Sub-technique of T1102 Web Service.View on attack.mitre.org
Adversaries may use an existing, legitimate external Web service as a means for sending commands to a compromised system without receiving return output over the Web service channel. Compromised systems may leverage popular websites and social media to host command and control (C2) instructions. Those infected systems may opt to send the output from those commands back over a different C2 channel, including to another distinct Web service. Alternatively, compromised systems may return no output at all in cases where adversaries want to send instructions to systems and do not want a response.
Popular websites and social media acting as a mechanism for C2 may give a significant amount of cover due to the likelihood that hosts within a network are already communicating with them prior to a compromise. Using common services, such as those offered by Google or Twitter, makes it easier for adversaries to hide in expected noise. Web service providers commonly use SSL/TLS encryption, giving adversaries an added level of protection.
Rules on DetectionCode tagged with T1102.003.
| Rule | Level | Log source |
|---|---|---|
| PwnDrp Access | critical | NULL / proxy |
| Raw Paste Service Access | high | NULL / proxy |
| Used by | Procedure example |
|---|---|
| GroupGamaredon Group | Gamaredon Group has used Telegram Messenger content to discover the IP address for C2 communications. |
| GroupLeviathan | Leviathan has received C2 instructions from user profiles created on legitimate websites such as Github and TechNet. |
| Used by | Procedure example |
|---|---|
| MalwareEVILNUM | EVILNUM has used a one-way communication method via GitLab and Digital Point to perform C2. |
| MalwareHAMMERTOSS | The "tDiscoverer" variant of HAMMERTOSS establishes a C2 channel by downloading resources from Web services like Twitter and GitHub. HAMMERTOSS binaries contain an algorithm that generates a different Twitter handle for the malware to check for instructions every day. |
| MalwareMetamorfo | Metamorfo has downloaded a zip file for execution on the system. |
| MalwareOnionDuke | OnionDuke uses Twitter as a backup C2. |
| MalwareSagerunex | Sagerunex has used web services such as Twitter for command and control purposes. |
| MalwareUPSTYLE | UPSTYLE parses encoded commands from error logs after attempting to resolve a non-existing webpage from the command and control server. |
| Used by | Procedure example |
|---|---|
| CampaignArcaneDoor | ArcaneDoor utilized HTTP command and control traffic where commands are intercepted from HTTP traffic to the device, parsed for appropriate identifiers and commands, and then executed. |
Data from MITRE ATT&CK® (Enterprise). ATT&CK® is a registered trademark of The MITRE Corporation.
