MITRE ATT&CKtechnique

T1620 Reflective Code Loading

Published 2021-10-05 Modified 2026-05-12 Official page ↗
Domain
enterprise
Tactics
Stealth
Platforms
Linux, macOS, Windows
Version
2.0
Created
2021-10-05

Description

Adversaries may reflectively load code into a process in order to conceal the execution of malicious payloads. Reflective loading involves allocating then executing payloads directly within the memory of the process, vice creating a thread or process backed by a file path on disk (e.g., Shared Modules). Reflectively loaded payloads may be compiled binaries, anonymous files (only present in RAM), or just snubs of fileless executable code (ex: position-independent shellcode). For example, the `Assembly.Load()` method executed by PowerShell may be abused to load raw code into the running process. Reflective code injection is very similar to Process Injection except that the “injection” loads code into the processes’ own memory instead of that of a separate process. Reflective loading may evade process-based detections since the execution of the arbitrary code may be masked within a legitimate or otherwise benign process. Reflectively loading payloads directly into memory may also avoid creating files or other artifacts on disk, while also enabling malware to keep these payloads encrypted (or otherwise obfuscated) until execution.

Related

Tactic · MITRE ATT&CK (1)

Referenced by MITRE ATT&CK · uses (33)

  • S9032 MuddyViper software (malware)
  • S9033 Fooder software (malware)
  • S9011 BRUSHFIRE software (malware)
  • S9001 SystemBC software (malware)
  • C0058 SharePoint ToolShell Exploitation campaign
  • C0057 3CX Supply Chain Attack campaign
  • S1213 Lumma Stealer software (malware)
  • S1145 Pikabot software (malware)
  • S1143 LunarLoader software (malware)
  • S1085 Sardonic software (malware)
  • S1081 BADHATCH software (malware)
  • S1063 Brute Ratel C4 software (tool)
  • S1059 metaMain software (malware)
  • S1022 IceApple software (malware)
  • S0695 Donut software (tool)
  • S0692 SILENTTRINITY software (tool)
  • S0689 WhisperGate software (malware)
  • S0681 Lizar software (malware)
  • S0666 Gelsemium software (malware)
  • S0661 FoggyWeb software (malware)
  • S0625 Cuba software (malware)
  • S0595 ThiefQuest software (malware)
  • S0447 Lokibot software (malware)
  • G0094 Kimsuky group
  • S0367 Emotet software (malware)
  • G0082 APT38 group
  • S0194 PowerSploit software (tool)
  • S0154 Cobalt Strike software (malware)
  • G0032 Lazarus Group group
  • G0046 FIN7 group
Show all 33 ›

Referenced by CAPEC · att&ck technique (1)

  • CAPEC-640 Inclusion of Code in Existing Process attack pattern

References