Application Layer Protocol: File Transfer Protocols (T1071.002)

Tactic: Command and Control · Platforms: ESXi, Linux, macOS, Network Devices, Windows

The interactive view maps 1 detection strategy, 2 mitigations, 5 threat groups, 20 software entries, 2 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 transferring files 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 SMB, FTP, FTPS, and TFTP that transfer files may be very common in environments. Packets produced from these protocols may have many fields and headers in which data can be concealed. Data could also be concealed within the transferred files. An adversary may abuse these protocols to communicate with systems under their control within a victim network while also mimicking normal, expected traffic.

Explore

• Open T1071.002 in the interactive ATT&CK matrix
• ATT&CK Intelligence View guide
• Official MITRE ATT&CK entry for T1071.002
• Sigma detection rules for MITRE ATT&CK
• Built by Shahrukh Khan