regular updates and its functions are reliable.
• It offers extensive customization options to evade detection.
• It provides powerful post-exploitation capabilities like credential harvesting and lateral movement.
• Cracked versions are available on dark web forums, making it accessible to criminal groups.
• Cobalt Strike mimics legitimate network traffic to avoid detection. And, it has strong community support with additional tools and techniques. It’s also designed for long-term persistence, which suits advanced persistent threat campaigns.