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System Time Discovery

An adversary may gather the system time and/or time zone settings from a local or remote system. The system time is set and stored by services, such as the Windows Time Service on Windows or systemsetup on macOS.[1][2][3] These time settings may also be synchronized between systems and services in an enterprise network, typically accomplished with a network time server within a domain.[4][5]

System time information may be gathered in a number of ways, such as with Net on Windows by performing net time \hostname to gather the system time on a remote system. The victim's time zone may also be inferred from the current system time or gathered by using w32tm /tz.[2] In addition, adversaries can discover device uptime through functions such as GetTickCount() to determine how long it has been since the system booted up.[6]

On network devices, Network Device CLI commands such as show clock detail can be used to see the current time configuration.[7] On ESXi servers, esxcli system clock get can be used for the same purpose.

In addition, system calls – such as time() – have been used to collect the current time on Linux devices.[8] On macOS systems, adversaries may use commands such as systemsetup -gettimezone or timeIntervalSinceNow to gather current time zone information or current date and time.[9][10]

This information could be useful for performing other techniques, such as executing a file with a Scheduled Task/Job[11], or to discover locality information based on time zone to assist in victim targeting (i.e. System Location Discovery). Adversaries may also use knowledge of system time as part of a time bomb, or delaying execution until a specified date/time.[12]

ID: T1124
Sub-techniques:  No sub-techniques
ⓘ
Tactic: Discovery
ⓘ
Platforms: ESXi, Linux, Network Devices, Windows, macOS
Contributors: Austin Clark, @c2defense; FIRST.ORG's Cyber Threat Intelligence SIG
Version: 1.5
Created: 31 May 2017
Last Modified: 24 October 2025
Version Permalink

Procedure Examples

ID Name Description
S0331 Agent Tesla

Agent Tesla can collect the timestamp from the victim’s machine.[13]
S0622 AppleSeed

AppleSeed can pull a timestamp from the victim's machine.[14]
S0373 Astaroth

Astaroth collects the timestamp from the infected machine. [15]
S1053 AvosLocker

AvosLocker has checked the system time before and after encryption.[16]
S0344 Azorult

Azorult can collect the time zone information from the system.[17][18]
S1081 BADHATCH

BADHATCH can obtain the DATETIME and UPTIME from a compromised machine.[19]

S0534 Bazar

Bazar can collect the time on the compromised host.[20][21]
S1246 BeaverTail

BeaverTail has obtained and sent the current timestamp associated with the victim device to C2.[22]
S0574 BendyBear

BendyBear has the ability to determine local time on a compromised host.[23]

S0017 BISCUIT

BISCUIT has a command to collect the system UPTIME.[24]
S0268 Bisonal

Bisonal can check the system time set on the infected host.[25]
S0657 BLUELIGHT

BLUELIGHT can collect the local time on a compromised host.[26]
G0060 BRONZE BUTLER

BRONZE BUTLER has used net time to check the local time on a target system.[27]
S0471 build_downer

build_downer has the ability to determine the local time to ensure malware installation only happens during the hours that the infected system is active.[28]
C0015 C0015

During C0015, the threat actors used the command net view /all time to gather the local time of a compromised network.[29]
S0351 Cannon

Cannon can collect the current time zone information from the victim’s machine.[30]
S0335 Carbon

Carbon uses the command net time \127.0.0.1 to get information the system’s time.[31]
S1043 ccf32

ccf32 can determine the local time on targeted machines.[32]
G0114 Chimera

Chimera has used time /t and net time \ip/hostname for system time discovery.[33]
S0660 Clambling

Clambling can determine the current time.[34]
S0126 ComRAT

ComRAT has checked the victim system's date and time to perform tasks during business hours (9 to 5, Monday to Friday).[35]

S0608 Conficker

Conficker uses the current UTC victim system date for domain generation and connects to time servers to determine the current date.[36][37]
S0115 Crimson

Crimson has the ability to determine the date and time on a compromised host.[38]
G1012 CURIUM

CURIUM deployed mechanisms to check system time information following strategic website compromise attacks.[39]
S1111 DarkGate

DarkGate creates a log file for capturing keylogging, clipboard, and related data using the victim host's current date for the filename.[40] DarkGate queries victim system epoch time during execution.[40] DarkGate captures system time information as part of automated profiling on initial installation.[41]
G0012 Darkhotel

