Data Manipulation: Stored Data Manipulation

Adversaries may insert, delete, or manipulate data at rest in order to influence external outcomes or hide activity, thus threatening the integrity of the data.[1][2] By manipulating stored data, adversaries may attempt to affect a business process, organizational understanding, and decision making.

Stored data could include a variety of file formats, such as Office files, databases, stored emails, and custom file formats. The type of modification and the impact it will have depends on the type of data as well as the goals and objectives of the adversary. For complex systems, an adversary would likely need special expertise and possibly access to specialized software related to the system that would typically be gained through a prolonged information gathering campaign in order to have the desired impact.

ID: T1565.001
Sub-technique of:  T1565
Tactic: Impact
Platforms: Linux, Windows, macOS
Impact Type: Integrity
Version: 1.1
Created: 02 March 2020
Last Modified: 19 April 2022

Procedure Examples

ID Name Description
G0082 APT38

APT38 has used DYEPACK to create, delete, and alter records in databases used for SWIFT transactions.[1]

S0562 SUNSPOT

SUNSPOT created a copy of the SolarWinds Orion software source file with a .bk extension to backup the original content, wrote SUNBURST using the same filename but with a .tmp extension, and then moved SUNBURST using MoveFileEx to the original filename with a .cs extension so it could be compiled within Orion software.[3]

Mitigations

ID Mitigation Description
M1041 Encrypt Sensitive Information

Consider encrypting important information to reduce an adversary’s ability to perform tailored data modifications.

M1029 Remote Data Storage

Consider implementing IT disaster recovery plans that contain procedures for taking regular data backups that can be used to restore organizational data.[4] Ensure backups are stored off system and is protected from common methods adversaries may use to gain access and manipulate backups.

M1022 Restrict File and Directory Permissions

Ensure least privilege principles are applied to important information resources to reduce exposure to data manipulation risk.

Detection

ID Data Source Data Component Detects
DS0022 File File Creation

Monitor for newly constructed files in order to manipulate external outcomes or hide activity

File Deletion

Monitor for unexpected deletion of a file in order to manipulate external outcomes or hide activity

File Modification

Monitor for unexpected files with manipulated data in order to manipulate external outcomes or hide activity

References