TA0011 · COMMAND AND CONTROL
Data Obfuscation
Adversaries may obfuscate command and control traffic to make it more difficult to detect.
Detect it with
Analyze network data for uncommon data flows (e.g., a client sending significantly more data than it receives from a server). Processes utilizing the network that do not normally have network communication or have never been seen before are suspicious.
Why it matters on shift
Data Obfuscation is one of the concrete ways adversaries achieve command and control. Recognising it in telemetry lets you name the technique in your ticket and pivot to what came before and after.
What to look for next
After command and control, the next tactic is usually Exfiltration. Search your telemetry for the transition before closing the ticket.
3 sub-techniques
How it shows up in practice
- T1001.001
Junk Data
Adversaries may add junk data to protocols used for command and control to make detection more difficult.
- T1001.002
Steganography
Adversaries may use steganographic techniques to hide command and control traffic to make detection efforts more difficult. Steganographic techniques can be used to hide data in digital messages that are transferred between systems.
- T1001.003
Protocol or Service Impersonation
Adversaries may impersonate legitimate protocols or web service traffic to disguise command and control activity and thwart analysis efforts.
Kill-chain context