Data is encrypted before being exfiltrated in order to hide the information that is being exfiltrated from detection or to make the exfiltration less conspicuous upon inspection by a defender. The encryption is performed by a utility, programming library, or custom algorithm on the data itself and is considered separate from any encryption performed by the command and control or file transfer protocol. Common file formats that can encrypt files are RAR and zip.
| ID | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| S0422 | Anubis |
Anubis exfiltrates data encrypted (with RC4) by its ransomware module.[1] |
| S0540 | Asacub |
Asacub has encrypted C2 communications using Base64-encoded RC4.[2] |
| S0505 | Desert Scorpion |
Desert Scorpion can encrypt exfiltrated data.[3] |
| S0405 | Exodus |
Exodus One encrypts data using XOR prior to exfiltration.[4] |
| S0577 | FrozenCell |
FrozenCell has compressed and encrypted data before exfiltration using password protected .7z archives.[5] |
| S0535 | Golden Cup |
Golden Cup has encrypted exfiltrated data using AES in ECB mode.[6] |
| S0421 | GolfSpy |
GolfSpy encrypts data using a simple XOR operation with a pre-configured key prior to exfiltration.[7] |
| S0424 | Triada |
This type of attack technique cannot be easily mitigated with preventive controls since it is based on the abuse of system features.
Many encryption mechanisms are built into standard application-accessible APIs, and are therefore undetectable to the end user.