Adversaries may communicate using OSI application layer protocols 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.
Adversaries may utilize many different protocols, including those used for web browsing, transferring files, electronic mail, DNS, or publishing/subscribing. For connections that occur internally within an enclave (such as those between a proxy or pivot node and other nodes), commonly used protocols are SMB, SSH, or RDP.(Citation: Mandiant APT29 Eye Spy Email Nov 22)
View in MITRE ATT&CK®| Capability ID | Capability Description | Mapping Type | ATT&CK ID | ATT&CK Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| action.hacking.variety.Other | Other | related-to | T1071 | Application Layer Protocol | |
| action.hacking.variety.Evade Defenses | Modification of the action (rather than the system, as in 'Disable controls') to avoid detection. | related-to | T1071 | Application Layer Protocol | |
| action.hacking.vector.Other network service | Network service that is not remote access or a web application. | related-to | T1071 | Application Layer Protocol | |
| action.malware.variety.C2 | Malware creates Command and Control capability for malware. Child of 'Backdoor or C2'. | related-to | T1071 | Application Layer Protocol |
| Capability ID | Capability Description | Mapping Type | ATT&CK ID | ATT&CK Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cloud_ngfw | Cloud Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW)_ | technique_scores | T1071 | Application Layer Protocol |
Comments
Cloud NGFW can allow or deny traffic based on the traffic's protocol, destination ports, sources, and destinations. This functionality can be used to block malicious or unwanted traffic leveraging application layer protocols. Given this supports all sub-techniques, the mapping is given a score of Significant.
References
|
| google_secops | Google Security Operations | technique_scores | T1071 | Application Layer Protocol |
Comments
Google Security Ops is able to trigger an alert based on suspicious modifications to the network infrastructure.
This technique was scored as minimal based on low or uncertain detection coverage factor.
https://github.com/chronicle/detection-rules/tree/main/gcp_cloudaudit
https://github.com/chronicle/detection-rules/blob/main/gcp_cloudaudit/gcp_vpc_network_changes.yaral
References
|
| Technique ID | Technique Name | Number of Mappings |
|---|---|---|
| T1071.004 | DNS | 2 |
| T1071.005 | Publish/Subscribe Protocols | 3 |
| T1071.003 | Mail Protocols | 1 |
| T1071.002 | File Transfer Protocols | 1 |
| T1071.001 | Web Protocols | 6 |