Applied Cybernetics Group
T1588.003 Code Signing Certificates
- Technique
T1588.003- Tactics
- Resource Development
- Research, 90 days
- 1
- KEV CVEs mapped
- 0
- SigmaHQ rules
- 0
- Elastic, Splunk
- 0
- thrunt rules
- 0
- Upstream
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1588/003
MITRE description
Adversaries may buy and/or steal code signing certificates that can be used during targeting. Code signing is the process of digitally signing executables and scripts to confirm the software author and guarantee that the code has not been altered or corrupted. Code signing provides a level of authenticity for a program from the developer and a guarantee that the program has not been tampered with.(Citation: Wikipedia Code Signing) Users and/or security tools may trust a signed piece of code more than an unsigned piece of code even if they don't know who issued the certificate or who the author is. Prior to [Code Signing](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1553/002), adversaries may purchase or steal code signing certificates for use in operations. The purchase of code signing certificates may be done using a front organization or using information stolen from a previously compromised entity that allows the adversary to validate to a certificate provider as that entity. Adversaries may also steal code signing materials directly from a compromised third-party.
Research citing this technique
Reports and advisories from the last 90 days that cite this technique.
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2026-08-13Recorded Future Insikt: Malware Crypting Services and the Threat Actors Who Sell Them
Detection coverage
Coverage data unavailable in this snapshot (community inventory not yet ingested).