MITRE ATT&CKtechnique

T1218 System Binary Proxy Execution

Published 2018-04-18 Modified 2026-05-12 Official page ↗
Domain
enterprise
Tactics
Stealth
Platforms
Linux, macOS, Windows
Version
4.0
Created
2018-04-18

Description

Adversaries may bypass process and/or signature-based defenses by proxying execution of malicious content with signed, or otherwise trusted, binaries. Binaries used in this technique are often Microsoft-signed files, indicating that they have been either downloaded from Microsoft or are already native in the operating system. Binaries signed with trusted digital certificates can typically execute on Windows systems protected by digital signature validation. Several Microsoft signed binaries that are default on Windows installations can be used to proxy execution of other files or commands. Similarly, on Linux systems adversaries may abuse trusted binaries such as split to proxy execution of malicious commands.

Related

Tactic · MITRE ATT&CK (1)

Referenced by MITRE ATT&CK · mitigates (6)

  • M1037 Filter Network Traffic mitigation
  • M1038 Execution Prevention mitigation
  • M1042 Disable or Remove Feature or Program mitigation
  • M1050 Exploit Protection mitigation
  • M1021 Restrict Web-Based Content mitigation
  • M1026 Privileged Account Management mitigation

Referenced by MITRE ATT&CK · subtechnique of (14)

Referenced by MITRE ATT&CK · uses (2)

  • G1017 Volt Typhoon group
  • G0032 Lazarus Group group

Referenced by Compliance · mitigates (23)

  • 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-2.5 Allowlist Authorized Software CIS Safeguard v8.1
  • NIST-AC-2 Account Management NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-AC-3 Access Enforcement NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-AC-4 Information Flow Enforcement NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-AC-5 Separation of Duties NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-AC-6 Least Privilege NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-CA-7 Continuous Monitoring NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-CM-11 User-installed Software NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-CM-2 Baseline Configuration NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-CM-5 Access Restrictions for Change NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-CM-6 Configuration Settings NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-CM-7 Least Functionality NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-CM-8 System Component Inventory NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-IA-2 Identification and Authentication (Organizational Users) NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-RA-5 Vulnerability Monitoring and Scanning 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-16 Memory Protection NIST 800-53 control
  • 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