T1070.006
Indicator Removal on Host: Timestomp
Description from ATT&CK
Adversaries may modify file time attributes to hide new or changes to existing files. Timestomping is a technique that modifies the timestamps of a file (the modify, access, create, and change times), often to mimic files that are in the same folder. This is done, for example, on files that have been modified or created by the adversary so that they do not appear conspicuous to forensic investigators or file analysis tools.
Timestomping may be used along with file name Masquerading to hide malware and tools.(Citation: WindowsIR Anti-Forensic Techniques)
Atomic Tests
Atomic Test #1 - Set a file's access timestamp
Stomps on the access timestamp of a file
Supported Platforms: linux,macos
auto_generated_guid: 5f9113d5-ed75-47ed-ba23-ea3573d05810
Inputs:
| Name | Description | Type | Default Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| target_filename | Path of file that we are going to stomp on last access time | path | /tmp/T1070.006-access.txt |
Attack Commands: Run with sh!
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touch -a -t 197001010000.00 #{target_filename}
Cleanup Commands:
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rm -f #{target_filename}
Dependencies: Run with sh!
Description: The file must exist in order to be timestomped
Check Prereq Commands:
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test -e #{target_filename} && exit 0 || exit 1
Get Prereq Commands:
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echo 'T1070.006 file access timestomp test' > #{target_filename}
Atomic Test #2 - Set a file's modification timestamp
Stomps on the modification timestamp of a file
Supported Platforms: linux,macos
auto_generated_guid: 20ef1523-8758-4898-b5a2-d026cc3d2c52
Inputs:
| Name | Description | Type | Default Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| target_filename | Path of file that we are going to stomp on last access time | path | /tmp/T1070.006-modification.txt |
Attack Commands: Run with sh!
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touch -m -t 197001010000.00 #{target_filename}
Cleanup Commands:
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rm -f #{target_filename}
Dependencies: Run with sh!
Description: The file must exist in order to be timestomped
Check Prereq Commands:
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test -e #{target_filename} && exit 0 || exit 1
Get Prereq Commands:
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echo 'T1070.006 file modification timestomp test' > #{target_filename}
Atomic Test #3 - Set a file's creation timestamp
Stomps on the create timestamp of a file
Setting the creation timestamp requires changing the system clock and reverting. Sudo or root privileges are required to change date. Use with caution.
Supported Platforms: linux,macos
auto_generated_guid: 8164a4a6-f99c-4661-ac4f-80f5e4e78d2b
Inputs:
| Name | Description | Type | Default Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| target_filename | Path of file that we are going to stomp on last access time | path | /tmp/T1070.006-creation.txt |
Attack Commands: Run with sh! Elevation Required (e.g. root or admin)
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NOW=$(date +%m%d%H%M%Y)
date 010100001971
touch #{target_filename}
date "$NOW"
stat #{target_filename}
Cleanup Commands:
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rm -f #{target_filename}
Atomic Test #4 - Modify file timestamps using reference file
Modifies the 1
modify
1
access
This technique was used by the threat actor Rocke during the compromise of Linux web servers.
Supported Platforms: linux,macos
auto_generated_guid: 631ea661-d661-44b0-abdb-7a7f3fc08e50
Inputs:
| Name | Description | Type | Default Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| target_file_path | Path of file to modify timestamps of | path | /tmp/T1070.006-reference.txt |
| reference_file_path | Path of reference file to read timestamps from | path | /bin/sh |
Attack Commands: Run with sh!
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touch -acmr #{reference_file_path} #{target_file_path}
Cleanup Commands:
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rm -f #{target_file_path}
Dependencies: Run with sh!
Description: The file must exist in order to be timestomped
Check Prereq Commands:
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test -e #{target_file_path} && exit 0 || exit 1
Get Prereq Commands:
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echo 'T1070.006 reference file timestomp test' > #{target_file_path}
Atomic Test #5 - Windows - Modify file creation timestamp with PowerShell
Modifies the file creation timestamp of a specified file. This technique was seen in use by the Stitch RAT. To verify execution, use File Explorer to view the Properties of the file and observe that the Created time is the year 1970.
Supported Platforms: windows
auto_generated_guid: b3b2c408-2ff0-4a33-b89b-1cb46a9e6a9c
Inputs:
| Name | Description | Type | Default Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| target_date_time | Date/time to replace original timestamps with | string | 01/01/1970 00:00:00 |
| file_path | Path of file to change creation timestamp | path | $env:TEMP\T1551.006_timestomp.txt |
Attack Commands: Run with powershell!
