MITRE ATT&CKsub-technique

T1547.013 XDG Autostart Entries

Published 2019-09-10 Modified 2025-10-24 Official page ↗
Domain
enterprise
Tactics
Persistence, Privilege Escalation
Platforms
Linux
Version
1.2
Created
2019-09-10

Description

Adversaries may add or modify XDG Autostart Entries to execute malicious programs or commands when a user’s desktop environment is loaded at login. XDG Autostart entries are available for any XDG-compliant Linux system. XDG Autostart entries use Desktop Entry files (`.desktop`) to configure the user’s desktop environment upon user login. These configuration files determine what applications launch upon user login, define associated applications to open specific file types, and define applications used to open removable media. Adversaries may abuse this feature to establish persistence by adding a path to a malicious binary or command to the `Exec` directive in the `.desktop` configuration file. When the user’s desktop environment is loaded at user login, the `.desktop` files located in the XDG Autostart directories are automatically executed. System-wide Autostart entries are located in the `/etc/xdg/autostart` directory while the user entries are located in the `~/.config/autostart` directory. Adversaries may combine this technique with Masquerading to blend malicious Autostart entries with legitimate programs.

Related

Subtechnique of · MITRE ATT&CK (1)

  • T1547 Boot or Logon Autostart Execution technique

Tactic · MITRE ATT&CK (2)

  • TA0003 Persistence tactic
  • TA0004 Privilege Escalation tactic

Referenced by MITRE ATT&CK · mitigates (3)

  • M1033 Limit Software Installation mitigation
  • M1018 User Account Management mitigation
  • M1022 Restrict File and Directory Permissions mitigation

Referenced by MITRE ATT&CK · uses (7)

  • G1052 Contagious Interview group
  • S1245 InvisibleFerret software (malware)
  • S1078 RotaJakiro software (malware)
  • S0410 Fysbis software (malware)
  • S0235 CrossRAT software (malware)
  • S0192 Pupy software (tool)
  • S0198 NETWIRE software (malware)

Referenced by Compliance · mitigates (16)

  • CIS-6.8 Define and Maintain Role-Based Access Control CIS Safeguard v8.1
  • NIST-AC-17 Remote Access NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-AC-2 Account Management NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-AC-3 Access 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-3 Configuration Change Control 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-IA-2 Identification and Authentication (Organizational Users) 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