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An adversary may exfiltrate data in fixed size chunks instead of whole files or limit packet sizes below certain thresholds. This approach may be used to avoid triggering network data transfer threshold alerts. | enterprise-attack | Data Transfer Size Limits | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1030 external_id: T1030 source_name: University of Birmingham C2 description: Gardiner, J., Cova, M., Nagaraja, S. (2014, February). Command & Control Understanding, Denying and Detecting. Retrieved April 20, 2016. url: https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1408/1408.1136.pdf | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: exfiltration | Linux |
Adversaries can use stolen session cookies to authenticate to web applications and services. This technique bypasses some multi-factor authentication protocols since the session is already authenticated.(Citation: Pass The Cookie)
Authentication cookies are commonly used in web applications, including cloud-based services, after a user has authenticated to the service so credentials are not passed and re-authentication does not need to occur as frequently. Cookies are often valid for an extended period of time, even if the web application is not actively used. After the cookie is obtained through [Steal Web Session Cookie](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1539) or [Web Cookies](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1606/001), the adversary may then import the cookie into a browser they control and is then able to use the site or application as the user for as long as the session cookie is active. Once logged into the site, an adversary can access sensitive information, read email, or perform actions that the victim account has permissions to perform.
There have been examples of malware targeting session cookies to bypass multi-factor authentication systems.(Citation: Unit 42 Mac Crypto Cookies January 2019) | enterprise-attack | Web Session Cookie | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1550/004 external_id: T1550.004 source_name: Unit 42 Mac Crypto Cookies January 2019 description: Chen, Y., Hu, W., Xu, Z., et. al. (2019, January 31). Mac Malware Steals Cryptocurrency Exchanges’ Cookies. Retrieved October 14, 2019. url: https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/mac-malware-steals-cryptocurrency-exchanges-cookies/ source_name: Pass The Cookie description: Rehberger, J. (2018, December). Pivot to the Cloud using Pass the Cookie. Retrieved April 5, 2019. url: https://wunderwuzzi23.github.io/blog/passthecookie.html | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: lateral-movement | Office 365 |
Adversaries may obtain and abuse credentials of a domain account as a means of gaining Initial Access, Persistence, Privilege Escalation, or Defense Evasion.(Citation: TechNet Credential Theft) Domain accounts are those managed by Active Directory Domain Services where access and permissions are configured across systems and services that are part of that domain. Domain accounts can cover users, administrators, and services.(Citation: Microsoft AD Accounts)
Adversaries may compromise domain accounts, some with a high level of privileges, through various means such as [OS Credential Dumping](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1003) or password reuse, allowing access to privileged resources of the domain. | enterprise-attack | Domain Accounts | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1078/002 external_id: T1078.002 source_name: TechNet Credential Theft description: Microsoft. (2016, April 15). Attractive Accounts for Credential Theft. Retrieved June 3, 2016. url: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn535501.aspx source_name: TechNet Audit Policy description: Microsoft. (2016, April 15). Audit Policy Recommendations. Retrieved June 3, 2016. url: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn487457.aspx source_name: Microsoft AD Accounts description: Microsoft. (2019, August 23). Active Directory Accounts. Retrieved March 13, 2020. url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/identity-protection/access-control/active-directory-accounts source_name: Ubuntu SSSD Docs description: Ubuntu. (n.d.). SSSD. Retrieved September 23, 2021. url: https://ubuntu.com/server/docs/service-sssd | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: initial-access | Linux |
Adversaries may abuse Regsvcs and Regasm to proxy execution of code through a trusted Windows utility. Regsvcs and Regasm are Windows command-line utilities that are used to register .NET [Component Object Model](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1559/001) (COM) assemblies. Both are binaries that may be digitally signed by Microsoft. (Citation: MSDN Regsvcs) (Citation: MSDN Regasm)
Both utilities may be used to bypass application control through use of attributes within the binary to specify code that should be run before registration or unregistration: <code>[ComRegisterFunction]</code> or <code>[ComUnregisterFunction]</code> respectively. The code with the registration and unregistration attributes will be executed even if the process is run under insufficient privileges and fails to execute. (Citation: LOLBAS Regsvcs)(Citation: LOLBAS Regasm) | enterprise-attack | Regsvcs/Regasm | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218/009 external_id: T1218.009 source_name: MSDN Regsvcs description: Microsoft. (n.d.). Regsvcs.exe (.NET Services Installation Tool). Retrieved July 1, 2016. url: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/04za0hca.aspx source_name: MSDN Regasm description: Microsoft. (n.d.). Regasm.exe (Assembly Registration Tool). Retrieved July 1, 2016. url: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/tzat5yw6.aspx source_name: LOLBAS Regsvcs description: LOLBAS. (n.d.). Regsvcs.exe. Retrieved July 31, 2019. url: https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Regsvcs/ source_name: LOLBAS Regasm description: LOLBAS. (n.d.). Regasm.exe. Retrieved July 31, 2019. url: https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Regasm/ | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: defense-evasion | Windows |
Adversaries may install a root certificate on a compromised system to avoid warnings when connecting to adversary controlled web servers. Root certificates are used in public key cryptography to identify a root certificate authority (CA). When a root certificate is installed, the system or application will trust certificates in the root's chain of trust that have been signed by the root certificate.(Citation: Wikipedia Root Certificate) Certificates are commonly used for establishing secure TLS/SSL communications within a web browser. When a user attempts to browse a website that presents a certificate that is not trusted an error message will be displayed to warn the user of the security risk. Depending on the security settings, the browser may not allow the user to establish a connection to the website.
Installation of a root certificate on a compromised system would give an adversary a way to degrade the security of that system. Adversaries have used this technique to avoid security warnings prompting users when compromised systems connect over HTTPS to adversary controlled web servers that spoof legitimate websites in order to collect login credentials.(Citation: Operation Emmental)
Atypical root certificates have also been pre-installed on systems by the manufacturer or in the software supply chain and were used in conjunction with malware/adware to provide [Adversary-in-the-Middle](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1557) capability for intercepting information transmitted over secure TLS/SSL communications.(Citation: Kaspersky Superfish)
Root certificates (and their associated chains) can also be cloned and reinstalled. Cloned certificate chains will carry many of the same metadata characteristics of the source and can be used to sign malicious code that may then bypass signature validation tools (ex: Sysinternals, antivirus, etc.) used to block execution and/or uncover artifacts of Persistence.(Citation: SpectorOps Code Signing Dec 2017)
In macOS, the Ay MaMi malware uses <code>/usr/bin/security add-trusted-cert -d -r trustRoot -k /Library/Keychains/System.keychain /path/to/malicious/cert</code> to install a malicious certificate as a trusted root certificate into the system keychain.(Citation: objective-see ay mami 2018) | enterprise-attack | Install Root Certificate | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1553/004 external_id: T1553.004 source_name: Operation Emmental description: botconf eu. (2014, December 31). David Sancho - Finding Holes in Banking 2FA: Operation Emmental. Retrieved January 4, 2024. url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gchKFumYHWc source_name: SpectorOps Code Signing Dec 2017 description: Graeber, M. (2017, December 22). Code Signing Certificate Cloning Attacks and Defenses. Retrieved April 3, 2018. url: https://posts.specterops.io/code-signing-certificate-cloning-attacks-and-defenses-6f98657fc6ec source_name: Kaspersky Superfish description: Onuma. (2015, February 24). Superfish: Adware Preinstalled on Lenovo Laptops. Retrieved February 20, 2017. url: https://www.kaspersky.com/blog/lenovo-pc-with-adware-superfish-preinstalled/7712/ source_name: objective-see ay mami 2018 description: Patrick Wardle. (2018, January 11). Ay MaMi. Retrieved March 19, 2018. url: https://objective-see.com/blog/blog_0x26.html source_name: Microsoft Sigcheck May 2017 description: Russinovich, M. et al.. (2017, May 22). Sigcheck. Retrieved April 3, 2018. url: https://docs.microsoft.com/sysinternals/downloads/sigcheck source_name: Tripwire AppUNBlocker description: Smith, T. (2016, October 27). AppUNBlocker: Bypassing AppLocker. Retrieved December 19, 2017. url: https://www.tripwire.com/state-of-security/off-topic/appunblocker-bypassing-applocker/ source_name: Wikipedia Root Certificate description: Wikipedia. (2016, December 6). Root certificate. Retrieved February 20, 2017. url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_certificate | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: defense-evasion | Linux |
Adversaries may use network logon scripts automatically executed at logon initialization to establish persistence. Network logon scripts can be assigned using Active Directory or Group Policy Objects.(Citation: Petri Logon Script AD) These logon scripts run with the privileges of the user they are assigned to. Depending on the systems within the network, initializing one of these scripts could apply to more than one or potentially all systems.
Adversaries may use these scripts to maintain persistence on a network. Depending on the access configuration of the logon scripts, either local credentials or an administrator account may be necessary. | enterprise-attack | Network Logon Script | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1037/003 external_id: T1037.003 source_name: Petri Logon Script AD description: Daniel Petri. (2009, January 8). Setting up a Logon Script through Active Directory Users and Computers in Windows Server 2008. Retrieved November 15, 2019. url: https://www.petri.com/setting-up-logon-script-through-active-directory-users-computers-windows-server-2008 | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: privilege-escalation | Windows |
Adversaries may perform Endpoint Denial of Service (DoS) attacks to degrade or block the availability of services to users. Endpoint DoS can be performed by exhausting the system resources those services are hosted on or exploiting the system to cause a persistent crash condition. Example services include websites, email services, DNS, and web-based applications. Adversaries have been observed conducting DoS attacks for political purposes(Citation: FireEye OpPoisonedHandover February 2016) and to support other malicious activities, including distraction(Citation: FSISAC FraudNetDoS September 2012), hacktivism, and extortion.(Citation: Symantec DDoS October 2014)
An Endpoint DoS denies the availability of a service without saturating the network used to provide access to the service. Adversaries can target various layers of the application stack that is hosted on the system used to provide the service. These layers include the Operating Systems (OS), server applications such as web servers, DNS servers, databases, and the (typically web-based) applications that sit on top of them. Attacking each layer requires different techniques that take advantage of bottlenecks that are unique to the respective components. A DoS attack may be generated by a single system or multiple systems spread across the internet, which is commonly referred to as a distributed DoS (DDoS).
To perform DoS attacks against endpoint resources, several aspects apply to multiple methods, including IP address spoofing and botnets.
Adversaries may use the original IP address of an attacking system, or spoof the source IP address to make the attack traffic more difficult to trace back to the attacking system or to enable reflection. This can increase the difficulty defenders have in defending against the attack by reducing or eliminating the effectiveness of filtering by the source address on network defense devices.
Botnets are commonly used to conduct DDoS attacks against networks and services. Large botnets can generate a significant amount of traffic from systems spread across the global internet. Adversaries may have the resources to build out and control their own botnet infrastructure or may rent time on an existing botnet to conduct an attack. In some of the worst cases for DDoS, so many systems are used to generate requests that each one only needs to send out a small amount of traffic to produce enough volume to exhaust the target's resources. In such circumstances, distinguishing DDoS traffic from legitimate clients becomes exceedingly difficult. Botnets have been used in some of the most high-profile DDoS attacks, such as the 2012 series of incidents that targeted major US banks.(Citation: USNYAG IranianBotnet March 2016)
In cases where traffic manipulation is used, there may be points in the global network (such as high traffic gateway routers) where packets can be altered and cause legitimate clients to execute code that directs network packets toward a target in high volume. This type of capability was previously used for the purposes of web censorship where client HTTP traffic was modified to include a reference to JavaScript that generated the DDoS code to overwhelm target web servers.(Citation: ArsTechnica Great Firewall of China)
For attacks attempting to saturate the providing network, see [Network Denial of Service](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1498).
| enterprise-attack | Endpoint Denial of Service | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1499 external_id: T1499 source_name: Cisco DoSdetectNetflow description: Cisco. (n.d.). Detecting and Analyzing Network Threats With NetFlow. Retrieved April 25, 2019. url: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/ios-xml/ios/netflow/configuration/15-mt/nf-15-mt-book/nf-detct-analy-thrts.pdf source_name: FSISAC FraudNetDoS September 2012 description: FS-ISAC. (2012, September 17). Fraud Alert – Cyber Criminals Targeting Financial Institution Employee Credentials to Conduct Wire Transfer Fraud. Retrieved April 18, 2019. url: https://www.ic3.gov/media/2012/FraudAlertFinancialInstitutionEmployeeCredentialsTargeted.pdf source_name: ArsTechnica Great Firewall of China description: Goodin, D.. (2015, March 31). Massive denial-of-service attack on GitHub tied to Chinese government. Retrieved April 19, 2019. url: https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/03/massive-denial-of-service-attack-on-github-tied-to-chinese-government/ source_name: FireEye OpPoisonedHandover February 2016 description: Ned Moran, Mike Scott, Mike Oppenheim of FireEye. (2014, November 3). Operation Poisoned Handover: Unveiling Ties Between APT Activity in Hong Kong’s Pro-Democracy Movement. Retrieved April 18, 2019. url: https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2014/11/operation-poisoned-handover-unveiling-ties-between-apt-activity-in-hong-kongs-pro-democracy-movement.html source_name: USNYAG IranianBotnet March 2016 description: Preet Bharara, US Attorney. (2016, March 24). Retrieved April 23, 2019. url: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/seven-iranians-working-islamic-revolutionary-guard-corps-affiliated-entities-charged source_name: Symantec DDoS October 2014 description: Wueest, C.. (2014, October 21). The continued rise of DDoS attacks. Retrieved April 24, 2019. url: https://www.symantec.com/content/en/us/enterprise/media/security_response/whitepapers/the-continued-rise-of-ddos-attacks.pdf | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: impact | Windows |
Adversaries may attempt to make payloads difficult to discover and analyze by delivering files to victims as uncompiled code. Text-based source code files may subvert analysis and scrutiny from protections targeting executables/binaries. These payloads will need to be compiled before execution; typically via native utilities such as csc.exe or GCC/MinGW.(Citation: ClearSky MuddyWater Nov 2018)
Source code payloads may also be encrypted, encoded, and/or embedded within other files, such as those delivered as a [Phishing](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566). Payloads may also be delivered in formats unrecognizable and inherently benign to the native OS (ex: EXEs on macOS/Linux) before later being (re)compiled into a proper executable binary with a bundled compiler and execution framework.(Citation: TrendMicro WindowsAppMac) | enterprise-attack | Compile After Delivery | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1027/004 external_id: T1027.004 source_name: ClearSky MuddyWater Nov 2018 description: ClearSky Cyber Security. (2018, November). MuddyWater Operations in Lebanon and Oman: Using an Israeli compromised domain for a two-stage campaign. Retrieved November 29, 2018. url: https://www.clearskysec.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/MuddyWater-Operations-in-Lebanon-and-Oman.pdf source_name: TrendMicro WindowsAppMac description: Trend Micro. (2019, February 11). Windows App Runs on Mac, Downloads Info Stealer and Adware. Retrieved April 25, 2019. url: https://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/windows-app-runs-on-mac-downloads-info-stealer-and-adware/ | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: defense-evasion | Linux |
Adversaries may gather information in an attempt to calculate the geographical location of a victim host. Adversaries may use the information from [System Location Discovery](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1614) during automated discovery to shape follow-on behaviors, including whether or not the adversary fully infects the target and/or attempts specific actions.
Adversaries may attempt to infer the location of a system using various system checks, such as time zone, keyboard layout, and/or language settings.(Citation: FBI Ragnar Locker 2020)(Citation: Sophos Geolocation 2016)(Citation: Bleepingcomputer RAT malware 2020) Windows API functions such as <code>GetLocaleInfoW</code> can also be used to determine the locale of the host.(Citation: FBI Ragnar Locker 2020) In cloud environments, an instance's availability zone may also be discovered by accessing the instance metadata service from the instance.(Citation: AWS Instance Identity Documents)(Citation: Microsoft Azure Instance Metadata 2021)
Adversaries may also attempt to infer the location of a victim host using IP addressing, such as via online geolocation IP-lookup services.(Citation: Securelist Trasparent Tribe 2020)(Citation: Sophos Geolocation 2016) | enterprise-attack | System Location Discovery | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1614 external_id: T1614 source_name: FBI Ragnar Locker 2020 description: FBI. (2020, November 19). Indicators of Compromise Associated with Ragnar Locker Ransomware. Retrieved April 1, 2021. url: https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/20413525/fbi-flash-indicators-of-compromise-ragnar-locker-ransomware-11192020-bc.pdf source_name: Sophos Geolocation 2016 description: Wisniewski, C. (2016, May 3). Location-based threats: How cybercriminals target you based on where you live. Retrieved April 1, 2021. url: https://news.sophos.com/en-us/2016/05/03/location-based-ransomware-threat-research/ source_name: Bleepingcomputer RAT malware 2020 description: Abrams, L. (2020, October 23). New RAT malware gets commands via Discord, has ransomware feature. Retrieved April 1, 2021. url: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/new-rat-malware-gets-commands-via-discord-has-ransomware-feature/ source_name: AWS Instance Identity Documents description: Amazon. (n.d.). Instance identity documents. Retrieved April 2, 2021. url: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/instance-identity-documents.html source_name: Microsoft Azure Instance Metadata 2021 description: Microsoft. (2021, February 21). Azure Instance Metadata Service (Windows). Retrieved April 2, 2021. url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/windows/instance-metadata-service?tabs=windows source_name: Securelist Trasparent Tribe 2020 description: Dedola, G. (2020, August 20). Transparent Tribe: Evolution analysis, part 1. Retrieved April 1, 2021. url: https://securelist.com/transparent-tribe-part-1/98127/ | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: discovery | Windows |
Adversaries may hide malicious Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) payloads embedded within MS Office documents by replacing the VBA source code with benign data.(Citation: FireEye VBA stomp Feb 2020)
MS Office documents with embedded VBA content store source code inside of module streams. Each module stream has a <code>PerformanceCache</code> that stores a separate compiled version of the VBA source code known as p-code. The p-code is executed when the MS Office version specified in the <code>_VBA_PROJECT</code> stream (which contains the version-dependent description of the VBA project) matches the version of the host MS Office application.(Citation: Evil Clippy May 2019)(Citation: Microsoft _VBA_PROJECT Stream)
An adversary may hide malicious VBA code by overwriting the VBA source code location with zero’s, benign code, or random bytes while leaving the previously compiled malicious p-code. Tools that scan for malicious VBA source code may be bypassed as the unwanted code is hidden in the compiled p-code. If the VBA source code is removed, some tools might even think that there are no macros present. If there is a version match between the <code>_VBA_PROJECT</code> stream and host MS Office application, the p-code will be executed, otherwise the benign VBA source code will be decompressed and recompiled to p-code, thus removing malicious p-code and potentially bypassing dynamic analysis.(Citation: Walmart Roberts Oct 2018)(Citation: FireEye VBA stomp Feb 2020)(Citation: pcodedmp Bontchev) | enterprise-attack | VBA Stomping | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1564/007 external_id: T1564.007 source_name: FireEye VBA stomp Feb 2020 description: Cole, R., Moore, A., Stark, G., Stancill, B. (2020, February 5). STOMP 2 DIS: Brilliance in the (Visual) Basics. Retrieved September 17, 2020. url: https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2020/01/stomp-2-dis-brilliance-in-the-visual-basics.html source_name: Evil Clippy May 2019 description: Hegt, S. (2019, May 5). Evil Clippy: MS Office maldoc assistant. Retrieved September 17, 2020. url: https://outflank.nl/blog/2019/05/05/evil-clippy-ms-office-maldoc-assistant/ source_name: Microsoft _VBA_PROJECT Stream description: Microsoft. (2020, February 19). 2.3.4.1 _VBA_PROJECT Stream: Version Dependent Project Information. Retrieved September 18, 2020. url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/openspecs/office_file_formats/ms-ovba/ef7087ac-3974-4452-aab2-7dba2214d239 source_name: Walmart Roberts Oct 2018 description: Sayre, K., Ogden, H., Roberts, C. (2018, October 10). VBA Stomping — Advanced Maldoc Techniques. Retrieved September 17, 2020. url: https://medium.com/walmartglobaltech/vba-stomping-advanced-maldoc-techniques-612c484ab278 source_name: pcodedmp Bontchev description: Bontchev, V. (2019, July 30). pcodedmp.py - A VBA p-code disassembler. Retrieved September 17, 2020. url: https://github.com/bontchev/pcodedmp source_name: oletools toolkit description: decalage2. (2019, December 3). python-oletools. Retrieved September 18, 2020. url: https://github.com/decalage2/oletools | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: defense-evasion | Linux |
Adversaries may abuse BITS jobs to persistently execute code and perform various background tasks. Windows Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) is a low-bandwidth, asynchronous file transfer mechanism exposed through [Component Object Model](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1559/001) (COM).(Citation: Microsoft COM)(Citation: Microsoft BITS) BITS is commonly used by updaters, messengers, and other applications preferred to operate in the background (using available idle bandwidth) without interrupting other networked applications. File transfer tasks are implemented as BITS jobs, which contain a queue of one or more file operations.
The interface to create and manage BITS jobs is accessible through [PowerShell](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/001) and the [BITSAdmin](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0190) tool.(Citation: Microsoft BITS)(Citation: Microsoft BITSAdmin)
Adversaries may abuse BITS to download (e.g. [Ingress Tool Transfer](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1105)), execute, and even clean up after running malicious code (e.g. [Indicator Removal](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1070)). BITS tasks are self-contained in the BITS job database, without new files or registry modifications, and often permitted by host firewalls.(Citation: CTU BITS Malware June 2016)(Citation: Mondok Windows PiggyBack BITS May 2007)(Citation: Symantec BITS May 2007) BITS enabled execution may also enable persistence by creating long-standing jobs (the default maximum lifetime is 90 days and extendable) or invoking an arbitrary program when a job completes or errors (including after system reboots).(Citation: PaloAlto UBoatRAT Nov 2017)(Citation: CTU BITS Malware June 2016)
BITS upload functionalities can also be used to perform [Exfiltration Over Alternative Protocol](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1048).(Citation: CTU BITS Malware June 2016) | enterprise-attack | BITS Jobs | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1197 external_id: T1197 source_name: CTU BITS Malware June 2016 description: Counter Threat Unit Research Team. (2016, June 6). Malware Lingers with BITS. Retrieved January 12, 2018. url: https://www.secureworks.com/blog/malware-lingers-with-bits source_name: Symantec BITS May 2007 description: Florio, E. (2007, May 9). Malware Update with Windows Update. Retrieved January 12, 2018. url: https://www.symantec.com/connect/blogs/malware-update-windows-update source_name: Elastic - Hunting for Persistence Part 1 description: French, D., Murphy, B. (2020, March 24). Adversary tradecraft 101: Hunting for persistence using Elastic Security (Part 1). Retrieved December 21, 2020. url: https://www.elastic.co/blog/hunting-for-persistence-using-elastic-security-part-1 source_name: PaloAlto UBoatRAT Nov 2017 description: Hayashi, K. (2017, November 28). UBoatRAT Navigates East Asia. Retrieved January 12, 2018. url: https://researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com/2017/11/unit42-uboatrat-navigates-east-asia/ source_name: Microsoft Issues with BITS July 2011 description: Microsoft. (2011, July 19). Issues with BITS. Retrieved January 12, 2018. url: https://technet.microsoft.com/library/dd939934.aspx source_name: Microsoft BITS description: Microsoft. (n.d.). Background Intelligent Transfer Service. Retrieved January 12, 2018. url: https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/windows/desktop/bb968799.aspx source_name: Microsoft BITSAdmin description: Microsoft. (n.d.). BITSAdmin Tool. Retrieved January 12, 2018. url: https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/aa362813.aspx source_name: Microsoft COM description: Microsoft. (n.d.). Component Object Model (COM). Retrieved November 22, 2017. url: https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/windows/desktop/ms680573.aspx source_name: Mondok Windows PiggyBack BITS May 2007 description: Mondok, M. (2007, May 11). Malware piggybacks on Windows’ Background Intelligent Transfer Service. Retrieved January 12, 2018. url: https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2007/05/malware-piggybacks-on-windows-background-intelligent-transfer-service/ | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: persistence | Windows |
Adversaries may use MSBuild to proxy execution of code through a trusted Windows utility. MSBuild.exe (Microsoft Build Engine) is a software build platform used by Visual Studio. It handles XML formatted project files that define requirements for loading and building various platforms and configurations.(Citation: MSDN MSBuild)
Adversaries can abuse MSBuild to proxy execution of malicious code. The inline task capability of MSBuild that was introduced in .NET version 4 allows for C# or Visual Basic code to be inserted into an XML project file.(Citation: MSDN MSBuild)(Citation: Microsoft MSBuild Inline Tasks 2017) MSBuild will compile and execute the inline task. MSBuild.exe is a signed Microsoft binary, so when it is used this way it can execute arbitrary code and bypass application control defenses that are configured to allow MSBuild.exe execution.(Citation: LOLBAS Msbuild) | enterprise-attack | MSBuild | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1127/001 external_id: T1127.001 source_name: LOLBAS Msbuild description: LOLBAS. (n.d.). Msbuild.exe. Retrieved July 31, 2019. url: https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Msbuild/ source_name: Microsoft MSBuild Inline Tasks 2017 description: Microsoft. (2017, September 21). MSBuild inline tasks. Retrieved March 5, 2021. url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/visualstudio/msbuild/msbuild-inline-tasks?view=vs-2019#code-element source_name: MSDN MSBuild description: Microsoft. (n.d.). MSBuild1. Retrieved November 30, 2016. url: https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/dd393574.aspx | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: defense-evasion | Windows |
Adversaries may impersonate a trusted person or organization in order to persuade and trick a target into performing some action on their behalf. For example, adversaries may communicate with victims (via [Phishing for Information](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1598), [Phishing](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566), or [Internal Spearphishing](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1534)) while impersonating a known sender such as an executive, colleague, or third-party vendor. Established trust can then be leveraged to accomplish an adversary’s ultimate goals, possibly against multiple victims.
In many cases of business email compromise or email fraud campaigns, adversaries use impersonation to defraud victims -- deceiving them into sending money or divulging information that ultimately enables [Financial Theft](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1657).
Adversaries will often also use social engineering techniques such as manipulative and persuasive language in email subject lines and body text such as `payment`, `request`, or `urgent` to push the victim to act quickly before malicious activity is detected. These campaigns are often specifically targeted against people who, due to job roles and/or accesses, can carry out the adversary’s goal.
