T1132.002 Non-Standard Encoding

Adversaries may encode data with a non-standard data encoding system to make the content of command and control traffic more difficult to detect. Command and control (C2) information can be encoded using a non-standard data encoding system that diverges from existing protocol specifications. Non-standard data encoding schemes may be based on or related to standard data encoding schemes, such as a modified Base64 encoding for the message body of an HTTP request.(Citation: Wikipedia Binary-to-text Encoding) (Citation: Wikipedia Character Encoding)

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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 T1132.002 Non-Standard 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 T1132.002 Non-Standard 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 T1132.002 Non-Standard Encoding
      Comments
      This diagnostic statement protects against Non-Standard 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 T1132.002 Non-Standard Encoding
        CM-06 Configuration Settings mitigates T1132.002 Non-Standard Encoding
        SI-03 Malicious Code Protection mitigates T1132.002 Non-Standard Encoding
        CM-02 Baseline Configuration mitigates T1132.002 Non-Standard Encoding
        SI-04 System Monitoring mitigates T1132.002 Non-Standard Encoding
        AC-04 Information Flow Enforcement mitigates T1132.002 Non-Standard Encoding
        SC-07 Boundary Protection mitigates T1132.002 Non-Standard 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 T1132.002 Non-Standard Encoding