SVG Smuggling

T1027.017

Sub-technique of T1027 Obfuscated Files or Information.View on attack.mitre.org

About this technique

Adversaries may smuggle data and files past content filters by hiding malicious payloads inside of seemingly benign SVG files. SVGs, or Scalable Vector Graphics, are vector-based image files constructed using XML. As such, they can legitimately include `<script>` tags that enable adversaries to include malicious JavaScript payloads. However, SVGs may appear less suspicious to users than other types of executable files, as they are often treated as image files.

SVG smuggling can take a number of forms. For example, threat actors may include content that:

* Assembles malicious payloads
* Downloads malicious payloads
* Redirects users to malicious websites
* Displays interactive content to users, such as fake login forms and download buttons.

SVG Smuggling may be used in conjunction with HTML Smuggling where an SVG with a malicious payload is included inside an HTML file. SVGs may also be included in other types of documents, such as PDFs.

Detection rules0

Rules on DetectionCode tagged with T1027.017.

Sigma0

No Sigma rules are mapped to this technique yet.

Splunk0

No Splunk rules are mapped to this technique yet.

Groups0

None recorded.

Software0

None recorded.

Campaigns0

None recorded.

Procedure examples0

No procedure examples are recorded for this technique.

References4

  1. Bleeping Computer SVG Smuggling 2024 Open source
    Lawrence Abrams. (2024, November 17). Phishing emails increasingly use SVG attachments to evade detection. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  2. Cofense SVG Smuggling 2024 Open source
    Max Gannon. (2024, March 13). SVG Files Abused in Emerging Campaigns. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  3. Talos SVG Smuggling 2022 Open source
    Adam Katz and Jaeson Schultz. (2022, December 13). HTML smugglers turn to SVG images. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
  4. Trustwave SVG Smuggling 2025 Open source
    Bernard Bautista and Kevin Adriano. (2025, April 10). Pixel-Perfect Trap: The Surge of SVG-Borne Phishing Attacks. Retrieved April 14, 2025.

Data from MITRE ATT&CK® (Enterprise). ATT&CK® is a registered trademark of The MITRE Corporation.