T1027.002: Software Packing

View on MITRE ATT&CK T1027.002
Tactic(s) Defense Evasion

Data from MITRE ATT&CK®:

Adversaries may perform software packing or virtual machine software protection to conceal their code. Software packing is a method of compressing or encrypting an executable. Packing an executable changes the file signature in an attempt to avoid signature-based detection. Most decompression techniques decompress the executable code in memory. Virtual machine software protection translates an executable's original code into a special format that only a special virtual machine can run. A virtual machine is then called to run this code.(Citation: ESET FinFisher Jan 2018)

Utilities used to perform software packing are called packers. Example packers are MPRESS and UPX. A more comprehensive list of known packers is available, but adversaries may create their own packing techniques that do not leave the same artifacts as well-known packers to evade defenses.(Citation: Awesome Executable Packing)

© 2024 The MITRE Corporation. This work is reproduced and distributed with the permission of The MITRE Corporation.

Cyber Threat Graph Context

Explore how this ATT&CK Technique relates to the wider threat graph

Reporting on this Technique

Report

CACTUS Ransomware: Prickly New Variant Evades Detection

This report by Kroll outlines TTPs and IoCs associated with CACTUS ransomware actors.

Report

APT40 Advisory - PRC MSS tradecraft in action

This advisory, authored by the Australian Cyber Security Centre and multiple other international cybersecurity agencies, outlines the threat posed ...

Report

StopRansomware: Phobos Ransomware

This is a joint Cybersecurity Advisory produced by CISA, the FBI and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC). It ...

Report

PRC State-Sponsored Actors Compromise and Maintain Persistent Access to U.S. Critical Infrastructure

Following an initial advisory issued in May 2023, this advisory from CISA, NSA and partners outlines information on the broader campaign of cyber ...

Report

Earth Lusca Uses Geopolitical Lure to Target Taiwan Before Elections

Blog post from researchers at Trend Micro discussing Earth Lusca and potential links to Chinese contractor I-Soon. Earth Lusca is a China-linked ...

Mitigations for this technique

MITRE ATT&CK Mitigations

How to detect this technique

MITRE ATT&CK Data Components

Control Validation Tests for this Technique

Use Atomic Red Team tests to test your defenses against this technique.

Sigma Detections for this Technique

SP800-53 Controls

See which controls can help protect against this MITRE ATT&CK technique. This is based on mappings to associated SP800-53 controls produced by the MITRE Engenuity Center for Threat-Informed Defense.