Web Service: Bidirectional Communication

Adversaries may use an existing, legitimate external Web service as a means for sending commands to and receiving output from a compromised system over the Web service channel. Compromised systems may leverage popular websites and social media to host command and control (C2) instructions. Those infected systems can then send the output from those commands back over that Web service channel. The return traffic may occur in a variety of ways, depending on the Web service being utilized. For example, the return traffic may take the form of the compromised system posting a comment on a forum, issuing a pull request to development project, updating a document hosted on a Web service, or by sending a Tweet.

Popular websites and social media acting as a mechanism for C2 may give a significant amount of cover due to the likelihood that hosts within a network are already communicating with them prior to a compromise. Using common services, such as those offered by Google or Twitter, makes it easier for adversaries to hide in expected noise. Web service providers commonly use SSL/TLS encryption, giving adversaries an added level of protection.

ID: T1102.002
Sub-technique of:  T1102
Platforms: Linux, Windows, macOS
Permissions Required: User
Version: 1.0
Created: 14 March 2020
Last Modified: 26 March 2020

Procedure Examples

ID Name Description
G0005 APT12

APT12 has used blogs and WordPress for C2 infrastructure.[1]

G0007 APT28

APT28 has used Google Drive for C2.[2]

G0067 APT37

APT37 leverages social networking sites and cloud platforms (AOL, Twitter, Yandex, Mediafire, pCloud, Dropbox, and Box) for C2.[3][4]

G0087 APT39

APT39 has communicated with C2 through files uploaded to and downloaded from DropBox.[5]

S0128 BADNEWS

BADNEWS can use multiple C2 channels, including RSS feeds, Github, forums, and blogs.[6][7][8]

S0069 BLACKCOFFEE

BLACKCOFFEE has also obfuscated its C2 traffic as normal traffic to sites such as Github.[9][10]

S0657 BLUELIGHT

BLUELIGHT can use different cloud providers for its C2.[11]

S0651 BoxCaon

BoxCaon has used DropBox for C2 communications.[12]

S0025 CALENDAR

The CALENDAR malware communicates through the use of events in Google Calendar.[13][14]

G0008 Carbanak

Carbanak has used a VBScript named "ggldr" that uses Google Apps Script, Sheets, and Forms services for C2.[15]

S0660 Clambling

Clambling can use Dropbox to download malicious payloads, send commands, and receive information.[16][17]

S0054 CloudDuke

One variant of CloudDuke uses a Microsoft OneDrive account to exchange commands and stolen data with its operators.[18]

S0244 Comnie

Comnie uses blogs and third-party sites (GitHub, tumbler, and BlogSpot) to avoid DNS-based blocking of their communication to the command and control server.[19]

S0126 ComRAT

ComRAT has the ability to use the Gmail web UI to receive commands and exfiltrate information.[20][21]

S0046 CozyCar

CozyCar uses Twitter as a backup C2 channel to Twitter accounts specified in its configuration file.[22]

S1023 CreepyDrive

CreepyDrive can use OneDrive for C2.[23]

S0538 Crutch

Crutch can use Dropbox to receive commands and upload stolen data.[24]

S0213 DOGCALL

DOGCALL is capable of leveraging cloud storage APIs such as Cloud, Box, Dropbox, and Yandex for C2.[3][25]

S0363 Empire

Empire can use Dropbox and GitHub for C2.[26]

G0046 FIN7

FIN7 used legitimate services like Google Docs, Google Scripts, and Pastebin for C2.[27]

S0026 GLOOXMAIL

GLOOXMAIL communicates to servers operated by Google using the Jabber/XMPP protocol.[13][28]

S0531 Grandoreiro

Grandoreiro can utilize web services including Google sites to send and receive C2 data.[29][30]

G1001 HEXANE

HEXANE has used cloud services, including OneDrive, for C2.[23]

S0215 KARAE

KARAE can use public cloud-based storage providers for command and control.[3]

S0265 Kazuar

Kazuar has used compromised WordPress blogs as C2 servers.[31]

G0094 Kimsuky

Kimsuky has used Blogspot pages for C2.[32]

G0032 Lazarus Group

Lazarus Group has used GitHub as C2, pulling hosted image payloads then committing command execution output to files in specific directories.[33]

S0042 LOWBALL

LOWBALL uses the Dropbox cloud storage service for command and control.[34]

G0059 Magic Hound

Magic Hound malware can use a SOAP Web service to communicate with its C2 server.[35]

G0069 MuddyWater

MuddyWater has used web services including OneHub to distribute remote access tools.[36]

C0023 Operation Ghost

For Operation Ghost, APT29 used social media platforms to hide communications to C2 servers.[37]

