- Tactics
- Exfiltration
- Platforms
- ESXi, Linux, macOS, Windows
- Reference
- attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1048.002
Description
Adversaries may steal data by exfiltrating it over an asymmetrically 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.
Asymmetric encryption algorithms are those that use different keys on each end of the channel. Also known as public-key cryptography, this requires pairs of cryptographic keys that can encrypt/decrypt data from the corresponding key. Each end of the communication channels requires a private key (only in the procession of that entity) and the public key of the other entity. The public keys of each entity are exchanged before encrypted communications begin.
Network protocols that use asymmetric encryption (such as HTTPS/TLS/SSL) often utilize symmetric encryption once keys are exchanged. Adversaries may opt to use these encrypted mechanisms that are baked into a protocol.
How GTK Cyber trains on this
GTK Cyber's Threat Hunting with Data Science course teaches you to build machine-learning detections for techniques like this across the MITRE ATT&CK framework, including the Exfiltration tactic this technique falls under. Practitioner-led, focused on real detections, not memorizing technique IDs.
Related techniques
- T1011 — Exfiltration Over Other Network Medium
- T1020 — Automated Exfiltration
- T1029 — Scheduled Transfer
- T1030 — Data Transfer Size Limits
- T1041 — Exfiltration Over C2 Channel
- T1048 — Exfiltration Over Alternative Protocol
- T1052 — Exfiltration Over Physical Medium
- T1537 — Transfer Data to Cloud Account
- T1567 — Exfiltration Over Web Service