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T1204.002 Malicious File

An adversary may rely upon a user opening a malicious file in order to gain execution. Users may be subjected to social engineering to get them to open a file that will lead to code execution. This user action will typically be observed as follow-on behavior from Spearphishing Attachment. Adversaries may use several types of files that require a user to execute them, including .doc, .pdf, .xls, .rtf, .scr, .exe, .lnk, .pif, and .cpl.

Adversaries may employ various forms of Masquerading and Obfuscated Files or Information to increase the likelihood that a user will open and successfully execute a malicious file. These methods may include using a familiar naming convention and/or password protecting the file and supplying instructions to a user on how to open it.1

While Malicious File frequently occurs shortly after Initial Access it may occur at other phases of an intrusion, such as when an adversary places a file in a shared directory or on a user’s desktop hoping that a user will click on it. This activity may also be seen shortly after Internal Spearphishing.

Item Value
ID T1204.002
Sub-techniques T1204.001, T1204.002, T1204.003
Tactics TA0002
Platforms Linux, Windows, macOS
Version 1.3
Created 11 March 2020
Last Modified 21 April 2023

Procedure Examples

ID Name Description
G0018 admin@338 admin@338 has attempted to get victims to launch malicious Microsoft Word attachments delivered via spearphishing emails.148
S0331 Agent Tesla Agent Tesla has been executed through malicious e-mail attachments 18
G0130 Ajax Security Team Ajax Security Team has lured victims into executing malicious files.147
G0138 Andariel Andariel has attempted to lure victims into enabling malicious macros within email attachments.103
G1007 Aoqin Dragon Aoqin Dragon has lured victims into opening weaponized documents, fake external drives, and fake antivirus to execute malicious payloads.16
S0584 AppleJeus AppleJeus has required user execution of a malicious MSI installer.24
S0622 AppleSeed AppleSeed can achieve execution through users running malicious file attachments distributed via email.56
G0099 APT-C-36 APT-C-36 has prompted victims to accept macros in order to execute the subsequent payload.186
G0005 APT12 APT12 has attempted to get victims to open malicious Microsoft Word and PDF attachment sent via spearphishing.236237
G0073 APT19 APT19 attempted to get users to launch malicious attachments delivered via spearphishing emails.175
G0007 APT28 APT28 attempted to get users to click on Microsoft Office attachments containing malicious macro scripts.182183184
G0016 APT29 APT29 has used various forms of spearphishing attempting to get a user to open attachments, including, but not limited to, malicious Microsoft Word documents, .pdf, and .lnk files. 210209211
G0013 APT30 APT30 has relied on users to execute malicious file attachments delivered via spearphishing emails.203
G0050 APT32 APT32 has attempted to lure users to execute a malicious dropper delivered via a spearphishing attachment.24424524624788
G0064 APT33 APT33 has used malicious e-mail attachments to lure victims into executing malware.149
G0067 APT37 APT37 has sent spearphishing attachments attempting to get a user to open them.235
G0082 APT38 APT38 has attempted to lure victims into enabling malicious macros within email attachments.165
G0087 APT39 APT39 has sent spearphishing emails in an attempt to lure users to click on a malicious attachment.220221222223
S0373 Astaroth Astaroth has used malicious files including VBS, LNK, and HTML for execution.22
S0606 Bad Rabbit Bad Rabbit has been executed through user installation of an executable disguised as a flash installer.9293
S0642 BADFLICK BADFLICK has relied upon users clicking on a malicious attachment delivered through spearphishing.82
S0234 Bandook Bandook has used lure documents to convince the user to enable macros.36
S0268 Bisonal Bisonal has relied on users to execute malicious file attachments delivered via spearphishing emails.64
G1002 BITTER BITTER has attempted to lure victims into opening malicious attachments delivered via spearphishing.31137
S1070 Black Basta Black Basta has been downloaded and executed from malicious Excel files.1415
G0098 BlackTech BlackTech has used e-mails with malicious documents to lure victims into installing malware.1197
