MITRE-ATT&CK framework overview

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated July 31, 2025
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    Summary of MITRE-ATT&CK framework overview

    The MITRE-ATT&CK framework is a comprehensive knowledge base of adversarial tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used in cyberattacks. It enables organizations to develop targeted threat models and methodologies to detect, analyze, and respond to cyber threats effectively. By leveraging this framework, security teams can anticipate attacker behaviors, coordinate responses, and enhance their overall cybersecurity posture.

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    Integration with Security Operations

    Within ServiceNow Security Operations, the MITRE-ATT&CK framework integrates seamlessly with Threat Intelligence and Security Incident Response (SIR) applications. A pre-loaded TAXII client ingests MITRE-ATT&CK data into Threat Intelligence, enriching security incidents with relevant TTPs.

    • Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) linked to incidents automatically trigger searches of threat feeds and third-party sources like EDR, Sandbox, or TIP for additional analysis.
    • Extracted MITRE-ATT&CK technique information enhances threat correlation and analysis.
    • Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) context is shared to help assess whether critical assets are at risk in Vulnerability Response.

    MITRE-ATT&CK Matrixes, Tactics, and Techniques

    The core of the framework is a matrix detailing adversary tactics (the “why” behind actions) and techniques (the “how” to achieve objectives). This matrix helps security teams understand attack stages and disrupt adversarial kill chains. The primary matrixes include:

    • Enterprise ATT&CK: Focuses on adversary behaviors in enterprise networks and cloud environments.
    • ICS ATT&CK: Covers adversary actions within Industrial Control Systems networks.
    • Mobile ATT&CK: Addresses adversary techniques targeting mobile devices.

    Techniques can relate to multiple tactics, enabling detailed analysis of attacker intentions and methods.

    Intent-Based Incident Response

    ServiceNow supports an intent-based response approach, using the MITRE-ATT&CK framework to correlate and manage security incidents as parts of broader attack campaigns. This approach helps predict attacker behavior and prioritize responses effectively by focusing on IoCs such as IP addresses, file hashes, and domains throughout the incident life cycle.

    Benefits for ServiceNow Customers

    • Empowers security analysts with detailed adversary TTP knowledge for improved incident analysis and response.
    • Automates detection and containment workflows through predefined playbooks aligned with MITRE-ATT&CK.
    • Enhances threat hunting and prioritization by leveraging MITRE-ATT&CK data.
    • Provides visibility into the organization’s security posture from the perspective of known adversary behaviors.

    Administration and Usage

    Customers can configure, map data sources, track detection coverage, and maintain the MITRE-ATT&CK repository within the ServiceNow AI Platform. The framework supports detection and analysis workflows across Threat Intelligence and Security Incident Response modules, enabling a unified and efficient security operations process.

    The MITRE-ATT&CK framework is a knowledge base of common tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) that your organization can access to develop specific threat models and methodologies against cyberattacks.

    The MITRE Adversarial Tactics, Techniques, and Common Knowledge (ATT&CK) framework documents and tracks various adversarial techniques that are used during different stages of a cyberattack.

    By using the MITRE-ATT&CK framework's knowledge base, the cyberthreat intelligence community can quickly identify threats and coordinate cyberattack responses.

    MITRE-ATT&CK and Security Operations

    Learn how the MITRE-ATT&CK information flows with Security Operations applications.

    MITRE-ATT&CK matrixes, tactics, and techniques

    The core of the MITRE-ATT&CK framework is a matrix of adversary tactics and techniques. The sequence of the tactics represents what an adversary is trying to accomplish at the stage of an incident. When your security team understands this sequence, you have an opportunity to anticipate an adversary's next move and break the kill chain. ATT&CK consists of the following matrixes:
    • Enterprise ATT&CK: Describes the behaviors and actions that an adversary takes to compromise and operate in an enterprise network and cloud.
      Note:
      The Pre ATT&CK matrix has been deprecated by MITRE and is merged with the Enterprise matrix.
    • ICS ATT&CK: Describes the actions that an adversary takes while operating within an Industrial Control Systems (ICS) network.
    • Mobile ATT&CK: Describes the adversary behaviors and actions that focus on mobile devices.

    Tactics represent the why of an ATT&CK technique. It is the adversary’s tactical objective for performing an action.

    Techniques represent how an adversary achieves a tactical objective by performing an action.

    Techniques may be associated with more than one tactic. For example, Access Token Manipulation is used by an adversary to achieve either the tactic of Privilege Escalation or Defense Evasion.

    Using an intent-based approach for incident responses

    An intent-based response uses a dynamic and contextual kill chain framework that can help your organization to correlate security incidents and to identify a large scope of attacks. Your security team can use an intent-based response to understand how the organization is being attacked and what the attacker might do next. This type of response enables you to predict an attacker's behavior so that you can focus your resources effectively.

    Using Security Incident Response, your security team can manage the life cycle of each security incident from analysis to containment by focusing on indicators of compromise (IOCs) like IP addresses, file hashes, and domains.

    By integrating Security Incident Response with the MITRE-ATT&CK framework, security incidents are handled as links in a larger enterprise-wide attack.

    How your organization can benefit from MITRE-ATT&CK in Security Operations

    Using the MITRE-ATT&CK framework can help your organization do the following:

    • Equip security analysts with MITRE-ATT&CK tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) to better analyze and respond to security incidents.
    • Automate the incident workflows using the playbook for detecting and containing threats in the context of the MITRE-ATT&CK framework.
    • Prioritize indicators of compromise and threat hunting with MITRE-ATT&CK information.
    • Understand the high-level security posture of your organization in the context of the MITRE-ATT&CK framework.