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Hide Artifacts: Hidden Files and Directories

Adversaries may set files and directories to be hidden to evade detection mechanisms. To prevent normal users from accidentally changing special files on a system, most operating systems have the concept of a ‘hidden’ file. These files don’t show up when a user browses the file system with a GUI or when using normal commands on the command line. Users must explicitly ask to show the hidden files either via a series of Graphical User Interface (GUI) prompts or with command line switches (dir /a for Windows and ls –a for Linux and macOS).

On Linux and Mac, users can mark specific files as hidden simply by putting a "." as the first character in the file or folder name [1] [2]. Files and folders that start with a period, ‘.’, are by default hidden from being viewed in the Finder application and standard command-line utilities like "ls". Users must specifically change settings to have these files viewable.

Files on macOS can also be marked with the UF_HIDDEN flag which prevents them from being seen in Finder.app, but still allows them to be seen in Terminal.app [3]. On Windows, users can mark specific files as hidden by using the attrib.exe binary. Many applications create these hidden files and folders to store information so that it doesn’t clutter up the user’s workspace. For example, SSH utilities create a .ssh folder that’s hidden and contains the user’s known hosts and keys.

Adversaries can use this to their advantage to hide files and folders anywhere on the system and evading a typical user or system analysis that does not incorporate investigation of hidden files.

ID: T1564.001
Sub-technique of:  T1564
Tactic: Defense Evasion
Platforms: Linux, Windows, macOS
Permissions Required: User
Data Sources: File monitoring, Process command-line parameters, Process monitoring
Defense Bypassed: Host forensic analysis
Version: 1.0
Created: 26 February 2020
Last Modified: 29 March 2020

Procedure Examples

Name Description
APT28

APT28 has saved files with hidden file attributes.[23][23]

APT32

APT32's macOS backdoor hides the clientID file via a chflags function.[27]

Attor

Attor can set attributes of log files and directories to HIDDEN, SYSTEM, ARCHIVE, or a combination of those.[17]

BackConfig

BackConfig has the ability to set folders or files to be hidden from the Windows Explorer default view.[22]

Calisto

Calisto uses a hidden directory named .calisto to store data from the victim’s machine before exfiltration.[6][7]

CoinTicker

CoinTicker downloads the following hidden files to evade detection and maintain persistence: /private/tmp/.info.enc, /private/tmp/.info.py, /private/tmp/.server.sh, ~/Library/LaunchAgents/.espl.plist, ~/Library/Containers/.[random string]/[random string].[12]

FruitFly

FruitFly saves itself with a leading "." to make it a hidden file.[8]

iKitten

iKitten saves itself with a leading "." so that it's hidden from users by default.[8]

Imminent Monitor

Imminent Monitor has a dynamic debugging feature to set the file attribute to hidden.[4]

Ixeshe

Ixeshe sets its own executable file's attributes to hidden.[13]

Komplex

The Komplex payload is stored in a hidden directory at /Users/Shared/.local/kextd.[1]

Lazarus Group

A Lazarus Group VBA Macro sets its file attributes to System and Hidden.[24]

Lokibot

Lokibot has the ability to copy itself to a hidden file and directory.[19]

LoudMiner

LoudMiner has set the attributes of the VirtualBox directory and VBoxVmService parent directory to "hidden".[21]

Machete

Machete has the capability to exfiltrate stolen data to a hidden folder on a removable drive.[15]

MacSpy

MacSpy stores itself in ~/Library/.DS_Stores/ [5]

Micropsia

Micropsia creates a new hidden directory to store all components' outputs in a dedicated sub-folder for each.[9]

Okrum

Before exfiltration, Okrum's backdoor has used hidden files to store logs and outputs from backdoor commands.[18]

OSX/Shlayer

OSX/Shlayer executes a .command script from a hidden directory in a mounted DMG.[14]

OSX_OCEANLOTUS.D

OSX_OCEANLOTUS.D sets the main loader file’s attributes to hidden.[10]

PoetRAT

PoetRAT has the ability to hide and unhide files.[16]

Rising Sun

Rising Sun can modify file attributes to hide files.[20]

Rocke

Rocke downloaded a file "libprocesshider", which could hide files on the target system.[28][29]

Tropic Trooper

Tropic Trooper has created a hidden directory under C:\ProgramData\Apple\Updates\ and C:\Users\Public\Documents\Flash\.[25][26]

WannaCry

WannaCry uses attrib +h to make some of its files hidden.[11]

Mitigations

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

Detection

Monitor the file system and shell commands for files being created with a leading "." and the Windows command-line use of attrib.exe to add the hidden attribute.

