Exfiltration Over Alternative Protocol
Description
Adversaries may steal data by exfiltrating it over a different protocol than that of the existing command and control channel. The data may also be sent to an alternate network location from the main command and control server. Alternate protocols include FTP, SMTP, HTTP/S, DNS, SMB, or any other network protocol not being used as the main command and control channel. Adversaries may also opt to encrypt and/or obfuscate these alternate channels. [Exfiltration Over Alternative Protocol](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1048) can be done using various common operating system utilities such as [Net](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0039)/SMB or FTP.(Citation: Palo Alto OilRig Oct 2016) On macOS and Linux <code>curl</code> may be used to invoke protocols such as HTTP/S or FTP/S to exfiltrate data from a system.(Citation: 20 macOS Common Tools and Techniques) Many IaaS and SaaS platforms (such as Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft SharePoint, GitHub, and AWS S3) support the direct download of files, emails, source code, and other sensitive information via the web console or [Cloud API](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/009).
Mapped SPARTA techniques
1 techniques
T1048 'Exfiltration Over Alternative Protocol' covers exfil via non-C2 protocols (often used to bypass monitoring on the primary channel); SPARTA EXF-0009 'Compromised Partner Site' covers exfil through partner-network connections that frequently use varied protocols (DNS, ICMP, custom partner-specific protocols). Cross-domain moderate (partner-channel context vs MITRE's typical SMTP/DNS/ICMP examples).
Cross-framework references
Relationships published by the source frameworks themselves, reproduced here with attribution. They are not SafeMode Space mappings and carry no confidence rating of ours.
Countered by 9 in MITRE D3FEND (Defensive Techniques)
- D3-APCAApplication Protocol Command Analysis
- D3-CSPPClient-server Payload Profiling
- D3-NTCDNetwork Traffic Community Deviation
- D3-NTFNetwork Traffic Filtering
- D3-NTSANetwork Traffic Signature Analysis
- D3-PHDURAPer Host Download-Upload Ratio Analysis
- D3-PMADProtocol Metadata Anomaly Detection
- D3-RTSDRemote Terminal Session Detection
- D3-UGLPAUser Geolocation Logon Pattern Analysis
Cite as SafeMode Space, mitre-attack-enterprise T1048.