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Browser Information Discovery

Adversaries may enumerate information about browsers to learn more about compromised environments. Data saved by browsers (such as bookmarks, accounts, and browsing history) may reveal a variety of personal information about users (e.g., banking sites, relationships/interests, social media, etc.) as well as details about internal network resources such as servers, tools/dashboards, or other related infrastructure.[1]

Browser information may also highlight additional targets after an adversary has access to valid credentials, especially Credentials In Files associated with logins cached by a browser.

Specific storage locations vary based on platform and/or application, but browser information is typically stored in local files and databases (e.g., %APPDATA%/Google/Chrome).[2]

ID: T1217
Sub-techniques:  No sub-techniques
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Tactic: Discovery
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Platforms: Linux, Windows, macOS
Contributors: Manikantan Srinivasan, NEC Corporation India; Mike Kemmerer; Yinon Engelsman, Talon Cyber Security; Yonatan Gotlib, Talon Cyber Security
Version: 2.0
Created: 18 April 2018
Last Modified: 16 April 2023
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Procedure Examples

ID Name Description
G0082 APT38

APT38 has collected browser bookmark information to learn more about compromised hosts, obtain personal information about users, and acquire details about internal network resources.[3]
S0274 Calisto

Calisto collects information on bookmarks from Google Chrome.[4]
G0114 Chimera

Chimera has used type \\c$\Users\\Favorites\Links\Bookmarks bar\Imported From IE*citrix* for bookmark discovery.[5]
S1153 Cuckoo Stealer

Cuckoo Stealer can collect bookmarks, cookies, and history from Safari.[6]
S0673 DarkWatchman

DarkWatchman can retrieve browser history.[7]
S0567 Dtrack

Dtrack can retrieve browser history.[8][9]
S0363 Empire

Empire has the ability to gather browser data such as bookmarks and visited sites.[10]
G0117 Fox Kitten

Fox Kitten has used Google Chrome bookmarks to identify internal resources and assets.[11]
S0681 Lizar

Lizar can retrieve browser history and database files.[12][13]

S0409 Machete

Machete retrieves the user profile data (e.g., browsers) from Chrome and Firefox browsers.[14]

S1060 Mafalda

Mafalda can collect the contents of the %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\LocalState file.[15]

S1122 Mispadu

Mispadu can monitor browser activity for online banking actions and display full-screen overlay images to block user access to the intended site or present additional data fields.[16][17]
S0079 MobileOrder

MobileOrder has a command to upload to its C2 server victim browser bookmarks.[18]
G1036 Moonstone Sleet

Moonstone Sleet deployed malware such as YouieLoader capable of capturing victim system browser information.[19]
S1012 PowerLess

PowerLess has a browser info stealer module that can read Chrome and Edge browser database files.[20]
G1015 Scattered Spider

Scattered Spider retrieves browser histories via infostealer malware such as Raccoon Stealer.[21]
S1042 SUGARDUMP

SUGARDUMP has collected browser bookmark and history information.[22]
G1017 Volt Typhoon

Volt Typhoon has targeted the browsing history of network administrators.[23]

Mitigations

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

Detection

ID Data Source Data Component Detects
DS0017 Command Command Execution

Monitor executed commands and arguments for actions that could be taken to gather browser information, such as local files and databases (e.g., %APPDATA%/Google/Chrome).[2] Remote access tools with built-in features may interact directly using APIs to gather information. Information may also be acquired through system management tools such as Windows Management Instrumentation and PowerShell.
DS0022 File File Access

Monitor for unusual access to stored browser data, such as local files and databases (e.g., %APPDATA%/Google/Chrome).[2] Rather than viewing these events in isolation, this activity may highlight a chain of behavior that could lead to other activities, such as Collection and Exfiltration.
DS0009 Process Process Creation

Monitor for processes with arguments that may be associated with gathering browser information, such as local files and databases (e.g., %APPDATA%/Google/Chrome).[2]

References

  1. Golubev, S. (n.d.). How malware steals autofill data from browsers. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  2. Chrome Enterprise and Education Help. (n.d.). Use Chrome Browser with Roaming User Profiles. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  3. DHS/CISA. (2020, August 26). FASTCash 2.0: North Korea's BeagleBoyz Robbing Banks. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  4. Kuzin, M., Zelensky S. (2018, July 20). Calisto Trojan for macOS. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  5. Jansen, W . (2021, January 12). Abusing cloud services to fly under the radar. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  6. Kohler, A. and Lopez, C. (2024, April 30). Malware: Cuckoo Behaves Like Cross Between Infostealer and Spyware. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  7. Smith, S., Stafford, M. (2021, December 14). DarkWatchman: A new evolution in fileless techniques. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  8. Konstantin Zykov. (2019, September 23). Hello! My name is Dtrack. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  9. Hod Gavriel. (2019, November 21). Dtrack: In-depth analysis of APT on a nuclear power plant. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  10. Schroeder, W., Warner, J., Nelson, M. (n.d.). Github PowerShellEmpire. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  11. CISA. (2020, September 15). Iran-Based Threat Actor Exploits VPN Vulnerabilities. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  12. Seals, T. (2021, May 14). FIN7 Backdoor Masquerades as Ethical Hacking Tool. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  1. BI.ZONE Cyber Threats Research Team. (2021, May 13). From pentest to APT attack: cybercriminal group FIN7 disguises its malware as an ethical hacker’s toolkit. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  2. ESET. (2019, July). MACHETE JUST GOT SHARPER Venezuelan government institutions under attack. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  3. Ehrlich, A., et al. (2022, September). THE MYSTERY OF METADOR | AN UNATTRIBUTED THREAT HIDING IN TELCOS, ISPS, AND UNIVERSITIES. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  4. Pedro Tavares (Segurança Informática). (2020, September 15). Threat analysis: The emergent URSA trojan impacts many countries using a sophisticated loader. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  5. SCILabs. (2021, December 23). Cyber Threat Profile Malteiro. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  6. Falcone, R. and Miller-Osborn, J.. (2016, January 24). Scarlet Mimic: Years-Long Espionage Campaign Targets Minority Activists. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
  7. Microsoft Threat Intelligence. (2024, May 28). Moonstone Sleet emerges as new North Korean threat actor with new bag of tricks. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  8. Cybereason Nocturnus. (2022, February 1). PowerLess Trojan: Iranian APT Phosphorus Adds New PowerShell Backdoor for Espionage. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  9. CISA. (2023, November 16). Cybersecurity Advisory: Scattered Spider (AA23-320A). Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  10. Mandiant Israel Research Team. (2022, August 17). Suspected Iranian Actor Targeting Israeli Shipping, Healthcare, Government and Energy Sectors. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  11. CISA et al.. (2024, February 7). PRC State-Sponsored Actors Compromise and Maintain Persistent Access to U.S. Critical Infrastructure. Retrieved May 15, 2024.