Impersonation is typically preceded by reconnaissance techniques such as [Gather Victim Identity Information](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1589) and [Gather Victim Org Information](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1591) as well as acquiring infrastructure such as email domains (i.e. [Domains](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1583/001)) to substantiate their false identity.(Citation: CrowdStrike-BEC)
There is the potential for multiple victims in campaigns involving impersonation. For example, an adversary may [Compromise Accounts](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1586) targeting one organization which can then be used to support impersonation against other entities.(Citation: VEC) | enterprise-attack | Impersonation | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1656 external_id: T1656 source_name: CrowdStrike-BEC description: Bart Lenaerts-Bergmans. (2023, March 10). What is Business Email Compromise?. Retrieved August 8, 2023. url: https://www.crowdstrike.com/cybersecurity-101/business-email-compromise-bec/ source_name: VEC description: CloudFlare. (n.d.). What is vendor email compromise (VEC)?. Retrieved September 12, 2023. url: https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/email-security/what-is-vendor-email-compromise/#:~:text=Vendor%20email%20compromise%2C%20also%20referred,steal%20from%20that%20vendor%27s%20customers. | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: defense-evasion | Linux |
Adversaries may modify settings that directly affect the size, locations, and resources available to cloud compute infrastructure in order to evade defenses. These settings may include service quotas, subscription associations, tenant-wide policies, or other configurations that impact available compute. Such modifications may allow adversaries to abuse the victim’s compute resources to achieve their goals, potentially without affecting the execution of running instances and/or revealing their activities to the victim.
For example, cloud providers often limit customer usage of compute resources via quotas. Customers may request adjustments to these quotas to support increased computing needs, though these adjustments may require approval from the cloud provider. Adversaries who compromise a cloud environment may similarly request quota adjustments in order to support their activities, such as enabling additional [Resource Hijacking](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1496) without raising suspicion by using up a victim’s entire quota.(Citation: Microsoft Cryptojacking 2023) Adversaries may also increase allowed resource usage by modifying any tenant-wide policies that limit the sizes of deployed virtual machines.(Citation: Microsoft Azure Policy)
Adversaries may also modify settings that affect where cloud resources can be deployed, such as enabling [Unused/Unsupported Cloud Regions](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1535). In Azure environments, an adversary who has gained access to a Global Administrator account may create new subscriptions in which to deploy resources, or engage in subscription hijacking by transferring an existing pay-as-you-go subscription from a victim tenant to an adversary-controlled tenant.(Citation: Microsoft Peach Sandstorm 2023) This will allow the adversary to use the victim’s compute resources without generating logs on the victim tenant.(Citation: Microsoft Azure Policy) (Citation: Microsoft Subscription Hijacking 2022) | enterprise-attack | Modify Cloud Compute Configurations | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1578/005 external_id: T1578.005 source_name: Microsoft Subscription Hijacking 2022 description: Dor Edry. (2022, August 24). Hunt for compromised Azure subscriptions using Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps. Retrieved September 5, 2023. url: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-365-defender-blog/hunt-for-compromised-azure-subscriptions-using-microsoft/ba-p/3607121 source_name: Microsoft Cryptojacking 2023 description: Microsoft Threat Intelligence. (2023, July 25). Cryptojacking: Understanding and defending against cloud compute resource abuse. Retrieved September 5, 2023. url: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2023/07/25/cryptojacking-understanding-and-defending-against-cloud-compute-resource-abuse/ source_name: Microsoft Peach Sandstorm 2023 description: Microsoft Threat Intelligence. (2023, September 14). Peach Sandstorm password spray campaigns enable intelligence collection at high-value targets. Retrieved September 18, 2023. url: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2023/09/14/peach-sandstorm-password-spray-campaigns-enable-intelligence-collection-at-high-value-targets/ source_name: Microsoft Azure Policy description: Microsoft. (2023, August 30). Azure Policy built-in policy definitions. Retrieved September 5, 2023. url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/governance/policy/samples/built-in-policies#compute | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: defense-evasion | IaaS |
Adversaries may take advantage of routing schemes in Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) and other services which host multiple domains to obfuscate the intended destination of HTTPS traffic or traffic tunneled through HTTPS. (Citation: Fifield Blocking Resistent Communication through domain fronting 2015) Domain fronting involves using different domain names in the SNI field of the TLS header and the Host field of the HTTP header. If both domains are served from the same CDN, then the CDN may route to the address specified in the HTTP header after unwrapping the TLS header. A variation of the the technique, "domainless" fronting, utilizes a SNI field that is left blank; this may allow the fronting to work even when the CDN attempts to validate that the SNI and HTTP Host fields match (if the blank SNI fields are ignored).
For example, if domain-x and domain-y are customers of the same CDN, it is possible to place domain-x in the TLS header and domain-y in the HTTP header. Traffic will appear to be going to domain-x, however the CDN may route it to domain-y. | enterprise-attack | Domain Fronting | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1090/004 external_id: T1090.004 source_name: Fifield Blocking Resistent Communication through domain fronting 2015 description: David Fifield, Chang Lan, Rod Hynes, Percy Wegmann, and Vern Paxson. (2015). Blocking-resistant communication through domain fronting. Retrieved November 20, 2017. url: http://www.icir.org/vern/papers/meek-PETS-2015.pdf | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: command-and-control | Linux |
Adversaries may poison Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) caches to position themselves between the communication of two or more networked devices. This activity may be used to enable follow-on behaviors such as [Network Sniffing](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1040) or [Transmitted Data Manipulation](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1565/002).
The ARP protocol is used to resolve IPv4 addresses to link layer addresses, such as a media access control (MAC) address.(Citation: RFC826 ARP) Devices in a local network segment communicate with each other by using link layer addresses. If a networked device does not have the link layer address of a particular networked device, it may send out a broadcast ARP request to the local network to translate the IP address to a MAC address. The device with the associated IP address directly replies with its MAC address. The networked device that made the ARP request will then use as well as store that information in its ARP cache.
An adversary may passively wait for an ARP request to poison the ARP cache of the requesting device. The adversary may reply with their MAC address, thus deceiving the victim by making them believe that they are communicating with the intended networked device. For the adversary to poison the ARP cache, their reply must be faster than the one made by the legitimate IP address owner. Adversaries may also send a gratuitous ARP reply that maliciously announces the ownership of a particular IP address to all the devices in the local network segment.
The ARP protocol is stateless and does not require authentication. Therefore, devices may wrongly add or update the MAC address of the IP address in their ARP cache.(Citation: Sans ARP Spoofing Aug 2003)(Citation: Cylance Cleaver)
Adversaries may use ARP cache poisoning as a means to intercept network traffic. This activity may be used to collect and/or relay data such as credentials, especially those sent over an insecure, unencrypted protocol.(Citation: Sans ARP Spoofing Aug 2003)
| enterprise-attack | ARP Cache Poisoning | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1557/002 external_id: T1557.002 source_name: Cylance Cleaver description: Cylance. (2014, December). Operation Cleaver. Retrieved September 14, 2017. url: https://web.archive.org/web/20200302085133/https://www.cylance.com/content/dam/cylance/pages/operation-cleaver/Cylance_Operation_Cleaver_Report.pdf source_name: RFC826 ARP description: Plummer, D. (1982, November). An Ethernet Address Resolution Protocol. Retrieved October 15, 2020. url: https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc826 source_name: Sans ARP Spoofing Aug 2003 description: Siles, R. (2003, August). Real World ARP Spoofing. Retrieved October 15, 2020. url: https://pen-testing.sans.org/resources/papers/gcih/real-world-arp-spoofing-105411 | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: collection | Linux |
An adversary may disable or modify cloud logging capabilities and integrations to limit what data is collected on their activities and avoid detection. Cloud environments allow for collection and analysis of audit and application logs that provide insight into what activities a user does within the environment. If an adversary has sufficient permissions, they can disable or modify logging to avoid detection of their activities.
For example, in AWS an adversary may disable CloudWatch/CloudTrail integrations prior to conducting further malicious activity.(Citation: Following the CloudTrail: Generating strong AWS security signals with Sumo Logic) They may alternatively tamper with logging functionality – for example, by removing any associated SNS topics, disabling multi-region logging, or disabling settings that validate and/or encrypt log files.(Citation: AWS Update Trail)(Citation: Pacu Detection Disruption Module) In Office 365, an adversary may disable logging on mail collection activities for specific users by using the `Set-MailboxAuditBypassAssociation` cmdlet, by disabling M365 Advanced Auditing for the user, or by downgrading the user’s license from an Enterprise E5 to an Enterprise E3 license.(Citation: Dark Reading Microsoft 365 Attacks 2021) | enterprise-attack | Disable or Modify Cloud Logs | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1562/008 external_id: T1562.008 source_name: Stopping CloudTrail from Sending Events to CloudWatch Logs description: Amazon Web Services. (n.d.). Stopping CloudTrail from Sending Events to CloudWatch Logs. Retrieved October 16, 2020. url: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/awscloudtrail/latest/userguide/stop-cloudtrail-from-sending-events-to-cloudwatch-logs.html source_name: AWS Update Trail description: AWS. (n.d.). update-trail. Retrieved August 4, 2023. url: https://awscli.amazonaws.com/v2/documentation/api/latest/reference/cloudtrail/update-trail.html source_name: Following the CloudTrail: Generating strong AWS security signals with Sumo Logic description: Dan Whalen. (2019, September 10). Following the CloudTrail: Generating strong AWS security signals with Sumo Logic. Retrieved October 16, 2020. url: https://expel.io/blog/following-cloudtrail-generating-aws-security-signals-sumo-logic/ source_name: Configuring Data Access audit logs description: Google. (n.d.). Configuring Data Access audit logs. Retrieved October 16, 2020. url: https://cloud.google.com/logging/docs/audit/configure-data-access source_name: Dark Reading Microsoft 365 Attacks 2021 description: Kelly Sheridan. (2021, August 5). Incident Responders Explore Microsoft 365 Attacks in the Wild. Retrieved March 17, 2023. url: https://www.darkreading.com/threat-intelligence/incident-responders-explore-microsoft-365-attacks-in-the-wild/d/d-id/1341591 source_name: az monitor diagnostic-settings description: Microsoft. (n.d.). az monitor diagnostic-settings. Retrieved October 16, 2020. url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cli/azure/monitor/diagnostic-settings?view=azure-cli-latest#az_monitor_diagnostic_settings_delete source_name: Pacu Detection Disruption Module description: Rhino Security Labs. (2021, April 29). Pacu Detection Disruption Module. Retrieved August 4, 2023. url: https://github.com/RhinoSecurityLabs/pacu/blob/master/pacu/modules/detection__disruption/main.py | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: defense-evasion | IaaS |
Adversaries may attempt to get a listing of security software, configurations, defensive tools, and sensors that are installed on a system or in a cloud environment. This may include things such as cloud monitoring agents and anti-virus. Adversaries may use the information from [Security Software Discovery](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1518/001) during automated discovery to shape follow-on behaviors, including whether or not the adversary fully infects the target and/or attempts specific actions.
Example commands that can be used to obtain security software information are [netsh](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0108), <code>reg query</code> with [Reg](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0075), <code>dir</code> with [cmd](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0106), and [Tasklist](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0057), but other indicators of discovery behavior may be more specific to the type of software or security system the adversary is looking for. It is becoming more common to see macOS malware perform checks for LittleSnitch and KnockKnock software.
Adversaries may also utilize the [Cloud API](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/009) to discover cloud-native security software installed on compute infrastructure, such as the AWS CloudWatch agent, Azure VM Agent, and Google Cloud Monitor agent. These agents may collect metrics and logs from the VM, which may be centrally aggregated in a cloud-based monitoring platform. | enterprise-attack | Security Software Discovery | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1518/001 external_id: T1518.001 | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: discovery | Windows |
Adversaries may use hidden windows to conceal malicious activity from the plain sight of users. In some cases, windows that would typically be displayed when an application carries out an operation can be hidden. This may be utilized by system administrators to avoid disrupting user work environments when carrying out administrative tasks.
Adversaries may abuse these functionalities to hide otherwise visible windows from users so as not to alert the user to adversary activity on the system.(Citation: Antiquated Mac Malware)
On macOS, the configurations for how applications run are listed in property list (plist) files. One of the tags in these files can be <code>apple.awt.UIElement</code>, which allows for Java applications to prevent the application's icon from appearing in the Dock. A common use for this is when applications run in the system tray, but don't also want to show up in the Dock.
Similarly, on Windows there are a variety of features in scripting languages, such as [PowerShell](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/001), Jscript, and [Visual Basic](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/005) to make windows hidden. One example of this is <code>powershell.exe -WindowStyle Hidden</code>.(Citation: PowerShell About 2019)
In addition, Windows supports the `CreateDesktop()` API that can create a hidden desktop window with its own corresponding <code>explorer.exe</code> process.(Citation: Hidden VNC)(Citation: Anatomy of an hVNC Attack) All applications running on the hidden desktop window, such as a hidden VNC (hVNC) session,(Citation: Hidden VNC) will be invisible to other desktops windows. | enterprise-attack | Hidden Window | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1564/003 external_id: T1564.003 source_name: Hidden VNC description: Hutchins, Marcus. (2015, September 13). Hidden VNC for Beginners. Retrieved November 28, 2023. url: https://www.malwaretech.com/2015/09/hidden-vnc-for-beginners.html source_name: Anatomy of an hVNC Attack description: Keshet, Lior. Kessem, Limor. (2017, January 25). Anatomy of an hVNC Attack. Retrieved November 28, 2023. url: https://securityintelligence.com/anatomy-of-an-hvnc-attack/ source_name: Antiquated Mac Malware description: Thomas Reed. (2017, January 18). New Mac backdoor using antiquated code. Retrieved July 5, 2017. url: https://blog.malwarebytes.com/threat-analysis/2017/01/new-mac-backdoor-using-antiquated-code/ source_name: PowerShell About 2019 description: Wheeler, S. et al.. (2019, May 1). About PowerShell.exe. Retrieved October 11, 2019. url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/Microsoft.PowerShell.Core/About/about_PowerShell_exe?view=powershell-5.1 | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: defense-evasion | macOS |
Adversaries may abuse Python commands and scripts for execution. Python is a very popular scripting/programming language, with capabilities to perform many functions. Python can be executed interactively from the command-line (via the <code>python.exe</code> interpreter) or via scripts (.py) that can be written and distributed to different systems. Python code can also be compiled into binary executables.(Citation: Zscaler APT31 Covid-19 October 2020)
Python comes with many built-in packages to interact with the underlying system, such as file operations and device I/O. Adversaries can use these libraries to download and execute commands or other scripts as well as perform various malicious behaviors. | enterprise-attack | Python | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/006 external_id: T1059.006 source_name: Zscaler APT31 Covid-19 October 2020 description: Singh, S. and Antil, S. (2020, October 27). APT-31 Leverages COVID-19 Vaccine Theme and Abuses Legitimate Online Services. Retrieved March 24, 2021. url: https://www.zscaler.com/blogs/security-research/apt-31-leverages-covid-19-vaccine-theme-and-abuses-legitimate-online | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: execution | Linux |
Adversaries may gather information about identities and roles within the victim organization that can be used during targeting. Information about business roles may reveal a variety of targetable details, including identifiable information for key personnel as well as what data/resources they have access to.
Adversaries may gather this information in various ways, such as direct elicitation via [Phishing for Information](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1598). Information about business roles may also be exposed to adversaries via online or other accessible data sets (ex: [Social Media](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1593/001) or [Search Victim-Owned Websites](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1594)).(Citation: ThreatPost Broadvoice Leak) Gathering this information may reveal opportunities for other forms of reconnaissance (ex: [Phishing for Information](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1598) or [Search Open Websites/Domains](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1593)), establishing operational resources (ex: [Establish Accounts](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1585) or [Compromise Accounts](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1586)), and/or initial access (ex: [Phishing](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566)). | enterprise-attack | Identify Roles | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1591/004 external_id: T1591.004 source_name: ThreatPost Broadvoice Leak description: Seals, T. (2020, October 15). Broadvoice Leak Exposes 350M Records, Personal Voicemail Transcripts. Retrieved October 20, 2020. url: https://threatpost.com/broadvoice-leaks-350m-records-voicemail-transcripts/160158/ | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: reconnaissance | PRE |
Adversaries may encode data to make the content of command and control traffic more difficult to detect. Command and control (C2) information can be encoded using a standard data encoding system. Use of data encoding may adhere to existing protocol specifications and includes use of ASCII, Unicode, Base64, MIME, or other binary-to-text and character encoding systems.(Citation: Wikipedia Binary-to-text Encoding) (Citation: Wikipedia Character Encoding) Some data encoding systems may also result in data compression, such as gzip. | enterprise-attack | Data Encoding | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1132 external_id: T1132 source_name: University of Birmingham C2 description: Gardiner, J., Cova, M., Nagaraja, S. (2014, February). Command & Control Understanding, Denying and Detecting. Retrieved April 20, 2016. url: https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1408/1408.1136.pdf source_name: Wikipedia Binary-to-text Encoding description: Wikipedia. (2016, December 26). Binary-to-text encoding. Retrieved March 1, 2017. url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binary-to-text_encoding source_name: Wikipedia Character Encoding description: Wikipedia. (2017, February 19). Character Encoding. Retrieved March 1, 2017. url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Character_encoding | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: command-and-control | Linux |
Adversaries may establish persistence and/or elevate privileges by executing malicious content triggered by AppInit DLLs loaded into processes. Dynamic-link libraries (DLLs) that are specified in the <code>AppInit_DLLs</code> value in the Registry keys <code>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows</code> or <code>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows</code> are loaded by user32.dll into every process that loads user32.dll. In practice this is nearly every program, since user32.dll is a very common library. (Citation: Elastic Process Injection July 2017)
Similar to Process Injection, these values can be abused to obtain elevated privileges by causing a malicious DLL to be loaded and run in the context of separate processes on the computer. (Citation: AppInit Registry) Malicious AppInit DLLs may also provide persistence by continuously being triggered by API activity.
The AppInit DLL functionality is disabled in Windows 8 and later versions when secure boot is enabled. (Citation: AppInit Secure Boot) | enterprise-attack | AppInit DLLs | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1546/010 external_id: T1546.010 source_name: Elastic Process Injection July 2017 description: Hosseini, A. (2017, July 18). Ten Process Injection Techniques: A Technical Survey Of Common And Trending Process Injection Techniques. Retrieved December 7, 2017. url: https://www.endgame.com/blog/technical-blog/ten-process-injection-techniques-technical-survey-common-and-trending-process source_name: AppInit Registry description: Microsoft. (2006, October). Working with the AppInit_DLLs registry value. Retrieved July 15, 2015. url: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/197571 source_name: AppInit Secure Boot description: Microsoft. (n.d.). AppInit DLLs and Secure Boot. Retrieved July 15, 2015. url: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn280412 source_name: TechNet Autoruns description: Russinovich, M. (2016, January 4). Autoruns for Windows v13.51. Retrieved June 6, 2016. url: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902 | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: persistence | Windows |
Adversaries may send phishing messages to elicit sensitive information that can be used during targeting. Phishing for information is an attempt to trick targets into divulging information, frequently credentials or other actionable information. Phishing for information is different from [Phishing](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566) in that the objective is gathering data from the victim rather than executing malicious code.
All forms of phishing are electronically delivered social engineering. Phishing can be targeted, known as spearphishing. In spearphishing, a specific individual, company, or industry will be targeted by the adversary. More generally, adversaries can conduct non-targeted phishing, such as in mass credential harvesting campaigns.
Adversaries may also try to obtain information directly through the exchange of emails, instant messages, or other electronic conversation means.(Citation: ThreatPost Social Media Phishing)(Citation: TrendMictro Phishing)(Citation: PCMag FakeLogin)(Citation: Sophos Attachment)(Citation: GitHub Phishery) Victims may also receive phishing messages that direct them to call a phone number where the adversary attempts to collect confidential information.(Citation: Avertium callback phishing)
Phishing for information frequently involves social engineering techniques, such as posing as a source with a reason to collect information (ex: [Establish Accounts](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1585) or [Compromise Accounts](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1586)) and/or sending multiple, seemingly urgent messages. Another way to accomplish this is by forging or spoofing(Citation: Proofpoint-spoof) the identity of the sender which can be used to fool both the human recipient as well as automated security tools.(Citation: cyberproof-double-bounce)
Phishing for information may also involve evasive techniques, such as removing or manipulating emails or metadata/headers from compromised accounts being abused to send messages (e.g., [Email Hiding Rules](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1564/008)).(Citation: Microsoft OAuth Spam 2022)(Citation: Palo Alto Unit 42 VBA Infostealer 2014) | enterprise-attack | Phishing for Information | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1598 external_id: T1598 source_name: ACSC Email Spoofing description: Australian Cyber Security Centre. (2012, December). Mitigating Spoofed Emails Using Sender Policy Framework. Retrieved October 19, 2020. url: https://www.cyber.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-03/spoof_email_sender_policy_framework.pdf source_name: Avertium callback phishing description: Avertium. (n.d.). EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CALLBACK PHISHING. Retrieved February 2, 2023. url: https://www.avertium.com/resources/threat-reports/everything-you-need-to-know-about-callback-phishing source_name: TrendMictro Phishing description: Babon, P. (2020, September 3). Tricky 'Forms' of Phishing. Retrieved October 20, 2020. url: https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/20/i/tricky-forms-of-phishing.html source_name: Sophos Attachment description: Ducklin, P. (2020, October 2). Serious Security: Phishing without links – when phishers bring along their own web pages. Retrieved October 20, 2020. url: https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2020/10/02/serious-security-phishing-without-links-when-phishers-bring-along-their-own-web-pages/ source_name: cyberproof-double-bounce description: Itkin, Liora. (2022, September 1). Double-bounced attacks with email spoofing . Retrieved February 24, 2023. url: https://blog.cyberproof.com/blog/double-bounced-attacks-with-email-spoofing-2022-trends source_name: PCMag FakeLogin description: Kan, M. (2019, October 24). Hackers Try to Phish United Nations Staffers With Fake Login Pages. Retrieved October 20, 2020. url: https://www.pcmag.com/news/hackers-try-to-phish-united-nations-staffers-with-fake-login-pages source_name: Microsoft Anti Spoofing description: Microsoft. (2020, October 13). Anti-spoofing protection in EOP. Retrieved October 19, 2020. url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/security/office-365-security/anti-spoofing-protection?view=o365-worldwide source_name: Microsoft OAuth Spam 2022 description: Microsoft. (2023, September 22). Malicious OAuth applications abuse cloud email services to spread spam. Retrieved March 13, 2023. url: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2022/09/22/malicious-oauth-applications-used-to-compromise-email-servers-and-spread-spam/ source_name: ThreatPost Social Media Phishing description: O'Donnell, L. (2020, October 20). Facebook: A Top Launching Pad For Phishing Attacks. Retrieved October 20, 2020. url: https://threatpost.com/facebook-launching-pad-phishing-attacks/160351/ source_name: Proofpoint-spoof description: Proofpoint. (n.d.). What Is Email Spoofing?. Retrieved February 24, 2023. url: https://www.proofpoint.com/us/threat-reference/email-spoofing source_name: GitHub Phishery description: Ryan Hanson. (2016, September 24). phishery. Retrieved October 23, 2020. url: https://github.com/ryhanson/phishery source_name: Palo Alto Unit 42 VBA Infostealer 2014 description: Vicky Ray and Rob Downs. (2014, October 29). Examining a VBA-Initiated Infostealer Campaign. Retrieved March 13, 2023. url: https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/examining-vba-initiated-infostealer-campaign/ | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: reconnaissance | PRE |
Adversaries may leverage the resources of co-opted systems to complete resource-intensive tasks, which may impact system and/or hosted service availability.
One common purpose for Resource Hijacking is to validate transactions of cryptocurrency networks and earn virtual currency. Adversaries may consume enough system resources to negatively impact and/or cause affected machines to become unresponsive.(Citation: Kaspersky Lazarus Under The Hood Blog 2017) Servers and cloud-based systems are common targets because of the high potential for available resources, but user endpoint systems may also be compromised and used for Resource Hijacking and cryptocurrency mining.(Citation: CloudSploit - Unused AWS Regions) Containerized environments may also be targeted due to the ease of deployment via exposed APIs and the potential for scaling mining activities by deploying or compromising multiple containers within an environment or cluster.(Citation: Unit 42 Hildegard Malware)(Citation: Trend Micro Exposed Docker APIs)
Additionally, some cryptocurrency mining malware identify then kill off processes for competing malware to ensure it’s not competing for resources.(Citation: Trend Micro War of Crypto Miners)
Adversaries may also use malware that leverages a system's network bandwidth as part of a botnet in order to facilitate [Network Denial of Service](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1498) campaigns and/or to seed malicious torrents.(Citation: GoBotKR) Alternatively, they may engage in proxyjacking by selling use of the victims' network bandwidth and IP address to proxyware services.(Citation: Sysdig Proxyjacking) | enterprise-attack | Resource Hijacking | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1496 external_id: T1496 source_name: Unit 42 Hildegard Malware description: Chen, J. et al. (2021, February 3). Hildegard: New TeamTNT Cryptojacking Malware Targeting Kubernetes. Retrieved April 5, 2021. url: https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/hildegard-malware-teamtnt/ source_name: CloudSploit - Unused AWS Regions description: CloudSploit. (2019, June 8). The Danger of Unused AWS Regions. Retrieved October 8, 2019. url: https://medium.com/cloudsploit/the-danger-of-unused-aws-regions-af0bf1b878fc source_name: Sysdig Proxyjacking description: Crystal Morin. (2023, April 4). Proxyjacking has Entered the Chat. Retrieved July 6, 2023. url: https://sysdig.com/blog/proxyjacking-attackers-log4j-exploited/ source_name: Kaspersky Lazarus Under The Hood Blog 2017 description: GReAT. (2017, April 3). Lazarus Under the Hood. Retrieved April 17, 2019. url: https://securelist.com/lazarus-under-the-hood/77908/ source_name: Trend Micro Exposed Docker APIs description: Oliveira, A. (2019, May 30). Infected Containers Target Docker via Exposed APIs. Retrieved April 6, 2021. url: https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/19/e/infected-cryptocurrency-mining-containers-target-docker-hosts-with-exposed-apis-use-shodan-to-find-additional-victims.html source_name: Trend Micro War of Crypto Miners description: Oliveira, A., Fiser, D. (2020, September 10). War of Linux Cryptocurrency Miners: A Battle for Resources. Retrieved April 6, 2021. url: https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/20/i/war-of-linux-cryptocurrency-miners-a-battle-for-resources.html source_name: GoBotKR description: Zuzana Hromcová. (2019, July 8). Malicious campaign targets South Korean users with backdoor‑laced torrents. Retrieved March 31, 2022. url: https://www.welivesecurity.com/2019/07/08/south-korean-users-backdoor-torrents/ | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: impact | Windows |
Adversaries may create and cultivate accounts with services that can be used during targeting. Adversaries can create accounts that can be used to build a persona to further operations. Persona development consists of the development of public information, presence, history and appropriate affiliations. This development could be applied to social media, website, or other publicly available information that could be referenced and scrutinized for legitimacy over the course of an operation using that persona or identity.(Citation: NEWSCASTER2014)(Citation: BlackHatRobinSage)
For operations incorporating social engineering, the utilization of an online persona may be important. These personas may be fictitious or impersonate real people. The persona may exist on a single site or across multiple sites (ex: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google, GitHub, Docker Hub, etc.). Establishing a persona may require development of additional documentation to make them seem real. This could include filling out profile information, developing social networks, or incorporating photos.(Citation: NEWSCASTER2014)(Citation: BlackHatRobinSage)
Establishing accounts can also include the creation of accounts with email providers, which may be directly leveraged for [Phishing for Information](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1598) or [Phishing](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566).(Citation: Mandiant APT1) In addition, establishing accounts may allow adversaries to abuse free services, such as registering for trial periods to [Acquire Infrastructure](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1583) for malicious purposes.(Citation: Free Trial PurpleUrchin)
| enterprise-attack | Establish Accounts | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1585 external_id: T1585 source_name: Free Trial PurpleUrchin description: Gamazo, William. Quist, Nathaniel.. (2023, January 5). PurpleUrchin Bypasses CAPTCHA and Steals Cloud Platform Resources. Retrieved February 28, 2024. url: https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/purpleurchin-steals-cloud-resources/ source_name: NEWSCASTER2014 description: Lennon, M. (2014, May 29). Iranian Hackers Targeted US Officials in Elaborate Social Media Attack Operation. Retrieved March 1, 2017. url: https://www.securityweek.com/iranian-hackers-targeted-us-officials-elaborate-social-media-attack-operation source_name: Mandiant APT1 description: Mandiant. (n.d.). APT1 Exposing One of China’s Cyber Espionage Units. Retrieved July 18, 2016. url: https://www.fireeye.com/content/dam/fireeye-www/services/pdfs/mandiant-apt1-report.pdf source_name: BlackHatRobinSage description: Ryan, T. (2010). “Getting In Bed with Robin Sage.”. Retrieved March 6, 2017. url: http://media.blackhat.com/bh-us-10/whitepapers/Ryan/BlackHat-USA-2010-Ryan-Getting-In-Bed-With-Robin-Sage-v1.0.pdf | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: resource-development | PRE |
Adversaries may buy and/or steal capabilities that can be used during targeting. Rather than developing their own capabilities in-house, adversaries may purchase, freely download, or steal them. Activities may include the acquisition of malware, software (including licenses), exploits, certificates, and information relating to vulnerabilities. Adversaries may obtain capabilities to support their operations throughout numerous phases of the adversary lifecycle.
