- Tactics
- Execution
- Platforms
- Linux, macOS, Windows
- Reference
- attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1204.002
Description
An adversary may rely upon a user opening a malicious file in order to gain execution. Users may be subjected to social engineering to get them to open a file that will lead to code execution. This user action will typically be observed as follow-on behavior from Spearphishing Attachment. Adversaries may use several types of files that require a user to execute them, including .doc, .pdf, .xls, .rtf, .scr, .exe, .lnk, .pif, .cpl, .reg, and .iso.(Citation: Mandiant Trojanized Windows 10)
Adversaries may employ various forms of Masquerading and Obfuscated Files or Information to increase the likelihood that a user will open and successfully execute a malicious file. These methods may include using a familiar naming convention and/or password protecting the file and supplying instructions to a user on how to open it.(Citation: Password Protected Word Docs)
While Malicious File frequently occurs shortly after Initial Access it may occur at other phases of an intrusion, such as when an adversary places a file in a shared directory or on a user’s desktop hoping that a user will click on it. This activity may also be seen shortly after Internal Spearphishing.
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 Execution tactic this technique falls under. Practitioner-led, focused on real detections, not memorizing technique IDs.
Related techniques
- T1047 — Windows Management Instrumentation
- T1053 — Scheduled Task/Job
- T1059 — Command and Scripting Interpreter
- T1072 — Software Deployment Tools
- T1106 — Native API
- T1127 — Trusted Developer Utilities Proxy Execution
- T1129 — Shared Modules
- T1197 — BITS Jobs
- T1203 — Exploitation for Client Execution
- T1204 — User Execution
- T1559 — Inter-Process Communication
- T1569 — System Services