| name | T1048.003_exfiltration-over-unencrypted-non-c2-protocol |
| description | Adversaries may steal data by exfiltrating it over an un-encrypted network protocol other than that of the existing command and control channel. |
| category | client-side |
| version | 18.1 |
| author | cyberstrike-official |
| tags | ["mitre-attack","enterprise","t1048.003","exfiltration","esxi","linux","macos","network-devices","windows","sub-technique"] |
| technique_id | T1048.003 |
| tactic | exfiltration |
| all_tactics | ["exfiltration"] |
| platforms | ["ESXi","Linux","macOS","Network Devices","Windows"] |
| mitre_url | https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1048/003 |
| tech_stack | ["esxi","linux","macos","network devices","windows"] |
| cwe_ids | ["CWE-200"] |
| chains_with | ["T1048","T1048.001","T1048.002"] |
| prerequisites | ["T1048"] |
| severity_boost | {"T1048":"Chain with T1048 for deeper attack path","T1048.001":"Chain with T1048.001 for deeper attack path","T1048.002":"Chain with T1048.002 for deeper attack path"} |
T1048.003 Exfiltration Over Unencrypted Non-C2 Protocol
Sub-technique of: T1048
High-Level Description
Adversaries may steal data by exfiltrating it over an un-encrypted network protocol other than that of the existing command and control channel. The data may also be sent to an alternate network location from the main command and control server.
Adversaries may opt to obfuscate this data, without the use of encryption, within network protocols that are natively unencrypted (such as HTTP, FTP, or DNS). This may include custom or publicly available encoding/compression algorithms (such as base64) as well as embedding data within protocol headers and fields.
Kill Chain Phase
Platforms: ESXi, Linux, macOS, Network Devices, Windows
What to Check
How to Test
Atomic Red Team Tests
The following tests are from Atomic Red Team and provide actionable ways to test this technique:
Atomic Test 1: Exfiltration Over Alternative Protocol - HTTP
A firewall rule (ipfw,pf,iptables or firewalld) will be needed to allow exfiltration on port 1337.
Upon successful execution, sh will be used to make a directory (/tmp/victim-staging-area), write a txt file, and host the directory with Python on port 1337, to be later downloaded.
Supported Platforms: macos, linux
Atomic Test 2: Exfiltration Over Alternative Protocol - ICMP
Exfiltration of specified file over ICMP protocol.
Upon successful execution, powershell will utilize ping (icmp) to exfiltrate notepad.exe to a remote address (default 127.0.0.1). Results will be via stdout.
Supported Platforms: windows
