T1071.001 Web Protocols

Adversaries may communicate using application layer protocols associated with web traffic 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 HTTP/S(Citation: CrowdStrike Putter Panda) and WebSocket(Citation: Brazking-Websockets) that carry web traffic may be very common in environments. HTTP/S packets have many fields and headers in which data can be concealed. An adversary may abuse these protocols to communicate with systems under their control within a victim network while also mimicking normal, expected traffic.

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CSA CCM Mappings

Capability ID Capability Description Mapping Type ATT&CK ID ATT&CK Name Notes
I&S-03 Network Security mitigates T1071.001 Web Protocols
Comments
This control provides for monitoring, encrypting, and restricting communications between environments. Network intrusion detection and prevention systems that use network signatures to identify traffic for specific malware can be used to mitigate activity at the network level, such as adversary use of application layer protocols associated with web traffic to embed commands.
References
    I&S-09 Network Defense mitigates T1071.001 Web Protocols
    Comments
    This control provides for the implementation of defense-in-depth network security controls for securing the cloud environment. Network intrusion detection and prevention systems that use network signatures to identify traffic for specific malware can be used to mitigate activity at the network level, such as adversary use of application layer protocols associated with web traffic to embed commands.
    References
      IPY-02 Application Interface Availability mitigates T1071.001 Web Protocols
      Comments
      This control requires the CSP to provide secure, standards-based, interoperable APIs with up-to-date documentation and communicate changes, while the CSC must review API documentation, use open standards, test API functionality for data transfer and recovery, monitor for outages and changes, and ensure secure, portable, and interoperable cloud deployments.
      References