S0229 Orz

Orz has used Technet and Pastebin web pages for command and control.[38]

G1005 POLONIUM

POLONIUM has used OneDrive and DropBox for C2.[23]

S0216 POORAIM

POORAIM has used AOL Instant Messenger for C2.[3]

S0393 PowerStallion

PowerStallion uses Microsoft OneDrive as a C2 server via a network drive mapped with net use.[39]

S0511 RegDuke

RegDuke can use Dropbox as its C2 server.[37]

S0379 Revenge RAT

Revenge RAT used blogpost.com as its primary command and control server during a campaign.[40]

S0270 RogueRobin

RogueRobin has used Google Drive as a Command and Control channel. [41]

S0240 ROKRAT

ROKRAT has used legitimate social networking sites and cloud platforms (including but not limited to Twitter, Yandex, Dropbox, and Mediafire) for C2 communications.[42][43][44]

G0034 Sandworm Team

Sandworm Team has used the Telegram Bot API from Telegram Messenger to send and receive commands to its Python backdoor. Sandworm Team also used legitimate M.E.Doc software update check requests for sending and receiving commands and hosted malicious payloads on putdrive.com.[45][46]

S0218 SLOWDRIFT

SLOWDRIFT uses cloud based services for C2.[3]

S1035 Small Sieve

Small Sieve has the ability to use the Telegram Bot API from Telegram Messenger to send and receive messages.[47]

G0010 Turla

A Turla JavaScript backdoor has used Google Apps Script as its C2 server.[48][49]

S0333 UBoatRAT

UBoatRAT has used GitHub and a public blog service in Hong Kong for C2 communications.[50]

S0248 yty

yty communicates to the C2 server by retrieving a Google Doc.[51]

G0128 ZIRCONIUM

ZIRCONIUM has used Dropbox for C2 allowing upload and download of files as well as execution of arbitrary commands.[52][53]

Mitigations

ID Mitigation Description
M1031 Network Intrusion Prevention

Network intrusion detection and prevention systems that use network signatures to identify traffic for specific adversary malware can be used to mitigate activity at the network level.

M1021 Restrict Web-Based Content

Web proxies can be used to enforce external network communication policy that prevents use of unauthorized external services.

Detection

ID Data Source Data Component Detects
DS0029 Network Traffic Network Connection Creation

Monitor for newly constructed network connections that are sent or received by untrusted hosts.

Network Traffic Content

Monitor and analyze traffic patterns and packet inspection associated to protocol(s) that do not follow the expected protocol standards and traffic flows (e.g extraneous packets that do not belong to established flows, gratuitous or anomalous traffic patterns, anomalous syntax, or structure). Consider correlation with process monitoring and command line to detect anomalous processes execution and command line arguments associated to traffic patterns (e.g. monitor anomalies in use of files that do not normally initiate connections for respective protocol(s)).

Network Traffic Flow

Monitor network data for uncommon data flows. Processes utilizing the network that do not normally have network communication or have never been seen before are suspicious.

