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浏览器信息发现

ID Name
T1217.001 浏览器扩展注入发现
T1217.002 云同步数据劫持
T1217.003 内存残留信息提取
T1217.004 合法API滥用

浏览器信息发现是攻击者通过提取浏览器存储的用户数据（如书签、历史记录、自动填充凭证）进行情报收集的技术，旨在获取用户行为特征、内部系统访问记录等敏感信息。传统检测手段主要通过监控浏览器进程的异常文件访问行为（如读取Login Data数据库）、检测未经授权的API调用，或分析可疑的远程调试会话。防御方通常结合浏览器沙箱机制、内存保护技术和云同步日志审计进行防护。

为规避传统检测机制，攻击者发展出新型隐蔽信息获取技术，通过功能寄生、空间转移和接口滥用等策略，将数据收集行为深度融入浏览器正常业务逻辑，显著降低操作行为的异常性特征。

现有浏览器信息发现匿迹技术的核心逻辑在于攻击路径的合法化重构与数据流的非侵入式获取。浏览器扩展注入发现利用数字签名信任链，将恶意模块嵌入合法扩展更新流程，实现"权限白利用"；云同步数据劫持通过攻击链空间转移至云端，利用标准化API接口规避终端检测；内存残留信息提取突破传统文件监控维度，在易失性存储层构建无痕攻击通道；合法API滥用则完全遵循浏览器设计规范，通过协议级伪装实现攻击行为合法化。四类技术的共性在于突破传统攻击面的物理边界，通过浏览器生态的信任传递机制与系统接口的合规调用，将恶意操作转化为授权行为，使得基于行为特征或静态规则的检测体系难以生效。

匿迹技术的演进导致传统终端行为监控和文件审计机制防护效能下降，防御方需加强浏览器进程内存保护、扩展供应链安全检测，并构建云地协同的异常API调用分析体系，通过用户行为基线建模识别隐蔽数据收集行为。

ID: T1217
Sub-techniques:  T1217.001, T1217.002, T1217.003, T1217.004
ⓘ
Tactic: 环境测绘
ⓘ
Platforms: Linux, Windows, macOS
Contributors: Manikantan Srinivasan, NEC Corporation India; Mike Kemmerer; Yinon Engelsman, Talon Cyber Security; Yonatan Gotlib, Talon Cyber Security
Version: 2.0
Created: 18 April 2018
Last Modified: 16 April 2023

匿迹效应

效应类型 是否存在
特征伪装 ✅
行为透明 ✅
数据遮蔽 ✅
时空释痕 ❌

特征伪装

攻击者通过滥用浏览器合法接口（如调试协议、管理API）和数字签名扩展程序，使数据收集行为在协议特征、进程行为层面与正常操作完全一致。例如利用Chrome DevTools Protocol获取Cookies时，网络流量特征与开发者工具调试会话无异，实现攻击行为的深度伪装。

行为透明

内存残留提取技术通过直接读取进程内存空间获取解密后的敏感数据，绕过浏览器文件加密存储机制。由于不触发文件系统操作且利用系统合法API，传统基于文件访问日志或加密机制的安全防护无法感知攻击行为。

数据遮蔽

云同步数据劫持技术通过HTTPS加密通道传输窃取的浏览器数据，并利用云端服务的数据加密机制实现二次遮蔽。防御方既无法解析加密流量内容，也难以通过终端日志追溯数据泄露路径。

Procedure Examples

ID Name Description
G0082 APT38

APT38 has collected browser bookmark information to learn more about compromised hosts, obtain personal information about users, and acquire details about internal network resources.[1]
S0274 Calisto

Calisto collects information on bookmarks from Google Chrome.[2]
G0114 Chimera

Chimera has used type \\c$\Users\\Favorites\Links\Bookmarks bar\Imported From IE*citrix* for bookmark discovery.[3]
S1153 Cuckoo Stealer

Cuckoo Stealer can collect bookmarks, cookies, and history from Safari.[4]
S0673 DarkWatchman

DarkWatchman can retrieve browser history.[5]
S0567 Dtrack

Dtrack can retrieve browser history.[6][7]
S0363 Empire

Empire has the ability to gather browser data such as bookmarks and visited sites.[8]
G0117 Fox Kitten

Fox Kitten has used Google Chrome bookmarks to identify internal resources and assets.[9]
S0681 Lizar

Lizar can retrieve browser history and database files.[10][11]

S0409 Machete

Machete retrieves the user profile data (e.g., browsers) from Chrome and Firefox browsers.[12]

S1060 Mafalda

Mafalda can collect the contents of the %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\LocalState file.[13]

