Sub-technique of T1588 Obtain Capabilities.View on attack.mitre.org
Adversaries may buy and/or steal SSL/TLS certificates that can be used during targeting. SSL/TLS certificates are designed to instill trust. They include information about the key, information about its owner's identity, and the digital signature of an entity that has verified the certificate's contents are correct. If the signature is valid, and the person examining the certificate trusts the signer, then they know they can use that key to communicate with its owner.
Adversaries may purchase or steal SSL/TLS certificates to further their operations, such as encrypting C2 traffic (ex: Asymmetric Cryptography with Web Protocols) or even enabling Adversary-in-the-Middle if the certificate is trusted or otherwise added to the root of trust (i.e. Install Root Certificate). The purchase of digital 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 certificate materials directly from a compromised third-party, including from certificate authorities. Adversaries may register or hijack domains that they will later purchase an SSL/TLS certificate for.
Certificate authorities exist that allow adversaries to acquire SSL/TLS certificates, such as domain validation certificates, for free.
After obtaining a digital certificate, an adversary may then install that certificate (see Install Digital Certificate) on infrastructure under their control.
Rules on DetectionCode tagged with T1588.004.
| Rule | Type | Risk | Data source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco Secure Firewall - Blacklisted SSL Certificate Fingerprint | TTP | NULL | Cisco Secure Firewall Threat Defense Connection Event |
None recorded.
| Used by | Procedure example |
|---|---|
| GroupBlackTech | BlackTech has used valid, stolen digital certificates for some of their malware and tools. |
| GroupLazarus Group | Lazarus Group has obtained SSL certificates for their C2 domains. |
| GroupLuminousMoth | LuminousMoth has used a valid digital certificate for some of their malware. |
| GroupMustang Panda | Mustang Panda has obtained SSL certificates for their C2 domains. |
| GroupSea Turtle | Sea Turtle created new certificates using a technique called the actors performed "certificate impersonation," a technique in which Sea Turtle obtained a certificate authority-signed X.509 certificate from another provider for the same domain imitating the one already used by the targeted organization. |
| GroupSilent Librarian | Silent Librarian has obtained free Let's Encrypt SSL certificates for use on their phishing pages. |
| GroupUNC3886 | UNC3886 has deployed malware using the victim's legitimate TLS certificate obtained from a compromised FortiGate device. |
| Used by | Procedure example |
|---|---|
| CampaignIndian Critical Infrastructure Intrusions | Indian Critical Infrastructure Intrusions included the use of digital certificates spoofing Microsoft. |
| CampaignOperation Honeybee | For Operation Honeybee, the threat actors stole a digital signature from Adobe Systems to use with their MaoCheng dropper. |
| CampaignRedDelta Modified PlugX Infection Chain Operations | Mustang Panda acquired Cloudflare Origin CA TLS certificates during RedDelta Modified PlugX Infection Chain Operations. |
Data from MITRE ATT&CK® (Enterprise). ATT&CK® is a registered trademark of The MITRE Corporation.