References

  1. Dani Creus, Tyler Halfpop, Robert Falcone. (2016, September 26). Sofacy's 'Komplex' OS X Trojan. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  2. Thomas Reed. (2017, January 18). New Mac backdoor using antiquated code. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  3. Claud Xiao. (n.d.). WireLurker: A New Era in iOS and OS X Malware. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  4. QiAnXin Threat Intelligence Center. (2019, February 18). APT-C-36: Continuous Attacks Targeting Colombian Government Institutions and Corporations. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  5. PETER EWANE. (2017, June 9). MacSpy: OS X RAT as a Service. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  6. Kuzin, M., Zelensky S. (2018, July 20). Calisto Trojan for macOS. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  7. Pantig, J. (2018, July 30). OSX.Calisto. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  8. Patrick Wardle. (n.d.). Mac Malware of 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  9. Tsarfaty, Y. (2018, July 25). Micropsia Malware. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  10. Horejsi, J. (2018, April 04). New MacOS Backdoor Linked to OceanLotus Found. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  11. Noerenberg, E., Costis, A., and Quist, N. (2017, May 16). A Technical Analysis of WannaCry Ransomware. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  12. Thomas Reed. (2018, October 29). Mac cryptocurrency ticker app installs backdoors. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  13. Sancho, D., et al. (2012, May 22). IXESHE An APT Campaign. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  14. Carbon Black Threat Analysis Unit. (2019, February 12). New macOS Malware Variant of Shlayer (OSX) Discovered. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  15. ESET. (2019, July). MACHETE JUST GOT SHARPER Venezuelan government institutions under attack. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  1. Mercer, W, et al. (2020, April 16). PoetRAT: Python RAT uses COVID-19 lures to target Azerbaijan public and private sectors. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  2. Hromcova, Z. (2019, October). AT COMMANDS, TOR-BASED COMMUNICATIONS: MEET ATTOR, A FANTASY CREATURE AND ALSO A SPY PLATFORM. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  3. Hromcova, Z. (2019, July). OKRUM AND KETRICAN: AN OVERVIEW OF RECENT KE3CHANG GROUP ACTIVITY. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  4. Hoang, M. (2019, January 31). Malicious Activity Report: Elements of Lokibot Infostealer. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  5. Sherstobitoff, R., Malhotra, A., et. al.. (2018, December 18). Operation Sharpshooter Campaign Targets Global Defense, Critical Infrastructure. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  6. Malik, M. (2019, June 20). LoudMiner: Cross-platform mining in cracked VST software. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  7. Hinchliffe, A. and Falcone, R. (2020, May 11). Updated BackConfig Malware Targeting Government and Military Organizations in South Asia. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  8. Mercer, W., et al. (2017, October 22). "Cyber Conflict" Decoy Document Used in Real Cyber Conflict. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  9. Sherstobitoff, R. (2018, February 12). Lazarus Resurfaces, Targets Global Banks and Bitcoin Users. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  10. Horejsi, J., et al. (2018, March 14). Tropic Trooper’s New Strategy. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  11. Chen, J.. (2020, May 12). Tropic Trooper’s Back: USBferry Attack Targets Air gapped Environments. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  12. Dumont, R.. (2019, April 9). OceanLotus: macOS malware update. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  13. Liebenberg, D.. (2018, August 30). Rocke: The Champion of Monero Miners. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  14. Xingyu, J.. (2019, January 17). Malware Used by Rocke Group Evolves to Evade Detection by Cloud Security Products. Retrieved May 26, 2020.