Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols (T1071.001)
Tactic: Command and Control · Platforms: ESXi, Linux, macOS, Network Devices, Windows
The interactive view maps 1 detection strategy, 2 mitigations, 57 threat groups, 341 software entries, 21 campaigns to this technique, alongside D3FEND countermeasures and data-component coverage.
Sub-technique of Application Layer Protocol (T1071).
Overview
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 and WebSocket 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.