Applied Cybernetics Group
T1048.001 Exfiltration Over Symmetric Encrypted Non-C2 Protocol
- Technique
T1048.001- Tactics
- Exfiltration
- Research, 90 days
- 1
- KEV CVEs mapped
- 0
- SigmaHQ rules
- 1
- Elastic, Splunk
- 1
- thrunt rules
- 0
- Upstream
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1048/001
MITRE description
Adversaries may steal data by exfiltrating it over a symmetrically encrypted network protocol other than that of the existing command and control channel. The data may also be sent to an alternate network location from the main command and control server. Symmetric encryption algorithms are those that use shared or the same keys/secrets on each end of the channel. This requires an exchange or pre-arranged agreement/possession of the value used to encrypt and decrypt data.(Citation: Exfiltration Over Symmetric Encrypted Non-C2 Protocol) Network protocols that use asymmetric encryption often utilize symmetric encryption once keys are exchanged, but adversaries may opt to manually share keys and implement symmetric cryptographic algorithms (ex: RC4, AES) vice using mechanisms that are baked into a protocol. This may result in multiple layers of encryption (in protocols that are natively encrypted such as HTTPS) or encryption in protocols that are not typically encrypted (such as HTTP or FTP).
Research citing this technique
Reports and advisories from the last 90 days that cite this technique.
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2026-11-03ESET: Gorbag: Orcs at the border harvesting intelligence from Ukraine
Detection coverage
SigmaHQ community rules
Elastic and Splunk rules
- Potential Data Exfiltration Through Curl (elastic)