MITRE ATT&CKsub-technique

T1070.006 Timestomp

Published 2020-01-31 Modified 2026-05-12 Official page ↗
Domain
enterprise
Tactics
Stealth
Platforms
ESXi, Linux, macOS, Windows
Version
2.0
Created
2020-01-31

Description

Adversaries may modify file time attributes to hide new files or changes to existing files. Timestomping is a technique that modifies the timestamps of a file (the modify, access, create, and change times), often to mimic files that are in the same folder and blend malicious files with legitimate files. In Windows systems, both the `$STANDARD_INFORMATION` (`$SI`) and `$FILE_NAME` (`$FN`) attributes record times in a Master File Table (MFT) file. `$SI` (dates/time stamps) is displayed to the end user, including in the File System view, while `$FN` is dealt with by the kernel. Modifying the `$SI` attribute is the most common method of timestomping because it can be modified at the user level using API calls. `$FN` timestomping, however, typically requires interacting with the system kernel or moving or renaming a file. Adversaries modify timestamps on files so that they do not appear conspicuous to forensic investigators or file analysis tools. In order to evade detections that rely on identifying discrepancies between the `$SI` and `$FN` attributes, adversaries may also engage in “double timestomping” by modifying times on both attributes simultaneously. In Linux systems and on ESXi servers, threat actors may attempt to perform timestomping using commands such as `touch -a -m -t ` (which sets access and modification times to a specific value) or `touch -r ` (which sets access and modification times to match those of another file). Timestomping may be used along with file name Masquerading to hide malware and tools.

Related

Subtechnique of · MITRE ATT&CK (1)

  • T1070 Indicator Removal technique

Tactic · MITRE ATT&CK (1)

Referenced by MITRE ATT&CK · uses (59)

  • C0064 AI-Assisted Breach of Mexico's Government Infrastructure campaign
  • S9023 HiddenFace software (malware)
  • S9024 SPAWNCHIMERA software (malware)
  • S1226 BOOKWORM software (malware)
  • G1048 UNC3886 group
  • S1181 BlackByte 2.0 Ransomware software (malware)
  • S1164 UPSTYLE software (malware)
  • S1161 BPFDoor software (malware)
  • S1149 CHIMNEYSWEEP software (malware)
  • S1135 MultiLayer Wiper software (malware)
  • C0032 C0032 campaign
  • C0029 Cutting Edge campaign
  • G1023 APT5 group
  • S1100 Ninja software (malware)
  • S1090 NightClub software (malware)
  • C0024 SolarWinds Compromise campaign
  • S1059 metaMain software (malware)
  • S1031 PingPull software (malware)
  • S1016 MacMa software (malware)
  • S0687 Cyclops Blink software (malware)
  • S0666 Gelsemium software (malware)
  • S0641 Kobalos software (malware)
  • G0129 Mustang Panda group
  • S0586 TAINTEDSCRIBE software (malware)
  • S0570 BitPaymer software (malware)
  • S0568 EVILNUM software (malware)
  • S0603 Stuxnet software (malware)
  • S0520 BLINDINGCAN software (malware)
  • G0114 Chimera group
  • G0106 Rocke group
Show all 59 ›

References