T1071.002 File Transfer Protocols Mappings

Adversaries may communicate using application layer protocols associated with transferring files 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 SMB(Citation: US-CERT TA18-074A), FTP(Citation: ESET Machete July 2019), FTPS, and TFTP that transfer files 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 transferred files. An adversary may abuse these protocols to communicate with systems under their control within a victim network while also mimicking normal, expected traffic.

View in MITRE ATT&CK®

VERIS Mappings

Capability ID Capability Description Mapping Type ATT&CK ID ATT&CK Name Notes
action.hacking.variety.Other Other related-to T1071.002 Application Layer Protocol: File Transfer Protocol
action.malware.variety.Backdoor or C2 Malware creates a remote control capability, but it's unclear if it's a backdoor for hacking or C2 for malware. Parent of 'C2' and 'Backdoor'. related-to T1071.002 Application Layer Protocol: File Transfer Protocol
action.malware.variety.C2 Malware creates Command and Control capability for malware. Child of 'Backdoor or C2'. related-to T1071.002 Application Layer Protocol: File Transfer Protocol

AWS Mappings

Capability ID Capability Description Mapping Type ATT&CK ID ATT&CK Name Notes
amazon_guardduty Amazon GuardDuty technique_scores T1071.002 File Transfer Protocols
Comments
GuardDuty flags events matching the following finding types that relate to adversaries attempting to communicate using application layer protocols to avoid detection. UnauthorizedAccess:EC2/MaliciousIPCaller.Custom Backdoor:EC2/C&CActivity.B Backdoor:EC2/C&CActivity.B!DNS Trojan:EC2/BlackholeTraffic Trojan:EC2/BlackholeTraffic!DNS Trojan:EC2/DropPoint Trojan:EC2/DropPoint!DNS Backdoor:EC2/C&CActivity.B Impact:EC2/MaliciousDomainRequest.Reputation Impact:EC2/SuspiciousDomainRequest.Reputation
References
    aws_network_firewall AWS Network Firewall technique_scores T1071.002 File Transfer Protocols
    Comments
    AWS Network Firewall has the ability to pass, drop, or alert on traffic based on the network protocol as well as perform deep packet inspection on the payload. This functionality can be used to block malicious or unwanted traffic leveraging application layer protocols. As a result, this mapping is given a score of Significant.
    References