In addition to downloading free malware, software, and exploits from the internet, adversaries may purchase these capabilities from third-party entities. Third-party entities can include technology companies that specialize in malware and exploits, criminal marketplaces, or from individuals.(Citation: NationsBuying)(Citation: PegasusCitizenLab)
In addition to purchasing capabilities, adversaries may steal capabilities from third-party entities (including other adversaries). This can include stealing software licenses, malware, SSL/TLS and code-signing certificates, or raiding closed databases of vulnerabilities or exploits.(Citation: DiginotarCompromise) | enterprise-attack | Obtain Capabilities | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1588 external_id: T1588 source_name: NationsBuying description: Nicole Perlroth and David E. Sanger. (2013, July 12). Nations Buying as Hackers Sell Flaws in Computer Code. Retrieved March 9, 2017. url: https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/14/world/europe/nations-buying-as-hackers-sell-computer-flaws.html source_name: PegasusCitizenLab description: Bill Marczak and John Scott-Railton. (2016, August 24). The Million Dollar Dissident: NSO Group’s iPhone Zero-Days used against a UAE Human Rights Defender. Retrieved December 12, 2016. url: https://citizenlab.ca/2016/08/million-dollar-dissident-iphone-zero-day-nso-group-uae/ source_name: DiginotarCompromise description: Fisher, D. (2012, October 31). Final Report on DigiNotar Hack Shows Total Compromise of CA Servers. Retrieved March 6, 2017. url: https://threatpost.com/final-report-diginotar-hack-shows-total-compromise-ca-servers-103112/77170/ source_name: FireEyeSupplyChain description: FireEye. (2014). SUPPLY CHAIN ANALYSIS: From Quartermaster to SunshopFireEye. Retrieved March 6, 2017. url: https://www.mandiant.com/resources/supply-chain-analysis-from-quartermaster-to-sunshop source_name: Analyzing CS Dec 2020 description: Maynier, E. (2020, December 20). Analyzing Cobalt Strike for Fun and Profit. Retrieved October 12, 2021. url: https://www.randhome.io/blog/2020/12/20/analyzing-cobalt-strike-for-fun-and-profit/ source_name: Splunk Kovar Certificates 2017 description: Kovar, R. (2017, December 11). Tall Tales of Hunting with TLS/SSL Certificates. Retrieved October 16, 2020. url: https://www.splunk.com/en_us/blog/security/tall-tales-of-hunting-with-tls-ssl-certificates.html source_name: Recorded Future Beacon Certificates description: Insikt Group. (2019, June 18). A Multi-Method Approach to Identifying Rogue Cobalt Strike Servers. Retrieved October 16, 2020. url: https://www.recordedfuture.com/cobalt-strike-servers/ | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: resource-development | PRE |
Adversaries may establish persistence by executing malicious content triggered by user inactivity. Screensavers are programs that execute after a configurable time of user inactivity and consist of Portable Executable (PE) files with a .scr file extension.(Citation: Wikipedia Screensaver) The Windows screensaver application scrnsave.scr is located in <code>C:\Windows\System32\</code>, and <code>C:\Windows\sysWOW64\</code> on 64-bit Windows systems, along with screensavers included with base Windows installations.
The following screensaver settings are stored in the Registry (<code>HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop\</code>) and could be manipulated to achieve persistence:
* <code>SCRNSAVE.exe</code> - set to malicious PE path
* <code>ScreenSaveActive</code> - set to '1' to enable the screensaver
* <code>ScreenSaverIsSecure</code> - set to '0' to not require a password to unlock
* <code>ScreenSaveTimeout</code> - sets user inactivity timeout before screensaver is executed
Adversaries can use screensaver settings to maintain persistence by setting the screensaver to run malware after a certain timeframe of user inactivity.(Citation: ESET Gazer Aug 2017) | enterprise-attack | Screensaver | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1546/002 external_id: T1546.002 source_name: ESET Gazer Aug 2017 description: ESET. (2017, August). Gazing at Gazer: Turla’s new second stage backdoor. Retrieved September 14, 2017. url: https://www.welivesecurity.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/eset-gazer.pdf source_name: Wikipedia Screensaver description: Wikipedia. (2017, November 22). Screensaver. Retrieved December 5, 2017. url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screensaver | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: persistence | Windows |
Adversaries may disable or modify conditional access policies to enable persistent access to compromised accounts. Conditional access policies are additional verifications used by identity providers and identity and access management systems to determine whether a user should be granted access to a resource.
For example, in Azure AD, Okta, and JumpCloud, users can be denied access to applications based on their IP address, device enrollment status, and use of multi-factor authentication.(Citation: Microsoft Conditional Access)(Citation: JumpCloud Conditional Access Policies)(Citation: Okta Conditional Access Policies) In some cases, identity providers may also support the use of risk-based metrics to deny sign-ins based on a variety of indicators. In AWS and GCP, IAM policies can contain `condition` attributes that verify arbitrary constraints such as the source IP, the date the request was made, and the nature of the resources or regions being requested.(Citation: AWS IAM Conditions)(Citation: GCP IAM Conditions) These measures help to prevent compromised credentials from resulting in unauthorized access to data or resources, as well as limit user permissions to only those required.
By modifying conditional access policies, such as adding additional trusted IP ranges, removing [Multi-Factor Authentication](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1556/006) requirements, or allowing additional [Unused/Unsupported Cloud Regions](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1535), adversaries may be able to ensure persistent access to accounts and circumvent defensive measures. | enterprise-attack | Conditional Access Policies | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1556/009 external_id: T1556.009 source_name: AWS IAM Conditions description: AWS. (n.d.). IAM JSON policy elements: Condition. Retrieved January 2, 2024. url: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/reference_policies_elements_condition.html source_name: GCP IAM Conditions description: Google Cloud. (n.d.). Overview of IAM Conditions. Retrieved January 2, 2024. url: https://cloud.google.com/iam/docs/conditions-overview source_name: JumpCloud Conditional Access Policies description: JumpCloud. (n.d.). Get Started: Conditional Access Policies. Retrieved January 2, 2024. url: https://jumpcloud.com/support/get-started-conditional-access-policies source_name: Microsoft Conditional Access description: Microsoft. (2023, November 15). What is Conditional Access?. Retrieved January 2, 2024. url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/identity/conditional-access/overview source_name: Okta Conditional Access Policies description: Okta. (2023, November 30). Conditional Access Based on Device Security Posture. Retrieved January 2, 2024. url: https://support.okta.com/help/s/article/Conditional-access-based-on-device-security-posture?language=en_US | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: persistence | Azure AD |
An adversary may create a new instance or virtual machine (VM) within the compute service of a cloud account to evade defenses. Creating a new instance may allow an adversary to bypass firewall rules and permissions that exist on instances currently residing within an account. An adversary may [Create Snapshot](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1578/001) of one or more volumes in an account, create a new instance, mount the snapshots, and then apply a less restrictive security policy to collect [Data from Local System](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1005) or for [Remote Data Staging](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1074/002).(Citation: Mandiant M-Trends 2020)
Creating a new instance may also allow an adversary to carry out malicious activity within an environment without affecting the execution of current running instances. | enterprise-attack | Create Cloud Instance | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1578/002 external_id: T1578.002 source_name: Mandiant M-Trends 2020 description: Mandiant. (2020, February). M-Trends 2020. Retrieved April 24, 2020. url: https://content.fireeye.com/m-trends/rpt-m-trends-2020 source_name: AWS CloudTrail Search description: Amazon. (n.d.). Search CloudTrail logs for API calls to EC2 Instances. Retrieved June 17, 2020. url: https://aws.amazon.com/premiumsupport/knowledge-center/cloudtrail-search-api-calls/ source_name: Azure Activity Logs description: Microsoft. (n.d.). View Azure activity logs. Retrieved June 17, 2020. url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-resource-manager/management/view-activity-logs source_name: Cloud Audit Logs description: Google. (n.d.). Audit Logs. Retrieved June 1, 2020. url: https://cloud.google.com/logging/docs/audit#admin-activity | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: defense-evasion | IaaS |
Adversaries may acquire credentials from cloud-native secret management solutions such as AWS Secrets Manager, GCP Secret Manager, Azure Key Vault, and Terraform Vault.
Secrets managers support the secure centralized management of passwords, API keys, and other credential material. Where secrets managers are in use, cloud services can dynamically acquire credentials via API requests rather than accessing secrets insecurely stored in plain text files or environment variables.
If an adversary is able to gain sufficient privileges in a cloud environment – for example, by obtaining the credentials of high-privileged [Cloud Accounts](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1078/004) or compromising a service that has permission to retrieve secrets – they may be able to request secrets from the secrets manager. This can be accomplished via commands such as `get-secret-value` in AWS, `gcloud secrets describe` in GCP, and `az key vault secret show` in Azure.(Citation: Permiso Scattered Spider 2023)(Citation: Sysdig ScarletEel 2.0 2023)(Citation: AWS Secrets Manager)(Citation: Google Cloud Secrets)(Citation: Microsoft Azure Key Vault)
**Note:** this technique is distinct from [Cloud Instance Metadata API](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1552/005) in that the credentials are being directly requested from the cloud secrets manager, rather than through the medium of the instance metadata API. | enterprise-attack | Cloud Secrets Management Stores | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1555/006 external_id: T1555.006 source_name: Sysdig ScarletEel 2.0 2023 description: Alessandro Brucato. (2023, July 11). SCARLETEEL 2.0: Fargate, Kubernetes, and Crypto. Retrieved September 25, 2023. url: https://sysdig.com/blog/scarleteel-2-0/ source_name: AWS Secrets Manager description: AWS. (n.d.). Retrieve secrets from AWS Secrets Manager. Retrieved September 25, 2023. url: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/secretsmanager/latest/userguide/retrieving-secrets.html source_name: Google Cloud Secrets description: Google Cloud. (n.d.). List secrets and view secret details. Retrieved September 25, 2023. url: https://cloud.google.com/secret-manager/docs/view-secret-details source_name: Permiso Scattered Spider 2023 description: Ian Ahl. (2023, September 20). LUCR-3: SCATTERED SPIDER GETTING SAAS-Y IN THE CLOUD. Retrieved September 25, 2023. url: https://permiso.io/blog/lucr-3-scattered-spider-getting-saas-y-in-the-cloud source_name: Microsoft Azure Key Vault description: Microsoft. (2023, January 13). Quickstart: Set and retrieve a secret from Azure Key Vault using Azure CLI. Retrieved September 25, 2023. url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/key-vault/secrets/quick-create-cli | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: credential-access | IaaS |
Adversaries may leverage code repositories to collect valuable information. Code repositories are tools/services that store source code and automate software builds. They may be hosted internally or privately on third party sites such as Github, GitLab, SourceForge, and BitBucket. Users typically interact with code repositories through a web application or command-line utilities such as git.
Once adversaries gain access to a victim network or a private code repository, they may collect sensitive information such as proprietary source code or credentials contained within software's source code. Having access to software's source code may allow adversaries to develop [Exploits](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1587/004), while credentials may provide access to additional resources using [Valid Accounts](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1078).(Citation: Wired Uber Breach)(Citation: Krebs Adobe)
**Note:** This is distinct from [Code Repositories](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1593/003), which focuses on conducting [Reconnaissance](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0043) via public code repositories. | enterprise-attack | Code Repositories | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1213/003 external_id: T1213.003 source_name: Wired Uber Breach description: Andy Greenberg. (2017, January 21). Hack Brief: Uber Paid Off Hackers to Hide a 57-Million User Data Breach. Retrieved May 14, 2021. url: https://www.wired.com/story/uber-paid-off-hackers-to-hide-a-57-million-user-data-breach/ source_name: Krebs Adobe description: Brian Krebs. (2013, October 3). Adobe To Announce Source Code, Customer Data Breach. Retrieved May 17, 2021. url: https://krebsonsecurity.com/2013/10/adobe-to-announce-source-code-customer-data-breach/ | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: collection | SaaS |
Adversaries may alter data en route to storage or other systems in order to manipulate external outcomes or hide activity, thus threatening the integrity of the data.(Citation: FireEye APT38 Oct 2018)(Citation: DOJ Lazarus Sony 2018) By manipulating transmitted data, adversaries may attempt to affect a business process, organizational understanding, and decision making.
Manipulation may be possible over a network connection or between system processes where there is an opportunity deploy a tool that will intercept and change information. The type of modification and the impact it will have depends on the target transmission mechanism as well as the goals and objectives of the adversary. For complex systems, an adversary would likely need special expertise and possibly access to specialized software related to the system that would typically be gained through a prolonged information gathering campaign in order to have the desired impact. | enterprise-attack | Transmitted Data Manipulation | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1565/002 external_id: T1565.002 source_name: DOJ Lazarus Sony 2018 description: Department of Justice. (2018, September 6). Criminal Complaint - United States of America v. PARK JIN HYOK. Retrieved March 29, 2019. url: https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1092091/download source_name: FireEye APT38 Oct 2018 description: FireEye. (2018, October 03). APT38: Un-usual Suspects. Retrieved November 6, 2018. url: https://content.fireeye.com/apt/rpt-apt38 | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: impact | Linux |
Adversaries may attempt to dump the contents of <code>/etc/passwd</code> and <code>/etc/shadow</code> to enable offline password cracking. Most modern Linux operating systems use a combination of <code>/etc/passwd</code> and <code>/etc/shadow</code> to store user account information including password hashes in <code>/etc/shadow</code>. By default, <code>/etc/shadow</code> is only readable by the root user.(Citation: Linux Password and Shadow File Formats)
The Linux utility, unshadow, can be used to combine the two files in a format suited for password cracking utilities such as John the Ripper:(Citation: nixCraft - John the Ripper) <code># /usr/bin/unshadow /etc/passwd /etc/shadow > /tmp/crack.password.db</code>
| enterprise-attack | /etc/passwd and /etc/shadow | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1003/008 external_id: T1003.008 source_name: Linux Password and Shadow File Formats description: The Linux Documentation Project. (n.d.). Linux Password and Shadow File Formats. Retrieved February 19, 2020. url: https://www.tldp.org/LDP/lame/LAME/linux-admin-made-easy/shadow-file-formats.html source_name: nixCraft - John the Ripper description: Vivek Gite. (2014, September 17). Linux Password Cracking: Explain unshadow and john Commands (John the Ripper Tool). Retrieved February 19, 2020. url: https://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/unix-linux-password-cracking-john-the-ripper/ | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: credential-access | Linux |
Adversaries may create or modify launch agents to repeatedly execute malicious payloads as part of persistence. When a user logs in, a per-user launchd process is started which loads the parameters for each launch-on-demand user agent from the property list (.plist) file found in <code>/System/Library/LaunchAgents</code>, <code>/Library/LaunchAgents</code>, and <code>~/Library/LaunchAgents</code>.(Citation: AppleDocs Launch Agent Daemons)(Citation: OSX Keydnap malware) (Citation: Antiquated Mac Malware) Property list files use the <code>Label</code>, <code>ProgramArguments </code>, and <code>RunAtLoad</code> keys to identify the Launch Agent's name, executable location, and execution time.(Citation: OSX.Dok Malware) Launch Agents are often installed to perform updates to programs, launch user specified programs at login, or to conduct other developer tasks.
Launch Agents can also be executed using the [Launchctl](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1569/001) command.
Adversaries may install a new Launch Agent that executes at login by placing a .plist file into the appropriate folders with the <code>RunAtLoad</code> or <code>KeepAlive</code> keys set to <code>true</code>.(Citation: Sofacy Komplex Trojan)(Citation: Methods of Mac Malware Persistence) The Launch Agent name may be disguised by using a name from the related operating system or benign software. Launch Agents are created with user level privileges and execute with user level permissions.(Citation: OSX Malware Detection)(Citation: OceanLotus for OS X) | enterprise-attack | Launch Agent | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1543/001 external_id: T1543.001 source_name: AppleDocs Launch Agent Daemons description: Apple. (n.d.). Creating Launch Daemons and Agents. Retrieved July 10, 2017. url: https://developer.apple.com/library/content/documentation/MacOSX/Conceptual/BPSystemStartup/Chapters/CreatingLaunchdJobs.html source_name: Sofacy Komplex Trojan description: Dani Creus, Tyler Halfpop, Robert Falcone. (2016, September 26). Sofacy's 'Komplex' OS X Trojan. Retrieved July 8, 2017. url: https://researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com/2016/09/unit42-sofacys-komplex-os-x-trojan/ source_name: OceanLotus for OS X description: Eddie Lee. (2016, February 17). OceanLotus for OS X - an Application Bundle Pretending to be an Adobe Flash Update. Retrieved July 5, 2017. url: https://www.alienvault.com/blogs/labs-research/oceanlotus-for-os-x-an-application-bundle-pretending-to-be-an-adobe-flash-update source_name: OSX Keydnap malware description: Marc-Etienne M.Leveille. (2016, July 6). New OSX/Keydnap malware is hungry for credentials. Retrieved July 3, 2017. url: https://www.welivesecurity.com/2016/07/06/new-osxkeydnap-malware-hungry-credentials/ source_name: Methods of Mac Malware Persistence description: Patrick Wardle. (2014, September). Methods of Malware Persistence on Mac OS X. Retrieved July 5, 2017. url: https://www.virusbulletin.com/uploads/pdf/conference/vb2014/VB2014-Wardle.pdf source_name: OSX Malware Detection description: Patrick Wardle. (2016, February 29). Let's Play Doctor: Practical OS X Malware Detection & Analysis. Retrieved July 10, 2017. url: https://www.synack.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/RSA_OSX_Malware.pdf source_name: Antiquated Mac Malware description: Thomas Reed. (2017, January 18). New Mac backdoor using antiquated code. Retrieved July 5, 2017. url: https://blog.malwarebytes.com/threat-analysis/2017/01/new-mac-backdoor-using-antiquated-code/ source_name: OSX.Dok Malware description: Thomas Reed. (2017, July 7). New OSX.Dok malware intercepts web traffic. Retrieved July 10, 2017. url: https://blog.malwarebytes.com/threat-analysis/2017/04/new-osx-dok-malware-intercepts-web-traffic/ | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: privilege-escalation | macOS |
Adversaries may abuse system services or daemons to execute commands or programs. Adversaries can execute malicious content by interacting with or creating services either locally or remotely. Many services are set to run at boot, which can aid in achieving persistence ([Create or Modify System Process](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1543)), but adversaries can also abuse services for one-time or temporary execution. | enterprise-attack | System Services | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1569 external_id: T1569 | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: execution | Windows |
Adversaries may abuse the Windows command shell for execution. The Windows command shell ([cmd](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0106)) is the primary command prompt on Windows systems. The Windows command prompt can be used to control almost any aspect of a system, with various permission levels required for different subsets of commands. The command prompt can be invoked remotely via [Remote Services](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1021) such as [SSH](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1021/004).(Citation: SSH in Windows)
Batch files (ex: .bat or .cmd) also provide the shell with a list of sequential commands to run, as well as normal scripting operations such as conditionals and loops. Common uses of batch files include long or repetitive tasks, or the need to run the same set of commands on multiple systems.
Adversaries may leverage [cmd](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0106) to execute various commands and payloads. Common uses include [cmd](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0106) to execute a single command, or abusing [cmd](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0106) interactively with input and output forwarded over a command and control channel. | enterprise-attack | Windows Command Shell | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/003 external_id: T1059.003 source_name: SSH in Windows description: Microsoft. (2020, May 19). Tutorial: SSH in Windows Terminal. Retrieved July 26, 2021. url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/terminal/tutorials/ssh | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: execution | Windows |
Adversaries may inject malicious code into processes via the /proc filesystem in order to evade process-based defenses as well as possibly elevate privileges. Proc memory injection is a method of executing arbitrary code in the address space of a separate live process.
Proc memory injection involves enumerating the memory of a process via the /proc filesystem (<code>/proc/[pid]</code>) then crafting a return-oriented programming (ROP) payload with available gadgets/instructions. Each running process has its own directory, which includes memory mappings. Proc memory injection is commonly performed by overwriting the target processes’ stack using memory mappings provided by the /proc filesystem. This information can be used to enumerate offsets (including the stack) and gadgets (or instructions within the program that can be used to build a malicious payload) otherwise hidden by process memory protections such as address space layout randomization (ASLR). Once enumerated, the target processes’ memory map within <code>/proc/[pid]/maps</code> can be overwritten using dd.(Citation: Uninformed Needle)(Citation: GDS Linux Injection)(Citation: DD Man)
Other techniques such as [Dynamic Linker Hijacking](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1574/006) may be used to populate a target process with more available gadgets. Similar to [Process Hollowing](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1055/012), proc memory injection may target child processes (such as a backgrounded copy of sleep).(Citation: GDS Linux Injection)
Running code in the context of another process may allow access to the process's memory, system/network resources, and possibly elevated privileges. Execution via proc memory injection may also evade detection from security products since the execution is masked under a legitimate process. | enterprise-attack | Proc Memory | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1055/009 external_id: T1055.009 source_name: Uninformed Needle description: skape. (2003, January 19). Linux x86 run-time process manipulation. Retrieved December 20, 2017. url: http://hick.org/code/skape/papers/needle.txt source_name: GDS Linux Injection description: McNamara, R. (2017, September 5). Linux Based Inter-Process Code Injection Without Ptrace(2). Retrieved February 21, 2020. url: https://blog.gdssecurity.com/labs/2017/9/5/linux-based-inter-process-code-injection-without-ptrace2.html source_name: DD Man description: Kerrisk, M. (2020, February 2). DD(1) User Commands. Retrieved February 21, 2020. url: http://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man1/dd.1.html | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: privilege-escalation | Linux |
Adversaries may purchase or otherwise acquire an existing access to a target system or network. A variety of online services and initial access broker networks are available to sell access to previously compromised systems.(Citation: Microsoft Ransomware as a Service)(Citation: CrowdStrike Access Brokers)(Citation: Krebs Access Brokers Fortune 500) In some cases, adversary groups may form partnerships to share compromised systems with each other.(Citation: CISA Karakurt 2022)
Footholds to compromised systems may take a variety of forms, such as access to planted backdoors (e.g., [Web Shell](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1505/003)) or established access via [External Remote Services](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1133). In some cases, access brokers will implant compromised systems with a “load” that can be used to install additional malware for paying customers.(Citation: Microsoft Ransomware as a Service)
By leveraging existing access broker networks rather than developing or obtaining their own initial access capabilities, an adversary can potentially reduce the resources required to gain a foothold on a target network and focus their efforts on later stages of compromise. Adversaries may prioritize acquiring access to systems that have been determined to lack security monitoring or that have high privileges, or systems that belong to organizations in a particular sector.(Citation: Microsoft Ransomware as a Service)(Citation: CrowdStrike Access Brokers)
In some cases, purchasing access to an organization in sectors such as IT contracting, software development, or telecommunications may allow an adversary to compromise additional victims via a [Trusted Relationship](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1199), [Multi-Factor Authentication Interception](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1111), or even [Supply Chain Compromise](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1195).
**Note:** while this technique is distinct from other behaviors such as [Purchase Technical Data](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1597/002) and [Credentials](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1589/001), they may often be used in conjunction (especially where the acquired foothold requires [Valid Accounts](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1078)). | enterprise-attack | Acquire Access | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1650 external_id: T1650 source_name: Krebs Access Brokers Fortune 500 description: Brian Krebs. (2012, October 22). Service Sells Access to Fortune 500 Firms. Retrieved March 10, 2023. url: https://krebsonsecurity.com/2012/10/service-sells-access-to-fortune-500-firms/ source_name: CrowdStrike Access Brokers description: CrowdStrike Intelligence Team. (2022, February 23). Access Brokers: Who Are the Targets, and What Are They Worth?. Retrieved March 10, 2023. url: https://www.crowdstrike.com/blog/access-brokers-targets-and-worth/ source_name: CISA Karakurt 2022 description: Cybersecurity Infrastructure and Defense Agency. (2022, June 2). Karakurt Data Extortion Group. Retrieved March 10, 2023. url: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa22-152a source_name: Microsoft Ransomware as a Service description: Microsoft. (2022, May 9). Ransomware as a service: Understanding the cybercrime gig economy and how to protect yourself. Retrieved March 10, 2023. url: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2022/05/09/ransomware-as-a-service-understanding-the-cybercrime-gig-economy-and-how-to-protect-yourself/ | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: resource-development | PRE |
Adversaries may modify the operating system of a network device to introduce new capabilities or weaken existing defenses.(Citation: Killing the myth of Cisco IOS rootkits) (Citation: Killing IOS diversity myth) (Citation: Cisco IOS Shellcode) (Citation: Cisco IOS Forensics Developments) (Citation: Juniper Netscreen of the Dead) Some network devices are built with a monolithic architecture, where the entire operating system and most of the functionality of the device is contained within a single file. Adversaries may change this file in storage, to be loaded in a future boot, or in memory during runtime.