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Get-ChildItem #{file_path} | % { $_.CreationTime = "#{target_date_time}" }
Dependencies: Run with powershell!
Description: A file must exist at the path (#{file_path}) to change the creation time on
Check Prereq Commands:
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if (Test-Path #{file_path}) {exit 0} else {exit 1}
Get Prereq Commands:
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New-Item -Path #{file_path} -Force | Out-Null
Set-Content #{file_path} -Value "T1551.006 Timestomp" -Force | Out-Null
Atomic Test #6 - Windows - Modify file last modified timestamp with PowerShell
Modifies the file last modified timestamp of a specified file. This technique was seen in use by the Stitch RAT. To verify execution, use File Explorer to view the Properties of the file and observe that the Modified time is the year 1970.
Supported Platforms: windows
auto_generated_guid: f8f6634d-93e1-4238-8510-f8a90a20dcf2
Inputs:
| Name | Description | Type | Default Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| target_date_time | Date/time to replace original timestamps with | string | 01/01/1970 00:00:00 |
| file_path | Path of file to change modified timestamp | path | $env:TEMP\T1551.006_timestomp.txt |
Attack Commands: Run with powershell!
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Get-ChildItem #{file_path} | % { $_.LastWriteTime = "#{target_date_time}" }
Dependencies: Run with powershell!
Description: A file must exist at the path (#{file_path}) to change the modified time on
Check Prereq Commands:
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if (Test-Path #{file_path}) {exit 0} else {exit 1}
Get Prereq Commands:
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New-Item -Path #{file_path} -Force | Out-Null
Set-Content #{file_path} -Value "T1551.006 Timestomp" -Force | Out-Null
Atomic Test #7 - Windows - Modify file last access timestamp with PowerShell
Modifies the last access timestamp of a specified file. This technique was seen in use by the Stitch RAT. To verify execution, use File Explorer to view the Properties of the file and observe that the Accessed time is the year 1970.
Supported Platforms: windows
auto_generated_guid: da627f63-b9bd-4431-b6f8-c5b44d061a62
Inputs:
| Name | Description | Type | Default Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| target_date_time | Date/time to replace original timestamps with | string | 01/01/1970 00:00:00 |
| file_path | Path of file to change last access timestamp | path | $env:TEMP\T1551.006_timestomp.txt |
Attack Commands: Run with powershell!
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Get-ChildItem #{file_path} | % { $_.LastAccessTime = "#{target_date_time}" }
Dependencies: Run with powershell!
Description: A file must exist at the path (#{file_path}) to change the last access time on
Check Prereq Commands:
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if (Test-Path #{file_path}) {exit 0} else {exit 1}
Get Prereq Commands:
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New-Item -Path #{file_path} -Force | Out-Null
Set-Content #{file_path} -Value "T1551.006 Timestomp" -Force | Out-Null
Atomic Test #8 - Windows - Timestomp a File
Timestomp kxwn.lock.
Successful execution will include the placement of kxwn.lock in #{file_path} and execution of timestomp.ps1 to modify the time of the .lock file.
Supported Platforms: windows
auto_generated_guid: d7512c33-3a75-4806-9893-69abc3ccdd43
Inputs:
| Name | Description | Type | Default Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| file_path | File path for timestomp payload | string | $env:appdata\Microsoft |
Attack Commands: Run with powershell!
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import-module #{file_path}\timestomp.ps1
timestomp -dest "#{file_path}\kxwn.lock"
Cleanup Commands:
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Remove-Item #{file_path}\timestomp.ps1 -ErrorAction Ignore
Remove-Item #{file_path}\kxwn.lock -ErrorAction Ignore
Dependencies: Run with powershell!
Description: timestomp.ps1 must be present in #{file_path}.
Check Prereq Commands:
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if (Test-Path #{file_path}\timestomp.ps1) {exit 0} else {exit 1}
Get Prereq Commands:
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Invoke-WebRequest "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mitre-attack/attack-arsenal/bc0ba1d88d026396939b6816de608cb279bfd489/adversary_emulation/APT29/CALDERA_DIY/evals/payloads/timestomp.ps1" -OutFile "#{file_path}\timestomp.ps1"
Description: kxwn.lock must be present in #{file_path}.
Check Prereq Commands:
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if (Test-Path -path "#{file_path}\kxwn.lock") {exit 0} else {exit 1}
Get Prereq Commands:
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New-Item -Path #{file_path}\kxwn.lock -ItemType File