S1122 Mispadu

Mispadu can monitor browser activity for online banking actions and display full-screen overlay images to block user access to the intended site or present additional data fields.[14][15]
S0079 MobileOrder

MobileOrder has a command to upload to its C2 server victim browser bookmarks.[16]
G1036 Moonstone Sleet

Moonstone Sleet deployed malware such as YouieLoader capable of capturing victim system browser information.[17]
S1012 PowerLess

PowerLess has a browser info stealer module that can read Chrome and Edge browser database files.[18]
G1015 Scattered Spider

Scattered Spider retrieves browser histories via infostealer malware such as Raccoon Stealer.[19]
S1042 SUGARDUMP

SUGARDUMP has collected browser bookmark and history information.[20]
G1017 Volt Typhoon

Volt Typhoon has targeted the browsing history of network administrators.[21]

Mitigations

This type of attack technique cannot be easily mitigated with preventive controls since it is based on the abuse of system features.

Detection

ID Data Source Data Component Detects
DS0017 Command Command Execution

Monitor executed commands and arguments for actions that could be taken to gather browser information, such as local files and databases (e.g., %APPDATA%/Google/Chrome).[22] Remote access tools with built-in features may interact directly using APIs to gather information. Information may also be acquired through system management tools such as Windows Management Instrumentation and PowerShell.
DS0022 File File Access

Monitor for unusual access to stored browser data, such as local files and databases (e.g., %APPDATA%/Google/Chrome).[22] Rather than viewing these events in isolation, this activity may highlight a chain of behavior that could lead to other activities, such as Collection and Exfiltration.
DS0009 Process Process Creation

Monitor for processes with arguments that may be associated with gathering browser information, such as local files and databases (e.g., %APPDATA%/Google/Chrome).[22]

References

  1. DHS/CISA. (2020, August 26). FASTCash 2.0: North Korea's BeagleBoyz Robbing Banks. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  2. Kuzin, M., Zelensky S. (2018, July 20). Calisto Trojan for macOS. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  3. Jansen, W . (2021, January 12). Abusing cloud services to fly under the radar. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  4. Kohler, A. and Lopez, C. (2024, April 30). Malware: Cuckoo Behaves Like Cross Between Infostealer and Spyware. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  5. Smith, S., Stafford, M. (2021, December 14). DarkWatchman: A new evolution in fileless techniques. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  6. Konstantin Zykov. (2019, September 23). Hello! My name is Dtrack. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  7. Hod Gavriel. (2019, November 21). Dtrack: In-depth analysis of APT on a nuclear power plant. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  8. Schroeder, W., Warner, J., Nelson, M. (n.d.). Github PowerShellEmpire. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  9. CISA. (2020, September 15). Iran-Based Threat Actor Exploits VPN Vulnerabilities. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  10. Seals, T. (2021, May 14). FIN7 Backdoor Masquerades as Ethical Hacking Tool. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  11. BI.ZONE Cyber Threats Research Team. (2021, May 13). From pentest to APT attack: cybercriminal group FIN7 disguises its malware as an ethical hacker’s toolkit. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  1. ESET. (2019, July). MACHETE JUST GOT SHARPER Venezuelan government institutions under attack. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  2. Ehrlich, A., et al. (2022, September). THE MYSTERY OF METADOR | AN UNATTRIBUTED THREAT HIDING IN TELCOS, ISPS, AND UNIVERSITIES. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  3. Pedro Tavares (Segurança Informática). (2020, September 15). Threat analysis: The emergent URSA trojan impacts many countries using a sophisticated loader. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  4. SCILabs. (2021, December 23). Cyber Threat Profile Malteiro. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  5. Falcone, R. and Miller-Osborn, J.. (2016, January 24). Scarlet Mimic: Years-Long Espionage Campaign Targets Minority Activists. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
  6. Microsoft Threat Intelligence. (2024, May 28). Moonstone Sleet emerges as new North Korean threat actor with new bag of tricks. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
  7. Cybereason Nocturnus. (2022, February 1). PowerLess Trojan: Iranian APT Phosphorus Adds New PowerShell Backdoor for Espionage. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  8. CISA. (2023, November 16). Cybersecurity Advisory: Scattered Spider (AA23-320A). Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  9. Mandiant Israel Research Team. (2022, August 17). Suspected Iranian Actor Targeting Israeli Shipping, Healthcare, Government and Energy Sectors. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  10. CISA et al.. (2024, February 7). PRC State-Sponsored Actors Compromise and Maintain Persistent Access to U.S. Critical Infrastructure. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  11. Chrome Enterprise and Education Help. (n.d.). Use Chrome Browser with Roaming User Profiles. Retrieved March 28, 2023.