To change the operating system in storage, the adversary will typically use the standard procedures available to device operators. This may involve downloading a new file via typical protocols used on network devices, such as TFTP, FTP, SCP, or a console connection. The original file may be overwritten, or a new file may be written alongside of it and the device reconfigured to boot to the compromised image.
To change the operating system in memory, the adversary typically can use one of two methods. In the first, the adversary would make use of native debug commands in the original, unaltered running operating system that allow them to directly modify the relevant memory addresses containing the running operating system. This method typically requires administrative level access to the device.
In the second method for changing the operating system in memory, the adversary would make use of the boot loader. The boot loader is the first piece of software that loads when the device starts that, in turn, will launch the operating system. Adversaries may use malicious code previously implanted in the boot loader, such as through the [ROMMONkit](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1542/004) method, to directly manipulate running operating system code in memory. This malicious code in the bootloader provides the capability of direct memory manipulation to the adversary, allowing them to patch the live operating system during runtime.
By modifying the instructions stored in the system image file, adversaries may either weaken existing defenses or provision new capabilities that the device did not have before. Examples of existing defenses that can be impeded include encryption, via [Weaken Encryption](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1600), authentication, via [Network Device Authentication](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1556/004), and perimeter defenses, via [Network Boundary Bridging](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1599). Adding new capabilities for the adversary’s purpose include [Keylogging](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1056/001), [Multi-hop Proxy](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1090/003), and [Port Knocking](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1205/001).
Adversaries may also compromise existing commands in the operating system to produce false output to mislead defenders. When this method is used in conjunction with [Downgrade System Image](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1601/002), one example of a compromised system command may include changing the output of the command that shows the version of the currently running operating system. By patching the operating system, the adversary can change this command to instead display the original, higher revision number that they replaced through the system downgrade.
When the operating system is patched in storage, this can be achieved in either the resident storage (typically a form of flash memory, which is non-volatile) or via [TFTP Boot](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1542/005).
When the technique is performed on the running operating system in memory and not on the stored copy, this technique will not survive across reboots. However, live memory modification of the operating system can be combined with [ROMMONkit](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1542/004) to achieve persistence. | enterprise-attack | Patch System Image | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1601/001 external_id: T1601.001 source_name: Killing the myth of Cisco IOS rootkits description: Sebastian 'topo' Muñiz. (2008, May). Killing the myth of Cisco IOS rootkits. Retrieved October 20, 2020. url: https://drwho.virtadpt.net/images/killing_the_myth_of_cisco_ios_rootkits.pdf source_name: Killing IOS diversity myth description: Ang Cui, Jatin Kataria, Salvatore J. Stolfo. (2011, August). Killing the myth of Cisco IOS diversity: recent advances in reliable shellcode design. Retrieved October 20, 2020. url: https://www.usenix.org/legacy/event/woot/tech/final_files/Cui.pdf source_name: Cisco IOS Shellcode description: George Nosenko. (2015). CISCO IOS SHELLCODE: ALL-IN-ONE. Retrieved October 21, 2020. url: http://2015.zeronights.org/assets/files/05-Nosenko.pdf source_name: Cisco IOS Forensics Developments description: Felix 'FX' Lindner. (2008, February). Developments in Cisco IOS Forensics. Retrieved October 21, 2020. url: https://www.recurity-labs.com/research/RecurityLabs_Developments_in_IOS_Forensics.pdf source_name: Juniper Netscreen of the Dead description: Graeme Neilson . (2009, August). Juniper Netscreen of the Dead. Retrieved October 20, 2020. url: https://www.blackhat.com/presentations/bh-usa-09/NEILSON/BHUSA09-Neilson-NetscreenDead-SLIDES.pdf source_name: Cisco IOS Software Integrity Assurance - Image File Verification description: Cisco. (n.d.). Cisco IOS Software Integrity Assurance - Cisco IOS Image File Verification. Retrieved October 19, 2020. url: https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/resources/integrity_assurance.html#7 source_name: Cisco IOS Software Integrity Assurance - Run-Time Memory Verification description: Cisco. (n.d.). Cisco IOS Software Integrity Assurance - Cisco IOS Run-Time Memory Integrity Verification. Retrieved October 19, 2020. url: https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/resources/integrity_assurance.html#13 | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: defense-evasion | Network |
Adversaries who have the password hash of a target service account (e.g. SharePoint, MSSQL) may forge Kerberos ticket granting service (TGS) tickets, also known as silver tickets. Kerberos TGS tickets are also known as service tickets.(Citation: ADSecurity Silver Tickets)
Silver tickets are more limited in scope in than golden tickets in that they only enable adversaries to access a particular resource (e.g. MSSQL) and the system that hosts the resource; however, unlike golden tickets, adversaries with the ability to forge silver tickets are able to create TGS tickets without interacting with the Key Distribution Center (KDC), potentially making detection more difficult.(Citation: ADSecurity Detecting Forged Tickets)
Password hashes for target services may be obtained using [OS Credential Dumping](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1003) or [Kerberoasting](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1558/003). | enterprise-attack | Silver Ticket | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1558/002 external_id: T1558.002 source_name: ADSecurity Silver Tickets description: Sean Metcalf. (2015, November 17). How Attackers Use Kerberos Silver Tickets to Exploit Systems. Retrieved February 27, 2020. url: https://adsecurity.org/?p=2011 source_name: ADSecurity Detecting Forged Tickets description: Metcalf, S. (2015, May 03). Detecting Forged Kerberos Ticket (Golden Ticket & Silver Ticket) Use in Active Directory. Retrieved December 23, 2015. url: https://adsecurity.org/?p=1515 source_name: Medium Detecting Attempts to Steal Passwords from Memory description: French, D. (2018, October 2). Detecting Attempts to Steal Passwords from Memory. Retrieved October 11, 2019. url: https://medium.com/threatpunter/detecting-attempts-to-steal-passwords-from-memory-558f16dce4ea | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: credential-access | Windows |
Adversaries may leverage information repositories to mine valuable information. Information repositories are tools that allow for storage of information, typically to facilitate collaboration or information sharing between users, and can store a wide variety of data that may aid adversaries in further objectives, or direct access to the target information. Adversaries may also abuse external sharing features to share sensitive documents with recipients outside of the organization.
The following is a brief list of example information that may hold potential value to an adversary and may also be found on an information repository:
* Policies, procedures, and standards
* Physical / logical network diagrams
* System architecture diagrams
* Technical system documentation
* Testing / development credentials
* Work / project schedules
* Source code snippets
* Links to network shares and other internal resources
Information stored in a repository may vary based on the specific instance or environment. Specific common information repositories include web-based platforms such as [Sharepoint](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1213/002) and [Confluence](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1213/001), specific services such as Code Repositories, IaaS databases, enterprise databases, and other storage infrastructure such as SQL Server. | enterprise-attack | Data from Information Repositories | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1213 external_id: T1213 source_name: Atlassian Confluence Logging description: Atlassian. (2018, January 9). How to Enable User Access Logging. Retrieved April 4, 2018. url: https://confluence.atlassian.com/confkb/how-to-enable-user-access-logging-182943.html source_name: Microsoft SharePoint Logging description: Microsoft. (2017, July 19). Configure audit settings for a site collection. Retrieved April 4, 2018. url: https://support.office.com/en-us/article/configure-audit-settings-for-a-site-collection-a9920c97-38c0-44f2-8bcb-4cf1e2ae22d2 source_name: Sharepoint Sharing Events description: Microsoft. (n.d.). Sharepoint Sharing Events. Retrieved October 8, 2021. url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/compliance/use-sharing-auditing?view=o365-worldwide#sharepoint-sharing-events | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: collection | Linux |
Adversaries may clear artifacts associated with previously established persistence on a host system to remove evidence of their activity. This may involve various actions, such as removing services, deleting executables, [Modify Registry](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1112), [Plist File Modification](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1647), or other methods of cleanup to prevent defenders from collecting evidence of their persistent presence.(Citation: Cylance Dust Storm) Adversaries may also delete accounts previously created to maintain persistence (i.e. [Create Account](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1136)).(Citation: Talos - Cisco Attack 2022)
In some instances, artifacts of persistence may also be removed once an adversary’s persistence is executed in order to prevent errors with the new instance of the malware.(Citation: NCC Group Team9 June 2020) | enterprise-attack | Clear Persistence | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1070/009 external_id: T1070.009 source_name: Cylance Dust Storm description: Gross, J. (2016, February 23). Operation Dust Storm. Retrieved December 22, 2021. url: https://s7d2.scene7.com/is/content/cylance/prod/cylance-web/en-us/resources/knowledge-center/resource-library/reports/Op_Dust_Storm_Report.pdf source_name: Talos - Cisco Attack 2022 description: Nick Biasini. (2022, August 10). Cisco Talos shares insights related to recent cyber attack on Cisco. Retrieved March 9, 2023. url: https://blog.talosintelligence.com/recent-cyber-attack/ source_name: NCC Group Team9 June 2020 description: Pantazopoulos, N. (2020, June 2). In-depth analysis of the new Team9 malware family. Retrieved December 1, 2020. url: https://research.nccgroup.com/2020/06/02/in-depth-analysis-of-the-new-team9-malware-family/ | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: defense-evasion | Linux |
Adversaries may acquire credentials from the Windows Credential Manager. The Credential Manager stores credentials for signing into websites, applications, and/or devices that request authentication through NTLM or Kerberos in Credential Lockers (previously known as Windows Vaults).(Citation: Microsoft Credential Manager store)(Citation: Microsoft Credential Locker)
The Windows Credential Manager separates website credentials from application or network credentials in two lockers. As part of [Credentials from Web Browsers](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1555/003), Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge website credentials are managed by the Credential Manager and are stored in the Web Credentials locker. Application and network credentials are stored in the Windows Credentials locker.
Credential Lockers store credentials in encrypted `.vcrd` files, located under `%Systemdrive%\Users\\[Username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\\[Vault/Credentials]\`. The encryption key can be found in a file named <code>Policy.vpol</code>, typically located in the same folder as the credentials.(Citation: passcape Windows Vault)(Citation: Malwarebytes The Windows Vault)
Adversaries may list credentials managed by the Windows Credential Manager through several mechanisms. <code>vaultcmd.exe</code> is a native Windows executable that can be used to enumerate credentials stored in the Credential Locker through a command-line interface. Adversaries may also gather credentials by directly reading files located inside of the Credential Lockers. Windows APIs, such as <code>CredEnumerateA</code>, may also be absued to list credentials managed by the Credential Manager.(Citation: Microsoft CredEnumerate)(Citation: Delpy Mimikatz Crendential Manager)
Adversaries may also obtain credentials from credential backups. Credential backups and restorations may be performed by running <code>rundll32.exe keymgr.dll KRShowKeyMgr</code> then selecting the “Back up...” button on the “Stored User Names and Passwords” GUI.
Password recovery tools may also obtain plain text passwords from the Credential Manager.(Citation: Malwarebytes The Windows Vault) | enterprise-attack | Windows Credential Manager | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1555/004 external_id: T1555.004 source_name: Malwarebytes The Windows Vault description: Arntz, P. (2016, March 30). The Windows Vault . Retrieved November 23, 2020. url: https://blog.malwarebytes.com/101/2016/01/the-windows-vaults/ source_name: Delpy Mimikatz Crendential Manager description: Delpy, B. (2017, December 12). howto ~ credential manager saved credentials. Retrieved November 23, 2020. url: https://github.com/gentilkiwi/mimikatz/wiki/howto-~-credential-manager-saved-credentials source_name: Microsoft Credential Locker description: Microsoft. (2013, October 23). Credential Locker Overview. Retrieved November 24, 2020. url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-8.1-and-8/jj554668(v=ws.11)?redirectedfrom=MSDN source_name: Microsoft Credential Manager store description: Microsoft. (2016, August 31). Cached and Stored Credentials Technical Overview. Retrieved November 24, 2020. url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-server-2012-r2-and-2012/hh994565(v=ws.11)#credential-manager-store source_name: Microsoft CredEnumerate description: Microsoft. (2018, December 5). CredEnumarateA function (wincred.h). Retrieved November 24, 2020. url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/wincred/nf-wincred-credenumeratea source_name: passcape Windows Vault description: Passcape. (n.d.). Windows Password Recovery - Vault Explorer and Decoder. Retrieved November 24, 2020. url: https://www.passcape.com/windows_password_recovery_vault_explorer | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: credential-access | Windows |
Adversaries may introduce computer accessories, networking hardware, or other computing devices into a system or network that can be used as a vector to gain access. Rather than just connecting and distributing payloads via removable storage (i.e. [Replication Through Removable Media](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1091)), more robust hardware additions can be used to introduce new functionalities and/or features into a system that can then be abused.
While public references of usage by threat actors are scarce, many red teams/penetration testers leverage hardware additions for initial access. Commercial and open source products can be leveraged with capabilities such as passive network tapping, network traffic modification (i.e. [Adversary-in-the-Middle](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1557)), keystroke injection, kernel memory reading via DMA, addition of new wireless access to an existing network, and others.(Citation: Ossmann Star Feb 2011)(Citation: Aleks Weapons Nov 2015)(Citation: Frisk DMA August 2016)(Citation: McMillan Pwn March 2012) | enterprise-attack | Hardware Additions | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1200 external_id: T1200 source_name: Ossmann Star Feb 2011 description: Michael Ossmann. (2011, February 17). Throwing Star LAN Tap. Retrieved March 30, 2018. url: https://ossmann.blogspot.com/2011/02/throwing-star-lan-tap.html source_name: Aleks Weapons Nov 2015 description: Nick Aleks. (2015, November 7). Weapons of a Pentester - Understanding the virtual & physical tools used by white/black hat hackers. Retrieved March 30, 2018. url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDvf4ScWbcQ source_name: McMillan Pwn March 2012 description: Robert McMillan. (2012, March 3). The Pwn Plug is a little white box that can hack your network. Retrieved March 30, 2018. url: https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2012/03/the-pwn-plug-is-a-little-white-box-that-can-hack-your-network/ source_name: Frisk DMA August 2016 description: Ulf Frisk. (2016, August 5). Direct Memory Attack the Kernel. Retrieved March 30, 2018. url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXthwl6ShOg | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: initial-access | Windows |
Adversaries may abuse legitimate extensible development features of servers to establish persistent access to systems. Enterprise server applications may include features that allow developers to write and install software or scripts to extend the functionality of the main application. Adversaries may install malicious components to extend and abuse server applications.(Citation: volexity_0day_sophos_FW) | enterprise-attack | Server Software Component | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1505 external_id: T1505 source_name: volexity_0day_sophos_FW description: Adair, S., Lancaster, T., Volexity Threat Research. (2022, June 15). DriftingCloud: Zero-Day Sophos Firewall Exploitation and an Insidious Breach. Retrieved July 1, 2022. url: https://www.volexity.com/blog/2022/06/15/driftingcloud-zero-day-sophos-firewall-exploitation-and-an-insidious-breach/ source_name: US-CERT Alert TA15-314A Web Shells description: US-CERT. (2015, November 13). Compromised Web Servers and Web Shells - Threat Awareness and Guidance. Retrieved June 8, 2016. url: https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/alerts/TA15-314A | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: persistence | Windows |
Adversaries may destroy data and files on specific systems or in large numbers on a network to interrupt availability to systems, services, and network resources. Data destruction is likely to render stored data irrecoverable by forensic techniques through overwriting files or data on local and remote drives.(Citation: Symantec Shamoon 2012)(Citation: FireEye Shamoon Nov 2016)(Citation: Palo Alto Shamoon Nov 2016)(Citation: Kaspersky StoneDrill 2017)(Citation: Unit 42 Shamoon3 2018)(Citation: Talos Olympic Destroyer 2018) Common operating system file deletion commands such as <code>del</code> and <code>rm</code> often only remove pointers to files without wiping the contents of the files themselves, making the files recoverable by proper forensic methodology. This behavior is distinct from [Disk Content Wipe](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1561/001) and [Disk Structure Wipe](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1561/002) because individual files are destroyed rather than sections of a storage disk or the disk's logical structure.
Adversaries may attempt to overwrite files and directories with randomly generated data to make it irrecoverable.(Citation: Kaspersky StoneDrill 2017)(Citation: Unit 42 Shamoon3 2018) In some cases politically oriented image files have been used to overwrite data.(Citation: FireEye Shamoon Nov 2016)(Citation: Palo Alto Shamoon Nov 2016)(Citation: Kaspersky StoneDrill 2017)
To maximize impact on the target organization in operations where network-wide availability interruption is the goal, malware designed for destroying data may have worm-like features to propagate across a network by leveraging additional techniques like [Valid Accounts](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1078), [OS Credential Dumping](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1003), and [SMB/Windows Admin Shares](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1021/002).(Citation: Symantec Shamoon 2012)(Citation: FireEye Shamoon Nov 2016)(Citation: Palo Alto Shamoon Nov 2016)(Citation: Kaspersky StoneDrill 2017)(Citation: Talos Olympic Destroyer 2018).
In cloud environments, adversaries may leverage access to delete cloud storage, cloud storage accounts, machine images, and other infrastructure crucial to operations to damage an organization or their customers.(Citation: Data Destruction - Threat Post)(Citation: DOJ - Cisco Insider) | enterprise-attack | Data Destruction | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1485 external_id: T1485 source_name: DOJ - Cisco Insider description: DOJ. (2020, August 26). San Jose Man Pleads Guilty To Damaging Cisco’s Network. Retrieved December 15, 2020. url: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca/pr/san-jose-man-pleads-guilty-damaging-cisco-s-network source_name: Unit 42 Shamoon3 2018 description: Falcone, R. (2018, December 13). Shamoon 3 Targets Oil and Gas Organization. Retrieved March 14, 2019. url: https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/shamoon-3-targets-oil-gas-organization/ source_name: Palo Alto Shamoon Nov 2016 description: Falcone, R.. (2016, November 30). Shamoon 2: Return of the Disttrack Wiper. Retrieved January 11, 2017. url: http://researchcenter.paloaltonetworks.com/2016/11/unit42-shamoon-2-return-disttrack-wiper/ source_name: FireEye Shamoon Nov 2016 description: FireEye. (2016, November 30). FireEye Responds to Wave of Destructive Cyber Attacks in Gulf Region. Retrieved January 11, 2017. url: https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2016/11/fireeye_respondsto.html source_name: Kaspersky StoneDrill 2017 description: Kaspersky Lab. (2017, March 7). From Shamoon to StoneDrill: Wipers attacking Saudi organizations and beyond. Retrieved March 14, 2019. url: https://media.kasperskycontenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/43/2018/03/07180722/Report_Shamoon_StoneDrill_final.pdf source_name: Talos Olympic Destroyer 2018 description: Mercer, W. and Rascagneres, P. (2018, February 12). Olympic Destroyer Takes Aim At Winter Olympics. Retrieved March 14, 2019. url: https://blog.talosintelligence.com/2018/02/olympic-destroyer.html source_name: Data Destruction - Threat Post description: Mimoso, M.. (2014, June 18). Hacker Puts Hosting Service Code Spaces Out of Business. Retrieved December 15, 2020. url: https://threatpost.com/hacker-puts-hosting-service-code-spaces-out-of-business/106761/ source_name: Symantec Shamoon 2012 description: Symantec. (2012, August 16). The Shamoon Attacks. Retrieved March 14, 2019. url: https://www.symantec.com/connect/blogs/shamoon-attacks | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: impact | Windows |
Adversaries may encode data with a non-standard data encoding system to make the content of command and control traffic more difficult to detect. Command and control (C2) information can be encoded using a non-standard data encoding system that diverges from existing protocol specifications. Non-standard data encoding schemes may be based on or related to standard data encoding schemes, such as a modified Base64 encoding for the message body of an HTTP request.(Citation: Wikipedia Binary-to-text Encoding) (Citation: Wikipedia Character Encoding) | enterprise-attack | Non-Standard Encoding | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1132/002 external_id: T1132.002 source_name: Wikipedia Binary-to-text Encoding description: Wikipedia. (2016, December 26). Binary-to-text encoding. Retrieved March 1, 2017. url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binary-to-text_encoding source_name: Wikipedia Character Encoding description: Wikipedia. (2017, February 19). Character Encoding. Retrieved March 1, 2017. url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Character_encoding source_name: University of Birmingham C2 description: Gardiner, J., Cova, M., Nagaraja, S. (2014, February). Command & Control Understanding, Denying and Detecting. Retrieved April 20, 2016. url: https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1408/1408.1136.pdf | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: command-and-control | Linux |
Adversaries may patch the authentication process on a domain controller to bypass the typical authentication mechanisms and enable access to accounts.
Malware may be used to inject false credentials into the authentication process on a domain controller with the intent of creating a backdoor used to access any user’s account and/or credentials (ex: [Skeleton Key](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0007)). Skeleton key works through a patch on an enterprise domain controller authentication process (LSASS) with credentials that adversaries may use to bypass the standard authentication system. Once patched, an adversary can use the injected password to successfully authenticate as any domain user account (until the the skeleton key is erased from memory by a reboot of the domain controller). Authenticated access may enable unfettered access to hosts and/or resources within single-factor authentication environments.(Citation: Dell Skeleton) | enterprise-attack | Domain Controller Authentication | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1556/001 external_id: T1556.001 source_name: Dell Skeleton description: Dell SecureWorks. (2015, January 12). Skeleton Key Malware Analysis. Retrieved April 8, 2019. url: https://www.secureworks.com/research/skeleton-key-malware-analysis source_name: TechNet Audit Policy description: Microsoft. (2016, April 15). Audit Policy Recommendations. Retrieved June 3, 2016. url: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn487457.aspx | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: persistence | Windows |
Adversaries may exfiltrate data by transferring the data, including through sharing/syncing and creating backups of cloud environments, to another cloud account they control on the same service.
A defender who is monitoring for large transfers to outside the cloud environment through normal file transfers or over command and control channels may not be watching for data transfers to another account within the same cloud provider. Such transfers may utilize existing cloud provider APIs and the internal address space of the cloud provider to blend into normal traffic or avoid data transfers over external network interfaces.(Citation: TLDRSec AWS Attacks)
Adversaries may also use cloud-native mechanisms to share victim data with adversary-controlled cloud accounts, such as creating anonymous file sharing links or, in Azure, a shared access signature (SAS) URI.(Citation: Microsoft Azure Storage Shared Access Signature)
Incidents have been observed where adversaries have created backups of cloud instances and transferred them to separate accounts.(Citation: DOJ GRU Indictment Jul 2018) | enterprise-attack | Transfer Data to Cloud Account | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1537 external_id: T1537 source_name: AWS EBS Snapshot Sharing description: Amazon Web Services. (n.d.). Share an Amazon EBS snapshot. Retrieved March 2, 2022. url: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/ebs-modifying-snapshot-permissions.html source_name: TLDRSec AWS Attacks description: Clint Gibler and Scott Piper. (2021, January 4). Lesser Known Techniques for Attacking AWS Environments. Retrieved March 4, 2024. url: https://tldrsec.com/p/blog-lesser-known-aws-attacks source_name: Azure Shared Access Signature description: Delegate access with a shared access signature. (2019, December 18). Delegate access with a shared access signature. Retrieved March 2, 2022. url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/rest/api/storageservices/delegate-access-with-shared-access-signature source_name: Azure Blob Snapshots description: Microsoft Azure. (2021, December 29). Blob snapshots. Retrieved March 2, 2022. url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/blobs/snapshots-overview source_name: Microsoft Azure Storage Shared Access Signature description: Microsoft. (2023, June 7). Grant limited access to Azure Storage resources using shared access signatures (SAS). Retrieved March 4, 2024. url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/common/storage-sas-overview source_name: DOJ GRU Indictment Jul 2018 description: Mueller, R. (2018, July 13). Indictment - United States of America vs. VIKTOR BORISOVICH NETYKSHO, et al. Retrieved September 13, 2018. url: https://www.justice.gov/file/1080281/download | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: exfiltration | IaaS |
Adversaries may smuggle data and files past content filters by hiding malicious payloads inside of seemingly benign HTML files. HTML documents can store large binary objects known as JavaScript Blobs (immutable data that represents raw bytes) that can later be constructed into file-like objects. Data may also be stored in Data URLs, which enable embedding media type or MIME files inline of HTML documents. HTML5 also introduced a download attribute that may be used to initiate file downloads.(Citation: HTML Smuggling Menlo Security 2020)(Citation: Outlflank HTML Smuggling 2018)
Adversaries may deliver payloads to victims that bypass security controls through HTML Smuggling by abusing JavaScript Blobs and/or HTML5 download attributes. Security controls such as web content filters may not identify smuggled malicious files inside of HTML/JS files, as the content may be based on typically benign MIME types such as <code>text/plain</code> and/or <code>text/html</code>. Malicious files or data can be obfuscated and hidden inside of HTML files through Data URLs and/or JavaScript Blobs and can be deobfuscated when they reach the victim (i.e. [Deobfuscate/Decode Files or Information](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1140)), potentially bypassing content filters.
