Mail Protocols
Parent: T1071
Description
Adversaries may communicate using application layer protocols associated with electronic mail delivery 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 SMTP/S, POP3/S, and IMAP that carry electronic mail may be very common in environments. Packets produced from these protocols may have many fields and headers in which data can be concealed. Data could also be concealed within the email messages themselves. An adversary may abuse these protocols to communicate with systems under their control within a victim network while also mimicking normal, expected traffic.(Citation: FireEye APT28)
Mapped SPARTA techniques
No techniques mapped to this control.
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 11 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-OTFOutbound Traffic Filtering
- D3-PHDURAPer Host Download-Upload Ratio Analysis
- D3-PMADProtocol Metadata Anomaly Detection
- D3-RPARelay Pattern Analysis
- D3-RTSDRemote Terminal Session Detection
- D3-UGLPAUser Geolocation Logon Pattern Analysis
Cite as SafeMode Space, mitre-attack-enterprise T1071.003.