title: DNS Exfiltration and Tunneling Tools Execution
id: 98a96a5a-64a0-4c42-92c5-489da3866cb0
status: test
description: Well-known DNS Exfiltration tools execution
references:
    - https://github.com/iagox86/dnscat2
    - https://github.com/yarrick/iodine
author: Daniil Yugoslavskiy, oscd.community
date: 2019-10-24
modified: 2021-11-27
tags:
    - attack.exfiltration
    - attack.t1048.001
    - attack.command-and-control
    - attack.t1071.004
    - attack.t1132.001
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        - Image|endswith: '\iodine.exe'
        - Image|contains: '\dnscat2'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: high

title: PUA - Restic Backup Tool Execution
id: 6ddff2e8-ea1a-45d0-8938-93dfc1d67ae7
status: experimental
description: |
    Detects the execution of the Restic backup tool, which can be used for data exfiltration.
    Threat actors may leverage Restic to back up and exfiltrate sensitive data to remote storage locations, including cloud services.
    If not legitimately used in the enterprise environment, its presence may indicate malicious activity.
references:
    - https://thedfirreport.com/2024/09/30/nitrogen-campaign-drops-sliver-and-ends-with-blackcat-ransomware/#exfiltration
    - https://restic.net/
    - https://restic.readthedocs.io/en/stable/030_preparing_a_new_repo.html
author: Nounou Mbeiri, Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)
date: 2025-10-17
tags:
    - attack.exfiltration
    - attack.t1048
    - attack.t1567.002
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: process_creation
detection:
    selection_specific:
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - '--password-file'
              - 'init'
              - ' -r '
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - '--use-fs-snapshot'
              - 'backup'
              - ' -r '
    selection_restic:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'sftp:'
            - 'rest:http'
            - 's3:s3.'
            - 's3.http'
            - 'azure:'
            - ' gs:'
            - 'rclone:'
            - 'swift:'
            - ' b2:'
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - ' init '
            - ' -r '
    condition: 1 of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate use of Restic for backup purposes within the organization.
level: high

title: Powershell DNSExfiltration
id: d59d7842-9a21-4bc6-ba98-64bfe0091355
status: test
description: DNSExfiltrator allows for transferring (exfiltrate) a file over a DNS request covert channel
references:
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1048/T1048.md#atomic-test-3---dnsexfiltration-doh
    - https://github.com/Arno0x/DNSExfiltrator
author: frack113
date: 2022-01-07
tags:
    - attack.exfiltration
    - attack.t1048
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_script
    definition: 'Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled'
detection:
    selection_cmdlet:
        - ScriptBlockText|contains: 'Invoke-DNSExfiltrator'
        - ScriptBlockText|contains|all:
              - ' -i '
              - ' -d '
              - ' -p '
              - ' -doh '
              - ' -t '
    condition: selection_cmdlet
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate script
level: high

title: Suspicious Redirection to Local Admin Share
id: ab9e3b40-0c85-4ba1-aede-455d226fd124
status: test
description: Detects a suspicious output redirection to the local admins share, this technique is often found in malicious scripts or hacktool stagers
references:
    - https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2022/01/15/destructive-malware-targeting-ukrainian-organizations/
    - http://blog.talosintelligence.com/2022/09/lazarus-three-rats.html
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)
date: 2022-01-16
modified: 2023-12-28
tags:
    - attack.exfiltration
    - attack.t1048
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_redirect:
        CommandLine|contains: '>'
    selection_share:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '\\\\127.0.0.1\\admin$\\'
            - '\\\\localhost\\admin$\\'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high