For example, JavaScript Blobs can be abused to dynamically generate malicious files in the victim machine and may be dropped to disk by abusing JavaScript functions such as <code>msSaveBlob</code>.(Citation: HTML Smuggling Menlo Security 2020)(Citation: MSTIC NOBELIUM May 2021)(Citation: Outlflank HTML Smuggling 2018)(Citation: nccgroup Smuggling HTA 2017) | enterprise-attack | HTML Smuggling | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1027/006 external_id: T1027.006 source_name: Outlflank HTML Smuggling 2018 description: Hegt, S. (2018, August 14). HTML smuggling explained. Retrieved May 20, 2021. url: https://outflank.nl/blog/2018/08/14/html-smuggling-explained/ source_name: MSTIC NOBELIUM May 2021 description: Microsoft Threat Intelligence Center (MSTIC). (2021, May 27). New sophisticated email-based attack from NOBELIUM. Retrieved May 28, 2021. url: https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2021/05/27/new-sophisticated-email-based-attack-from-nobelium/ source_name: HTML Smuggling Menlo Security 2020 description: Subramanian, K. (2020, August 18). New HTML Smuggling Attack Alert: Duri. Retrieved May 20, 2021. url: https://www.menlosecurity.com/blog/new-attack-alert-duri source_name: nccgroup Smuggling HTA 2017 description: Warren, R. (2017, August 8). Smuggling HTA files in Internet Explorer/Edge. Retrieved May 20, 2021. url: https://research.nccgroup.com/2017/08/08/smuggling-hta-files-in-internet-explorer-edge/ | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: defense-evasion | Windows |
An adversary may abuse Active Directory authentication encryption properties to gain access to credentials on Windows systems. The <code>AllowReversiblePasswordEncryption</code> property specifies whether reversible password encryption for an account is enabled or disabled. By default this property is disabled (instead storing user credentials as the output of one-way hashing functions) and should not be enabled unless legacy or other software require it.(Citation: store_pwd_rev_enc)
If the property is enabled and/or a user changes their password after it is enabled, an adversary may be able to obtain the plaintext of passwords created/changed after the property was enabled. To decrypt the passwords, an adversary needs four components:
1. Encrypted password (<code>G$RADIUSCHAP</code>) from the Active Directory user-structure <code>userParameters</code>
2. 16 byte randomly-generated value (<code>G$RADIUSCHAPKEY</code>) also from <code>userParameters</code>
3. Global LSA secret (<code>G$MSRADIUSCHAPKEY</code>)
4. Static key hardcoded in the Remote Access Subauthentication DLL (<code>RASSFM.DLL</code>)
With this information, an adversary may be able to reproduce the encryption key and subsequently decrypt the encrypted password value.(Citation: how_pwd_rev_enc_1)(Citation: how_pwd_rev_enc_2)
An adversary may set this property at various scopes through Local Group Policy Editor, user properties, Fine-Grained Password Policy (FGPP), or via the ActiveDirectory [PowerShell](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/001) module. For example, an adversary may implement and apply a FGPP to users or groups if the Domain Functional Level is set to "Windows Server 2008" or higher.(Citation: dump_pwd_dcsync) In PowerShell, an adversary may make associated changes to user settings using commands similar to <code>Set-ADUser -AllowReversiblePasswordEncryption $true</code>. | enterprise-attack | Reversible Encryption | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1556/005 external_id: T1556.005 source_name: store_pwd_rev_enc description: Microsoft. (2021, October 28). Store passwords using reversible encryption. Retrieved January 3, 2022. url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/security-policy-settings/store-passwords-using-reversible-encryption source_name: how_pwd_rev_enc_1 description: Teusink, N. (2009, August 25). Passwords stored using reversible encryption: how it works (part 1). Retrieved November 17, 2021. url: http://blog.teusink.net/2009/08/passwords-stored-using-reversible.html source_name: how_pwd_rev_enc_2 description: Teusink, N. (2009, August 26). Passwords stored using reversible encryption: how it works (part 2). Retrieved November 17, 2021. url: http://blog.teusink.net/2009/08/passwords-stored-using-reversible_26.html source_name: dump_pwd_dcsync description: Metcalf, S. (2015, November 22). Dump Clear-Text Passwords for All Admins in the Domain Using Mimikatz DCSync. Retrieved November 15, 2021. url: https://adsecurity.org/?p=2053 | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: persistence | Windows |
Adversaries may obfuscate content during command execution to impede detection. Command-line obfuscation is a method of making strings and patterns within commands and scripts more difficult to signature and analyze. This type of obfuscation can be included within commands executed by delivered payloads (e.g., [Phishing](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566) and [Drive-by Compromise](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1189)) or interactively via [Command and Scripting Interpreter](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059).(Citation: Akamai JS)(Citation: Malware Monday VBE)
For example, adversaries may abuse syntax that utilizes various symbols and escape characters (such as spacing, `^`, `+`. `$`, and `%`) to make commands difficult to analyze while maintaining the same intended functionality.(Citation: RC PowerShell) Many languages support built-in obfuscation in the form of base64 or URL encoding.(Citation: Microsoft PowerShellB64) Adversaries may also manually implement command obfuscation via string splitting (`“Wor”+“d.Application”`), order and casing of characters (`rev <<<'dwssap/cte/ tac'`), globing (`mkdir -p '/tmp/:&$NiA'`), as well as various tricks involving passing strings through tokens/environment variables/input streams.(Citation: Bashfuscator Command Obfuscators)(Citation: FireEye Obfuscation June 2017)
Adversaries may also use tricks such as directory traversals to obfuscate references to the binary being invoked by a command (`C:\voi\pcw\..\..\Windows\tei\qs\k\..\..\..\system32\erool\..\wbem\wg\je\..\..\wmic.exe shadowcopy delete`).(Citation: Twitter Richard WMIC)
Tools such as <code>Invoke-Obfuscation</code> and <code>Invoke-DOSfucation</code> have also been used to obfuscate commands.(Citation: Invoke-DOSfuscation)(Citation: Invoke-Obfuscation) | enterprise-attack | Command Obfuscation | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1027/010 external_id: T1027.010 source_name: Twitter Richard WMIC description: Ackroyd, R. (2023, March 24). Twitter. Retrieved March 24, 2023. url: https://twitter.com/rfackroyd/status/1639136000755765254 source_name: Invoke-Obfuscation description: Bohannon, D. (2016, September 24). Invoke-Obfuscation. Retrieved March 17, 2023. url: https://github.com/danielbohannon/Invoke-Obfuscation source_name: Invoke-DOSfuscation description: Bohannon, D. (2018, March 19). Invoke-DOSfuscation. Retrieved March 17, 2023. url: https://github.com/danielbohannon/Invoke-DOSfuscation source_name: FireEye Obfuscation June 2017 description: Bohannon, D. & Carr N. (2017, June 30). Obfuscation in the Wild: Targeted Attackers Lead the Way in Evasion Techniques. Retrieved February 12, 2018. url: https://web.archive.org/web/20170923102302/https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2017/06/obfuscation-in-the-wild.html source_name: Malware Monday VBE description: Bromiley, M. (2016, December 27). Malware Monday: VBScript and VBE Files. Retrieved March 17, 2023. url: https://bromiley.medium.com/malware-monday-vbscript-and-vbe-files-292252c1a16 source_name: Akamai JS description: Katz, O. (2020, October 26). Catch Me if You Can—JavaScript Obfuscation. Retrieved March 17, 2023. url: https://www.akamai.com/blog/security/catch-me-if-you-can-javascript-obfuscation source_name: Bashfuscator Command Obfuscators description: LeFevre, A. (n.d.). Bashfuscator Command Obfuscators. Retrieved March 17, 2023. url: https://bashfuscator.readthedocs.io/en/latest/Mutators/command_obfuscators/index.html source_name: Microsoft PowerShellB64 description: Microsoft. (2023, February 8). about_PowerShell_exe: EncodedCommand. Retrieved March 17, 2023. url: https://learn.microsoft.com/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.core/about/about_powershell_exe?view=powershell-5.1#-encodedcommand-base64encodedcommand source_name: RC PowerShell description: Red Canary. (n.d.). 2022 Threat Detection Report: PowerShell. Retrieved March 17, 2023. url: https://redcanary.com/threat-detection-report/techniques/powershell/ | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: defense-evasion | Linux |
Adversaries may delete files left behind by the actions of their intrusion activity. Malware, tools, or other non-native files dropped or created on a system by an adversary (ex: [Ingress Tool Transfer](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1105)) may leave traces to indicate to what was done within a network and how. Removal of these files can occur during an intrusion, or as part of a post-intrusion process to minimize the adversary's footprint.
There are tools available from the host operating system to perform cleanup, but adversaries may use other tools as well.(Citation: Microsoft SDelete July 2016) Examples of built-in [Command and Scripting Interpreter](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059) functions include <code>del</code> on Windows and <code>rm</code> or <code>unlink</code> on Linux and macOS. | enterprise-attack | File Deletion | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1070/004 external_id: T1070.004 source_name: Microsoft SDelete July 2016 description: Russinovich, M. (2016, July 4). SDelete v2.0. Retrieved February 8, 2018. url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/sdelete | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: defense-evasion | Linux |
Adversaries may gain access to a system through a user visiting a website over the normal course of browsing. With this technique, the user's web browser is typically targeted for exploitation, but adversaries may also use compromised websites for non-exploitation behavior such as acquiring [Application Access Token](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1550/001).
Multiple ways of delivering exploit code to a browser exist (i.e., [Drive-by Target](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1608/004)), including:
* A legitimate website is compromised where adversaries have injected some form of malicious code such as JavaScript, iFrames, and cross-site scripting
* Script files served to a legitimate website from a publicly writeable cloud storage bucket are modified by an adversary
* Malicious ads are paid for and served through legitimate ad providers (i.e., [Malvertising](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1583/008))
* Built-in web application interfaces are leveraged for the insertion of any other kind of object that can be used to display web content or contain a script that executes on the visiting client (e.g. forum posts, comments, and other user controllable web content).
Often the website used by an adversary is one visited by a specific community, such as government, a particular industry, or region, where the goal is to compromise a specific user or set of users based on a shared interest. This kind of targeted campaign is often referred to a strategic web compromise or watering hole attack. There are several known examples of this occurring.(Citation: Shadowserver Strategic Web Compromise)
Typical drive-by compromise process:
1. A user visits a website that is used to host the adversary controlled content.
2. Scripts automatically execute, typically searching versions of the browser and plugins for a potentially vulnerable version.
* The user may be required to assist in this process by enabling scripting or active website components and ignoring warning dialog boxes.
3. Upon finding a vulnerable version, exploit code is delivered to the browser.
4. If exploitation is successful, then it will give the adversary code execution on the user's system unless other protections are in place.
* In some cases a second visit to the website after the initial scan is required before exploit code is delivered.
Unlike [Exploit Public-Facing Application](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1190), the focus of this technique is to exploit software on a client endpoint upon visiting a website. This will commonly give an adversary access to systems on the internal network instead of external systems that may be in a DMZ.
Adversaries may also use compromised websites to deliver a user to a malicious application designed to [Steal Application Access Token](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1528)s, like OAuth tokens, to gain access to protected applications and information. These malicious applications have been delivered through popups on legitimate websites.(Citation: Volexity OceanLotus Nov 2017) | enterprise-attack | Drive-by Compromise | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1189 external_id: T1189 source_name: Shadowserver Strategic Web Compromise description: Adair, S., Moran, N. (2012, May 15). Cyber Espionage & Strategic Web Compromises – Trusted Websites Serving Dangerous Results. Retrieved March 13, 2018. url: http://blog.shadowserver.org/2012/05/15/cyber-espionage-strategic-web-compromises-trusted-websites-serving-dangerous-results/ source_name: Volexity OceanLotus Nov 2017 description: Lassalle, D., et al. (2017, November 6). OceanLotus Blossoms: Mass Digital Surveillance and Attacks Targeting ASEAN, Asian Nations, the Media, Human Rights Groups, and Civil Society. Retrieved November 6, 2017. url: https://www.volexity.com/blog/2017/11/06/oceanlotus-blossoms-mass-digital-surveillance-and-exploitation-of-asean-nations-the-media-human-rights-and-civil-society/ | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: initial-access | Windows |
Adversaries may perform Network Denial of Service (DoS) attacks to degrade or block the availability of targeted resources to users. Network DoS can be performed by exhausting the network bandwidth services rely on. Example resources include specific websites, email services, DNS, and web-based applications. Adversaries have been observed conducting network DoS attacks for political purposes(Citation: FireEye OpPoisonedHandover February 2016) and to support other malicious activities, including distraction(Citation: FSISAC FraudNetDoS September 2012), hacktivism, and extortion.(Citation: Symantec DDoS October 2014)
A Network DoS will occur when the bandwidth capacity of the network connection to a system is exhausted due to the volume of malicious traffic directed at the resource or the network connections and network devices the resource relies on. For example, an adversary may send 10Gbps of traffic to a server that is hosted by a network with a 1Gbps connection to the internet. This traffic can be generated by a single system or multiple systems spread across the internet, which is commonly referred to as a distributed DoS (DDoS).
To perform Network DoS attacks several aspects apply to multiple methods, including IP address spoofing, and botnets.
Adversaries may use the original IP address of an attacking system, or spoof the source IP address to make the attack traffic more difficult to trace back to the attacking system or to enable reflection. This can increase the difficulty defenders have in defending against the attack by reducing or eliminating the effectiveness of filtering by the source address on network defense devices.
For DoS attacks targeting the hosting system directly, see [Endpoint Denial of Service](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1499). | enterprise-attack | Network Denial of Service | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1498 external_id: T1498 source_name: FireEye OpPoisonedHandover February 2016 description: Ned Moran, Mike Scott, Mike Oppenheim of FireEye. (2014, November 3). Operation Poisoned Handover: Unveiling Ties Between APT Activity in Hong Kong’s Pro-Democracy Movement. Retrieved April 18, 2019. url: https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2014/11/operation-poisoned-handover-unveiling-ties-between-apt-activity-in-hong-kongs-pro-democracy-movement.html source_name: FSISAC FraudNetDoS September 2012 description: FS-ISAC. (2012, September 17). Fraud Alert – Cyber Criminals Targeting Financial Institution Employee Credentials to Conduct Wire Transfer Fraud. Retrieved April 18, 2019. url: https://www.ic3.gov/media/2012/FraudAlertFinancialInstitutionEmployeeCredentialsTargeted.pdf source_name: Symantec DDoS October 2014 description: Wueest, C.. (2014, October 21). The continued rise of DDoS attacks. Retrieved April 24, 2019. url: https://www.symantec.com/content/en/us/enterprise/media/security_response/whitepapers/the-continued-rise-of-ddos-attacks.pdf source_name: Cisco DoSdetectNetflow description: Cisco. (n.d.). Detecting and Analyzing Network Threats With NetFlow. Retrieved April 25, 2019. url: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/ios-xml/ios/netflow/configuration/15-mt/nf-15-mt-book/nf-detct-analy-thrts.pdf | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: impact | Windows |
Adversaries may abuse cloud management services to execute commands within virtual machines. Resources such as AWS Systems Manager, Azure RunCommand, and Runbooks allow users to remotely run scripts in virtual machines by leveraging installed virtual machine agents. (Citation: AWS Systems Manager Run Command)(Citation: Microsoft Run Command)
If an adversary gains administrative access to a cloud environment, they may be able to abuse cloud management services to execute commands in the environment’s virtual machines. Additionally, an adversary that compromises a service provider or delegated administrator account may similarly be able to leverage a [Trusted Relationship](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1199) to execute commands in connected virtual machines.(Citation: MSTIC Nobelium Oct 2021) | enterprise-attack | Cloud Administration Command | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1651 external_id: T1651 source_name: AWS Systems Manager Run Command description: AWS. (n.d.). AWS Systems Manager Run Command. Retrieved March 13, 2023. url: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/systems-manager/latest/userguide/run-command.html source_name: MSTIC Nobelium Oct 2021 description: Microsoft Threat Intelligence Center. (2021, October 25). NOBELIUM targeting delegated administrative privileges to facilitate broader attacks. Retrieved March 25, 2022. url: https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2021/10/25/nobelium-targeting-delegated-administrative-privileges-to-facilitate-broader-attacks/ source_name: Microsoft Run Command description: Microsoft. (2023, March 10). Run scripts in your VM by using Run Command. Retrieved March 13, 2023. url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/run-command-overview | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: execution | IaaS |
Adversaries may establish persistence and elevate privileges by using an installer to trigger the execution of malicious content. Installer packages are OS specific and contain the resources an operating system needs to install applications on a system. Installer packages can include scripts that run prior to installation as well as after installation is complete. Installer scripts may inherit elevated permissions when executed. Developers often use these scripts to prepare the environment for installation, check requirements, download dependencies, and remove files after installation.(Citation: Installer Package Scripting Rich Trouton)
Using legitimate applications, adversaries have distributed applications with modified installer scripts to execute malicious content. When a user installs the application, they may be required to grant administrative permissions to allow the installation. At the end of the installation process of the legitimate application, content such as macOS `postinstall` scripts can be executed with the inherited elevated permissions. Adversaries can use these scripts to execute a malicious executable or install other malicious components (such as a [Launch Daemon](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1543/004)) with the elevated permissions.(Citation: Application Bundle Manipulation Brandon Dalton)(Citation: wardle evilquest parti)(Citation: Windows AppleJeus GReAT)(Citation: Debian Manual Maintainer Scripts)
Depending on the distribution, Linux versions of package installer scripts are sometimes called maintainer scripts or post installation scripts. These scripts can include `preinst`, `postinst`, `prerm`, `postrm` scripts and run as root when executed.
For Windows, the Microsoft Installer services uses `.msi` files to manage the installing, updating, and uninstalling of applications. These installation routines may also include instructions to perform additional actions that may be abused by adversaries.(Citation: Microsoft Installation Procedures) | enterprise-attack | Installer Packages | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1546/016 external_id: T1546.016 source_name: Application Bundle Manipulation Brandon Dalton description: Brandon Dalton. (2022, August 9). A bundle of nerves: Tweaking macOS security controls to thwart application bundle manipulation. Retrieved September 27, 2022. url: https://redcanary.com/blog/mac-application-bundles/ source_name: Debian Manual Maintainer Scripts description: Debian Policy Manual v4.6.1.1. (2022, August 14). Package maintainer scripts and installation procedure. Retrieved September 27, 2022. url: https://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ch-maintainerscripts.html#s-mscriptsinstact source_name: Windows AppleJeus GReAT description: Global Research & Analysis Team, Kaspersky Lab (GReAT). (2018, August 23). Operation AppleJeus: Lazarus hits cryptocurrency exchange with fake installer and macOS malware. Retrieved September 27, 2022. url: https://securelist.com/operation-applejeus/87553/ source_name: Microsoft Installation Procedures description: Microsoft. (2021, January 7). Installation Procedure Tables Group. Retrieved December 27, 2023. url: https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/win32/msi/installation-procedure-tables-group source_name: wardle evilquest parti description: Patrick Wardle. (2020, June 29). OSX.EvilQuest Uncovered part i: infection, persistence, and more!. Retrieved March 18, 2021. url: https://objective-see.com/blog/blog_0x59.html source_name: Installer Package Scripting Rich Trouton description: Rich Trouton. (2019, August 9). Installer Package Scripting: Making your deployments easier, one ! at a time. Retrieved September 27, 2022. url: https://cpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/sites.psu.edu/dist/4/24696/files/2019/07/psumac2019-345-Installer-Package-Scripting-Making-your-deployments-easier-one-at-a-time.pdf | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: persistence | Linux |
Adversaries may scan victim IP blocks to gather information that can be used during targeting. Public IP addresses may be allocated to organizations by block, or a range of sequential addresses.
Adversaries may scan IP blocks in order to [Gather Victim Network Information](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1590), such as which IP addresses are actively in use as well as more detailed information about hosts assigned these addresses. Scans may range from simple pings (ICMP requests and responses) to more nuanced scans that may reveal host software/versions via server banners or other network artifacts.(Citation: Botnet Scan) Information from these scans may reveal opportunities for other forms of reconnaissance (ex: [Search Open Websites/Domains](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1593) or [Search Open Technical Databases](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1596)), establishing operational resources (ex: [Develop Capabilities](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1587) or [Obtain Capabilities](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1588)), and/or initial access (ex: [External Remote Services](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1133)). | enterprise-attack | Scanning IP Blocks | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1595/001 external_id: T1595.001 source_name: Botnet Scan description: Dainotti, A. et al. (2012). Analysis of a “/0” Stealth Scan from a Botnet. Retrieved October 20, 2020. url: https://www.caida.org/publications/papers/2012/analysis_slash_zero/analysis_slash_zero.pdf | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: reconnaissance | PRE |
Adversaries may create or modify references in user document templates to conceal malicious code or force authentication attempts. For example, Microsoft’s Office Open XML (OOXML) specification defines an XML-based format for Office documents (.docx, xlsx, .pptx) to replace older binary formats (.doc, .xls, .ppt). OOXML files are packed together ZIP archives compromised of various XML files, referred to as parts, containing properties that collectively define how a document is rendered.(Citation: Microsoft Open XML July 2017)
Properties within parts may reference shared public resources accessed via online URLs. For example, template properties may reference a file, serving as a pre-formatted document blueprint, that is fetched when the document is loaded.
Adversaries may abuse these templates to initially conceal malicious code to be executed via user documents. Template references injected into a document may enable malicious payloads to be fetched and executed when the document is loaded.(Citation: SANS Brian Wiltse Template Injection) These documents can be delivered via other techniques such as [Phishing](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566) and/or [Taint Shared Content](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1080) and may evade static detections since no typical indicators (VBA macro, script, etc.) are present until after the malicious payload is fetched.(Citation: Redxorblue Remote Template Injection) Examples have been seen in the wild where template injection was used to load malicious code containing an exploit.(Citation: MalwareBytes Template Injection OCT 2017)
Adversaries may also modify the <code>*\template</code> control word within an .rtf file to similarly conceal then download malicious code. This legitimate control word value is intended to be a file destination of a template file resource that is retrieved and loaded when an .rtf file is opened. However, adversaries may alter the bytes of an existing .rtf file to insert a template control word field to include a URL resource of a malicious payload.(Citation: Proofpoint RTF Injection)(Citation: Ciberseguridad Decoding malicious RTF files)
This technique may also enable [Forced Authentication](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1187) by injecting a SMB/HTTPS (or other credential prompting) URL and triggering an authentication attempt.(Citation: Anomali Template Injection MAR 2018)(Citation: Talos Template Injection July 2017)(Citation: ryhanson phishery SEPT 2016) | enterprise-attack | Template Injection | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1221 external_id: T1221 source_name: Microsoft Open XML July 2017 description: Microsoft. (2014, July 9). Introducing the Office (2007) Open XML File Formats. Retrieved July 20, 2018. url: https://docs.microsoft.com/previous-versions/office/developer/office-2007/aa338205(v=office.12) source_name: SANS Brian Wiltse Template Injection description: Wiltse, B.. (2018, November 7). Template Injection Attacks - Bypassing Security Controls by Living off the Land. Retrieved April 10, 2019. url: https://www.sans.org/reading-room/whitepapers/testing/template-injection-attacks-bypassing-security-controls-living-land-38780 source_name: Redxorblue Remote Template Injection description: Hawkins, J. (2018, July 18). Executing Macros From a DOCX With Remote Template Injection. Retrieved October 12, 2018. url: http://blog.redxorblue.com/2018/07/executing-macros-from-docx-with-remote.html source_name: MalwareBytes Template Injection OCT 2017 description: Segura, J. (2017, October 13). Decoy Microsoft Word document delivers malware through a RAT. Retrieved July 21, 2018. url: https://blog.malwarebytes.com/threat-analysis/2017/10/decoy-microsoft-word-document-delivers-malware-through-rat/ source_name: Proofpoint RTF Injection description: Raggi, M. (2021, December 1). Injection is the New Black: Novel RTF Template Inject Technique Poised for Widespread Adoption Beyond APT Actors . Retrieved December 9, 2021. url: https://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threat-insight/injection-new-black-novel-rtf-template-inject-technique-poised-widespread source_name: Ciberseguridad Decoding malicious RTF files description: Pedrero, R.. (2021, July). Decoding malicious RTF files. Retrieved November 16, 2021. url: https://ciberseguridad.blog/decodificando-ficheros-rtf-maliciosos/ source_name: Anomali Template Injection MAR 2018 description: Intel_Acquisition_Team. (2018, March 1). Credential Harvesting and Malicious File Delivery using Microsoft Office Template Injection. Retrieved July 20, 2018. url: https://forum.anomali.com/t/credential-harvesting-and-malicious-file-delivery-using-microsoft-office-template-injection/2104 source_name: Talos Template Injection July 2017 description: Baird, S. et al.. (2017, July 7). Attack on Critical Infrastructure Leverages Template Injection. Retrieved July 21, 2018. url: https://blog.talosintelligence.com/2017/07/template-injection.html source_name: ryhanson phishery SEPT 2016 description: Hanson, R. (2016, September 24). phishery. Retrieved July 21, 2018. url: https://github.com/ryhanson/phishery | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: defense-evasion | Windows |
Adversaries may establish persistence by modifying RC scripts which are executed during a Unix-like system’s startup. These files allow system administrators to map and start custom services at startup for different run levels. RC scripts require root privileges to modify.
Adversaries can establish persistence by adding a malicious binary path or shell commands to <code>rc.local</code>, <code>rc.common</code>, and other RC scripts specific to the Unix-like distribution.(Citation: IranThreats Kittens Dec 2017)(Citation: Intezer HiddenWasp Map 2019) Upon reboot, the system executes the script's contents as root, resulting in persistence.
Adversary abuse of RC scripts is especially effective for lightweight Unix-like distributions using the root user as default, such as IoT or embedded systems.(Citation: intezer-kaiji-malware)
Several Unix-like systems have moved to Systemd and deprecated the use of RC scripts. This is now a deprecated mechanism in macOS in favor of [Launchd](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1053/004). (Citation: Apple Developer Doco Archive Launchd)(Citation: Startup Items) This technique can be used on Mac OS X Panther v10.3 and earlier versions which still execute the RC scripts.(Citation: Methods of Mac Malware Persistence) To maintain backwards compatibility some systems, such as Ubuntu, will execute the RC scripts if they exist with the correct file permissions.(Citation: Ubuntu Manpage systemd rc) | enterprise-attack | RC Scripts | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1037/004 external_id: T1037.004 source_name: Apple Developer Doco Archive Launchd description: Apple. (2016, September 13). Daemons and Services Programming Guide - Creating Launch Daemons and Agents. Retrieved February 24, 2021. url: https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/MacOSX/Conceptual/BPSystemStartup/Chapters/CreatingLaunchdJobs.html source_name: Startup Items description: Apple. (2016, September 13). Startup Items. Retrieved July 11, 2017. url: https://developer.apple.com/library/content/documentation/MacOSX/Conceptual/BPSystemStartup/Chapters/StartupItems.html source_name: Ubuntu Manpage systemd rc description: Canonical Ltd.. (n.d.). systemd-rc-local-generator - Compatibility generator for starting /etc/rc.local and /usr/sbin/halt.local during boot and shutdown. Retrieved February 23, 2021. url: http://manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages/bionic/man8/systemd-rc-local-generator.8.html source_name: IranThreats Kittens Dec 2017 description: Iran Threats . (2017, December 5). Flying Kitten to Rocket Kitten, A Case of Ambiguity and Shared Code. Retrieved May 28, 2020. url: https://iranthreats.github.io/resources/attribution-flying-rocket-kitten/ source_name: Methods of Mac Malware Persistence description: Patrick Wardle. (2014, September). Methods of Malware Persistence on Mac OS X. Retrieved July 5, 2017. url: https://www.virusbulletin.com/uploads/pdf/conference/vb2014/VB2014-Wardle.pdf source_name: intezer-kaiji-malware description: Paul Litvak. (2020, May 4). Kaiji: New Chinese Linux malware turning to Golang. Retrieved December 17, 2020. url: https://www.intezer.com/blog/research/kaiji-new-chinese-linux-malware-turning-to-golang/ source_name: Intezer HiddenWasp Map 2019 description: Sanmillan, I. (2019, May 29). HiddenWasp Malware Stings Targeted Linux Systems. Retrieved June 24, 2019. url: https://www.intezer.com/blog-hiddenwasp-malware-targeting-linux-systems/ | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: privilege-escalation | macOS |
Adversaries may modify access tokens to operate under a different user or system security context to perform actions and bypass access controls. Windows uses access tokens to determine the ownership of a running process. A user can manipulate access tokens to make a running process appear as though it is the child of a different process or belongs to someone other than the user that started the process. When this occurs, the process also takes on the security context associated with the new token.
