Adversaries may steal data by exfiltrating it over a symmetrically encrypted network protocol other 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.
Symmetric encryption algorithms are those that use shared or the same keys/secrets on each end of the channel. This requires an exchange or pre-arranged agreement/possession of the value used to encrypt and decrypt data.
Network protocols that use asymmetric encryption often utilize symmetric encryption once keys are exchanged, but adversaries may opt to manually share keys and implement symmetric cryptographic algorithms (ex: RC4, AES) vice using mechanisms that are baked into a protocol. This may result in multiple layers of encryption (in protocols that are natively encrypted such as HTTPS) or encryption in protocols that not typically encrypted (such as HTTP or FTP).
View in MITRE ATT&CK®| Capability ID | Capability Description | Mapping Type | ATT&CK ID | ATT&CK Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I&S-03 | Network Security | mitigates | T1048.001 | Exfiltration Over Symmetric Encrypted Non-C2 Protocol |
Comments
This control provides for monitoring, encrypting, and restricting communications between environments. Configuring access controls, network firewalls, and IP-based restrictions for accessing cloud resources helps mitigate the risk of alternative exfiltration through cloud services. Also, network intrusion detection and prevention systems that use network signatures to identify traffic for specific adversary command and control infrastructure and malware can be used to mitigate exfiltration activity at the network level.
References
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| I&S-06 | Segmentation and Segregation | mitigates | T1048.001 | Exfiltration Over Symmetric Encrypted Non-C2 Protocol |
Comments
This control provides for appropriately segmented and segregated cloud environments. Configuring access controls and network firewalls to enforce restrictions on accessing cloud resources, while allowing only essential ports and traffic, helps mitigate the risk of alternative exfiltration through cloud services.
References
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| I&S-09 | Network Defense | mitigates | T1048.001 | Exfiltration Over Symmetric Encrypted Non-C2 Protocol |
Comments
This control provides for the implementation of defense-in-depth network security controls for securing the cloud environment. Configuring access controls and network firewalls to enforce restrictions on accessing cloud resources, while allowing only essential ports and traffic, helps mitigate the risk of alternative exfiltration through cloud services. Also, network intrusion detection and prevention systems that use network signatures to identify traffic for specific adversary command and control infrastructure and malware can be used to mitigate exfiltration activity at the network level.
References
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| DSP-15 | Limitation of Production Data Use | mitigates | T1048.001 | Exfiltration Over Symmetric Encrypted Non-C2 Protocol |
Comments
This control describes how the CSP and CSC must independently implement technical safeguards such as network segmentation, encryption (at rest and in transit), secure key management, and access controls to prevent unauthorized replication or use of production data in non-production environments. For this technique, adversaries may steal data by exfiltrating it over a symmetrically encrypted network protocol other than that of the existing command and control channel. The data may also be sent to an alternate network location, such as a non-production environment to facilitate exfiltration.
In terms of mitigation, follow best practices for network firewall configurations to allow only necessary ports and traffic to enter and exit the network. Also, consider using IP allowlisting along with user account management to ensure that data access is restricted not only to valid users but only from expected IP ranges to mitigate the use of stolen or replication to access data.
References
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