MITRE ATT&CKsub-technique

T1070.010 Relocate Malware

Published 2024-05-31 Modified 2026-05-12 Official page ↗
Domain
enterprise
Tactics
Stealth
Platforms
Linux, macOS, Network Devices, Windows
Version
2.0
Created
2024-05-31

Description

Once a payload is delivered, adversaries may reproduce copies of the same malware on the victim system to remove evidence of their presence and/or avoid defenses. Copying malware payloads to new locations may also be combined with File Deletion to cleanup older artifacts. Relocating malware may be a part of many actions intended to evade defenses. For example, adversaries may copy and rename payloads to better blend into the local environment (i.e., Match Legitimate Resource Name or Location). Payloads may also be repositioned to target File/Path Exclusions as well as specific locations associated with establishing Persistence. Relocating malicious payloads may also hinder defensive analysis, especially to separate these payloads from earlier events (such as User Execution and Phishing) that may have generated alerts or otherwise drawn attention from defenders. Moving payloads into target directories does not alter the Creation timestamp, thereby evading detection logic reliant on modifications to this artifact (i.e., Timestomp).

Related

Subtechnique of · MITRE ATT&CK (1)

  • T1070 Indicator Removal technique

Tactic · MITRE ATT&CK (1)

Referenced by MITRE ATT&CK · uses (1)

  • S9015 BRICKSTORM software (malware)

Referenced by Compliance · mitigates (3)

  • NIST-SI-3 Malicious Code Protection NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-SI-4 System Monitoring NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-SI-7 Software, Firmware, and Information Integrity NIST 800-53 control

References