Applied Cybernetics Group
T1083 File and Directory Discovery
- Technique
T1083- Tactics
- Discovery
- Research, 90 days
- 9
- KEV CVEs mapped
- 5
- SigmaHQ rules
- 24
- Elastic, Splunk
- 33
- thrunt rules
- 0
- Upstream
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1083
MITRE description
Adversaries may enumerate files and directories or may search in specific locations of a host or network share for certain information within a file system. Adversaries may use the information from [File and Directory Discovery](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1083) during automated discovery to shape follow-on behaviors, including whether or not the adversary fully infects the target and/or attempts specific actions. Many command shell utilities can be used to obtain this information. Examples include <code>dir</code>, <code>tree</code>, <code>ls</code>, <code>find</code>, and <code>locate</code>.(Citation: Windows Commands JPCERT) Custom tools may also be used to gather file and directory information and interact with the [Native API](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1106). Adversaries may also leverage a [Network Device CLI](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/008) on network devices to gather file and directory information (e.g. <code>dir</code>, <code>show flash</code>, and/or <code>nvram</code>).(Citation: US-CERT-TA18-106A) Some files and directories may require elevated or specific user permissions to access.
KEV CVEs mapped to this technique
MITRE CTID maps these KEV CVEs to this technique by hand. They are the actively exploited vulnerabilities behind this technique's KEV signal.
Research citing this technique
Reports and advisories from the last 90 days that cite this technique.
-
2026-10-22Group-IB: Inside SiriusQT: A Seriously Skilled RAT -
2026-10-21Group-IB: Stray Cat, Open Doors: How k0t Wanders Through the Network Edge -
2026-10-14Group-IB: KGB RAT: A Fully Undetectable Windows Trojan Built to Spy, Steal, and Terrorize -
2026-10-08Zscaler ThreatLabz: Suspected TraderTraitor Group Uses Trojanized Terraform Provider to Deliver Cross-Platform Malware -
2026-10-06Flare: CrocoRat Adds a New Twist to ClickFix with DNS Payload Delivery -
2026-10-02Group-IB: Anatomía de BraZetsu: Cómo los cibercriminales abastecen el ecosistema clandestino -
2026-09-17ESET: Beware the SparroWock: The backdoor that bites, the commands that catch -
2026-08-31Group-IB: Anatomy of BraZetsu: How Cybercriminals Fuel the Underground Ecosystem -
2026-08-27Recorded Future Insikt: BlueDelta Targets Defense and Diplomacy with HOOKEDGE
Detection coverage
SigmaHQ community rules
- Turla Group Lateral Movement (emerging-threats)
- WannaCry Ransomware Activity (emerging-threats)
- Linux Capabilities Discovery (core)
- Shell Invocation via Apt - Linux (core)
- Capabilities Discovery - Linux (core)
- File and Directory Discovery - Linux (core)
- Shell Execution via Find - Linux (core)
- Shell Execution via Flock - Linux (core)
- Shell Execution GCC - Linux (core)
- Shell Execution via Nice - Linux (core)
- PUA - TruffleHog Execution - Linux (core)
- Potential Discovery Activity Using Find - Linux (core)
- Vim GTFOBin Abuse - Linux (core)
- File and Directory Discovery - MacOS (core)
- Potential Discovery Activity Using Find - MacOS (core)
- Cisco Discovery (core)
- Source Code Enumeration Detection by Keyword (core)
- Powershell Sensitive File Discovery (core)
- Powershell Directory Enumeration (core)
- DirLister Execution (core)
- HackTool - PCHunter Execution (core)
- Notepad Password Files Discovery (core)
- PUA - Seatbelt Execution (core)
- PUA - TruffleHog Execution (core)
Elastic and Splunk rules
- Potential Credential Discovery via Recursive Grep (elastic)
- Web Server Local File Inclusion Activity (elastic)
- Web Server Potential Remote File Inclusion Activity (elastic)
- Cloud Credential Search Detected via Defend for Containers (elastic)
- Sensitive Keys Or Passwords Search Detected via Defend for Containers (elastic)
- Kubelet Pod Discovery Detected via Defend for Containers (elastic)
- OpenAI ChatGPT Enterprise Google Drive Sensitive Query Burst (elastic)
- OpenAI ChatGPT Enterprise Slack Query Burst (elastic)
- OpenAI ChatGPT Enterprise Suspicious Gmail Discovery (elastic)
- ESXi Virtual Disk Files Enumerated (elastic)
- AWS Credentials Searched For Inside A Container (elastic)
- Sensitive Keys Or Passwords Searched For Inside A Container (elastic)
- Suspicious Dynamic Linker Discovery via od (elastic)
- ESXI Discovery via Find (elastic)
- ESXI Discovery via Grep (elastic)
- Kernel Instrumentation Discovery via kprobes and tracefs (elastic)
- Kubeconfig File Discovery (elastic)
- Private Key Searching Activity (elastic)
- Process Capability Enumeration (elastic)
- Security File Access via Common Utilities (elastic)
- SUID/SGUID Enumeration Detected (elastic)
- Suspicious Memory grep Activity (elastic)
- Suspicious which Enumeration (elastic)
- Yum/DNF Plugin Status Discovery (elastic)
- Suspicious System Commands Executed by Previously Unknown Executable (elastic)
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