Virtualization/Sandbox Evasion: Time Based Evasion Defense Evasion [Mitre]

Adversaries may employ various time-based methods to detect and avoid virtualization and analysis environments. This may include enumerating time-based properties, such as uptime or the system clock, as well as the use of timers or other triggers to avoid a virtual machine environment (VME) or sandbox, specifically those that are automated or only operate for a limited amount of time. …

Debugger Evasion Defense Evasion [Mitre]

Adversaries may employ various means to detect and avoid debuggers. Debuggers are typically used by defenders to trace and/or analyze the execution of potential malware payloads.

Debugger evasion may include changing behaviors based on the results of the checks for the presence of artifacts indicative of a debugged environment. Similar to Virtualization/Sandbox Evasion, if the adversary detects a debugger, they …

Opaque Predicate Anti-Disassembly

Opaque predicate is a term used in programming to refer to decision making where there is only one possible outcome. This can be achieved through the use of complex or hard-to-understand logic, such as calculating a value that will always return True.

Opaque predicates are often used as anti-disassembling techniques, as they can make it difficult for an analyst to …

Process Reimaging Process Manipulating

Process Reimaging is a technique used to evade detection by endpoint security solutions. It is a variation of the Process Hollowing or Process Doppelganging techniques, which are used to execute arbitrary code in the context of another process.

The Windows operating system has inconsistencies in how it determines the locations of process image FILE_OBJECTs, which can impact the ability of …

Obfuscated Files or Information: Indicator Removal from Tools Defense Evasion [Mitre]

Adversaries may remove indicators from tools if they believe their malicious tool was detected, quarantined, or otherwise curtailed. They can modify the tool by removing the indicator and using the updated version that is no longer detected by the target's defensive systems or subsequent targets that may use similar systems.

A good example of this is when malware is detected …

Virtualization/Sandbox Evasion: System Checks Defense Evasion [Mitre]

Adversaries may employ various system checks to detect and avoid virtualization and analysis environments. This may include changing behaviors based on the results of checks for the presence of artifacts indicative of a virtual machine environment (VME) or sandbox. If the adversary detects a VME, they may alter their malware to disengage from the victim or conceal the core functions …

Virtualization/Sandbox Evasion: User Activity Based Checks Defense Evasion [Mitre]

Adversaries may employ various user activity checks to detect and avoid virtualization and analysis environments. This may include changing behaviors based on the results of checks for the presence of artifacts indicative of a virtual machine environment (VME) or sandbox. If the adversary detects a VME, they may alter their malware to disengage from the victim or conceal the core …

FLIRT Signatures Evasion Anti-Disassembly

FLIRT Signature evasion is a technique used by malware to hide malicious code inside legitimate functions from known libraries. FLIRT (Fast Library Identification and Recognition Technology) is a database that contains signature patterns for identifying known functions from legitimate libraries.

Malware authors can abuse these signatures by modifying or adding specific bytes to the code, so that it appears to …

Exploitation for Defense Evasion Defense Evasion [Mitre]

Adversaries may exploit a system or application vulnerability to bypass security features. Exploitation of a software vulnerability occurs when an adversary takes advantage of a programming error in a program, service, or within the operating system software or kernel itself to execute adversary-controlled code. Vulnerabilities may exist in defensive security software that can be used to disable or circumvent them. …

Execution Guardrails: Environmental Keying Defense Evasion [Mitre]

Adversaries may environmentally key payloads or other features of malware to evade defenses and constraint execution to a specific target environment. Environmental keying uses cryptography to constrain execution or actions based on adversary supplied environment specific conditions that are expected to be present on the target. Environmental keying is an implementation of Execution Guardrails that utilizes cryptographic techniques for deriving …

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