Darkhotel malware can obtain system time from a compromised host.[42]
S0673 DarkWatchman

DarkWatchman can collect time zone information and system UPTIME.[43]
S1033 DCSrv

DCSrv can compare the current time on an infected host with a configuration value to determine when to start the encryption process.[44]
S1134 DEADWOOD

DEADWOOD will set a timestamp value to determine when wiping functionality starts. When the timestamp is met on the system, a trigger file is created on the operating system allowing for execution to proceed. If the timestamp is in the past, the wiper will execute immediately.[45]
S0694 DRATzarus

DRATzarus can use the GetTickCount and GetSystemTimeAsFileTime API calls to inspect system time.[46]
S1159 DUSTTRAP

DUSTTRAP reads the infected system's current time and writes it to a log file during execution.[47]
S0554 Egregor

Egregor contains functionality to query the local/system time.[48]
S0091 Epic

Epic uses the net time command to get the system time from the machine and collect the current date and time zone information.[49]
S0396 EvilBunny

EvilBunny has used the API calls NtQuerySystemTime, GetSystemTimeAsFileTime, and GetTickCount to gather time metrics as part of its checks to see if the malware is running in a sandbox.[50]
S0267 FELIXROOT

FELIXROOT gathers the time zone information from the victim’s machine.[51]
G0046 FIN7

FIN7 has used the PowerShell script 3CF9.ps1 to execute net time.[52]

S1044 FunnyDream

FunnyDream can check system time to help determine when changes were made to specified files.[32]
S0588 GoldMax

GoldMax can check the current date-time value of the compromised system, comparing it to the hardcoded execution trigger and can send the current timestamp to the C2 server.[53][54]

S0531 Grandoreiro

Grandoreiro can determine the time on the victim machine via IPinfo.[55]
S0237 GravityRAT

GravityRAT can obtain the date and time of a system.[56]
S0690 Green Lambert

Green Lambert can collect the date and time from a compromised host.[57][58]
S0417 GRIFFON

GRIFFON has used a reconnaissance module that can be used to retrieve the date and time of the system.[59]

G0126 Higaisa

Higaisa used a function to gather the current time.[60]
S0376 HOPLIGHT

HOPLIGHT has been observed collecting system time from victim machines.[61]
S0260 InvisiMole

InvisiMole gathers the local system time from the victim’s machine.[62][63]
S1051 KEYPLUG

KEYPLUG can obtain the current tick count of an infected computer.[64]
G0032 Lazarus Group

A Destover-like implant used by Lazarus Group can obtain the current system time and send it to the C2 server.[65]
S1244 Medusa Ransomware

Medusa Ransomware has discovered device uptime through GetTickCount().[66]
S0455 Metamorfo

Metamorfo uses JavaScript to get the system time.[67]

S0149 MoonWind

MoonWind obtains the victim's current time.[68]
S0039 Net

The net time command can be used in Net to determine the local or remote system time.[69]
S1147 Nightdoor

Nightdoor can identify the system local time information.[70]
S0353 NOKKI

NOKKI can collect the current timestamp of the victim's machine.[71]
S0439 Okrum

Okrum can obtain the date and time of the compromised system.[72]
S0264 OopsIE

OopsIE checks to see if the system is configured with "Daylight" time and checks for a specific region to be set for the timezone.[73]
C0012 Operation CuckooBees

During Operation CuckooBees, the threat actors used the net time command as part of their advanced reconnaissance.[74]
C0014 Operation Wocao

During Operation Wocao, threat actors used the time command to retrieve the current time of a compromised system.[75]
S1233 PAKLOG

PAKLOG has collected a timestamp to log the precise time a key was pressed, formatted as %Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S.[76]
S0501 PipeMon

PipeMon can send time zone information from a compromised host to C2.[77]
S0013 PlugX

PlugX has identified system time through its GetSystemInfo command.[78]
S0139 PowerDuke

PowerDuke has commands to get the time the machine was built, the time, and the time zone.[79]
S0238 Proxysvc

As part of the data reconnaissance phase, Proxysvc grabs the system time to send back to the control server.[65]
S1228 PUBLOAD

PUBLOAD has collected the machine’s tick count through the use of GetTickCount.[80]
S0650 QakBot

QakBot can identify the system time on a targeted host.[81]
S1148 Raccoon Stealer

