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T1132 Data Encoding

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.

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CRI Profile Mappings

Capability ID Capability Description Mapping Type ATT&CK ID ATT&CK Name Notes
DE.AE-02.01 Event analysis and detection Mitigates T1132 Data Encoding
Comments
This diagnostic statement provides for implementation of methods to block similar future attacks via security tools such as antivirus and IDS/IPS to provide protection against threats and exploitation attempts.
References
    DE.CM-01.01 Intrusion detection and prevention Mitigates T1132 Data Encoding
    Comments
    Network intrusion detection and prevention systems that use network signatures to identify traffic for specific adversary malware can be used to mitigate activity at the network level.
    References
      PR.IR-01.03 Network communications integrity and availability Mitigates T1132 Data Encoding
      Comments
      This diagnostic statement protects against Data Encoding through the use of secure network configurations, architecture, implementations of zero trust architecture, and segmentation.
      References

        NIST 800-53 Mappings

        Capability ID Capability Description Mapping Type ATT&CK ID ATT&CK Name Notes
        CA-07 Continuous Monitoring mitigates T1132 Data Encoding
        CM-06 Configuration Settings mitigates T1132 Data Encoding
        SI-03 Malicious Code Protection mitigates T1132 Data Encoding
        CM-02 Baseline Configuration mitigates T1132 Data Encoding
        SI-04 System Monitoring mitigates T1132 Data Encoding
        AC-04 Information Flow Enforcement mitigates T1132 Data Encoding
        SC-07 Boundary Protection mitigates T1132 Data Encoding

        VERIS Mappings

        Capability ID Capability Description Mapping Type ATT&CK ID ATT&CK Name Notes
        action.hacking.variety.Evade Defenses Modification of the action (rather than the system, as in 'Disable controls') to avoid detection. related-to T1132 Data Encoding
        action.malware.variety.C2 Malware creates Command and Control capability for malware. Child of 'Backdoor or C2'. related-to T1132 Data Encoding

        GCP Mappings

        Capability ID Capability Description Mapping Type ATT&CK ID ATT&CK Name Notes
        google_secops Google Security Operations technique_scores T1132 Data Encoding
        Comments
        Google Security Ops is able to trigger an alert based on known indicators used by the adversary, such as data encoding techniques. This technique was scored as minimal based on low or uncertain detection coverage factor. This technique was scored as minimal based on low or uncertain detection coverage factor. https://github.com/chronicle/detection-rules/blob/783e0e5947774785db1c55041b70176deeca6f46/soc_prime_rules/ioc_sigma/windows/powershell_encoded_command__sysmon.yaral https://github.com/chronicle/detection-rules/blob/783e0e5947774785db1c55041b70176deeca6f46/soc_prime_rules/threat_hunting/process_creation/emotet_process_creation.yaral https://github.com/chronicle/detection-rules/blob/783e0e5947774785db1c55041b70176deeca6f46/soc_prime_rules/threat_hunting/process_creation/suspicious_powershell_parameter_substring.yaral
        References
        1. ['https://cloud.google.com/security/products/security-operations'
        2. 'https://cloud.google.com/chronicle/docs/secops/secops-overview'
        3. 'https://github.com/chronicle/detection-rules']

        ATT&CK Subtechniques

        Technique ID Technique Name Number of Mappings
        T1132.001 Standard Encoding 11
        T1132.002 Non-Standard Encoding 11