Lua

T1059.011

Sub-technique of T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter.View on attack.mitre.org

About this technique

Adversaries may abuse Lua commands and scripts for execution. Lua is a cross-platform scripting and programming language primarily designed for embedded use in applications. Lua can be executed on the command-line (through the stand-alone lua interpreter), via scripts (.lua), or from Lua-embedded programs (through the struct lua_State).

Lua scripts may be executed by adversaries for malicious purposes. Adversaries may incorporate, abuse, or replace existing Lua interpreters to allow for malicious Lua command execution at runtime.

Detection rules0

Rules on DetectionCode tagged with T1059.011.

Sigma0

No Sigma rules are mapped to this technique yet.

Splunk0

No Splunk rules are mapped to this technique yet.

Groups0

None recorded.

Software5

Campaigns0

None recorded.

Procedure examples5

Software5

Used byProcedure example
MalwareEvilBunny

EvilBunny has used Lua scripts to execute payloads.

MalwareLine Runner

Line Runner utilizes Lua scripts for command execution.

MalwarePoetRAT

PoetRAT has executed a Lua script through a Lua interpreter for Windows.

MalwareRedLine Stealer

RedLine Stealer malware has leveraged Lua bytecode to perform malicious behavior.

MalwareRemsec

Remsec can use modules written in Lua for execution.

References6

  1. Cyphort EvilBunny Open source
    Marschalek, Marion. (2014, December 16). EvilBunny: Malware Instrumented By Lua. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  2. Kaspersky Lua Open source
    Global Research and Analysis Team. (2016, August 9). The ProjectSauron APT. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  3. Lua Proofpoint Sunseed Open source
    Raggi, Michael. Cass, Zydeca. The Proofpoint Threat Research Team.. (2022, March 1). Asylum Ambuscade: State Actor Uses Lua-based Sunseed Malware to Target European Governments and Refugee Movement. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  4. Lua main page Open source
    Lua. (2024, June 25). Getting started. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  5. Lua state Open source
    Lua. (n.d.). lua_State. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  6. PoetRat Lua Open source
    Mercer, Warren. (2020, October 6). PoetRAT: Malware targeting public and private sector in Azerbaijan evolves. Retrieved August 5, 2024.

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