Raccoon Stealer gathers victim machine timezone information.[82][83]
S0148 RTM

RTM can obtain the victim time zone.[84]
S0596 ShadowPad

ShadowPad has collected the current date and time of the victim system.[85]
S0140 Shamoon

Shamoon obtains the system time and will only activate if it is greater than a preset date.[86][87]
S0450 SHARPSTATS

SHARPSTATS has the ability to identify the current date and time on the compromised host.[88]
S1178 ShrinkLocker

ShrinkLocker retrieves a system timestamp that is used in generating an encryption key.[89]
G0121 Sidewinder

Sidewinder has used tools to obtain the current system time.[90]
S0692 SILENTTRINITY

SILENTTRINITY can collect start time information from a compromised host.[91]
S0615 SombRAT

SombRAT can execute getinfo to discover the current time on a compromised host.[92][93]
S1227 StarProxy

StarProxy has utilized the windows API call GetLocalTime() to retrieve a SystemTime structure to generate a seed value.[94]
S0380 StoneDrill

StoneDrill can obtain the current date and time of the victim machine.[95]

S1034 StrifeWater

StrifeWater can collect the time zone from the victim's machine.[96]
S0603 Stuxnet

Stuxnet collects the time and date of a system when it is infected.[97]
S0559 SUNBURST

SUNBURST collected device UPTIME.[98][99]
S1064 SVCReady

SVCReady can collect time zone information.[100]
S0098 T9000

T9000 gathers and beacons the system time during installation.[101]
S0011 Taidoor

Taidoor can use GetLocalTime and GetSystemTime to collect system time.[102]
S0586 TAINTEDSCRIBE

TAINTEDSCRIBE can execute GetLocalTime for time discovery.[103]
S0467 TajMahal

TajMahal has the ability to determine local time on a compromised host.[104]
G0089 The White Company

The White Company has checked the current date on the victim system.[105]
S0678 Torisma

Torisma can collect the current time on a victim machine.[106]
G0010 Turla

Turla surveys a system upon check-in to discover the system time by using the net time command.[49]
G1048 UNC3886

UNC3886 has used installation scripts to collect the system time on targeted ESXi hosts.[107]
S0275 UPPERCUT

UPPERCUT has the capability to obtain the time zone information and current timestamp of the victim’s machine.[108]
G1017 Volt Typhoon

Volt Typhoon has obtained the victim's system timezone.[109]
S0466 WindTail

WindTail has the ability to generate the current date and time.[110]
S0251 Zebrocy

Zebrocy gathers the current time zone and date information from the system.[111][112]
S0330 Zeus Panda

Zeus Panda collects the current system time (UTC) and sends it back to the C2 server.[113]
G0128 ZIRCONIUM

ZIRCONIUM has used a tool to capture the time on a compromised host in order to register it with C2.[114]

Mitigations

This type of attack technique cannot be easily mitigated with preventive controls since it is based on the abuse of system features.

Detection Strategy

ID Name Analytic ID Analytic Description
DET0151 Behavior-chain, platform-aware detection strategy for T1124 System Time Discovery AN0430

Untrusted or unusual process/script (cmd.exe, powershell.exe, w32tm.exe, net.exe, custom binaries) queries system time/timezone (e.g., w32tm /tz, net time \host, Get-TimeZone, GetTickCount API) and (optionally) is followed within a short window by time-based scheduling or conditional execution (e.g., schtasks /create, at.exe, PowerShell Start-Sleep with large values).
AN0431

A process (often spawned by a shell, interpreter, or malware implant) executes time discovery via commands (date, timedatectl, hwclock, cat /etc/timezone, /proc/uptime) or direct syscalls (time(), clock_gettime) and is (optionally) followed by scheduled task creation/modification (crontab, at) or conditional sleep logic.
AN0432

Process/script execution of systemsetup -gettimezone, date, ioreg, or API usage (timeIntervalSinceNow, gettimeofday) followed by time-based scheduling (launchd plist modification) or sleep-based execution.
AN0433

Interactive or remote shell/API invocation of esxcli system clock get or querying time parameters via hostd/vpxa shortly followed by time/ntp configuration checks or scheduled task creation, executed by non-standard accounts or outside maintenance windows.
AN0434

Non-standard or rare users/locations issue CLI commands like "show clock detail" or "show timezone"; optionally followed by configuration of time/timezone or NTP sources. AAA/TACACS+ accounting and syslog correlate execution to identity, source IP, and privilege level.

References

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