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Detection Strategies DET0131 — Behavioral Detection Strategy for Exfiltration Over Alternative Protocol
DET0131

Behavioral Detection Strategy for Exfiltration Over Alternative Protocol

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

Analytics

5
AN0367 Analytic 0367
Windows

Detects unusual outbound file transfer behavior using protocols like FTP, SMB, SMTP, or DNS, involving non-standard processes, off-hour activity, or uncommonly high volume.

WinEventLog:Sysmon EventCode=3, 22 WinEventLog:Sysmon EventCode=11 WinEventLog:Security EventCode=4688
[DataVolumeThresholdMB] Set threshold for outbound volume (e.g., >50MB in a single connection).
[ProtocolAllowList] Allow-listed protocols in use for specific machines or users (e.g., FTP allowed for backups).
[TimeWindow] Define allowed time-of-day windows (e.g., flag after-hours file transfer).
[ParentProcessAnomaly] Identify anomalous parent-child process relationships (e.g., `winword.exe` spawning `ftp.exe`).
AN0368 Analytic 0368
Linux

Detects file exfiltration using tools like curl, scp, or custom binaries over protocols such as FTP, HTTP/S, or DNS tunneling, especially outside baseline user behavior.

auditd:SYSCALL execve auditd:SYSCALL connect auditd:SYSCALL open auditd:SYSCALL write NSM:Flow NetFlow/Zeek conn.log
[ProtocolType] Flag unexpected protocols (e.g., HTTP on port 53 or FTP traffic from non-standard tools).
[UserContext] Scope for privilege escalation or service account behavior.
[FileExtensionSensitivity] Track movement of file types of interest (e.g., `.csv`, `.sql`, `.key`).
AN0369 Analytic 0369
macOS

Detects non-native file transfer via curl, Python scripts, or AppleScript using uncommon protocols like FTP, SMTP, or DNS exfiltration through mDNSResponder abuse.

macos:unifiedlog log stream (subsystem: com.apple.system.networking) macos:osquery process_events macos:osquery file_events
[ProtocolUnusualnessScore] Weight rarely-used protocols in user space.
[ExecutableBaselining] Track which binaries usually call curl/nc and alert on deviation.
AN0370 Analytic 0370
IaaS

Detects access to cloud APIs or CLI tools to move or sync files from sensitive buckets to external endpoints using protocols like HTTPS or S3 APIs.

AWS:CloudTrail GetObject, CopyObject AWS:VPCFlowLogs Outbound data flows
[IAMRoleContext] Detect unauthorized use of roles for cloud storage manipulation.
[GeoDestinationThreshold] Alert on outbound flows to geo-locations not seen in training baseline.
AN0371 Analytic 0371
ESXi

Detects outbound traffic from hostd/vpxa or guest VM interfaces using unauthorized protocols such as FTP, HTTP POST bursts, or long-lived DNS tunnels.

esxi:hostd logline inspection esxi:vmkernel protocol egress
[GuestTrafficBaseline] Expected protocols used by VMs attached to host interfaces.
[ServiceAccountProfile] Unexpected network activity from hypervisor processes or monitoring agents.

Detected Techniques

1

Details

MITRE ID
DET0131
STIX ID
x-mitre-detection-strategy--ed9ef930-ec1f-4e57-a110-9b647e2ca195
Analytics
5
Techniques Detected
1
By Tactic
Exfiltration
1
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