An adversary can use built-in Windows API functions to copy access tokens from existing processes; this is known as token stealing. These token can then be applied to an existing process (i.e. [Token Impersonation/Theft](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1134/001)) or used to spawn a new process (i.e. [Create Process with Token](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1134/002)). An adversary must already be in a privileged user context (i.e. administrator) to steal a token. However, adversaries commonly use token stealing to elevate their security context from the administrator level to the SYSTEM level. An adversary can then use a token to authenticate to a remote system as the account for that token if the account has appropriate permissions on the remote system.(Citation: Pentestlab Token Manipulation)
Any standard user can use the <code>runas</code> command, and the Windows API functions, to create impersonation tokens; it does not require access to an administrator account. There are also other mechanisms, such as Active Directory fields, that can be used to modify access tokens. | enterprise-attack | Access Token Manipulation | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1134 external_id: T1134 source_name: BlackHat Atkinson Winchester Token Manipulation description: Atkinson, J., Winchester, R. (2017, December 7). A Process is No One: Hunting for Token Manipulation. Retrieved December 21, 2017. url: https://www.blackhat.com/docs/eu-17/materials/eu-17-Atkinson-A-Process-Is-No-One-Hunting-For-Token-Manipulation.pdf source_name: Microsoft Command-line Logging description: Mathers, B. (2017, March 7). Command line process auditing. Retrieved April 21, 2017. url: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server-docs/identity/ad-ds/manage/component-updates/command-line-process-auditing source_name: Microsoft LogonUser description: Microsoft TechNet. (n.d.). Retrieved April 25, 2017. url: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa378184(v=vs.85).aspx source_name: Microsoft DuplicateTokenEx description: Microsoft TechNet. (n.d.). Retrieved April 25, 2017. url: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa446617(v=vs.85).aspx source_name: Microsoft ImpersonateLoggedOnUser description: Microsoft TechNet. (n.d.). Retrieved April 25, 2017. url: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa378612(v=vs.85).aspx source_name: Pentestlab Token Manipulation description: netbiosX. (2017, April 3). Token Manipulation. Retrieved April 21, 2017. url: https://pentestlab.blog/2017/04/03/token-manipulation/ | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: privilege-escalation | Windows |
Adversaries may target multi-factor authentication (MFA) mechanisms, (i.e., smart cards, token generators, etc.) to gain access to credentials that can be used to access systems, services, and network resources. Use of MFA is recommended and provides a higher level of security than usernames and passwords alone, but organizations should be aware of techniques that could be used to intercept and bypass these security mechanisms.
If a smart card is used for multi-factor authentication, then a keylogger will need to be used to obtain the password associated with a smart card during normal use. With both an inserted card and access to the smart card password, an adversary can connect to a network resource using the infected system to proxy the authentication with the inserted hardware token. (Citation: Mandiant M Trends 2011)
Adversaries may also employ a keylogger to similarly target other hardware tokens, such as RSA SecurID. Capturing token input (including a user's personal identification code) may provide temporary access (i.e. replay the one-time passcode until the next value rollover) as well as possibly enabling adversaries to reliably predict future authentication values (given access to both the algorithm and any seed values used to generate appended temporary codes). (Citation: GCN RSA June 2011)
Other methods of MFA may be intercepted and used by an adversary to authenticate. It is common for one-time codes to be sent via out-of-band communications (email, SMS). If the device and/or service is not secured, then it may be vulnerable to interception. Service providers can also be targeted: for example, an adversary may compromise an SMS messaging service in order to steal MFA codes sent to users’ phones.(Citation: Okta Scatter Swine 2022) | enterprise-attack | Multi-Factor Authentication Interception | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1111 external_id: T1111 source_name: GCN RSA June 2011 description: Jackson, William. (2011, June 7). RSA confirms its tokens used in Lockheed hack. Retrieved September 24, 2018. url: https://gcn.com/cybersecurity/2011/06/rsa-confirms-its-tokens-used-in-lockheed-hack/282818/ source_name: Mandiant M Trends 2011 description: Mandiant. (2011, January 27). Mandiant M-Trends 2011. Retrieved January 10, 2016. url: https://dl.mandiant.com/EE/assets/PDF_MTrends_2011.pdf source_name: Okta Scatter Swine 2022 description: Okta. (2022, August 25). Detecting Scatter Swine: Insights into a Relentless Phishing Campaign. Retrieved February 24, 2023. url: https://sec.okta.com/scatterswine | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: credential-access | Linux |
Adversaries may perform software packing or virtual machine software protection to conceal their code. Software packing is a method of compressing or encrypting an executable. Packing an executable changes the file signature in an attempt to avoid signature-based detection. Most decompression techniques decompress the executable code in memory. Virtual machine software protection translates an executable's original code into a special format that only a special virtual machine can run. A virtual machine is then called to run this code.(Citation: ESET FinFisher Jan 2018)
Utilities used to perform software packing are called packers. Example packers are MPRESS and UPX. A more comprehensive list of known packers is available, but adversaries may create their own packing techniques that do not leave the same artifacts as well-known packers to evade defenses.(Citation: Awesome Executable Packing) | enterprise-attack | Software Packing | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1027/002 external_id: T1027.002 source_name: Awesome Executable Packing description: Alexandre D'Hondt. (n.d.). Awesome Executable Packing. Retrieved March 11, 2022. url: https://github.com/dhondta/awesome-executable-packing source_name: ESET FinFisher Jan 2018 description: Kafka, F. (2018, January). ESET's Guide to Deobfuscating and Devirtualizing FinFisher. Retrieved August 12, 2019. url: https://www.welivesecurity.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/WP-FinFisher.pdf | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: defense-evasion | macOS |
Adversaries may compromise serverless cloud infrastructure, such as Cloudflare Workers or AWS Lambda functions, that can be used during targeting. By utilizing serverless infrastructure, adversaries can make it more difficult to attribute infrastructure used during operations back to them.
Once compromised, the serverless runtime environment can be leveraged to either respond directly to infected machines or to [Proxy](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1090) traffic to an adversary-owned command and control server.(Citation: BlackWater Malware Cloudflare Workers)(Citation: AWS Lambda Redirector) As traffic generated by these functions will appear to come from subdomains of common cloud providers, it may be difficult to distinguish from ordinary traffic to these providers.(Citation: Detecting Command & Control in the Cloud)(Citation: BlackWater Malware Cloudflare Workers) | enterprise-attack | Serverless | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1584/007 external_id: T1584.007 source_name: AWS Lambda Redirector description: Adam Chester. (2020, February 25). AWS Lambda Redirector. Retrieved July 8, 2022. url: https://blog.xpnsec.com/aws-lambda-redirector/ source_name: Detecting Command & Control in the Cloud description: Gary Golomb. (n.d.). Threat Hunting Series: Detecting Command & Control in the Cloud. Retrieved July 8, 2022. url: https://awakesecurity.com/blog/threat-hunting-series-detecting-command-control-in-the-cloud/ source_name: BlackWater Malware Cloudflare Workers description: Lawrence Abrams. (2020, March 14). BlackWater Malware Abuses Cloudflare Workers for C2 Communication. Retrieved July 8, 2022. url: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/blackwater-malware-abuses-cloudflare-workers-for-c2-communication/ | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: resource-development | PRE |
Adversaries may communicate using application layer protocols associated with web traffic to avoid detection/network filtering by blending in with existing traffic. Commands to the remote system, and often the results of those commands, will be embedded within the protocol traffic between the client and server.
Protocols such as HTTP/S(Citation: CrowdStrike Putter Panda) and WebSocket(Citation: Brazking-Websockets) that carry web traffic may be very common in environments. HTTP/S packets have many fields and headers in which data can be concealed. An adversary may abuse these protocols to communicate with systems under their control within a victim network while also mimicking normal, expected traffic. | enterprise-attack | Web Protocols | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1071/001 external_id: T1071.001 source_name: CrowdStrike Putter Panda description: Crowdstrike Global Intelligence Team. (2014, June 9). CrowdStrike Intelligence Report: Putter Panda. Retrieved January 22, 2016. url: http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/assets/4589853/crowdstrike-intelligence-report-putter-panda.original.pdf source_name: University of Birmingham C2 description: Gardiner, J., Cova, M., Nagaraja, S. (2014, February). Command & Control Understanding, Denying and Detecting. Retrieved April 20, 2016. url: https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1408/1408.1136.pdf source_name: Brazking-Websockets description: Shahar Tavor. (n.d.). BrazKing Android Malware Upgraded and Targeting Brazilian Banks. Retrieved March 24, 2023. url: https://securityintelligence.com/posts/brazking-android-malware-upgraded-targeting-brazilian-banks/ | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: command-and-control | Linux |
Adversaries may abuse Visual Basic (VB) for execution. VB is a programming language created by Microsoft with interoperability with many Windows technologies such as [Component Object Model](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1559/001) and the [Native API](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1106) through the Windows API. Although tagged as legacy with no planned future evolutions, VB is integrated and supported in the .NET Framework and cross-platform .NET Core.(Citation: VB .NET Mar 2020)(Citation: VB Microsoft)
Derivative languages based on VB have also been created, such as Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) and VBScript. VBA is an event-driven programming language built into Microsoft Office, as well as several third-party applications.(Citation: Microsoft VBA)(Citation: Wikipedia VBA) VBA enables documents to contain macros used to automate the execution of tasks and other functionality on the host. VBScript is a default scripting language on Windows hosts and can also be used in place of [JavaScript](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/007) on HTML Application (HTA) webpages served to Internet Explorer (though most modern browsers do not come with VBScript support).(Citation: Microsoft VBScript)
Adversaries may use VB payloads to execute malicious commands. Common malicious usage includes automating execution of behaviors with VBScript or embedding VBA content into [Spearphishing Attachment](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566/001) payloads (which may also involve [Mark-of-the-Web Bypass](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1553/005) to enable execution).(Citation: Default VBS macros Blocking ) | enterprise-attack | Visual Basic | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/005 external_id: T1059.005 source_name: VB .NET Mar 2020 description: .NET Team. (2020, March 11). Visual Basic support planned for .NET 5.0. Retrieved June 23, 2020. url: https://devblogs.microsoft.com/vbteam/visual-basic-support-planned-for-net-5-0/ source_name: Default VBS macros Blocking description: Kellie Eickmeyer. (2022, February 7). Helping users stay safe: Blocking internet macros by default in Office. Retrieved February 7, 2022. url: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-365-blog/helping-users-stay-safe-blocking-internet-macros-by-default-in/ba-p/3071805 source_name: Microsoft VBScript description: Microsoft. (2011, April 19). What Is VBScript?. Retrieved March 28, 2020. url: https://docs.microsoft.com/previous-versions//1kw29xwf(v=vs.85) source_name: Microsoft VBA description: Microsoft. (2019, June 11). Office VBA Reference. Retrieved June 23, 2020. url: https://docs.microsoft.com/office/vba/api/overview/ source_name: VB Microsoft description: Microsoft. (n.d.). Visual Basic documentation. Retrieved June 23, 2020. url: https://docs.microsoft.com/dotnet/visual-basic/ source_name: Wikipedia VBA description: Wikipedia. (n.d.). Visual Basic for Applications. Retrieved August 13, 2020. url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_Basic_for_Applications | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: execution | Windows |
Adversaries may use a hidden file system to conceal malicious activity from users and security tools. File systems provide a structure to store and access data from physical storage. Typically, a user engages with a file system through applications that allow them to access files and directories, which are an abstraction from their physical location (ex: disk sector). Standard file systems include FAT, NTFS, ext4, and APFS. File systems can also contain other structures, such as the Volume Boot Record (VBR) and Master File Table (MFT) in NTFS.(Citation: MalwareTech VFS Nov 2014)
Adversaries may use their own abstracted file system, separate from the standard file system present on the infected system. In doing so, adversaries can hide the presence of malicious components and file input/output from security tools. Hidden file systems, sometimes referred to as virtual file systems, can be implemented in numerous ways. One implementation would be to store a file system in reserved disk space unused by disk structures or standard file system partitions.(Citation: MalwareTech VFS Nov 2014)(Citation: FireEye Bootkits) Another implementation could be for an adversary to drop their own portable partition image as a file on top of the standard file system.(Citation: ESET ComRAT May 2020) Adversaries may also fragment files across the existing file system structure in non-standard ways.(Citation: Kaspersky Equation QA) | enterprise-attack | Hidden File System | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1564/005 external_id: T1564.005 source_name: MalwareTech VFS Nov 2014 description: Hutchins, M. (2014, November 28). Virtual File Systems for Beginners. Retrieved June 22, 2020. url: https://www.malwaretech.com/2014/11/virtual-file-systems-for-beginners.html source_name: FireEye Bootkits description: Andonov, D., et al. (2015, December 7). Thriving Beyond The Operating System: Financial Threat Group Targets Volume Boot Record. Retrieved May 13, 2016. url: https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2015/12/fin1-targets-boot-record.html source_name: ESET ComRAT May 2020 description: Faou, M. (2020, May). From Agent.btz to ComRAT v4: A ten-year journey. Retrieved June 15, 2020. url: https://www.welivesecurity.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ESET_Turla_ComRAT.pdf source_name: Kaspersky Equation QA description: Kaspersky Lab's Global Research and Analysis Team. (2015, February). Equation Group: Questions and Answers. Retrieved December 21, 2015. url: https://media.kasperskycontenthub.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/43/2018/03/08064459/Equation_group_questions_and_answers.pdf | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: defense-evasion | Linux |
Adversaries may create or modify systemd services to repeatedly execute malicious payloads as part of persistence. Systemd is a system and service manager commonly used for managing background daemon processes (also known as services) and other system resources.(Citation: Linux man-pages: systemd January 2014) Systemd is the default initialization (init) system on many Linux distributions replacing legacy init systems, including SysVinit and Upstart, while remaining backwards compatible.
Systemd utilizes unit configuration files with the `.service` file extension to encode information about a service's process. By default, system level unit files are stored in the `/systemd/system` directory of the root owned directories (`/`). User level unit files are stored in the `/systemd/user` directories of the user owned directories (`$HOME`).(Citation: lambert systemd 2022)
Inside the `.service` unit files, the following directives are used to execute commands:(Citation: freedesktop systemd.service)
* `ExecStart`, `ExecStartPre`, and `ExecStartPost` directives execute when a service is started manually by `systemctl` or on system start if the service is set to automatically start.
* `ExecReload` directive executes when a service restarts.
* `ExecStop`, `ExecStopPre`, and `ExecStopPost` directives execute when a service is stopped.
Adversaries have created new service files, altered the commands a `.service` file’s directive executes, and modified the user directive a `.service` file executes as, which could result in privilege escalation. Adversaries may also place symbolic links in these directories, enabling systemd to find these payloads regardless of where they reside on the filesystem.(Citation: Anomali Rocke March 2019)(Citation: airwalk backdoor unix systems)(Citation: Rapid7 Service Persistence 22JUNE2016)
The .service file’s User directive can be used to run service as a specific user, which could result in privilege escalation based on specific user/group permissions. | enterprise-attack | Systemd Service | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1543/002 external_id: T1543.002 source_name: airwalk backdoor unix systems description: airwalk. (2023, January 1). A guide to backdooring Unix systems. Retrieved May 31, 2023. url: http://www.ouah.org/backdoors.html source_name: Anomali Rocke March 2019 description: Anomali Labs. (2019, March 15). Rocke Evolves Its Arsenal With a New Malware Family Written in Golang. Retrieved April 24, 2019. url: https://www.anomali.com/blog/rocke-evolves-its-arsenal-with-a-new-malware-family-written-in-golang source_name: freedesktop systemd.service description: Free Desktop. (n.d.). systemd.service — Service unit configuration. Retrieved March 20, 2023. url: https://www.freedesktop.org/software/systemd/man/systemd.service.html source_name: Linux man-pages: systemd January 2014 description: Linux man-pages. (2014, January). systemd(1) - Linux manual page. Retrieved April 23, 2019. url: http://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man1/systemd.1.html source_name: Berba hunting linux systemd description: Pepe Berba. (2022, January 30). Hunting for Persistence in Linux (Part 3): Systemd, Timers, and Cron. Retrieved March 20, 2023. url: https://pberba.github.io/security/2022/01/30/linux-threat-hunting-for-persistence-systemd-timers-cron/ source_name: Rapid7 Service Persistence 22JUNE2016 description: Rapid7. (2016, June 22). Service Persistence. Retrieved April 23, 2019. url: https://www.rapid7.com/db/modules/exploit/linux/local/service_persistence source_name: lambert systemd 2022 description: Tony Lambert. (2022, November 13). ATT&CK T1501: Understanding systemd service persistence. Retrieved March 20, 2023. url: https://redcanary.com/blog/attck-t1501-understanding-systemd-service-persistence/ | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: privilege-escalation | Linux |
Adversaries may hijack a legitimate user’s remote desktop session to move laterally within an environment. Remote desktop is a common feature in operating systems. It allows a user to log into an interactive session with a system desktop graphical user interface on a remote system. Microsoft refers to its implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) as Remote Desktop Services (RDS).(Citation: TechNet Remote Desktop Services)
Adversaries may perform RDP session hijacking which involves stealing a legitimate user's remote session. Typically, a user is notified when someone else is trying to steal their session. With System permissions and using Terminal Services Console, `c:\windows\system32\tscon.exe [session number to be stolen]`, an adversary can hijack a session without the need for credentials or prompts to the user.(Citation: RDP Hijacking Korznikov) This can be done remotely or locally and with active or disconnected sessions.(Citation: RDP Hijacking Medium) It can also lead to [Remote System Discovery](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1018) and Privilege Escalation by stealing a Domain Admin or higher privileged account session. All of this can be done by using native Windows commands, but it has also been added as a feature in red teaming tools.(Citation: Kali Redsnarf) | enterprise-attack | RDP Hijacking | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1563/002 external_id: T1563.002 source_name: RDP Hijacking Medium description: Beaumont, K. (2017, March 19). RDP hijacking — how to hijack RDS and RemoteApp sessions transparently to move through an organisation. Retrieved December 11, 2017. url: https://medium.com/@networksecurity/rdp-hijacking-how-to-hijack-rds-and-remoteapp-sessions-transparently-to-move-through-an-da2a1e73a5f6 source_name: RDP Hijacking Korznikov description: Korznikov, A. (2017, March 17). Passwordless RDP Session Hijacking Feature All Windows versions. Retrieved December 11, 2017. url: http://www.korznikov.com/2017/03/0-day-or-feature-privilege-escalation.html source_name: TechNet Remote Desktop Services description: Microsoft. (n.d.). Remote Desktop Services. Retrieved June 1, 2016. url: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/ee236407.aspx source_name: Kali Redsnarf description: NCC Group PLC. (2016, November 1). Kali Redsnarf. Retrieved December 11, 2017. url: https://github.com/nccgroup/redsnarf | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: lateral-movement | Windows |
Adversaries may create an account to maintain access to victim systems.(Citation: Symantec WastedLocker June 2020) With a sufficient level of access, creating such accounts may be used to establish secondary credentialed access that do not require persistent remote access tools to be deployed on the system.
Accounts may be created on the local system or within a domain or cloud tenant. In cloud environments, adversaries may create accounts that only have access to specific services, which can reduce the chance of detection. | enterprise-attack | Create Account | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1136 external_id: T1136 source_name: Microsoft User Creation Event description: Lich, B., Miroshnikov, A. (2017, April 5). 4720(S): A user account was created. Retrieved June 30, 2017. url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/auditing/event-4720 source_name: Symantec WastedLocker June 2020 description: Symantec Threat Intelligence. (2020, June 25). WastedLocker: Symantec Identifies Wave of Attacks Against U.S. Organizations. Retrieved May 20, 2021. url: https://symantec-enterprise-blogs.security.com/blogs/threat-intelligence/wastedlocker-ransomware-us | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: persistence | Windows |
Adversaries may add or modify XDG Autostart Entries to execute malicious programs or commands when a user’s desktop environment is loaded at login. XDG Autostart entries are available for any XDG-compliant Linux system. XDG Autostart entries use Desktop Entry files (`.desktop`) to configure the user’s desktop environment upon user login. These configuration files determine what applications launch upon user login, define associated applications to open specific file types, and define applications used to open removable media.(Citation: Free Desktop Application Autostart Feb 2006)(Citation: Free Desktop Entry Keys)
Adversaries may abuse this feature to establish persistence by adding a path to a malicious binary or command to the `Exec` directive in the `.desktop` configuration file. When the user’s desktop environment is loaded at user login, the `.desktop` files located in the XDG Autostart directories are automatically executed. System-wide Autostart entries are located in the `/etc/xdg/autostart` directory while the user entries are located in the `~/.config/autostart` directory.
Adversaries may combine this technique with [Masquerading](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1036) to blend malicious Autostart entries with legitimate programs.(Citation: Red Canary Netwire Linux 2022) | enterprise-attack | XDG Autostart Entries | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1547/013 external_id: T1547.013 source_name: Free Desktop Application Autostart Feb 2006 description: Free Desktop. (2006, February 13). Desktop Application Autostart Specification. Retrieved September 12, 2019. url: https://specifications.freedesktop.org/autostart-spec/autostart-spec-latest.html source_name: Free Desktop Entry Keys description: Free Desktop. (2017, December 24). Recognized Desktop Entry Keys. Retrieved September 12, 2019. url: https://specifications.freedesktop.org/desktop-entry-spec/1.2/ar01s06.html source_name: Red Canary Netwire Linux 2022 description: TONY LAMBERT. (2022, June 7). Trapping the Netwire RAT on Linux. Retrieved September 28, 2023. url: https://redcanary.com/blog/netwire-remote-access-trojan-on-linux/ | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: privilege-escalation | Linux |
Adversaries may compromise third-party servers that can be used during targeting. Use of servers allows an adversary to stage, launch, and execute an operation. During post-compromise activity, adversaries may utilize servers for various tasks, including for Command and Control.(Citation: TrendMicro EarthLusca 2022) Instead of purchasing a [Server](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1583/004) or [Virtual Private Server](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1583/003), adversaries may compromise third-party servers in support of operations.
Adversaries may also compromise web servers to support watering hole operations, as in [Drive-by Compromise](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1189), or email servers to support [Phishing](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566) operations. | enterprise-attack | Server | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1584/004 external_id: T1584.004 source_name: TrendMicro EarthLusca 2022 description: Chen, J., et al. (2022). Delving Deep: An Analysis of Earth Lusca’s Operations. Retrieved July 1, 2022. url: https://www.trendmicro.com/content/dam/trendmicro/global/en/research/22/a/earth-lusca-employs-sophisticated-infrastructure-varied-tools-and-techniques/technical-brief-delving-deep-an-analysis-of-earth-lusca-operations.pdf source_name: Koczwara Beacon Hunting Sep 2021 description: Koczwara, M. (2021, September 7). Hunting Cobalt Strike C2 with Shodan. Retrieved October 12, 2021. url: https://michaelkoczwara.medium.com/cobalt-strike-c2-hunting-with-shodan-c448d501a6e2 source_name: Mandiant SCANdalous Jul 2020 description: Stephens, A. (2020, July 13). SCANdalous! (External Detection Using Network Scan Data and Automation). Retrieved October 12, 2021. url: https://www.mandiant.com/resources/scandalous-external-detection-using-network-scan-data-and-automation source_name: ThreatConnect Infrastructure Dec 2020 description: ThreatConnect. (2020, December 15). Infrastructure Research and Hunting: Boiling the Domain Ocean. Retrieved October 12, 2021. url: https://threatconnect.com/blog/infrastructure-research-hunting/ | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: resource-development | PRE |
An adversary may attempt to enumerate the cloud services running on a system after gaining access. These methods can differ from platform-as-a-service (PaaS), to infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), or software-as-a-service (SaaS). Many services exist throughout the various cloud providers and can include Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD), Lambda Functions, Azure AD, etc. They may also include security services, such as AWS GuardDuty and Microsoft Defender for Cloud, and logging services, such as AWS CloudTrail and Google Cloud Audit Logs.
Adversaries may attempt to discover information about the services enabled throughout the environment. Azure tools and APIs, such as the Azure AD Graph API and Azure Resource Manager API, can enumerate resources and services, including applications, management groups, resources and policy definitions, and their relationships that are accessible by an identity.(Citation: Azure - Resource Manager API)(Citation: Azure AD Graph API)
For example, Stormspotter is an open source tool for enumerating and constructing a graph for Azure resources and services, and Pacu is an open source AWS exploitation framework that supports several methods for discovering cloud services.(Citation: Azure - Stormspotter)(Citation: GitHub Pacu)
Adversaries may use the information gained to shape follow-on behaviors, such as targeting data or credentials from enumerated services or evading identified defenses through [Disable or Modify Tools](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1562/001) or [Disable or Modify Cloud Logs](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1562/008). | enterprise-attack | Cloud Service Discovery | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1526 external_id: T1526 source_name: Azure AD Graph API description: Microsoft. (2016, March 26). Operations overview | Graph API concepts. Retrieved June 18, 2020. url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/azure/ad/graph/howto/azure-ad-graph-api-operations-overview source_name: Azure - Resource Manager API description: Microsoft. (2019, May 20). Azure Resource Manager. Retrieved June 17, 2020. url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/rest/api/resources/ source_name: Azure - Stormspotter description: Microsoft. (2020). Azure Stormspotter GitHub. Retrieved June 17, 2020. url: https://github.com/Azure/Stormspotter source_name: GitHub Pacu description: Rhino Security Labs. (2019, August 22). Pacu. Retrieved October 17, 2019. url: https://github.com/RhinoSecurityLabs/pacu | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: discovery | Azure AD |
Adversaries may attempt to get a listing of other systems by IP address, hostname, or other logical identifier on a network that may be used for Lateral Movement from the current system. Functionality could exist within remote access tools to enable this, but utilities available on the operating system could also be used such as [Ping](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0097) or <code>net view</code> using [Net](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0039).