title: Suspicious WebDav Client Execution Via Rundll32.EXE
id: 982e9f2d-1a85-4d5b-aea4-31f5e97c6555
status: test
description: |
    Detects "svchost.exe" spawning "rundll32.exe" with command arguments like C:\windows\system32\davclnt.dll,DavSetCookie. This could be an indicator of exfiltration or use of WebDav to launch code (hosted on WebDav Server) or potentially a sign of exploitation of CVE-2023-23397
references:
    - https://twitter.com/aceresponder/status/1636116096506818562
    - https://www.mdsec.co.uk/2023/03/exploiting-cve-2023-23397-microsoft-outlook-elevation-of-privilege-vulnerability/
    - https://www.pwndefend.com/2023/03/15/the-long-game-persistent-hash-theft/
    - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Figure-7-sample-webdav-process-create-event.png
    - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2023/03/24/guidance-for-investigating-attacks-using-cve-2023-23397/
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)
date: 2023-03-16
modified: 2023-09-18
tags:
    - attack.exfiltration
    - attack.t1048.003
    - cve.2023-23397
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        ParentImage|endswith: '\svchost.exe'
        ParentCommandLine|contains: '-s WebClient'
        Image|endswith: '\rundll32.exe'
        CommandLine|contains: 'C:\windows\system32\davclnt.dll,DavSetCookie'
        CommandLine|re: '://\d{1,3}\.\d{1,3}\.\d{1,3}\.\d{1,3}'
    filter_local_ips:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '://10.' # 10.0.0.0/8
            - '://192.168.' # 192.168.0.0/16
            - '://172.16.' # 172.16.0.0/12
            - '://172.17.'
            - '://172.18.'
            - '://172.19.'
            - '://172.20.'
            - '://172.21.'
            - '://172.22.'
            - '://172.23.'
            - '://172.24.'
            - '://172.25.'
            - '://172.26.'
            - '://172.27.'
            - '://172.28.'
            - '://172.29.'
            - '://172.30.'
            - '://172.31.'
            - '://127.' # 127.0.0.0/8
            - '://169.254.' # 169.254.0.0/16
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high

title: Copy From Or To Admin Share Or Sysvol Folder
id: 855bc8b5-2ae8-402e-a9ed-b889e6df1900
status: test
description: Detects a copy command or a copy utility execution to or from an Admin share or remote
references:
    - https://twitter.com/SBousseaden/status/1211636381086339073
    - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lKya3_mLnR3UQuCoiYruO3qgu052_iS_/view
    - https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/security/current/remote-file-copy-to-a-hidden-share.html
    - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2022/10/18/defenders-beware-a-case-for-post-ransomware-investigations/
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), oscd.community, Teymur Kheirkhabarov @HeirhabarovT, Zach Stanford @svch0st, Nasreddine Bencherchali
date: 2019-12-30
modified: 2025-10-22
tags:
    - attack.lateral-movement
    - attack.collection
    - attack.exfiltration
    - attack.t1039
    - attack.t1048
    - attack.t1021.002
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_target:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '\\\\*\\*$' # example \\SVR_NAME\ADMIN$
            - '\Sysvol\'
    selection_other_tools:
        - Image|endswith:
              - '\robocopy.exe'
              - '\xcopy.exe'
        - OriginalFileName:
              - 'robocopy.exe'
              - 'XCOPY.EXE'
    selection_cmd_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\cmd.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'Cmd.Exe'
    selection_cmd_cli:
        CommandLine|contains: 'copy'
    selection_pwsh_img:
        - Image|contains:
              - '\powershell_ise.exe'
              - '\powershell.exe'
              - '\pwsh.exe'
        - OriginalFileName:
              - 'powershell_ise.exe'
              - 'PowerShell.EXE'
              - 'pwsh.dll'
    selection_pwsh_cli:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'copy-item'
            - 'copy '
            - 'cpi '
            - ' cp '
            - 'move '
            - ' move-item'
            - ' mi '
            - ' mv '
    condition: selection_target and (selection_other_tools or all of selection_cmd_* or all of selection_pwsh_*)
falsepositives:
    - Administrative scripts
level: medium

