Techniques › T1560 › T1560.003
T1560.003 Archive via Custom Method
collection — Linux, macOS, Windows · attack.mitre.org · JSON
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MITRE detection strategy
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analytics
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Sigma rules tagged attack.t1560.003
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KEV CVEs mapped here
<p>An adversary may compress or encrypt data that is collected prior to exfiltration using a custom method. Adversaries may choose to use custom archival methods, such as encryption with XOR or stream ciphers implemented with no external library or utility references. Custom implementations of well-known compression algorithms have also been used.</p>
KEV CVEs mapped to this technique · CTID Mappings Explorer
None. No KEV entry in the public mapping names this technique. Given that 74.7% of KEV has no mapping at all, this says more about the mapping than about the technique.
Detection strategy · ATT&CK Enterprise v19.2
- DET0438 Detect Archiving via Custom Method (T1560.003) v1.0
AN1213 WindowsDetects suspicious custom compression/encryption routines through anomalous script or binary execution that produces high-entropy files without standard archiving utilities. Correlates script execution, memory API usage (bitwise ops, CryptoAPI calls), and creation of archive-like files with uncommon headers.Tunable:
EntropyThresholdAllowedProcessesTimeWindowAN1214 LinuxDetects custom archive routines by correlating script execution (Python, Perl, Bash) with creation of high-entropy files in temporary or user directories. Flags processes performing unusual bitwise operations or writing files without standard compression headers.auditd:SYSCALLexecve: Execution of interpreters creating archive-like outputs without calling tar/gzip→ DC0064 Command Executionauditd:FILEcreate: Creation of files with anomalous headers and entropy levels in /tmp or user directories→ DC0039 File Creationlinux:osqueryDetection of bitwise operations or custom encryption functions in memory traces→ DC0020 Process ModificationTunable:ArchivePathsEntropyThresholdScriptAllowlistAN1215 macOSDetects custom archiving by monitoring execution of Swift/Objective-C apps or scripts producing high-entropy files with non-standard headers. Correlates unified logs of abnormal NSFileHandle/NSData operations, memory use of XOR/bitwise operations, and file creation events.macos:unifiedlogSuspicious Swift/Objective-C or scripting processes writing archive-like outputs→ DC0032 Process Creationmacos:unifiedlogAbnormal memory operations (XOR/bitwise loops) during archive generation→ DC0020 Process ModificationTunable:UserContextEntropyThresholdAllowedApps
Sigma rules · SigmaHQ da9bb07d64, tag attack.t1560.003
No Sigma rule carries this tag. MITRE publishes a detection strategy above, so the behaviour is specified; what is missing is public detection content.
Rules tagged at the parent level (attack.t1560) 4
These target the parent technique, not this sub-technique specifically. Listed for completeness, not counted as coverage.
Author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), AdmU3
· 2023-12-19 · logsource: product=windows category=process_creation · 418a3163-3247-4b7b-9933-dcfcb7c52ea9
Detects execution of "tar.exe" in order to create a compressed file.
Adversaries may abuse various utilities to compress or encrypt data before exfiltration.
Author: Timur Zinniatullin, oscd.community
· 2019-10-21 (modified 2023-12-15) · logsource: product=windows category=ps_script · 6dc5d284-69ea-42cf-9311-fb1c3932a69a
Detects PowerShell scripts that make use of the "Compress-Archive" cmdlet in order to compress folders and files.
An adversary might compress data (e.g., sensitive documents) that is collected prior to exfiltration in order to make it portable and minimize the amount of data sent over the network.
Author: Max Altgelt (Nextron Systems), Tobias Michalski (Nextron Systems)
· 2021-08-09 (modified 2022-10-09) · logsource: product=windows category=process_creation · aa92fd02-09f2-48b0-8a93-864813fb8f41
Detects a command used by conti to exfiltrate NTDS
Author: AdmU3
· 2023-12-19 · logsource: product=windows category=process_creation · bf361876-6620-407a-812f-bfe11e51e924
Detects execution of "tar.exe" in order to extract compressed file.
Adversaries may abuse various utilities in order to decompress data to avoid detection.