Adversaries may also analyze data from local host files (ex: <code>C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc\hosts</code> or <code>/etc/hosts</code>) or other passive means (such as local [Arp](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0099) cache entries) in order to discover the presence of remote systems in an environment.
Adversaries may also target discovery of network infrastructure as well as leverage [Network Device CLI](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/008) commands on network devices to gather detailed information about systems within a network (e.g. <code>show cdp neighbors</code>, <code>show arp</code>).(Citation: US-CERT-TA18-106A)(Citation: CISA AR21-126A FIVEHANDS May 2021)
| enterprise-attack | Remote System Discovery | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1018 external_id: T1018 source_name: CISA AR21-126A FIVEHANDS May 2021 description: CISA. (2021, May 6). Analysis Report (AR21-126A) FiveHands Ransomware. Retrieved June 7, 2021. url: https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ncas/analysis-reports/ar21-126a source_name: Elastic - Koadiac Detection with EQL description: Stepanic, D.. (2020, January 13). Embracing offensive tooling: Building detections against Koadic using EQL. Retrieved November 30, 2020. url: https://www.elastic.co/blog/embracing-offensive-tooling-building-detections-against-koadic-using-eql source_name: US-CERT-TA18-106A description: US-CERT. (2018, April 20). Alert (TA18-106A) Russian State-Sponsored Cyber Actors Targeting Network Infrastructure Devices. Retrieved October 19, 2020. url: https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/alerts/TA18-106A | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: discovery | Linux |
Adversaries may attempt to get a listing of services running on remote hosts and local network infrastructure devices, including those that may be vulnerable to remote software exploitation. Common methods to acquire this information include port and/or vulnerability scans using tools that are brought onto a system.(Citation: CISA AR21-126A FIVEHANDS May 2021)
Within cloud environments, adversaries may attempt to discover services running on other cloud hosts. Additionally, if the cloud environment is connected to a on-premises environment, adversaries may be able to identify services running on non-cloud systems as well.
Within macOS environments, adversaries may use the native Bonjour application to discover services running on other macOS hosts within a network. The Bonjour mDNSResponder daemon automatically registers and advertises a host’s registered services on the network. For example, adversaries can use a mDNS query (such as <code>dns-sd -B _ssh._tcp .</code>) to find other systems broadcasting the ssh service.(Citation: apple doco bonjour description)(Citation: macOS APT Activity Bradley) | enterprise-attack | Network Service Discovery | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1046 external_id: T1046 source_name: apple doco bonjour description description: Apple Inc. (2013, April 23). Bonjour Overview. Retrieved October 11, 2021. url: https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/Cocoa/Conceptual/NetServices/Introduction.html source_name: CISA AR21-126A FIVEHANDS May 2021 description: CISA. (2021, May 6). Analysis Report (AR21-126A) FiveHands Ransomware. Retrieved June 7, 2021. url: https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ncas/analysis-reports/ar21-126a source_name: macOS APT Activity Bradley description: Jaron Bradley. (2021, November 14). What does APT Activity Look Like on macOS?. Retrieved January 19, 2022. url: https://themittenmac.com/what-does-apt-activity-look-like-on-macos/ | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: discovery | Windows |
Adversaries may gather information about the victim's network domain(s) that can be used during targeting. Information about domains and their properties may include a variety of details, including what domain(s) the victim owns as well as administrative data (ex: name, registrar, etc.) and more directly actionable information such as contacts (email addresses and phone numbers), business addresses, and name servers.
Adversaries may gather this information in various ways, such as direct collection actions via [Active Scanning](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1595) or [Phishing for Information](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1598). Information about victim domains and their properties may also be exposed to adversaries via online or other accessible data sets (ex: [WHOIS](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1596/002)).(Citation: WHOIS)(Citation: DNS Dumpster)(Citation: Circl Passive DNS) Where third-party cloud providers are in use, this information may also be exposed through publicly available API endpoints, such as GetUserRealm and autodiscover in Office 365 environments.(Citation: Azure Active Directory Reconnaisance)(Citation: Office 265 Azure Domain Availability) Gathering this information may reveal opportunities for other forms of reconnaissance (ex: [Search Open Technical Databases](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1596), [Search Open Websites/Domains](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1593), or [Phishing for Information](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1598)), establishing operational resources (ex: [Acquire Infrastructure](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1583) or [Compromise Infrastructure](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1584)), and/or initial access (ex: [Phishing](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566)). | enterprise-attack | Domain Properties | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1590/001 external_id: T1590.001 source_name: Circl Passive DNS description: CIRCL Computer Incident Response Center. (n.d.). Passive DNS. Retrieved October 20, 2020. url: https://www.circl.lu/services/passive-dns/ source_name: Azure Active Directory Reconnaisance description: Dr. Nestori Syynimaa. (2020, June 13). Just looking: Azure Active Directory reconnaissance as an outsider. Retrieved May 27, 2022. url: https://o365blog.com/post/just-looking/ source_name: DNS Dumpster description: Hacker Target. (n.d.). DNS Dumpster. Retrieved October 20, 2020. url: https://dnsdumpster.com/ source_name: Office 265 Azure Domain Availability description: Microsoft. (2017, January 23). (Cloud) Tip of the Day: Advanced way to check domain availability for Office 365 and Azure. Retrieved May 27, 2022. url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/archive/blogs/tip_of_the_day/cloud-tip-of-the-day-advanced-way-to-check-domain-availability-for-office-365-and-azure source_name: WHOIS description: NTT America. (n.d.). Whois Lookup. Retrieved October 20, 2020. url: https://www.whois.net/ | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: reconnaissance | PRE |
Adversaries may attempt to get a listing of software and software versions that are installed on a system or in a cloud environment. Adversaries may use the information from [Software Discovery](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1518) during automated discovery to shape follow-on behaviors, including whether or not the adversary fully infects the target and/or attempts specific actions.
Such software may be deployed widely across the environment for configuration management or security reasons, such as [Software Deployment Tools](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1072), and may allow adversaries broad access to infect devices or move laterally.
Adversaries may attempt to enumerate software for a variety of reasons, such as figuring out what security measures are present or if the compromised system has a version of software that is vulnerable to [Exploitation for Privilege Escalation](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1068). | enterprise-attack | Software Discovery | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1518 external_id: T1518 | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: discovery | Windows |
An adversary may use a cloud service dashboard GUI with stolen credentials to gain useful information from an operational cloud environment, such as specific services, resources, and features. For example, the GCP Command Center can be used to view all assets, findings of potential security risks, and to run additional queries, such as finding public IP addresses and open ports.(Citation: Google Command Center Dashboard)
Depending on the configuration of the environment, an adversary may be able to enumerate more information via the graphical dashboard than an API. This allows the adversary to gain information without making any API requests. | enterprise-attack | Cloud Service Dashboard | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1538 external_id: T1538 source_name: AWS Console Sign-in Events description: Amazon. (n.d.). AWS Console Sign-in Events. Retrieved October 23, 2019. url: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/awscloudtrail/latest/userguide/cloudtrail-event-reference-aws-console-sign-in-events.html source_name: Google Command Center Dashboard description: Google. (2019, October 3). Quickstart: Using the dashboard. Retrieved October 8, 2019. url: https://cloud.google.com/security-command-center/docs/quickstart-scc-dashboard | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: discovery | Azure AD |
Adversaries may inject malicious code into processes via thread local storage (TLS) callbacks in order to evade process-based defenses as well as possibly elevate privileges. TLS callback injection is a method of executing arbitrary code in the address space of a separate live process.
TLS callback injection involves manipulating pointers inside a portable executable (PE) to redirect a process to malicious code before reaching the code's legitimate entry point. TLS callbacks are normally used by the OS to setup and/or cleanup data used by threads. Manipulating TLS callbacks may be performed by allocating and writing to specific offsets within a process’ memory space using other [Process Injection](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1055) techniques such as [Process Hollowing](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1055/012).(Citation: FireEye TLS Nov 2017)
Running code in the context of another process may allow access to the process's memory, system/network resources, and possibly elevated privileges. Execution via TLS callback injection may also evade detection from security products since the execution is masked under a legitimate process. | enterprise-attack | Thread Local Storage | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1055/005 external_id: T1055.005 source_name: FireEye TLS Nov 2017 description: Vaish, A. & Nemes, S. (2017, November 28). Newly Observed Ursnif Variant Employs Malicious TLS Callback Technique to Achieve Process Injection. Retrieved December 18, 2017. url: https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2017/11/ursnif-variant-malicious-tls-callback-technique.html source_name: Elastic Process Injection July 2017 description: Hosseini, A. (2017, July 18). Ten Process Injection Techniques: A Technical Survey Of Common And Trending Process Injection Techniques. Retrieved December 7, 2017. url: https://www.endgame.com/blog/technical-blog/ten-process-injection-techniques-technical-survey-common-and-trending-process | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: privilege-escalation | Windows |
Adversaries may employ various means to detect and avoid debuggers. Debuggers are typically used by defenders to trace and/or analyze the execution of potential malware payloads.(Citation: ProcessHacker Github)
Debugger evasion may include changing behaviors based on the results of the checks for the presence of artifacts indicative of a debugged environment. Similar to [Virtualization/Sandbox Evasion](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1497), if the adversary detects a debugger, they may alter their malware to disengage from the victim or conceal the core functions of the implant. They may also search for debugger artifacts before dropping secondary or additional payloads.
Specific checks will vary based on the target and/or adversary, but may involve [Native API](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1106) function calls such as <code>IsDebuggerPresent()</code> and <code> NtQueryInformationProcess()</code>, or manually checking the <code>BeingDebugged</code> flag of the Process Environment Block (PEB). Other checks for debugging artifacts may also seek to enumerate hardware breakpoints, interrupt assembly opcodes, time checks, or measurements if exceptions are raised in the current process (assuming a present debugger would “swallow” or handle the potential error).(Citation: hasherezade debug)(Citation: AlKhaser Debug)(Citation: vxunderground debug)
Adversaries may use the information learned from these debugger checks during automated discovery to shape follow-on behaviors. Debuggers can also be evaded by detaching the process or flooding debug logs with meaningless data via messages produced by looping [Native API](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1106) function calls such as <code>OutputDebugStringW()</code>.(Citation: wardle evilquest partii)(Citation: Checkpoint Dridex Jan 2021) | enterprise-attack | Debugger Evasion | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1622 external_id: T1622 source_name: Checkpoint Dridex Jan 2021 description: Check Point Research. (2021, January 4). Stopping Serial Killer: Catching the Next Strike. Retrieved September 7, 2021. url: https://research.checkpoint.com/2021/stopping-serial-killer-catching-the-next-strike/ source_name: hasherezade debug description: hasherezade. (2021, June 30). Module 3 - Understanding and countering malware's evasion and self-defence. Retrieved April 1, 2022. url: https://github.com/hasherezade/malware_training_vol1/blob/main/slides/module3/Module3_2_fingerprinting.pdf source_name: AlKhaser Debug description: Noteworthy. (2019, January 6). Al-Khaser. Retrieved April 1, 2022. url: https://github.com/LordNoteworthy/al-khaser/tree/master/al-khaser/AntiDebug source_name: wardle evilquest partii description: Patrick Wardle. (2020, July 3). OSX.EvilQuest Uncovered part ii: insidious capabilities. Retrieved March 21, 2021. url: https://objective-see.com/blog/blog_0x60.html source_name: ProcessHacker Github description: ProcessHacker. (2009, October 27). Process Hacker. Retrieved April 11, 2022. url: https://github.com/processhacker/processhacker source_name: vxunderground debug description: vxunderground. (2021, June 30). VX-API. Retrieved April 1, 2022. url: https://github.com/vxunderground/VX-API/tree/main/Anti%20Debug | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: discovery | Windows |
Adversaries can hide a program's true filetype by changing the extension of a file. With certain file types (specifically this does not work with .app extensions), appending a space to the end of a filename will change how the file is processed by the operating system.
For example, if there is a Mach-O executable file called <code>evil.bin</code>, when it is double clicked by a user, it will launch Terminal.app and execute. If this file is renamed to <code>evil.txt</code>, then when double clicked by a user, it will launch with the default text editing application (not executing the binary). However, if the file is renamed to <code>evil.txt </code> (note the space at the end), then when double clicked by a user, the true file type is determined by the OS and handled appropriately and the binary will be executed (Citation: Mac Backdoors are back).
Adversaries can use this feature to trick users into double clicking benign-looking files of any format and ultimately executing something malicious. | enterprise-attack | Space after Filename | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1036/006 external_id: T1036.006 source_name: Mac Backdoors are back description: Dan Goodin. (2016, July 6). After hiatus, in-the-wild Mac backdoors are suddenly back. Retrieved July 8, 2017. url: https://arstechnica.com/security/2016/07/after-hiatus-in-the-wild-mac-backdoors-are-suddenly-back/ | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: defense-evasion | Linux |
Adversaries may modify plist files to automatically run an application when a user logs in. When a user logs out or restarts via the macOS Graphical User Interface (GUI), a prompt is provided to the user with a checkbox to "Reopen windows when logging back in".(Citation: Re-Open windows on Mac) When selected, all applications currently open are added to a property list file named <code>com.apple.loginwindow.[UUID].plist</code> within the <code>~/Library/Preferences/ByHost</code> directory.(Citation: Methods of Mac Malware Persistence)(Citation: Wardle Persistence Chapter) Applications listed in this file are automatically reopened upon the user’s next logon.
Adversaries can establish [Persistence](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0003) by adding a malicious application path to the <code>com.apple.loginwindow.[UUID].plist</code> file to execute payloads when a user logs in. | enterprise-attack | Re-opened Applications | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1547/007 external_id: T1547.007 source_name: Re-Open windows on Mac description: Apple. (2016, December 6). Automatically re-open windows, apps, and documents on your Mac. Retrieved July 11, 2017. url: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204005 source_name: Methods of Mac Malware Persistence description: Patrick Wardle. (2014, September). Methods of Malware Persistence on Mac OS X. Retrieved July 5, 2017. url: https://www.virusbulletin.com/uploads/pdf/conference/vb2014/VB2014-Wardle.pdf source_name: Wardle Persistence Chapter description: Patrick Wardle. (n.d.). Chapter 0x2: Persistence. Retrieved April 13, 2022. url: https://taomm.org/PDFs/vol1/CH%200x02%20Persistence.pdf | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: privilege-escalation | macOS |
Adversaries may poison mechanisms that influence search engine optimization (SEO) to further lure staged capabilities towards potential victims. Search engines typically display results to users based on purchased ads as well as the site’s ranking/score/reputation calculated by their web crawlers and algorithms.(Citation: Atlas SEO)(Citation: MalwareBytes SEO)
To help facilitate [Drive-by Compromise](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1189), adversaries may stage content that explicitly manipulates SEO rankings in order to promote sites hosting their malicious payloads (such as [Drive-by Target](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1608/004)) within search engines. Poisoning SEO rankings may involve various tricks, such as stuffing keywords (including in the form of hidden text) into compromised sites. These keywords could be related to the interests/browsing habits of the intended victim(s) as well as more broad, seasonably popular topics (e.g. elections, trending news).(Citation: ZScaler SEO)(Citation: Atlas SEO)
Adversaries may also purchase or plant incoming links to staged capabilities in order to boost the site’s calculated relevance and reputation.(Citation: MalwareBytes SEO)(Citation: DFIR Report Gootloader)
SEO poisoning may also be combined with evasive redirects and other cloaking mechanisms (such as measuring mouse movements or serving content based on browser user agents, user language/localization settings, or HTTP headers) in order to feed SEO inputs while avoiding scrutiny from defenders.(Citation: ZScaler SEO)(Citation: Sophos Gootloader) | enterprise-attack | SEO Poisoning | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1608/006 external_id: T1608.006 source_name: MalwareBytes SEO description: Arntz, P. (2018, May 29). SEO poisoning: Is it worth it?. Retrieved September 30, 2022. url: https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2018/05/seo-poisoning-is-it-worth-it source_name: Atlas SEO description: Atlas Cybersecurity. (2021, April 19). Threat Actors use Search-Engine-Optimization Tactics to Redirect Traffic and Install Malware. Retrieved September 30, 2022. url: https://atlas-cybersecurity.com/cyber-threats/threat-actors-use-search-engine-optimization-tactics-to-redirect-traffic-and-install-malware/ source_name: Sophos Gootloader description: Szappanos, G. & Brandt, A. (2021, March 1). “Gootloader” expands its payload delivery options. Retrieved September 30, 2022. url: https://news.sophos.com/en-us/2021/03/01/gootloader-expands-its-payload-delivery-options/ source_name: DFIR Report Gootloader description: The DFIR Report. (2022, May 9). SEO Poisoning – A Gootloader Story. Retrieved September 30, 2022. url: https://thedfirreport.com/2022/05/09/seo-poisoning-a-gootloader-story/ source_name: ZScaler SEO description: Wang, J. (2018, October 17). Ubiquitous SEO Poisoning URLs. Retrieved September 30, 2022. url: https://www.zscaler.com/blogs/security-research/ubiquitous-seo-poisoning-urls-0 | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: resource-development | PRE |
Adversaries may “pass the hash” using stolen password hashes to move laterally within an environment, bypassing normal system access controls. Pass the hash (PtH) is a method of authenticating as a user without having access to the user's cleartext password. This method bypasses standard authentication steps that require a cleartext password, moving directly into the portion of the authentication that uses the password hash.
When performing PtH, valid password hashes for the account being used are captured using a [Credential Access](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0006) technique. Captured hashes are used with PtH to authenticate as that user. Once authenticated, PtH may be used to perform actions on local or remote systems.
Adversaries may also use stolen password hashes to "overpass the hash." Similar to PtH, this involves using a password hash to authenticate as a user but also uses the password hash to create a valid Kerberos ticket. This ticket can then be used to perform [Pass the Ticket](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1550/003) attacks.(Citation: Stealthbits Overpass-the-Hash) | enterprise-attack | Pass the Hash | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1550/002 external_id: T1550.002 source_name: Stealthbits Overpass-the-Hash description: Warren, J. (2019, February 26). How to Detect Overpass-the-Hash Attacks. Retrieved February 4, 2021. url: https://stealthbits.com/blog/how-to-detect-overpass-the-hash-attacks/ | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: lateral-movement | Windows |
Adversaries may attempt to exfiltrate data via a physical medium, such as a removable drive. In certain circumstances, such as an air-gapped network compromise, exfiltration could occur via a physical medium or device introduced by a user. Such media could be an external hard drive, USB drive, cellular phone, MP3 player, or other removable storage and processing device. The physical medium or device could be used as the final exfiltration point or to hop between otherwise disconnected systems. | enterprise-attack | Exfiltration Over Physical Medium | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1052 external_id: T1052 | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: exfiltration | Linux |
Adversaries may execute their own malicious payloads by side-loading DLLs. Similar to [DLL Search Order Hijacking](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1574/001), side-loading involves hijacking which DLL a program loads. But rather than just planting the DLL within the search order of a program then waiting for the victim application to be invoked, adversaries may directly side-load their payloads by planting then invoking a legitimate application that executes their payload(s).
Side-loading takes advantage of the DLL search order used by the loader by positioning both the victim application and malicious payload(s) alongside each other. Adversaries likely use side-loading as a means of masking actions they perform under a legitimate, trusted, and potentially elevated system or software process. Benign executables used to side-load payloads may not be flagged during delivery and/or execution. Adversary payloads may also be encrypted/packed or otherwise obfuscated until loaded into the memory of the trusted process.(Citation: FireEye DLL Side-Loading) | enterprise-attack | DLL Side-Loading | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1574/002 external_id: T1574.002 source_name: FireEye DLL Side-Loading description: Amanda Steward. (2014). FireEye DLL Side-Loading: A Thorn in the Side of the Anti-Virus Industry. Retrieved March 13, 2020. url: https://www.fireeye.com/content/dam/fireeye-www/global/en/current-threats/pdfs/rpt-dll-sideloading.pdf | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: defense-evasion | Windows |
Adversaries may transfer tools or other files from an external system into a compromised environment. Tools or files may be copied from an external adversary-controlled system to the victim network through the command and control channel or through alternate protocols such as [ftp](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0095). Once present, adversaries may also transfer/spread tools between victim devices within a compromised environment (i.e. [Lateral Tool Transfer](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1570)).
On Windows, adversaries may use various utilities to download tools, such as `copy`, `finger`, [certutil](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0160), and [PowerShell](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/001) commands such as <code>IEX(New-Object Net.WebClient).downloadString()</code> and <code>Invoke-WebRequest</code>. On Linux and macOS systems, a variety of utilities also exist, such as `curl`, `scp`, `sftp`, `tftp`, `rsync`, `finger`, and `wget`.(Citation: t1105_lolbas)
Adversaries may also abuse installers and package managers, such as `yum` or `winget`, to download tools to victim hosts. Adversaries have also abused file application features, such as the Windows `search-ms` protocol handler, to deliver malicious files to victims through remote file searches invoked by [User Execution](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1204) (typically after interacting with [Phishing](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566) lures).(Citation: T1105: Trellix_search-ms)
Files can also be transferred using various [Web Service](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1102)s as well as native or otherwise present tools on the victim system.(Citation: PTSecurity Cobalt Dec 2016) In some cases, adversaries may be able to leverage services that sync between a web-based and an on-premises client, such as Dropbox or OneDrive, to transfer files onto victim systems. For example, by compromising a cloud account and logging into the service's web portal, an adversary may be able to trigger an automatic syncing process that transfers the file onto the victim's machine.(Citation: Dropbox Malware Sync) | enterprise-attack | Ingress Tool Transfer | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1105 external_id: T1105 source_name: T1105: Trellix_search-ms description: Mathanraj Thangaraju, Sijo Jacob. (2023, July 26). Beyond File Search: A Novel Method for Exploiting the "search-ms" URI Protocol Handler. Retrieved March 15, 2024. url: https://www.trellix.com/blogs/research/beyond-file-search-a-novel-method/ source_name: Dropbox Malware Sync description: David Talbot. (2013, August 21). Dropbox and Similar Services Can Sync Malware. Retrieved May 31, 2023. url: https://www.technologyreview.com/2013/08/21/83143/dropbox-and-similar-services-can-sync-malware/ source_name: University of Birmingham C2 description: Gardiner, J., Cova, M., Nagaraja, S. (2014, February). Command & Control Understanding, Denying and Detecting. Retrieved April 20, 2016. url: https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1408/1408.1136.pdf source_name: t1105_lolbas description: LOLBAS. (n.d.). LOLBAS Mapped to T1105. Retrieved March 11, 2022. url: https://lolbas-project.github.io/#t1105 source_name: PTSecurity Cobalt Dec 2016 description: Positive Technologies. (2016, December 16). Cobalt Snatch. Retrieved October 9, 2018. url: https://www.ptsecurity.com/upload/corporate/ww-en/analytics/Cobalt-Snatch-eng.pdf | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: command-and-control | Linux |
Adversaries may abuse SyncAppvPublishingServer.vbs to proxy execution of malicious [PowerShell](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/001) commands. SyncAppvPublishingServer.vbs is a Visual Basic script associated with how Windows virtualizes applications (Microsoft Application Virtualization, or App-V).(Citation: 1 - appv) For example, Windows may render Win32 applications to users as virtual applications, allowing users to launch and interact with them as if they were installed locally.(Citation: 2 - appv)(Citation: 3 - appv)
The SyncAppvPublishingServer.vbs script is legitimate, may be signed by Microsoft, and is commonly executed from `\System32` through the command line via `wscript.exe`.(Citation: 4 - appv)(Citation: 5 - appv)
Adversaries may abuse SyncAppvPublishingServer.vbs to bypass [PowerShell](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/001) execution restrictions and evade defensive counter measures by "living off the land."(Citation: 6 - appv)(Citation: 4 - appv) Proxying execution may function as a trusted/signed alternative to directly invoking `powershell.exe`.(Citation: 7 - appv)
For example, [PowerShell](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/001) commands may be invoked using:(Citation: 5 - appv)
`SyncAppvPublishingServer.vbs "n; {PowerShell}"` | enterprise-attack | SyncAppvPublishingServer | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1216/002 external_id: T1216.002 source_name: 4 - appv description: John Fokker. (2022, March 17). Suspected DarkHotel APT activity update. Retrieved February 6, 2024. url: https://www.trellix.com/en-ca/about/newsroom/stories/research/suspected-darkhotel-apt-activity-update/ source_name: 2 - appv description: Microsoft. (2022, November 3). Getting started with App-V for Windows client. Retrieved February 6, 2024. url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/application-management/app-v/appv-getting-started source_name: 5 - appv description: Nick Landers, Casey Smith. (n.d.). /Syncappvpublishingserver.vbs. Retrieved February 6, 2024. url: https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Scripts/Syncappvpublishingserver/ source_name: 7 - appv description: Nick Landers. (2017, August 8). Need a signed alternative to Powershell.exe? SyncAppvPublishingServer in Win10 has got you covered.. Retrieved February 6, 2024. url: https://twitter.com/monoxgas/status/895045566090010624 source_name: 3 - appv description: Raj Chandel. (2022, March 17). Indirect Command Execution: Defense Evasion (T1202). Retrieved February 6, 2024. url: https://www.hackingarticles.in/indirect-command-execution-defense-evasion-t1202/ source_name: 1 - appv description: SEONGSU PARK. (2022, December 27). BlueNoroff introduces new methods bypassing MoTW. Retrieved February 6, 2024. url: https://securelist.com/bluenoroff-methods-bypass-motw/108383/ source_name: 6 - appv description: Strontic. (n.d.). SyncAppvPublishingServer.exe. Retrieved February 6, 2024. url: https://strontic.github.io/xcyclopedia/library/SyncAppvPublishingServer.exe-3C291419F60CDF9C2E4E19AD89944FA3.html | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: defense-evasion | Windows |
Adversaries may grant additional permission levels to maintain persistent access to an adversary-controlled email account.