title: DNS TOR Proxies
id: a8322756-015c-42e7-afb1-436e85ed3ff5
related:
    - id: b55ca2a3-7cff-4dda-8bdd-c7bfa63bf544
      type: similar
    - id: 8384bd26-bde6-4da9-8e5d-4174a7a47ca2
      type: similar
status: test
description: Identifies IPs performing DNS lookups associated with common Tor proxies.
references:
    - https://github.com/Azure/Azure-Sentinel/blob/f99542b94afe0ad2f19a82cc08262e7ac8e1428e/Detections/ASimDNS/imDNS_TorProxies.yaml
author: Saw Winn Naung , Azure-Sentinel
date: 2021-08-15
modified: 2025-09-12
tags:
    - attack.exfiltration
    - attack.t1048
logsource:
    service: dns
    product: zeek
detection:
    selection:
        query|endswith:
            - '.hiddenservice.net'
            - '.onion.ca'
            - '.onion.cab'
            - '.onion.casa'
            - '.onion.city'
            - '.onion.direct'
            - '.onion.dog'
            - '.onion.glass'
            - '.onion.gq'
            - '.onion.guide'
            - '.onion.in.net'
            - '.onion.ink'
            - '.onion.it'
            - '.onion.link'
            - '.onion.lt'
            - '.onion.lu'
            - '.onion.ly'
            - '.onion.mn'
            - '.onion.network'
            - '.onion.nu'
            - '.onion.pet'
            - '.onion.plus'
            - '.onion.pt'
            - '.onion.pw'
            - '.onion.rip'
            - '.onion.sh'
            - '.onion.si'
            - '.onion.to'
            - '.onion.top'
            - '.onion.ws'
            - '.onion'
            - '.s1.tor-gateways.de'
            - '.s2.tor-gateways.de'
            - '.s3.tor-gateways.de'
            - '.s4.tor-gateways.de'
            - '.s5.tor-gateways.de'
            - '.t2w.pw'
            - '.tor2web.ae.org'
            - '.tor2web.blutmagie.de'
            - '.tor2web.com'
            - '.tor2web.fi'
            - '.tor2web.io'
            - '.tor2web.org'
            - '.tor2web.xyz'
            - '.torlink.co'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium

title: Data Exfiltration with Wget
id: cb39d16b-b3b6-4a7a-8222-1cf24b686ffc
status: test
description: |
    Detects attempts to post the file with the usage of wget utility.
    The adversary can bypass the permission restriction with the misconfigured sudo permission for wget utility which could allow them to read files like /etc/shadow.
references:
    - https://linux.die.net/man/1/wget
    - https://gtfobins.github.io/gtfobins/wget/
author: 'Pawel Mazur'
date: 2021-11-18
modified: 2022-12-25
tags:
    - attack.exfiltration
    - attack.t1048.003
logsource:
    product: linux
    service: auditd
detection:
    selection:
        type: EXECVE
        a0: wget
        a1|startswith: '--post-file='
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate usage of wget utility to post a file
level: medium

title: Data Export From MSSQL Table Via BCP.EXE
id: c615d676-f655-46b9-b913-78729021e5d7
status: test
description: |
    Detects the execution of the BCP utility in order to export data from the database.
    Attackers were seen saving their malware to a database column or table and then later extracting it via "bcp.exe" into a file.
references:
    - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/tools/bcp-utility
    - https://asec.ahnlab.com/en/61000/
    - https://asec.ahnlab.com/en/78944/
    - https://www.huntress.com/blog/attacking-mssql-servers
    - https://www.huntress.com/blog/attacking-mssql-servers-pt-ii
    - https://news.sophos.com/en-us/2024/08/07/sophos-mdr-hunt-tracks-mimic-ransomware-campaign-against-organizations-in-india/
    - https://research.nccgroup.com/2018/03/10/apt15-is-alive-and-strong-an-analysis-of-royalcli-and-royaldns/
author: Omar Khaled (@beacon_exe), MahirAli Khan (in/mahiralikhan), Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2024-08-20
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.exfiltration
    - attack.t1048
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\bcp.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'BCP.exe'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - ' out ' # Export data from a table
            - ' queryout ' # Export data based on a SQL query
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate data export operations.
level: medium