S0520 BLINDINGCAN BLINDINGCAN has lured victims into executing malicious macros embedded within Microsoft Office documents.19
S0635 BoomBox BoomBox has gained execution through user interaction with a malicious file.9
G0060 BRONZE BUTLER BRONZE BUTLER has attempted to get users to launch malicious Microsoft Word attachments delivered via spearphishing emails.188189
S1063 Brute Ratel C4 Brute Ratel C4 has gained execution through users opening malicious documents.3
S1039 Bumblebee Bumblebee has relied upon a user opening an ISO file to enable execution of malicious shortcut files and DLLs.54535255
S0482 Bundlore Bundlore has attempted to get users to execute a malicious .app file that looks like a Flash Player update.17
C0011 C0011 During C0011, Transparent Tribe relied on a student target to open a malicious document delivered via email.255
C0015 C0015 During C0015, the threat actors relied on users to enable macros within a malicious Microsoft Word document.252
S0348 Cardinal RAT Cardinal RAT lures victims into executing malicious macros embedded within Microsoft Excel documents.65
S0465 CARROTBALL CARROTBALL has been executed through users being lured into opening malicious e-mail attachments.4
S0631 Chaes Chaes requires the user to click on the malicious Word document to execute the next part of the attack.69
S0660 Clambling Clambling has gained execution through luring victims into opening malicious files.96
G0080 Cobalt Group Cobalt Group has sent emails containing malicious attachments that require users to execute a file or macro to infect the victim machine.152153
G0142 Confucius Confucius has lured victims to execute malicious attachments included in crafted spearphishing emails related to current topics.7
S0527 CSPY Downloader CSPY Downloader has been delivered via malicious documents with embedded macros.5
G1012 CURIUM CURIUM has lured users into opening malicious files delivered via social media.212
S1014 DanBot DanBot has relied on victims’ opening a malicious file for initial execution.3029
G0070 Dark Caracal Dark Caracal makes their malware look like Flash Player, Office, or PDF documents in order to entice a user to click on it.104
G0012 Darkhotel Darkhotel has sent spearphishing emails in an attempt to lure users into clicking on a malicious attachments.150151
G0079 DarkHydrus DarkHydrus has sent malware that required users to hit the enable button in Microsoft Excel to allow an .iqy file to be downloaded.109110
S1066 DarkTortilla DarkTortilla has relied on a user to open a malicious document or archived file delivered via email for initial execution.61
S1021 DnsSystem DnsSystem has lured victims into opening macro-enabled Word documents for execution.94
G0035 Dragonfly Dragonfly has used various forms of spearphishing in attempts to get users to open malicious attachments.131
S0384 Dridex Dridex has relied upon users clicking on a malicious attachment delivered through spearphishing.95
G1006 Earth Lusca Earth Lusca required users to click on a malicious file for the loader to activate.130
G0066 Elderwood Elderwood has leveraged multiple types of spearphishing in order to attempt to get a user to open attachments.214215
G1003 Ember Bear Ember Bear has attempted to lure victims into executing malicious files.26
S0367 Emotet Emotet has relied upon users clicking on a malicious attachment delivered through spearphishing.798081
S0634 EnvyScout EnvyScout has been executed through malicious files attached to e-mails.9
G1011 EXOTIC LILY EXOTIC LILY has gained execution through victims clicking on malicious LNK files contained within ISO files, which can execute hidden DLLs within the ISO.22754
G0137 Ferocious Kitten Ferocious Kitten has attempted to convince victims to enable malicious content within a spearphishing email by including an odd decoy message.226
G0085 FIN4 FIN4 has lured victims to launch malicious attachments delivered via spearphishing emails (often sent from compromised accounts).249248
G0037 FIN6 FIN6 has used malicious documents to lure victims into allowing execution of PowerShell scripts.132
G0046 FIN7 FIN7 lured victims to double-click on images in the attachments they sent which would then execute the hidden LNK file.10110102
G0061 FIN8 FIN8 has used malicious e-mail attachments to lure victims into executing malware.172174173
S0696 Flagpro Flagpro has relied on users clicking a malicious attachment delivered through spearphishing.97
C0001 Frankenstein During Frankenstein, the threat actors relied on a victim to enable macros within a malicious Microsoft Word document likely sent via email.253
G0084 Gallmaker Gallmaker sent victims a lure document with a warning that asked victims to “enable content” for execution.163
G0047 Gamaredon Group Gamaredon Group has attempted to get users to click on Office attachments with malicious macros embedded.228229230231232233234
G0078 Gorgon Group Gorgon Group attempted to get users to launch malicious Microsoft Office attachments delivered via spearphishing emails.238
S0531 Grandoreiro Grandoreiro has infected victims via malicious attachments.83
S0561 GuLoader The GuLoader executable has been retrieved via embedded macros in malicious Word documents.67
S0499 Hancitor Hancitor has used malicious Microsoft Word documents, sent via email, which prompted the victim to enable macros.28
G1001 HEXANE HEXANE has relied on victim’s executing malicious file attachments delivered via email or embedded within actor-controlled websites to deliver malware.301072994
S1027 Heyoka Backdoor Heyoka Backdoor has been spread through malicious document lures.16
G0126 Higaisa Higaisa used malicious e-mail attachments to lure victims into executing LNK files.123124
S0483 IcedID IcedID has been executed through Word documents with malicious embedded macros.98
G0100 Inception Inception lured victims into clicking malicious files for machine reconnaissance and to execute malware.159160161162
G0136 IndigoZebra IndigoZebra sent spearphishing emails containing malicious attachments that urged recipients to review modifications in the file which would trigger the attack.166
G0119 Indrik Spider Indrik Spider has attempted to get users to click on a malicious zipped file.198
S0260 InvisiMole InvisiMole can deliver trojanized versions of software and documents, relying on user execution.59
S0528 Javali Javali has achieved execution through victims opening malicious attachments, including MSI files with embedded VBScript.22
S0389 JCry JCry has achieved execution by luring users to click on a file that appeared to be an Adobe Flash Player update installer. 90
S0648 JSS Loader JSS Loader has been executed through malicious attachments contained in spearphishing emails.10
S0585 Kerrdown Kerrdown has gained execution through victims opening malicious files.8889
S0526 KGH_SPY KGH_SPY has been spread through Word documents containing malicious macros.5
G0094 Kimsuky Kimsuky has used attempted to lure victims into opening malicious e-mail attachments.133134135556136
S0669 KOCTOPUS KOCTOPUS has relied on victims clicking a malicious document for execution.84
S0356 KONNI KONNI has relied on a victim to enable malicious macros within an attachment delivered via email.20
G0032 Lazarus Group Lazarus Group has attempted to get users to launch a malicious Microsoft Word attachment delivered via a spearphishing email.20250201200
G0140 LazyScripter LazyScripter has lured users to open malicious email attachments.84
G0065 Leviathan Leviathan has sent spearphishing attachments attempting to get a user to click.105106
S0447 Lokibot Lokibot has tricked recipients into enabling malicious macros by getting victims to click “enable content” in email attachments.7374
G0095 Machete Machete has relied on users opening malicious attachments delivered through spearphishing to execute malware.191192193194
G0059 Magic Hound Magic Hound has attempted to lure victims into opening malicious email attachments.125
G0045 menuPass menuPass has attempted to get victims to open malicious files such as Windows Shortcuts (.lnk) and/or Microsoft Office documents, sent via email as part of spearphishing campaigns.170168167169171
S0455 Metamorfo Metamorfo requires the user to double-click the executable to run the malicious HTA file or to download a malicious installer.7778
G0103 Mofang Mofang‘s malicious spearphishing attachments required a user to open the file after receiving.195
G0021 Molerats Molerats has sent malicious files via email that tricked users into clicking Enable Content to run an embedded macro and to download malicious archives.217218219
S1026 Mongall Mongall has relied on a user opening a malicious document for execution.16
G0069 MuddyWater MuddyWater has attempted to get users to enable macros and launch malicious Microsoft Word documents delivered via spearphishing emails.14114614013813914514314421142
G0129 Mustang Panda Mustang Panda has sent malicious files requiring direct victim interaction to execute.176177178179180181
G0019 Naikon Naikon has convinced victims to open malicious attachments to execute malware.204
S0637 NativeZone NativeZone can display an RTF document to the user to enable execution of Cobalt Strike stage shellcode.9
S0198 NETWIRE NETWIRE has been executed through luring victims into opening malicious documents.666768
G0133 Nomadic Octopus Nomadic Octopus as attempted to lure victims into clicking on malicious attachments within spearphishing emails.21658
S0340 Octopus Octopus has relied upon users clicking on a malicious attachment delivered through spearphishing.58
G0049 OilRig OilRig has delivered macro-enabled documents that required targets to click the “enable content” button to execute the payload on the system.239240241242
C0022 Operation Dream Job During Operation Dream Job, Lazarus Group lured victims into executing malicious documents that contained “dream job” descriptions from defense, aerospace, and other sectors.251250
C0016 Operation Dust Storm During Operation Dust Storm, the threat actors relied on potential victims to open a malicious Microsoft Word document sent via email.257
C0006 Operation Honeybee During Operation Honeybee, threat actors relied on a victim to enable macros within a malicious Word document.256
C0013 Operation Sharpshooter During Operation Sharpshooter, the threat actors relied on victims executing malicious Microsoft Word or PDF files.258
C0005 Operation Spalax During Operation Spalax, the threat actors relied on a victim to open a PDF document and click on an embedded malicious link to download malware.254
S0402 OSX/Shlayer OSX/Shlayer has relied on users mounting and executing a malicious DMG file.8687
S1017 OutSteel OutSteel has relied on a user to execute a malicious attachment delivered via spearphishing.26
G0040 Patchwork Patchwork embedded a malicious macro in a Word document and lured the victim to click on an icon to execute the malware.99100
G0068 PLATINUM PLATINUM has attempted to get users to open malicious files by sending spearphishing emails with attachments to victims.164
S0435 PLEAD PLEAD has been executed via malicious e-mail attachments.11
S0428 PoetRAT PoetRAT has used spearphishing attachments to infect victims.34
S0453 Pony Pony has attempted to lure targets into downloading an attached executable (ZIP, RAR, or CAB archives) or document (PDF or other MS Office format).13
G0056 PROMETHIUM PROMETHIUM has attempted to get users to execute compromised installation files for legitimate software including compression applications, security software, browsers, file recovery applications, and other tools and utilities.3233
S0650 QakBot QakBot has gained execution through users opening malicious attachments.454741484246444349
S0458 Ramsay Ramsay has been executed through malicious e-mail attachments.57
G0075 Rancor Rancor attempted to get users to click on an embedded macro within a Microsoft Office Excel document to launch their malware.108
S0496 REvil REvil has been executed via malicious MS Word e-mail attachments.707172
S0433 Rifdoor Rifdoor has been executed from malicious Excel or Word documents containing macros.27
S0240 ROKRAT ROKRAT has relied upon users clicking on a malicious attachment delivered through spearphishing.35
S0148 RTM RTM has relied on users opening malicious email attachments, decompressing the attached archive, and double-clicking the executable within.51
G0048 RTM RTM has attempted to lure victims into opening e-mail attachments to execute malicious code.122
S1018 Saint Bot Saint Bot has relied upon users to execute a malicious attachment delivered via spearphishing.2526
G0034 Sandworm Team Sandworm Team has tricked unwitting recipients into clicking on spearphishing attachments and enabling malicious macros embedded within files.224225
G1008 SideCopy SideCopy has attempted to lure victims into clicking on malicious embedded archive files sent via spearphishing campaigns.197
G0121 Sidewinder Sidewinder has lured targets to click on malicious files to gain execution in the target environment.205206207208
G0091 Silence Silence attempts to get users to launch malicious attachments delivered via spearphishing emails.127128129
S0390 SQLRat SQLRat relies on users clicking on an embedded image to execute the scripts.12
S1030 Squirrelwaffle Squirrelwaffle has relied on users enabling malicious macros within Microsoft Excel and Word attachments.7576
S1037 STARWHALE STARWHALE has relied on victims opening a malicious Excel file for execution.21
S0491 StrongPity StrongPity has been executed via compromised installation files for legitimate software including compression applications, security software, browsers, file recovery applications, and other tools and utilities.3233
S1042 SUGARDUMP Some SUGARDUMP variants required a user to enable a macro within a malicious .xls file for execution.91
S1064 SVCReady SVCReady has relied on users clicking a malicious attachment delivered through spearphishing.8
S0464 SYSCON SYSCON has been executed by luring victims to open malicious e-mail attachments.60
G0062 TA459 TA459 has attempted to get victims to open malicious Microsoft Word attachment sent via spearphishing.190
G0092 TA505 TA505 has used lures to get users to enable content in malicious attachments and execute malicious files contained in archives. For example, TA505 makes their malware look like legitimate Microsoft Word documents, .pdf and/or .lnk files. 113114115116117118119120121
G0127 TA551 TA551 has prompted users to enable macros within spearphishing attachments to install malware.126
S0011 Taidoor Taidoor has relied upon a victim to click on a malicious email attachment.40
G0089 The White Company The White Company has used phishing lure documents that trick users into opening them and infecting their computers.196
G0027 Threat Group-3390 Threat Group-3390 has lured victims into opening malicious files containing malware.96
S0665 ThreatNeedle ThreatNeedle relies on a victim to click on a malicious document for initial execution.50
G0131 Tonto Team Tonto Team has relied on user interaction to open their malicious RTF documents.21364
G0134 Transparent Tribe Transparent Tribe has used weaponized documents in e-mail to compromise targeted systems.154155156157158
S0266 TrickBot TrickBot has attempted to get users to launch malicious documents to deliver its payload. 6263
G0081 Tropic Trooper Tropic Trooper has lured victims into executing malware via malicious e-mail attachments.243
S0263 TYPEFRAME A Word document delivering TYPEFRAME prompts the user to enable macro execution.85
S0476 Valak Valak has been executed via Microsoft Word documents containing malicious macros.393738
S0670 WarzoneRAT WarzoneRAT has relied on a victim to open a malicious attachment within an email for execution.67
G0107 Whitefly Whitefly has used malicious .exe or .dll files disguised as documents or images.187
G0112 Windshift Windshift has used e-mail attachments to lure victims into executing malicious code.199
G0090 WIRTE WIRTE has attempted to lure users into opening malicious MS Word and Excel files to execute malicious payloads.185
G0102 Wizard Spider Wizard Spider has lured victims to execute malware with spearphishing attachments containing macros to download either Emotet, Bokbot, TrickBot, or Bazar.111112
S1065 Woody RAT Woody RAT has relied on users opening a malicious email attachment for execution.23
S1013 ZxxZ ZxxZ has relied on victims to open a malicious attachment delivered via email.31

Mitigations

ID Mitigation Description
M1040 Behavior Prevention on Endpoint On Windows 10, various Attack Surface Reduction (ASR) rules can be enabled to prevent the execution of potentially malicious executable files (such as those that have been downloaded and executed by Office applications/scripting interpreters/email clients or that do not meet specific prevalence, age, or trusted list criteria). Note: cloud-delivered protection must be enabled for certain rules. 2
M1038 Execution Prevention Application control may be able to prevent the running of executables masquerading as other files.
M1017 User Training Use user training as a way to bring awareness to common phishing and spearphishing techniques and how to raise suspicion for potentially malicious events.

Detection

ID Data Source Data Component
DS0022 File File Creation
DS0009 Process Process Creation

References

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