For example, the <code>Add-MailboxPermission</code> [PowerShell](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/001) cmdlet, available in on-premises Exchange and in the cloud-based service Office 365, adds permissions to a mailbox.(Citation: Microsoft - Add-MailboxPermission)(Citation: FireEye APT35 2018)(Citation: Crowdstrike Hiding in Plain Sight 2018) In Google Workspace, delegation can be enabled via the Google Admin console and users can delegate accounts via their Gmail settings.(Citation: Gmail Delegation)(Citation: Google Ensuring Your Information is Safe)
Adversaries may also assign mailbox folder permissions through individual folder permissions or roles. In Office 365 environments, adversaries may assign the Default or Anonymous user permissions or roles to the Top of Information Store (root), Inbox, or other mailbox folders. By assigning one or both user permissions to a folder, the adversary can utilize any other account in the tenant to maintain persistence to the target user’s mail folders.(Citation: Mandiant Defend UNC2452 White Paper)
This may be used in persistent threat incidents as well as BEC (Business Email Compromise) incidents where an adversary can add [Additional Cloud Roles](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1098/003) to the accounts they wish to compromise. This may further enable use of additional techniques for gaining access to systems. For example, compromised business accounts are often used to send messages to other accounts in the network of the target business while creating inbox rules (ex: [Internal Spearphishing](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1534)), so the messages evade spam/phishing detection mechanisms.(Citation: Bienstock, D. - Defending O365 - 2019) | enterprise-attack | Additional Email Delegate Permissions | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1098/002 external_id: T1098.002 source_name: Bienstock, D. - Defending O365 - 2019 description: Bienstock, D.. (2019). BECS and Beyond: Investigating and Defending O365. Retrieved September 13, 2019. url: https://www.slideshare.net/DouglasBienstock/shmoocon-2019-becs-and-beyond-investigating-and-defending-office-365 source_name: Crowdstrike Hiding in Plain Sight 2018 description: Crowdstrike. (2018, July 18). Hiding in Plain Sight: Using the Office 365 Activities API to Investigate Business Email Compromises. Retrieved January 19, 2020. url: https://www.crowdstrike.com/blog/hiding-in-plain-sight-using-the-office-365-activities-api-to-investigate-business-email-compromises/ source_name: Google Ensuring Your Information is Safe description: Google. (2011, June 1). Ensuring your information is safe online. Retrieved April 1, 2022. url: https://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/ensuring-your-information-is-safe.html source_name: Gmail Delegation description: Google. (n.d.). Turn Gmail delegation on or off. Retrieved April 1, 2022. url: https://support.google.com/a/answer/7223765?hl=en source_name: FireEye APT35 2018 description: Mandiant. (2018). Mandiant M-Trends 2018. Retrieved July 9, 2018. url: https://www.fireeye.com/content/dam/collateral/en/mtrends-2018.pdf source_name: Mandiant Defend UNC2452 White Paper description: Mandiant. (2021, January 19). Remediation and Hardening Strategies for Microsoft 365 to Defend Against UNC2452. Retrieved January 22, 2021. url: https://www.mandiant.com/resources/blog/remediation-and-hardening-strategies-for-microsoft-365-to-defend-against-unc2452 source_name: Microsoft - Add-MailboxPermission description: Microsoft. (n.d.). Add-Mailbox Permission. Retrieved September 13, 2019. url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/exchange/mailboxes/add-mailboxpermission?view=exchange-ps | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: privilege-escalation | Windows |
Adversaries may buy and/or steal code signing certificates that can be used during targeting. Code signing is the process of digitally signing executables and scripts to confirm the software author and guarantee that the code has not been altered or corrupted. Code signing provides a level of authenticity for a program from the developer and a guarantee that the program has not been tampered with.(Citation: Wikipedia Code Signing) Users and/or security tools may trust a signed piece of code more than an unsigned piece of code even if they don't know who issued the certificate or who the author is.
Prior to [Code Signing](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1553/002), adversaries may purchase or steal code signing certificates for use in operations. The purchase of code signing certificates may be done using a front organization or using information stolen from a previously compromised entity that allows the adversary to validate to a certificate provider as that entity. Adversaries may also steal code signing materials directly from a compromised third-party. | enterprise-attack | Code Signing Certificates | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1588/003 external_id: T1588.003 source_name: Wikipedia Code Signing description: Wikipedia. (2015, November 10). Code Signing. Retrieved March 31, 2016. url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_signing | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: resource-development | PRE |
Adversaries may abuse serverless computing, integration, and automation services to execute arbitrary code in cloud environments. Many cloud providers offer a variety of serverless resources, including compute engines, application integration services, and web servers.
Adversaries may abuse these resources in various ways as a means of executing arbitrary commands. For example, adversaries may use serverless functions to execute malicious code, such as crypto-mining malware (i.e. [Resource Hijacking](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1496)).(Citation: Cado Security Denonia) Adversaries may also create functions that enable further compromise of the cloud environment. For example, an adversary may use the `IAM:PassRole` permission in AWS or the `iam.serviceAccounts.actAs` permission in Google Cloud to add [Additional Cloud Roles](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1098/003) to a serverless cloud function, which may then be able to perform actions the original user cannot.(Citation: Rhino Security Labs AWS Privilege Escalation)(Citation: Rhingo Security Labs GCP Privilege Escalation)
Serverless functions can also be invoked in response to cloud events (i.e. [Event Triggered Execution](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1546)), potentially enabling persistent execution over time. For example, in AWS environments, an adversary may create a Lambda function that automatically adds [Additional Cloud Credentials](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1098/001) to a user and a corresponding CloudWatch events rule that invokes that function whenever a new user is created.(Citation: Backdooring an AWS account) Similarly, an adversary may create a Power Automate workflow in Office 365 environments that forwards all emails a user receives or creates anonymous sharing links whenever a user is granted access to a document in SharePoint.(Citation: Varonis Power Automate Data Exfiltration)(Citation: Microsoft DART Case Report 001) | enterprise-attack | Serverless Execution | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1648 external_id: T1648 source_name: Microsoft DART Case Report 001 description: Berk Veral. (2020, March 9). Real-life cybercrime stories from DART, the Microsoft Detection and Response Team. Retrieved May 27, 2022. url: https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2020/03/09/real-life-cybercrime-stories-dart-microsoft-detection-and-response-team source_name: Backdooring an AWS account description: Daniel Grzelak. (2016, July 9). Backdooring an AWS account. Retrieved May 27, 2022. url: https://medium.com/daniel-grzelak/backdooring-an-aws-account-da007d36f8f9 source_name: Varonis Power Automate Data Exfiltration description: Eric Saraga. (2022, February 2). Using Power Automate for Covert Data Exfiltration in Microsoft 365. Retrieved May 27, 2022. url: https://www.varonis.com/blog/power-automate-data-exfiltration source_name: Cado Security Denonia description: Matt Muir. (2022, April 6). Cado Discovers Denonia: The First Malware Specifically Targeting Lambda. Retrieved May 27, 2022. url: https://www.cadosecurity.com/cado-discovers-denonia-the-first-malware-specifically-targeting-lambda/ source_name: Rhino Security Labs AWS Privilege Escalation description: Rhino Security Labs. (n.d.). AWS IAM Privilege Escalation – Methods and Mitigation. Retrieved May 27, 2022. url: https://rhinosecuritylabs.com/aws/aws-privilege-escalation-methods-mitigation/ source_name: Rhingo Security Labs GCP Privilege Escalation description: Spencer Gietzen. (n.d.). Privilege Escalation in Google Cloud Platform – Part 1 (IAM). Retrieved May 27, 2022. url: https://rhinosecuritylabs.com/gcp/privilege-escalation-google-cloud-platform-part-1/ | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: execution | SaaS |
Adversaries can manipulate or abuse the Transparency, Consent, & Control (TCC) service or database to execute malicious applications with elevated permissions. TCC is a Privacy & Security macOS control mechanism used to determine if the running process has permission to access the data or services protected by TCC, such as screen sharing, camera, microphone, or Full Disk Access (FDA).
When an application requests to access data or a service protected by TCC, the TCC daemon (`tccd`) checks the TCC database, located at `/Library/Application Support/com.apple.TCC/TCC.db` (and `~/` equivalent), for existing permissions. If permissions do not exist, then the user is prompted to grant permission. Once permissions are granted, the database stores the application's permissions and will not prompt the user again unless reset. For example, when a web browser requests permissions to the user's webcam, once granted the web browser may not explicitly prompt the user again.(Citation: welivesecurity TCC)
Adversaries may manipulate the TCC database or otherwise abuse the TCC service to execute malicious content. This can be done in various ways, including using privileged system applications to execute malicious payloads or manipulating the database to grant their application TCC permissions.
For example, adversaries can use Finder, which has FDA permissions by default, to execute malicious [AppleScript](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/002) while preventing a user prompt. For a system without System Integrity Protection (SIP) enabled, adversaries have also manipulated the operating system to load an adversary controlled TCC database using environment variables and [Launchctl](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1569/001).(Citation: TCC macOS bypass)(Citation: TCC Database)
Adversaries may also opt to instead inject code (e.g., [Process Injection](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1055)) into targeted applications with the desired TCC permissions.
| enterprise-attack | TCC Manipulation | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1548/006 external_id: T1548.006 source_name: welivesecurity TCC description: Marc-Etienne M.Léveillé. (2022, July 19). I see what you did there: A look at the CloudMensis macOS spyware. Retrieved March 21, 2024. url: https://www.welivesecurity.com/2022/07/19/i-see-what-you-did-there-look-cloudmensis-macos-spyware/ source_name: TCC Database description: Marina Liang. (2024, April 23). Return of the mac(OS): Transparency, Consent, and Control (TCC) Database Manipulation. Retrieved March 28, 2024. url: https://interpressecurity.com/resources/return-of-the-macos-tcc/ source_name: TCC macOS bypass description: Phil Stokes. (2021, July 1). Bypassing macOS TCC User Privacy Protections By Accident and Design. Retrieved March 21, 2024. url: https://www.sentinelone.com/labs/bypassing-macos-tcc-user-privacy-protections-by-accident-and-design/ | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: privilege-escalation | macOS |
Adversaries may inject malicious code into processes via ptrace (process trace) system calls in order to evade process-based defenses as well as possibly elevate privileges. Ptrace system call injection is a method of executing arbitrary code in the address space of a separate live process.
Ptrace system call injection involves attaching to and modifying a running process. The ptrace system call enables a debugging process to observe and control another process (and each individual thread), including changing memory and register values.(Citation: PTRACE man) Ptrace system call injection is commonly performed by writing arbitrary code into a running process (ex: <code>malloc</code>) then invoking that memory with <code>PTRACE_SETREGS</code> to set the register containing the next instruction to execute. Ptrace system call injection can also be done with <code>PTRACE_POKETEXT</code>/<code>PTRACE_POKEDATA</code>, which copy data to a specific address in the target processes’ memory (ex: the current address of the next instruction). (Citation: PTRACE man)(Citation: Medium Ptrace JUL 2018)
Ptrace system call injection may not be possible targeting processes that are non-child processes and/or have higher-privileges.(Citation: BH Linux Inject)
Running code in the context of another process may allow access to the process's memory, system/network resources, and possibly elevated privileges. Execution via ptrace system call injection may also evade detection from security products since the execution is masked under a legitimate process. | enterprise-attack | Ptrace System Calls | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1055/008 external_id: T1055.008 source_name: PTRACE man description: Kerrisk, M. (2020, February 9). PTRACE(2) - Linux Programmer's Manual. Retrieved February 21, 2020. url: http://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man2/ptrace.2.html source_name: Medium Ptrace JUL 2018 description: Jain, S. (2018, July 25). Code injection in running process using ptrace. Retrieved February 21, 2020. url: https://medium.com/@jain.sm/code-injection-in-running-process-using-ptrace-d3ea7191a4be source_name: BH Linux Inject description: Colgan, T. (2015, August 15). Linux-Inject. Retrieved February 21, 2020. url: https://github.com/gaffe23/linux-inject/blob/master/slides_BHArsenal2015.pdf source_name: ArtOfMemoryForensics description: Ligh, M.H. et al.. (2014, July). The Art of Memory Forensics: Detecting Malware and Threats in Windows, Linux, and Mac Memory. Retrieved December 20, 2017. source_name: GNU Acct description: GNU. (2010, February 5). The GNU Accounting Utilities. Retrieved December 20, 2017. url: https://www.gnu.org/software/acct/ source_name: RHEL auditd description: Jahoda, M. et al.. (2017, March 14). redhat Security Guide - Chapter 7 - System Auditing. Retrieved December 20, 2017. url: https://access.redhat.com/documentation/en-us/red_hat_enterprise_linux/6/html/security_guide/chap-system_auditing source_name: Chokepoint preload rootkits description: stderr. (2014, February 14). Detecting Userland Preload Rootkits. Retrieved December 20, 2017. url: http://www.chokepoint.net/2014/02/detecting-userland-preload-rootkits.html | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: privilege-escalation | Linux |
Adversaries may impair a system's ability to hibernate, reboot, or shut down in order to extend access to infected machines. When a computer enters a dormant state, some or all software and hardware may cease to operate which can disrupt malicious activity.(Citation: Sleep, shut down, hibernate)
Adversaries may abuse system utilities and configuration settings to maintain access by preventing machines from entering a state, such as standby, that can terminate malicious activity.(Citation: Microsoft: Powercfg command-line options)(Citation: systemdsleep Linux)
For example, `powercfg` controls all configurable power system settings on a Windows system and can be abused to prevent an infected host from locking or shutting down.(Citation: Two New Monero Malware Attacks Target Windows and Android Users) Adversaries may also extend system lock screen timeout settings.(Citation: BATLOADER: The Evasive Downloader Malware) Other relevant settings, such as disk and hibernate timeout, can be similarly abused to keep the infected machine running even if no user is active.(Citation: CoinLoader: A Sophisticated Malware Loader Campaign)
Aware that some malware cannot survive system reboots, adversaries may entirely delete files used to invoke system shut down or reboot.(Citation: Condi-Botnet-binaries) | enterprise-attack | Power Settings | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1653 external_id: T1653 source_name: Sleep, shut down, hibernate description: AVG. (n.d.). Should You Shut Down, Sleep or Hibernate Your PC or Mac Laptop?. Retrieved June 8, 2023. url: https://www.avg.com/en/signal/should-you-shut-down-sleep-or-hibernate-your-pc-or-mac-laptop source_name: CoinLoader: A Sophisticated Malware Loader Campaign description: Avira. (2019, November 28). CoinLoader: A Sophisticated Malware Loader Campaign. Retrieved June 5, 2023. url: https://www.avira.com/en/blog/coinloader-a-sophisticated-malware-loader-campaign source_name: BATLOADER: The Evasive Downloader Malware description: Bethany Hardin, Lavine Oluoch, Tatiana Vollbrecht. (2022, November 14). BATLOADER: The Evasive Downloader Malware. Retrieved June 5, 2023. url: https://blogs.vmware.com/security/2022/11/batloader-the-evasive-downloader-malware.html source_name: Two New Monero Malware Attacks Target Windows and Android Users description: Douglas Bonderud. (2018, September 17). Two New Monero Malware Attacks Target Windows and Android Users. Retrieved June 5, 2023. url: https://securityintelligence.com/news/two-new-monero-malware-attacks-target-windows-and-android-users/ source_name: Condi-Botnet-binaries description: Joie Salvio and Roy Tay. (2023, June 20). Condi DDoS Botnet Spreads via TP-Link's CVE-2023-1389. Retrieved September 5, 2023. url: https://www.fortinet.com/blog/threat-research/condi-ddos-botnet-spreads-via-tp-links-cve-2023-1389 source_name: systemdsleep Linux description: Man7. (n.d.). systemd-sleep.conf(5) — Linux manual page. Retrieved June 7, 2023. url: https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man5/systemd-sleep.conf.5.html source_name: Microsoft: Powercfg command-line options description: Microsoft. (2021, December 15). Powercfg command-line options. Retrieved June 5, 2023. url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/device-experiences/powercfg-command-line-options?adlt=strict | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: persistence | Windows |
Adversaries may obfuscate then dynamically resolve API functions called by their malware in order to conceal malicious functionalities and impair defensive analysis. Malware commonly uses various [Native API](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1106) functions provided by the OS to perform various tasks such as those involving processes, files, and other system artifacts.
API functions called by malware may leave static artifacts such as strings in payload files. Defensive analysts may also uncover which functions a binary file may execute via an import address table (IAT) or other structures that help dynamically link calling code to the shared modules that provide functions.(Citation: Huntress API Hash)(Citation: IRED API Hashing)
To avoid static or other defensive analysis, adversaries may use dynamic API resolution to conceal malware characteristics and functionalities. Similar to [Software Packing](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1027/002), dynamic API resolution may change file signatures and obfuscate malicious API function calls until they are resolved and invoked during runtime.
Various methods may be used to obfuscate malware calls to API functions. For example, hashes of function names are commonly stored in malware in lieu of literal strings. Malware can use these hashes (or other identifiers) to manually reproduce the linking and loading process using functions such as `GetProcAddress()` and `LoadLibrary()`. These hashes/identifiers can also be further obfuscated using encryption or other string manipulation tricks (requiring various forms of [Deobfuscate/Decode Files or Information](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1140) during execution).(Citation: BlackHat API Packers)(Citation: Drakonia HInvoke)(Citation: Huntress API Hash) | enterprise-attack | Dynamic API Resolution | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1027/007 external_id: T1027.007 source_name: Huntress API Hash description: Brennan, M. (2022, February 16). Hackers No Hashing: Randomizing API Hashes to Evade Cobalt Strike Shellcode Detection. Retrieved August 22, 2022. url: https://www.huntress.com/blog/hackers-no-hashing-randomizing-api-hashes-to-evade-cobalt-strike-shellcode-detection source_name: BlackHat API Packers description: Choi, S. (2015, August 6). Obfuscated API Functions in Modern Packers. Retrieved August 22, 2022. url: https://www.blackhat.com/docs/us-15/materials/us-15-Choi-API-Deobfuscator-Resolving-Obfuscated-API-Functions-In-Modern-Packers.pdf source_name: Drakonia HInvoke description: drakonia. (2022, August 10). HInvoke and avoiding PInvoke. Retrieved August 22, 2022. url: https://dr4k0nia.github.io/dotnet/coding/2022/08/10/HInvoke-and-avoiding-PInvoke.html?s=03 source_name: IRED API Hashing description: spotheplanet. (n.d.). Windows API Hashing in Malware. Retrieved August 22, 2022. url: https://www.ired.team/offensive-security/defense-evasion/windows-api-hashing-in-malware | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: defense-evasion | Windows |
Adversaries may use [Valid Accounts](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1078) to log into a computer using the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). The adversary may then perform actions as the logged-on user.
Remote desktop is a common feature in operating systems. It allows a user to log into an interactive session with a system desktop graphical user interface on a remote system. Microsoft refers to its implementation of the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) as Remote Desktop Services (RDS).(Citation: TechNet Remote Desktop Services)
Adversaries may connect to a remote system over RDP/RDS to expand access if the service is enabled and allows access to accounts with known credentials. Adversaries will likely use Credential Access techniques to acquire credentials to use with RDP. Adversaries may also use RDP in conjunction with the [Accessibility Features](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1546/008) or [Terminal Services DLL](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1505/005) for Persistence.(Citation: Alperovitch Malware) | enterprise-attack | Remote Desktop Protocol | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1021/001 external_id: T1021.001 source_name: Alperovitch Malware description: Alperovitch, D. (2014, October 31). Malware-Free Intrusions. Retrieved November 4, 2014. url: http://blog.crowdstrike.com/adversary-tricks-crowdstrike-treats/ source_name: TechNet Remote Desktop Services description: Microsoft. (n.d.). Remote Desktop Services. Retrieved June 1, 2016. url: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/ee236407.aspx | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: lateral-movement | Windows |
Adversaries may use Windows logon scripts automatically executed at logon initialization to establish persistence. Windows allows logon scripts to be run whenever a specific user or group of users log into a system.(Citation: TechNet Logon Scripts) This is done via adding a path to a script to the <code>HKCU\Environment\UserInitMprLogonScript</code> Registry key.(Citation: Hexacorn Logon Scripts)
Adversaries may use these scripts to maintain persistence on a single system. Depending on the access configuration of the logon scripts, either local credentials or an administrator account may be necessary. | enterprise-attack | Logon Script (Windows) | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1037/001 external_id: T1037.001 source_name: TechNet Logon Scripts description: Microsoft. (2005, January 21). Creating logon scripts. Retrieved April 27, 2016. url: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc758918(v=ws.10).aspx source_name: Hexacorn Logon Scripts description: Hexacorn. (2014, November 14). Beyond good ol’ Run key, Part 18. Retrieved November 15, 2019. url: http://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2014/11/14/beyond-good-ol-run-key-part-18/ | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: privilege-escalation | Windows |
Adversaries may abuse list-view controls to inject malicious code into hijacked processes in order to evade process-based defenses as well as possibly elevate privileges. ListPlanting is a method of executing arbitrary code in the address space of a separate live process. Code executed via ListPlanting may also evade detection from security products since the execution is masked under a legitimate process.
List-view controls are user interface windows used to display collections of items.(Citation: Microsoft List View Controls) Information about an application's list-view settings are stored within the process' memory in a <code>SysListView32</code> control.
ListPlanting (a form of message-passing "shatter attack") may be performed by copying code into the virtual address space of a process that uses a list-view control then using that code as a custom callback for sorting the listed items.(Citation: Modexp Windows Process Injection) Adversaries must first copy code into the target process’ memory space, which can be performed various ways including by directly obtaining a handle to the <code>SysListView32</code> child of the victim process window (via Windows API calls such as <code>FindWindow</code> and/or <code>EnumWindows</code>) or other [Process Injection](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1055) methods.
Some variations of ListPlanting may allocate memory in the target process but then use window messages to copy the payload, to avoid the use of the highly monitored <code>WriteProcessMemory</code> function. For example, an adversary can use the <code>PostMessage</code> and/or <code>SendMessage</code> API functions to send <code>LVM_SETITEMPOSITION</code> and <code>LVM_GETITEMPOSITION</code> messages, effectively copying a payload 2 bytes at a time to the allocated memory.(Citation: ESET InvisiMole June 2020)
Finally, the payload is triggered by sending the <code>LVM_SORTITEMS</code> message to the <code>SysListView32</code> child of the process window, with the payload within the newly allocated buffer passed and executed as the <code>ListView_SortItems</code> callback. | enterprise-attack | ListPlanting | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1055/015 external_id: T1055.015 source_name: Microsoft List View Controls description: Microsoft. (2021, May 25). About List-View Controls. Retrieved January 4, 2022. url: https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/win32/controls/list-view-controls-overview source_name: Modexp Windows Process Injection description: odzhan. (2019, April 25). Windows Process Injection: WordWarping, Hyphentension, AutoCourgette, Streamception, Oleum, ListPlanting, Treepoline. Retrieved November 15, 2021. url: https://modexp.wordpress.com/2019/04/25/seven-window-injection-methods/ source_name: ESET InvisiMole June 2020 description: Hromcova, Z. and Cherpanov, A. (2020, June). INVISIMOLE: THE HIDDEN PART OF THE STORY. Retrieved July 16, 2020. url: https://www.welivesecurity.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/ESET_InvisiMole.pdf | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: privilege-escalation | Windows |
Adversaries may manipulate network traffic in order to hide and evade detection of their C2 infrastructure. This can be accomplished in various ways including by identifying and filtering traffic from defensive tools,(Citation: TA571) masking malicious domains to obfuscate the true destination from both automated scanning tools and security researchers,(Citation: Schema-abuse)(Citation: Facad1ng)(Citation: Browser-updates) and otherwise hiding malicious artifacts to delay discovery and prolong the effectiveness of adversary infrastructure that could otherwise be identified, blocked, or taken down entirely.
C2 networks may include the use of [Proxy](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1090) or VPNs to disguise IP addresses, which can allow adversaries to blend in with normal network traffic and bypass conditional access policies or anti-abuse protections. For example, an adversary may use a virtual private cloud to spoof their IP address to closer align with a victim's IP address ranges. This may also bypass security measures relying on geolocation of the source IP address.(Citation: sysdig)(Citation: Orange Residential Proxies)
Adversaries may also attempt to filter network traffic in order to evade defensive tools in numerous ways, including blocking/redirecting common incident responder or security appliance user agents.(Citation: mod_rewrite)(Citation: SocGholish-update) Filtering traffic based on IP and geo-fencing may also avoid automated sandboxing or researcher activity (i.e., [Virtualization/Sandbox Evasion](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1497)).(Citation: TA571)(Citation: mod_rewrite)
Hiding C2 infrastructure may also be supported by [Resource Development](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0042) activities such as [Acquire Infrastructure](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1583) and [Compromise Infrastructure](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1584). For example, using widely trusted hosting services or domains such as prominent URL shortening providers or marketing services for C2 networks may enable adversaries to present benign content that later redirects victims to malicious web pages or infrastructure once specific conditions are met.(Citation: StarBlizzard)(Citation: QR-cofense) | enterprise-attack | Hide Infrastructure | source_name: mitre-attack url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1665 external_id: T1665 source_name: SocGholish-update description: Andrew Northern. (2022, November 22). SocGholish, a very real threat from a very fake update. Retrieved February 13, 2024. url: https://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threat-insight/part-1-socgholish-very-real-threat-very-fake-update source_name: TA571 description: Axel F, Selena Larson. (2023, October 30). TA571 Delivers IcedID Forked Loader. Retrieved February 13, 2024. url: https://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threat-insight/security-brief-ta571-delivers-icedid-forked-loader source_name: mod_rewrite description: Bluescreenofjeff.com. (2015, April 12). Combatting Incident Responders with Apache mod_rewrite. Retrieved February 13, 2024. url: https://bluescreenofjeff.com/2016-04-12-combatting-incident-responders-with-apache-mod_rewrite/ source_name: Browser-updates description: Dusty Miller. (2023, October 17). Are You Sure Your Browser is Up to Date? The Current Landscape of Fake Browser Updates . Retrieved February 13, 2024. url: https://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threat-insight/are-you-sure-your-browser-date-current-landscape-fake-browser-updates source_name: StarBlizzard description: Microsoft Threat Intelligence. (2023, December 7). Star Blizzard increases sophistication and evasion in ongoing attacks. Retrieved February 13, 2024. url: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2023/12/07/star-blizzard-increases-sophistication-and-evasion-in-ongoing-attacks/ source_name: QR-cofense description: Nathaniel Raymond. (2023, August 16). Major Energy Company Targeted in Large QR Code Phishing Campaign. Retrieved February 13, 2024. url: https://cofense.com/blog/major-energy-company-targeted-in-large-qr-code-campaign/ source_name: Schema-abuse description: Nick Simonian. (2023, May 22). Don't @ Me: URL Obfuscation Through Schema Abuse. Retrieved February 13, 2024. url: https://www.mandiant.com/resources/blog/url-obfuscation-schema-abuse source_name: Orange Residential Proxies description: Orange Cyberdefense. (2024, March 14). Unveiling the depths of residential proxies providers. Retrieved April 11, 2024. url: https://www.orangecyberdefense.com/global/blog/research/residential-proxies source_name: Facad1ng description: Spyboy. (2023). Facad1ng. Retrieved February 13, 2024. url: https://github.com/spyboy-productions/Facad1ng source_name: sysdig description: Sysdig. (2023). Sysdig Global Cloud Threat Report. Retrieved March 1, 2024. url: https://sysdig.com/content/c/pf-2023-global-cloud-threat-report?x=u_WFRi&xs=524303#page=1 | kill_chain_name: mitre-attack phase_name: command-and-control | macOS |