| name | T1132.001_standard-encoding |
| description | Adversaries may encode data with a standard data encoding system to make the content of command and control traffic more difficult to detect. |
| category | configuration |
| version | 18.1 |
| author | cyberstrike-official |
| tags | ["mitre-attack","enterprise","t1132.001","command-and-control","esxi","linux","windows","macos","sub-technique"] |
| technique_id | T1132.001 |
| tactic | command-and-control |
| all_tactics | ["command-and-control"] |
| platforms | ["ESXi","Linux","Windows","macOS"] |
| mitre_url | https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1132/001 |
| tech_stack | ["esxi","linux","windows","macos"] |
| cwe_ids | ["CWE-300"] |
| chains_with | ["T1132","T1132.002"] |
| prerequisites | ["T1132"] |
| severity_boost | {"T1132":"Chain with T1132 for deeper attack path","T1132.002":"Chain with T1132.002 for deeper attack path"} |
T1132.001 Standard Encoding
Sub-technique of: T1132
High-Level Description
Adversaries may encode data with a standard data encoding system to make the content of command and control traffic more difficult to detect. Command and control (C2) information can be encoded using a standard data encoding system that adheres to existing protocol specifications. Common data encoding schemes include ASCII, Unicode, hexadecimal, Base64, and MIME. Some data encoding systems may also result in data compression, such as gzip.
Kill Chain Phase
- Command and Control (TA0011)
Platforms: ESXi, Linux, Windows, macOS
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: Base64 Encoded data.
Utilizing a common technique for posting base64 encoded data.
Supported Platforms: macos, linux
echo -n 111-11-1111 | base64
curl -XPOST
Atomic Test 2: Base64 Encoded data (freebsd)
Utilizing a common technique for posting base64 encoded data.
Supported Platforms: linux
echo -n 111-11-1111 | b64encode -r -
curl -XPOST
Dependencies:
Atomic Test 3: XOR Encoded data.