References

  1. Meyers, A. (2013, March 29). Whois Numbered Panda. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  2. Hacquebord, F., Remorin, L. (2020, December 17). Pawn Storm’s Lack of Sophistication as a Strategy. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  3. FireEye. (2018, February 20). APT37 (Reaper): The Overlooked North Korean Actor. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  4. Mercer, W., Rascagneres, P. (2018, January 16). Korea In The Crosshairs. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  5. Rusu, B. (2020, May 21). Iranian Chafer APT Targeted Air Transportation and Government in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  6. Settle, A., et al. (2016, August 8). MONSOON - Analysis Of An APT Campaign. Retrieved September 22, 2016.
  7. Levene, B. et al.. (2018, March 7). Patchwork Continues to Deliver BADNEWS to the Indian Subcontinent. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  8. Lunghi, D., et al. (2017, December). Untangling the Patchwork Cyberespionage Group. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  9. FireEye Labs/FireEye Threat Intelligence. (2015, May 14). Hiding in Plain Sight: FireEye and Microsoft Expose Obfuscation Tactic. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  10. FireEye. (2018, March 16). Suspected Chinese Cyber Espionage Group (TEMP.Periscope) Targeting U.S. Engineering and Maritime Industries. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  11. Cash, D., Grunzweig, J., Meltzer, M., Adair, S., Lancaster, T. (2021, August 17). North Korean APT InkySquid Infects Victims Using Browser Exploits. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  12. CheckPoint Research. (2021, July 1). IndigoZebra APT continues to attack Central Asia with evolving tools. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  13. Mandiant. (n.d.). APT1 Exposing One of China’s Cyber Espionage Units. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  14. Mandiant. (n.d.). Appendix C (Digital) - The Malware Arsenal. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  15. Griffin, N. (2017, January 17). CARBANAK GROUP USES GOOGLE FOR MALWARE COMMAND-AND-CONTROL. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  16. Lunghi, D. et al. (2020, February). Uncovering DRBControl. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  17. Chen, T. and Chen, Z. (2020, February 17). CLAMBLING - A New Backdoor Base On Dropbox. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  18. F-Secure Labs. (2015, September 17). The Dukes: 7 years of Russian cyberespionage. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  19. Grunzweig, J. (2018, January 31). Comnie Continues to Target Organizations in East Asia. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  20. Faou, M. (2020, May). From Agent.btz to ComRAT v4: A ten-year journey. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  21. CISA. (2020, October 29). Malware Analysis Report (AR20-303A). Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  22. F-Secure Labs. (2015, April 22). CozyDuke: Malware Analysis. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  23. Microsoft. (2022, June 2). Exposing POLONIUM activity and infrastructure targeting Israeli organizations. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  24. Faou, M. (2020, December 2). Turla Crutch: Keeping the “back door” open. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  25. Grunzweig, J. (2018, October 01). NOKKI Almost Ties the Knot with DOGCALL: Reaper Group Uses New Malware to Deploy RAT. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  26. Schroeder, W., Warner, J., Nelson, M. (n.d.). Github PowerShellEmpire. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  27. Carr, N., et al. (2018, August 01). On the Hunt for FIN7: Pursuing an Enigmatic and Evasive Global Criminal Operation. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  1. CyberESI. (2011). TROJAN.GTALK. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  2. Abramov, D. (2020, April 13). Grandoreiro Malware Now Targeting Banks in Spain. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  3. ESET. (2020, April 28). Grandoreiro: How engorged can an EXE get?. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  4. Levene, B, et al. (2017, May 03). Kazuar: Multiplatform Espionage Backdoor with API Access. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  5. An, J and Malhotra, A. (2021, November 10). North Korean attackers use malicious blogs to deliver malware to high-profile South Korean targets. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  6. Saini, A. and Hossein, J. (2022, January 27). North Korea’s Lazarus APT leverages Windows Update client, GitHub in latest campaign. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  7. FireEye Threat Intelligence. (2015, December 1). China-based Cyber Threat Group Uses Dropbox for Malware Communications and Targets Hong Kong Media Outlets. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  8. Lee, B. and Falcone, R. (2017, February 15). Magic Hound Campaign Attacks Saudi Targets. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  9. Mele, G. et al. (2021, February 10). Probable Iranian Cyber Actors, Static Kitten, Conducting Cyberespionage Campaign Targeting UAE and Kuwait Government Agencies. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  10. Faou, M., Tartare, M., Dupuy, T. (2019, October). OPERATION GHOST. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  11. Axel F, Pierre T. (2017, October 16). Leviathan: Espionage actor spearphishes maritime and defense targets. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  12. Faou, M. and Dumont R.. (2019, May 29). A dive into Turla PowerShell usage. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  13. Gannon, M. (2019, February 11). With Upgrades in Delivery and Support Infrastructure, Revenge RAT Malware is a Bigger Threat. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  14. Lee, B., Falcone, R. (2019, January 18). DarkHydrus delivers new Trojan that can use Google Drive for C2 communications. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  15. Mercer, W., Rascagneres, P. (2017, April 03). Introducing ROKRAT. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  16. GReAT. (2019, May 13). ScarCruft continues to evolve, introduces Bluetooth harvester. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  17. Cash, D., Grunzweig, J., Adair, S., Lancaster, T. (2021, August 25). North Korean BLUELIGHT Special: InkySquid Deploys RokRAT. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  18. Cherepanov, A.. (2016, December 13). The rise of TeleBots: Analyzing disruptive KillDisk attacks. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  19. Cherepanov, A.. (2017, June 30). TeleBots are back: Supply chain attacks against Ukraine. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  20. NCSC GCHQ. (2022, January 27). Small Sieve Malware Analysis Report. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  21. ESET, et al. (2018, January). Diplomats in Eastern Europe bitten by a Turla mosquito. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  22. ESET Research. (2018, May 22). Turla Mosquito: A shift towards more generic tools. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  23. Hayashi, K. (2017, November 28). UBoatRAT Navigates East Asia. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  24. Schwarz, D., Sopko J. (2018, March 08). Donot Team Leverages New Modular Malware Framework in South Asia. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  25. Huntley, S. (2020, October 16). How We're Tackling Evolving Online Threats. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  26. Singh, S. and Antil, S. (2020, October 27). APT-31 Leverages COVID-19 Vaccine Theme and Abuses Legitimate Online Services. Retrieved March 24, 2021.