title: PowerShell ICMP Exfiltration
id: 4c4af3cd-2115-479c-8193-6b8bfce9001c
status: test
description: Detects Exfiltration Over Alternative Protocol - ICMP. Adversaries may steal data by exfiltrating it over an un-encrypted network protocol other than that of the existing command and control channel.
references:
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1048.003/T1048.003.md#atomic-test-2---exfiltration-over-alternative-protocol---icmp
author: 'Bartlomiej Czyz @bczyz1, oscd.community'
date: 2020-10-10
modified: 2022-12-25
tags:
    - attack.exfiltration
    - attack.t1048.003
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: ps_script
    definition: 'Requirements: Script Block Logging must be enabled'
detection:
    selection:
        ScriptBlockText|contains|all:
            - 'New-Object'
            - 'System.Net.NetworkInformation.Ping'
            - '.Send('
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate usage of System.Net.NetworkInformation.Ping class
level: medium

title: Python WebServer Execution - Linux
id: 3f0f5957-04f8-4792-ad89-192b0303bde6
status: experimental
description: |
    Detects the execution of Python web servers via command line interface (CLI).
    After gaining access to target systems, adversaries may use Python's built-in HTTP server modules to quickly establish a web server without requiring additional software.
    This technique is commonly used in post-exploitation scenarios as it provides a simple method for transferring files between the compromised host and attacker-controlled systems.
references:
    - https://www.atomicredteam.io/atomic-red-team/atomics/T1048.003#atomic-test-8---python3-httpserver
    - https://docs.python.org/3/library/http.server.html
    - https://docs.python.org/2/library/simplehttpserver.html
author: Mohamed LAKRI
date: 2025-10-17
tags:
    - attack.exfiltration
    - attack.t1048.003
logsource:
    product: linux
    category: process_creation
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith:
              - '/python'
              - '/python2'
              - '/python3'
        - Image|contains:
              - '/python2.'  # python image is always of the form ../python3.10; ../python is just a symlink
              - '/python3.'
    selection_module:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'http.server'
            - 'SimpleHTTPServer'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Testing or development activity
level: medium

title: Suspicious DNS Query with B64 Encoded String
id: 4153a907-2451-4e4f-a578-c52bb6881432
status: test
description: Detects suspicious DNS queries using base64 encoding
references:
    - https://github.com/krmaxwell/dns-exfiltration
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)
date: 2018-05-10
modified: 2022-10-09
tags:
    - attack.exfiltration
    - attack.t1048.003
    - attack.command-and-control
    - attack.t1071.004
logsource:
    category: dns
detection:
    selection:
        query|contains: '==.'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium

title: Suspicious Outbound SMTP Connections
id: 9976fa64-2804-423c-8a5b-646ade840773
status: test
description: |
    Adversaries may steal data by exfiltrating it over an un-encrypted network protocol other than that of the existing command and control channel.
    The data may also be sent to an alternate network location from the main command and control server.
references:
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/f339e7da7d05f6057fdfcdd3742bfcf365fee2a9/atomics/T1048.003/T1048.003.md#atomic-test-5---exfiltration-over-alternative-protocol---smtp
    - https://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt
author: frack113
date: 2022-01-07
modified: 2022-09-21
tags:
    - attack.exfiltration
    - attack.t1048.003
logsource:
    category: network_connection
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        DestinationPort:
            - 25
            - 587
            - 465
            - 2525
        Initiated: 'true'
    filter_clients:
        Image|endswith:
            - \thunderbird.exe
            - \outlook.exe
    filter_mailserver:
        Image|startswith: 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\'
    filter_outlook:
        Image|startswith: 'C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\microsoft.windowscommunicationsapps_'
        Image|endswith: '\HxTsr.exe'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_*
falsepositives:
    - Other SMTP tools
level: medium

title: Tap Driver Installation
id: 8e4cf0e5-aa5d-4dc3-beff-dc26917744a9
status: test
description: Well-known TAP software installation. Possible preparation for data exfiltration using tunnelling techniques
references:
    - https://community.openvpn.net/openvpn/wiki/ManagingWindowsTAPDrivers
author: Daniil Yugoslavskiy, Ian Davis, oscd.community
date: 2019-10-24
modified: 2022-12-25
tags:
    - attack.exfiltration
    - attack.t1048
logsource:
    product: windows
    service: system
detection:
    selection:
        Provider_Name: 'Service Control Manager'
        EventID: 7045
        ImagePath|contains: 'tap0901'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate OpenVPN TAP installation
level: medium

