Malware
Malware [T1588.001]
Last updated
Malware [T1588.001]
Last updated
Name: Malware
ID: T1588.001
Tactics:
Technique:
Malware () is a sub-technique under the broader MITRE ATT&CK technique known as "Obtain Capabilities." It involves adversaries acquiring, developing, or using malware tools to carry out cyber-attacks. Malware is malicious software specifically designed to infiltrate, damage, disrupt, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems and networks. This sub-technique encompasses various malware types such as viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, spyware, and rootkits, each serving different strategic purposes for threat actors.
This sub-technique focuses specifically on the adversary's acquisition, development, or modification of malware capabilities to facilitate their cyber operations. Malware can be obtained or developed in several ways:
Acquisition from Public Sources: Attackers often leverage publicly available malware samples from repositories, forums, or open-source projects. They may modify these samples to evade detection or tailor them to specific targets.
Underground Marketplaces: Cybercriminals frequently purchase malware from dark web marketplaces or forums, where malware developers sell customized tools, exploit kits, and malware-as-a-service (MaaS) offerings.
Custom Development: Advanced threat actors (nation-state groups, sophisticated criminal organizations) often develop custom malware tailored specifically to their operational requirements. Such malware is typically sophisticated and designed to evade detection by security tools.
Modification of Existing Malware: Attackers may modify existing malware by altering code, adding new functionality, obfuscating payloads, or repackaging binaries to evade detection mechanisms and signature-based antivirus software.
Technical mechanisms commonly used in malware include:
Code Obfuscation and Packing: Techniques such as encryption, encoding, and packing are used to conceal the malware payload from antivirus engines and static analysis tools.
Command and Control (C2) Infrastructure: Malware typically communicates with remote servers to receive commands, exfiltrate data, or download additional payloads.
Persistence Mechanisms: Malware often employs persistence techniques such as registry modifications, scheduled tasks, service creation, or boot sector manipulation to maintain access even after system reboots.
Privilege Escalation and Lateral Movement Capabilities: Advanced malware may include built-in modules or functionality to escalate privileges, move laterally through networks, or perform reconnaissance activities.
Anti-Analysis and Anti-Debugging Techniques: Malware authors frequently embed anti-analysis techniques, including detection of virtualized environments, sandbox evasion, and debugger detection, to hinder reverse engineering and forensic analysis.
Initial Access Stage: Malware is commonly used in spear-phishing campaigns, malicious email attachments, or drive-by downloads to gain initial footholds within target networks.
Execution Stage: Adversaries deploy malware to execute malicious payloads, enabling further exploitation, reconnaissance, or command-and-control communication.
Persistence Stage: Attackers leverage malware to establish persistent backdoors, ensuring long-term access and repeated entry into compromised systems.
Privilege Escalation and Defense Evasion: Malware may be specifically designed to exploit vulnerabilities, escalate privileges, disable security software, or evade detection.
Lateral Movement and Collection: Malware facilitates lateral movement within compromised networks, enabling attackers to compromise additional hosts and collect sensitive information.
Exfiltration and Impact Stage: Malware can be used to exfiltrate sensitive data, encrypt files for ransom, disrupt critical services, or cause destructive impacts.
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) Solutions: Real-time monitoring and analysis of endpoint activities, file executions, and behavior-based detection.
Antivirus and Anti-malware Software: Signature-based and heuristic detection of known malware samples, suspicious behaviors, and anomalous file executions.
Network Intrusion Detection Systems (NIDS): Monitoring network traffic for malicious patterns, anomalous communications, and command-and-control (C2) traffic.
Sandbox Analysis: Automated sandboxing solutions analyze suspicious files and URLs in isolated environments to detect malicious behavior and payloads.
System and Application Logs: Regular analysis of logs for suspicious activities such as unusual process executions, file modifications, registry changes, and privilege escalations.
Threat Intelligence Feeds and Indicators of Compromise (IoCs): Utilizing known malware hashes, malicious IP addresses, domains, URLs, and file signatures to detect and block threats.
Specific Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) include:
Known malicious file hashes (MD5, SHA-256)
Suspicious registry entries and scheduled tasks
Unusual outbound network connections to unknown or suspicious IP addresses/domains
Abnormal process execution patterns and command-line arguments
Detection of encoded or obfuscated scripts and binaries
Data Exfiltration: Malware can steal sensitive data, including intellectual property, financial information, personally identifiable information (PII), and credentials, resulting in regulatory penalties, financial loss, and reputational damage.
System Disruption and Downtime: Malware such as ransomware and destructive malware can disrupt critical systems and services, causing operational downtime, business interruption, and financial losses.
Unauthorized Access and Privilege Escalation: Malware often provides attackers with unauthorized access to sensitive systems, enabling further exploitation, lateral movement, and long-term compromise.
Reputational Damage: Malware infections can severely damage an organization's reputation, erode customer trust, and negatively impact business relationships.
Compliance and Regulatory Consequences: Organizations may face significant regulatory fines, compliance violations, and legal repercussions resulting from malware-related data breaches or unauthorized access incidents.
Early detection enables organizations to respond quickly, contain threats effectively, minimize damage, and reduce remediation costs.
WannaCry Ransomware (2017):
Attack Scenario: Exploited SMB vulnerability (EternalBlue exploit) to spread rapidly across networks.
Tools Used: WannaCry ransomware, EternalBlue exploit.
Impact: Affected hundreds of thousands of systems worldwide, causing significant financial losses and operational disruption, notably impacting the UK's National Health Service (NHS).
NotPetya Malware Attack (2017):
Attack Scenario: Leveraged compromised software updates (supply-chain attack) combined with lateral movement techniques.
Tools Used: NotPetya destructive malware, EternalBlue and EternalRomance exploits.
Impact: Caused massive disruptions and financial losses globally, notably affecting companies like Maersk, Merck, and FedEx.
TrickBot Malware (2016–Present):
Attack Scenario: Distributed via phishing emails, malicious attachments, and exploit kits, primarily designed for credential theft and banking fraud.
Tools Used: TrickBot malware, Emotet malware (initial loader).
Impact: Significant financial losses, credential theft, and used as a loader for ransomware (Ryuk, Conti), amplifying attack severity and impact.
SolarWinds Supply Chain Attack (2020):
Attack Scenario: Attackers compromised SolarWinds Orion software updates to distribute malware (SUNBURST) to customer networks.
Tools Used: SUNBURST malware, custom backdoors.
Impact: Compromised multiple US government agencies and private sector organizations, resulting in significant espionage and data exfiltration.
Agent Tesla Malware (2014–Present):
Attack Scenario: Distributed via phishing emails, malicious attachments, and weaponized documents.
Tools Used: Agent Tesla malware (keylogger and information stealer).
Impact: Theft of sensitive credentials, financial information, and espionage activities targeting businesses worldwide.
Malware () can appear across multiple stages of the cyber-attack lifecycle, including:
Detection of malware () typically involves a combination of tools, methodologies, and indicators, including:
Timely detection and mitigation of malware () are critical due to the significant potential impacts on systems and networks, such as:
Real-world examples and scenarios involving malware () include: