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T1533 Data from Local System

Adversaries may search local system sources, such as file systems or local databases, to find files of interest and sensitive data prior to exfiltration.

Access to local system data, which includes information stored by the operating system, often requires escalated privileges. Examples of local system data include authentication tokens, the device keyboard cache, Wi-Fi passwords, and photos. On Android, adversaries may also attempt to access files from external storage which may require additional storage-related permissions.

Item Value
ID T1533
Sub-techniques
Tactics TA0035
Platforms Android, iOS
Version 1.1
Created 10 October 2019
Last Modified 01 April 2022

Procedure Examples

ID Name Description
S1061 AbstractEmu AbstractEmu can collect files from or inspect the device’s filesystem.11
S0422 Anubis Anubis can exfiltrate files encrypted with the ransomware module from the device and can modify external storage.67
S0655 BusyGasper BusyGasper can collect images stored on the device and browser history.29
S0555 CHEMISTGAMES CHEMISTGAMES can collect files from the filesystem and account information from Google Chrome.32
S0426 Concipit1248 Concipit1248 can collect device photos.8
S0425 Corona Updates Corona Updates can collect voice notes, device accounts, and gallery images.8
S0301 Dendroid Dendroid can collect the device’s photos, browser history, bookmarks, and accounts stored on the device.22
S0505 Desert Scorpion Desert Scorpion can collect attacker-specified files, including files located on external storage.27
S0550 DoubleAgent DoubleAgent has collected files from the infected device.2
S1054 Drinik Drinik can request the READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE and WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE Android permissions.28
S0507 eSurv eSurv can exfiltrate device pictures.12
S0405 Exodus Exodus Two can extract information on pictures from the Gallery, Chrome and SBrowser bookmarks, and the connected WiFi network’s password.21
S0408 FlexiSpy FlexiSpy can monitor device photos and can also access browser history and bookmarks.1
S0577 FrozenCell FrozenCell has retrieved device images for exfiltration.23
S0423 Ginp Ginp can download device logs.26
S0535 Golden Cup Golden Cup can collect images, videos, and attacker-specified files.4
S0551 GoldenEagle GoldenEagle has retrieved .doc, .txt, .gif, .apk, .jpg, .png, .mp3, and .db files from external storage.2
S0421 GolfSpy GolfSpy can collect local accounts on the device, pictures, bookmarks/histories of the default browser, and files stored on the SD card. GolfSpy can list image, audio, video, and other files stored on the device. GolfSpy can copy arbitrary files from the device.3
S0290 Gooligan Gooligan steals authentication tokens that can be used to access data from multiple Google applications.9
S0536 GPlayed GPlayed can collect the user’s browser cookies.30
S0406 Gustuff Gustuff can capture files and photos from the compromised device.10
S0544 HenBox HenBox can steal data from various sources, including chat, communication, and social media apps.13
S0463 INSOMNIA INSOMNIA can collect application database files, including Gmail, Hangouts, device photos, and container directories of third-party apps.25
S0407 Monokle Monokle can retrieve the salt used when storing the user’s password, aiding an adversary in computing the user’s plaintext password/PIN from the stored password hash. Monokle can also capture the user’s dictionary, user-defined shortcuts, and browser history, enabling profiling of the user and their activities.31
C0016 Operation Dust Storm During Operation Dust Storm, the threat actors used Android backdoors capable of exfiltrating specific files directly from the infected devices.35
S0295 RCSAndroid RCSAndroid can collect passwords for Wi-Fi networks and online accounts, including Skype, Facebook, Twitter, Google, WhatsApp, Mail, and LinkedIn.19
S0549 SilkBean SilkBean can retrieve files from external storage and can collect browser data.2
S0305 SpyNote RAT SpyNote RAT can copy files from the device to the C2 server.14
S0328 Stealth Mango Stealth Mango collected and exfiltrated data from the device, including sensitive letters/documents, stored photos, and stored audio files.17
S0329 Tangelo Tangelo accesses browser history, pictures, and videos.17
S1069 TangleBot TangleBot can request permission to view files and media.24
S0558 Tiktok Pro Tiktok Pro can collect device photos and credentials from other applications.18
S0427 TrickMo TrickMo can steal pictures from the device.33
S0418 ViceLeaker ViceLeaker can copy arbitrary files from the device to the C2 server, can exfiltrate browsing history, can exfiltrate the SD card structure, and can exfiltrate pictures as the user takes them.1516
S0506 ViperRAT ViperRAT can collect device photos, PDF documents, Office documents, browser history, and browser bookmarks.20
G0112 Windshift Windshift has exfiltrated local account data and calendar information as part of Operation ROCK.34
S0489 WolfRAT WolfRAT can collect user account, photos, browser history, and arbitrary files.5

References

  1. FlexiSpy. (n.d.). FlexiSpy Monitoring Features. Retrieved September 4, 2019. ↩

  2. A. Kumar, K. Del Rosso, J. Albrecht, C. Hebeisen. (2020, June 1). Mobile APT Surveillance Campaigns Targeting Uyghurs - A collection of long-running Android tooling connected to a Chinese mAPT actor. Retrieved November 10, 2020. ↩↩↩

  3. E. Xu, G. Guo. (2019, June 28). Mobile Cyberespionage Campaign ‘Bouncing Golf’ Affects Middle East. Retrieved January 27, 2020. ↩

  4. R. Iarchy, E. Rynkowski. (2018, July 5). GoldenCup: New Cyber Threat Targeting World Cup Fans. Retrieved October 29, 2020. ↩

  5. W. Mercer, P. Rascagneres, V. Ventura. (2020, May 19). The wolf is back… . Retrieved July 20, 2020. ↩

  6. M. Feller. (2020, February 5). Infostealer, Keylogger, and Ransomware in One: Anubis Targets More than 250 Android Applications. Retrieved April 8, 2020. ↩

  7. K. Sun. (2019, January 17). Google Play Apps Drop Anubis, Use Motion-based Evasion. Retrieved January 20, 2021. ↩

  8. T. Bao, J. Lu. (2020, April 14). Coronavirus Update App Leads to Project Spy Android and iOS Spyware. Retrieved April 24, 2020. ↩↩

  9. Check Point Research Team. (2016, November 30). More Than 1 Million Google Accounts Breached by Gooligan. Retrieved December 12, 2016. ↩

  10. Vitor Ventura. (2019, April 9). Gustuff banking botnet targets Australia . Retrieved September 3, 2019. ↩

  11. P Shunk, K Balaam. (2021, October 28). Rooting Malware Makes a Comeback: Lookout Discovers Global Campaign. Retrieved February 6, 2023. ↩

  12. A. Bauer. (2019, April 8). Lookout discovers phishing sites distributing new iOS and Android surveillanceware. Retrieved September 11, 2020. ↩

  13. A. Hinchliffe, M. Harbison, J. Miller-Osborn, et al. (2018, March 13). HenBox: The Chickens Come Home to Roost. Retrieved September 9, 2019. ↩

  14. Shivang Desai. (2017, January 23). SpyNote RAT posing as Netflix app. Retrieved January 26, 2017. ↩

  15. GReAT. (2019, June 26). ViceLeaker Operation: mobile espionage targeting Middle East. Retrieved November 21, 2019. ↩

  16. L. Arsene, C. Ochinca. (2018, August 20). Triout – Spyware Framework for Android with Extensive Surveillance Capabilities. Retrieved January 21, 2020. ↩

  17. Lookout. (n.d.). Stealth Mango & Tangelo. Retrieved September 27, 2018. ↩↩

  18. S. Desai. (2020, September 8). TikTok Spyware. Retrieved January 5, 2021. ↩

  19. Veo Zhang. (2015, July 21). Hacking Team RCSAndroid Spying Tool Listens to Calls; Roots Devices to Get In. Retrieved December 22, 2016. ↩

  20. M. Flossman. (2017, February 16). ViperRAT: The mobile APT targeting the Israeli Defense Force that should be on your radar. Retrieved September 11, 2020. ↩

  21. Security Without Borders. (2019, March 29). Exodus: New Android Spyware Made in Italy. Retrieved September 3, 2019. ↩

  22. Marc Rogers. (2014, March 6). Dendroid malware can take over your camera, record audio, and sneak into Google Play. Retrieved December 22, 2016. ↩

  23. Michael Flossman. (2017, October 5). FrozenCell: Multi-platform surveillance campaign against Palestinians. Retrieved November 11, 2020. ↩

  24. Felipe Naves, Andrew Conway, W. Stuart Jones, Adam McNeil . (2021, September 23). TangleBot: New Advanced SMS Malware Targets Mobile Users Across U.S. and Canada with COVID-19 Lures. Retrieved February 28, 2023. ↩

  25. I. Beer. (2019, August 29). Implant Teardown. Retrieved June 2, 2020. ↩

  26. ThreatFabric. (2019, November). Ginp - A malware patchwork borrowing from Anubis. Retrieved April 8, 2020. ↩

  27. A. Blaich, M. Flossman. (2018, April 16). Lookout finds new surveillanceware in Google Play with ties to known threat actor targeting the Middle East. Retrieved September 11, 2020. ↩

  28. Cyble. (2022, October 27). Drinik Malware Returns With Advanced Capabilities Targeting Indian Taxpayers. Retrieved January 18, 2023. ↩

  29. Alexey Firsh. (2018, August 29). BusyGasper – the unfriendly spy. Retrieved October 1, 2021. ↩

  30. V. Ventura. (2018, October 11). GPlayed Trojan - .Net playing with Google Market . Retrieved November 24, 2020. ↩

  31. Bauer A., Kumar A., Hebeisen C., et al. (2019, July). Monokle: The Mobile Surveillance Tooling of the Special Technology Center. Retrieved September 4, 2019. ↩

  32. B. Leonard, N. Mehta. (2019, November 21). The Secret Life of Sandworms. Retrieved December 31, 2020. ↩

  33. P. Asinovsky. (2020, March 24). TrickBot Pushing a 2FA Bypass App to Bank Customers in Germany. Retrieved April 24, 2020. ↩

  34. The BlackBerry Research & Intelligence Team. (2020, October). BAHAMUT: Hack-for-Hire Masters of Phishing, Fake News, and Fake Apps. Retrieved February 8, 2021. ↩

  35. Gross, J. (2016, February 23). Operation Dust Storm. Retrieved December 22, 2021. ↩