Threaticon
Toggle sidebar

You're viewing a limited, public preview. Log in for full access.

Log in User Guide
Log in Get started
Detection Strategies DET0324 — Detection Strategy for Polymorphic Code Mutation and Execution
DET0324

Detection Strategy for Polymorphic Code Mutation and Execution

3 analytic(s) · 1 technique(s) detected

Analytics

3
AN0919 Analytic 0919
Windows

Identifies self-modifying executables that exhibit changes in binary hash, entropy, or memory sections during or between executions—often tied to dynamic unpacking or decryption behaviors.

WinEventLog:Sysmon EventCode=1 WinEventLog:Sysmon EventCode=7 WinEventLog:Sysmon EventCode=10
[EntropyThreshold] Tune based on expected baseline entropy for executables; higher values may indicate polymorphic packing.
[TimeWindow] Correlate rapid process spawn + image load activity suggesting mutation engine usage.
[ParentProcessPatterns] Define expected or suspicious parent-child chains (e.g., script runner -> encoded PE)
AN0920 Analytic 0920
Linux

Detects files or processes where execution results in frequent re-creation or modification of ELF binaries or interpreter scripts, often using chmod + execve with abnormal entropy.

auditd:SYSCALL execve auditd:SYSCALL mmap auditd:SYSCALL chmod
[WriteExecThreshold] Tune to alert on write followed by chmod + exec in quick succession.
[FileEntropyDeviation] Detect high deviation from average entropy score of baseline ELF/script files.
[ExecutionFrequency] Abnormal burst executions of file with identical functionality but varying hash.
AN0921 Analytic 0921
macOS

Tracks modification of executables or interpreter payloads (e.g., Mach-O, dylib) that mutate across runs—using scripting engines, JIT compilers, or side-loaded plugins.

macos:unifiedlog code signature/memory protection fs:fsusage file open/write macos:endpointsecurity ES_EVENT_TYPE_NOTIFY_EXEC macos:endpointsecurity ES_EVENT_TYPE_NOTIFY_MMAP
[ScriptEnginePatterns] Detection may vary based on whether Python/Swift/AppleScript is used to mutate payloads.
[MachOEntropyThreshold] Entropy tuning based on expected baseline for system vs user binaries.
[SignedBinaryChangeRate] Helps flag apps that change but maintain signed status across invocations.

Detected Techniques

1

Details

MITRE ID
DET0324
STIX ID
x-mitre-detection-strategy--380da3b2-d92f-4361-b187-cedc8a118e0f
Analytics
3
Techniques Detected
1
By Tactic
Stealth
1
Leaving Threaticon

This link opens an external site that isn't part of the platform.