MITRE ATT&CKsub-technique

T1048.001 Exfiltration Over Symmetric Encrypted Non-C2 Protocol

Published 2020-03-15 Modified 2026-09-02 Official page ↗
Domain
enterprise
Tactics
Exfiltration
Platforms
Linux, macOS, Windows, ESXi
Version
1.2
Created
2020-03-15

Description

Adversaries may steal data by exfiltrating it over a symmetrically 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. Symmetric encryption algorithms are those that use shared or the same keys/secrets on each end of the channel. This requires an exchange or pre-arranged agreement/possession of the value used to encrypt and decrypt data. Network protocols that use asymmetric encryption often utilize symmetric encryption once keys are exchanged, but adversaries may opt to manually share keys and implement symmetric cryptographic algorithms (ex: RC4, AES) vice using mechanisms that are baked into a protocol. This may result in multiple layers of encryption (in protocols that are natively encrypted such as HTTPS) or encryption in protocols that not typically encrypted (such as HTTP or FTP).

Related

Subtechnique of · MITRE ATT&CK (1)

  • T1048 Exfiltration Over Alternative Protocol technique

Tactic · MITRE ATT&CK (1)

Referenced by MITRE ATT&CK · mitigates (3)

  • M1037 Filter Network Traffic mitigation
  • M1030 Network Segmentation mitigation
  • M1031 Network Intrusion Prevention mitigation

Referenced by Compliance · mitigates (20)

  • CIS-12.2 Establish and Maintain a Secure Network Architecture CIS Safeguard v8.1
  • CIS-13.10 Perform Application Layer Filtering CIS Safeguard v8.1
  • CIS-13.4 Perform Traffic Filtering Between Network Segments CIS Safeguard v8.1
  • CIS-13.8 Deploy a Network Intrusion Prevention Solution CIS Safeguard v8.1
  • CIS-16.8 Separate Production and Non-Production Systems CIS Safeguard v8.1
  • CIS-4.4 Implement and Manage a Firewall on Servers CIS Safeguard v8.1
  • CIS-4.5 Implement and Manage a Firewall on End-User Devices CIS Safeguard v8.1
  • CIS-9.2 Use DNS Filtering Services CIS Safeguard v8.1
  • NIST-AC-3 Access Enforcement NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-AC-4 Information Flow Enforcement NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-CA-7 Continuous Monitoring NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-CM-2 Baseline Configuration NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-CM-6 Configuration Settings NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-CM-7 Least Functionality NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-SC-46 Cross Domain Policy Enforcement NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-SC-7 Boundary Protection NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-SI-10 Information Input Validation NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-SI-15 Information Output Filtering NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-SI-3 Malicious Code Protection NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-SI-4 System Monitoring NIST 800-53 control

References