T1070.007 Clear Network Connection History and Configurations

T1070.007 Clear Network Connection History and Configurations

Sub-technique of: T1070

High-Level Description

Adversaries may clear or remove evidence of malicious network connections in order to clean up traces of their operations. Configuration settings as well as various artifacts that highlight connection history may be created on a system and/or in application logs from behaviors that require network connections, such as Remote Services or External Remote Services. Defenders may use these artifacts to monitor or otherwise analyze network connections created by adversaries.

Network connection history may be stored in various locations. For example, RDP connection history may be stored in Windows Registry values under :

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Terminal Server Client\Default
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Terminal Server Client\Servers

Windows may also store information about recent RDP connections in files such as C:\Users\%username%\Documents\Default.rdp and C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Terminal Server Client\Cache\. Similarly, macOS and Linux hosts may store information highlighting connection history in system logs (such as those stored in /Library/Logs and/or /var/log/).

Malicious network connections may also require changes to third-party applications or network configuration settings, such as Disable or Modify System Firewall or tampering to enable Proxy. Adversaries may delete or modify this data to conceal indicators and/or impede defensive analysis.

Kill Chain Phase

• Defense Evasion (TA0005)

Platforms: Linux, macOS, Windows, Network Devices

What to Check

• Identify if Clear Network Connection History and Configurations technique is applicable to target environment
• Check Linux systems for indicators of Clear Network Connection History and Configurations
• Check macOS systems for indicators of Clear Network Connection History and Configurations
• Check Windows systems for indicators of Clear Network Connection History and Configurations
• Verify mitigations are bypassed or absent (2 known mitigations)
• Assess detection coverage (1 detection strategies)

How to Test

Manual Testing

1. Identify Attack Surface: Determine if the target environment is susceptible to Clear Network Connection History and Configurations by examining the target platforms (Linux, macOS, Windows).

2. Assess Existing Defenses: Review whether mitigations for T1070.007 are in place. If defenses are absent or misconfigured, this technique may be exploitable.