| ID | Name |
|---|---|
| T1588.001 | Malware |
| T1588.002 | Tool |
| T1588.003 | Code Signing Certificates |
| T1588.004 | Digital Certificates |
| T1588.005 | Exploits |
| T1588.006 | Vulnerabilities |
| T1588.007 | Artificial Intelligence |
Adversaries may buy and/or steal code signing certificates that can be used during targeting. Code signing is the process of digitally signing executables and scripts to confirm the software author and guarantee that the code has not been altered or corrupted. Code signing provides a level of authenticity for a program from the developer and a guarantee that the program has not been tampered with.[1] Users and/or security tools may trust a signed piece of code more than an unsigned piece of code even if they don't know who issued the certificate or who the author is.
Prior toCode Signing, adversaries may purchase or steal code signing certificates for use in operations. The purchase of code signing 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 code signing materials directly from a compromised third-party.
| ID | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| C0040 | APT41 DUST | APT41 DUST used stolen code signing certificates to signDUSTTRAP malware and components.[2] |
| G0098 | BlackTech | BlackTech has used stolen code-signing certificates for its malicious payloads.[3] |
| G0061 | FIN8 | FIN8 has used an expired open-source X.509 certificate for testing in the OpenSSL repository, to connect to actor-controlled C2 servers.[4] |
| C0038 | HomeLand Justice | DuringHomeLand Justice, threat actors used tools with legitimate code signing certificates.[5] |
| G0094 | Kimsuky | Kimsuky has stolen a valid certificate that is used to sign the malware and the dropper.[6] |
| S0576 | MegaCortex | MegaCortex has used code signing certificates issued to fake companies to bypass security controls.[7] |
| G0129 | Mustang Panda | Mustang Panda has used revoked code signing certificates for its malicious payloads.[8] |
| G0049 | OilRig | OilRig has obtained stolen code signing certificates to digitally sign malware.[9] |
| C0022 | Operation Dream Job | DuringOperation Dream Job,Lazarus Group used code signing certificates issued by Sectigo RSA for some of its malware and tools.[10] |
| G0027 | Threat Group-3390 | Threat Group-3390 has obtained stolen valid certificates, including from VMProtect and the Chinese instant messaging application Youdu, for their operations.[11] |
| G0102 | Wizard Spider | Wizard Spider has obtained code signing certificates signed by DigiCert, GlobalSign, and COMOOD for malware payloads.[12][13] |
| ID | Mitigation | Description |
|---|---|---|
| M1056 | Pre-compromise | This technique cannot be easily mitigated with preventive controls since it is based on behaviors performed outside of the scope of enterprise defenses and controls. |
| ID | Name | Analytic ID | Analytic Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| DET0875 | Detection of Code Signing Certificates | AN2007 | Consider analyzing code signing certificates for features that may be associated with the adversary and/or their developers, such as the thumbprint, algorithm used, validity period, common name, and certificate authority. Malware repositories can also be used to identify additional samples associated with the adversary and identify patterns an adversary has used in procuring code signing certificates. |