Hide Artifacts¶

What: Understanding "Hide Artifacts" in MITRE ATT&CK Framework¶

Hide Artifacts is a sub-category within the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically categorized under the "Defense Evasion" tactic. This category encompasses techniques that adversaries use to conceal their presence and activities in a system, making detection and analysis by security tools and defenders more difficult. The goal is to maintain persistence on a system while avoiding detection.

How: Techniques Used to Hide Artifacts¶

1. Deletion of Evidence: Adversaries may delete logs, files, or other records that could reveal their activities.

2. NTFS File Attributes: Utilizing NTFS file attributes or alternative data streams to hide files on Windows systems.

3. Filesystem Manipulation: Modifying filesystem properties to hide malicious files or directories.

4. Steganography: Embedding data within other files or media formats (e.g., images, video) to avoid detection.

5. Obfuscated Files or Information: Employing encryption or encoding techniques to make artifacts unintelligible without specific decoding mechanisms.

6. Timestamp Manipulation: Modifying system timestamps (MAC times - Modify, Access, Create) of files or logs to obfuscate their creation or last modification times.

7. Hidden Users: Creating user accounts that do not appear in standard listing commands but still have system access.

8. Hidden Window: Running processes in a way that their windows are not visible to the user.

9. Shortcut Modification: Altering shortcuts (.lnk files) to execute malicious code while appearing legitimate.

Where: Application Contexts and Environments¶

These techniques can be applied across various operating systems including Windows, Linux, macOS, and also within network layers for certain types of artifact hiding (like packet manipulation). The specific environment often dictates the choice of technique—for instance:

• In Windows environments, NTFS attributes and shortcut modifications are prevalent.
• In Linux systems, attackers might manipulate log files directly or use advanced filesystem features like extended attributes.
• Network-based artifact hiding might involve deep packet inspection evasion techniques used across network devices.

Why: Motivations Behind Hiding Artifacts¶

The primary motivation for hiding artifacts is stealth:

1. Avoid Detection: By not leaving obvious traces, attackers can evade traditional security tools like antivirus software, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and manual forensic investigations.

2. Maintain Persistence: Concealing the presence of malware or unauthorized access points allows prolonged access to a compromised system for continued exploitation.

3. Facilitate Lateral Movement: Stealthily moving within a network without raising alarms increases the chances of reaching sensitive information or critical infrastructure without being noticed.

4. Undermine Forensic Analysis: By complicating the forensic analysis process, attackers can create confusion and delay responses potentially leading to more successful outcomes from their malicious objectives.

In conclusion, "Hide Artifacts" plays a crucial role in sophisticated cyber attacks by enabling adversaries to maintain a foothold and operate covertly within target environments. Understanding these methods enhances defensive strategies by preparing for not just direct attacks but also the subtler tactics employed post-compromise.