title: Tap Installer Execution
id: 99793437-3e16-439b-be0f-078782cf953d
status: test
description: Well-known TAP software installation. Possible preparation for data exfiltration using tunneling techniques
references:
    - https://community.openvpn.net/openvpn/wiki/ManagingWindowsTAPDrivers
author: Daniil Yugoslavskiy, Ian Davis, oscd.community
date: 2019-10-24
modified: 2023-12-11
tags:
    - attack.exfiltration
    - attack.t1048
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith: '\tapinstall.exe'
    filter_optional_avast:
        Image|contains:
            - ':\Program Files\Avast Software\SecureLine VPN\'
            - ':\Program Files (x86)\Avast Software\SecureLine VPN\'
    filter_optional_openvpn:
        Image|contains: ':\Program Files\OpenVPN Connect\drivers\tap\'
    filter_optional_protonvpn:
        Image|contains: ':\Program Files (x86)\Proton Technologies\ProtonVPNTap\installer\'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate OpenVPN TAP installation
level: medium

title: WebDav Client Execution Via Rundll32.EXE
id: 2dbd9d3d-9e27-42a8-b8df-f13825c6c3d5
status: test
description: |
    Detects "svchost.exe" spawning "rundll32.exe" with command arguments like "C:\windows\system32\davclnt.dll,DavSetCookie".
    This could be an indicator of exfiltration or use of WebDav to launch code (hosted on a WebDav server).
references:
    - https://github.com/OTRF/detection-hackathon-apt29/issues/17
    - https://github.com/OTRF/ThreatHunter-Playbook/blob/2d4257f630f4c9770f78d0c1df059f891ffc3fec/docs/evals/apt29/detections/7.B.4_C10730EA-6345-4934-AA0F-B0EFCA0C4BA6.md
author: Roberto Rodriguez (Cyb3rWard0g), OTR (Open Threat Research)
date: 2020-05-02
modified: 2023-09-18
tags:
    - attack.exfiltration
    - attack.t1048.003
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_parent:
        ParentImage|endswith: '\svchost.exe'
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\rundll32.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'RUNDLL32.EXE'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains: 'C:\windows\system32\davclnt.dll,DavSetCookie'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium

title: Tap Driver Installation - Security
id: 9c8afa4d-0022-48f0-9456-3712466f9701
related:
    - id: 8e4cf0e5-aa5d-4dc3-beff-dc26917744a9
      type: derived
status: test
description: |
    Detects the installation of a well-known TAP driver service. This could be a sign of potential preparation for data exfiltration using tunnelling techniques.
references:
    - https://community.openvpn.net/openvpn/wiki/ManagingWindowsTAPDrivers
author: Daniil Yugoslavskiy, Ian Davis, oscd.community
date: 2019-10-24
modified: 2022-11-29
tags:
    - attack.exfiltration
    - attack.t1048
logsource:
    product: windows
    service: security
    definition: 'Requirements: The System Security Extension audit subcategory need to be enabled to log the EID 4697'
detection:
    selection:
        EventID: 4697
        ServiceFileName|contains: 'tap0901'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate OpenVPN TAP installation
level: low

title: WebDav Put Request
id: 705072a5-bb6f-4ced-95b6-ecfa6602090b
status: test
description: A General detection for WebDav user-agent being used to PUT files on a WebDav network share. This could be an indicator of exfiltration.
references:
    - https://github.com/OTRF/detection-hackathon-apt29/issues/17
author: Roberto Rodriguez (Cyb3rWard0g), OTR (Open Threat Research)
date: 2020-05-02
modified: 2024-03-13
tags:
    - attack.exfiltration
    - attack.t1048.003
logsource:
    product: zeek
    service: http
detection:
    selection:
        user_agent|contains: 'WebDAV'
        method: 'PUT'
    filter:
        id.resp_h|cidr:
            - '10.0.0.0/8'
            - '127.0.0.0/8'
            - '172.16.0.0/12'
            - '192.168.0.0/16'
            - '169.254.0.0/16'
    condition: selection and not filter
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: low