T1588.002 Tool

Technique

T1588.002

Tactics

Resource Development

Research, 90 days

4

KEV CVEs mapped

0

SigmaHQ rules

9

Elastic, Splunk

3

thrunt rules

0

Upstream

https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1588/002

MITRE description

Adversaries may buy, steal, or download software tools that can be used during targeting. Tools can be open or closed source, free or commercial. A tool can be used for malicious purposes by an adversary, but (unlike malware) were not intended to be used for those purposes (ex: [PsExec](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0029)). Adversaries may obtain tools to support their operations, including to support execution of post-compromise behaviors. Tools may also be leveraged for testing – for example, evaluating malware against commercial antivirus or endpoint detection and response (EDR) applications.(Citation: Forescout Conti Leaks 2022)(Citation: Sentinel Labs Top Tier Target 2025) Tool acquisition may involve the procurement of commercial software licenses, including for red teaming tools such as Cobalt Strike. In addition to freely downloading or purchasing software, adversaries may steal software and/or software licenses from third-party entities (including other adversaries). Threat actors may also crack trial versions of software.(Citation: Recorded Future Beacon 2019)

Research citing this technique

Reports and advisories from the last 90 days that cite this technique.

• 2026-10-26 Huntress: AI, Scripts, Operator: Inside the ConnectWise Attack
• 2026-10-21 Group-IB: Stray Cat, Open Doors: How k0t Wanders Through the Network Edge
• 2026-10-08 ESET: MATCHBOIL: New tricks, same old evil intentions
• 2026-08-13 Recorded Future Insikt: Malware Crypting Services and the Threat Actors Who Sell Them

Detection coverage

SigmaHQ community rules

• Hacktool Execution - Imphash (core)
• Hacktool Execution - PE Metadata (core)
• Renamed SysInternals DebugView Execution (core)
• Potential Execution of Sysinternals Tools (core)
• PUA - Sysinternal Tool Execution - Registry (core)
• Suspicious Execution Of Renamed Sysinternals Tools - Registry (core)
• PUA - Sysinternals Tools Execution - Registry (core)
• Usage of Renamed Sysinternals Tools - RegistrySet (core)
• Suspicious Keyboard Layout Load (core)

Elastic and Splunk rules

• Windows NirSoft Tool Bundle File Created (splunk)
• Windows NirSoft Utilities (splunk)
• Cisco Secure Firewall - Connection to File Sharing Domain (splunk)

Signal counts reflect the current corpus snapshot. Research citations are the technique IDs named in vendor reports and government advisories from the last 90 days; KEV mappings come from MITRE CTID. Coverage is the SigmaHQ rule inventory (core, emerging-threats, threat-hunting) at release r2026-07-01 plus Elastic and Splunk production rules. Rule bodies are not mirrored; links go upstream.