Adversaries may enumerate browser bookmarks to learn more about compromised hosts. Browser bookmarks may reveal personal information about users (ex: banking sites, interests, social media, etc.) as well as details about internal network resources such as servers, tools/dashboards, or other related infrastructure.
Browser bookmarks may also highlight additional targets after an adversary has access to valid credentials, especially Credentials In Files associated with logins cached by a browser.
Specific storage locations vary based on platform and/or application, but browser bookmarks are typically stored in local files/databases.
| 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 |
| S0673 | DarkWatchman |
DarkWatchman can retrieve browser history.[4] |
| S0567 | Dtrack | |
| S0363 | Empire |
Empire has the ability to gather browser data such as bookmarks and visited sites.[7] |
| G0117 | Fox Kitten |
Fox Kitten has used Google Chrome bookmarks to identify internal resources and assets.[8] |
| S0681 | Lizar |
Lizar can retrieve browser history and database files.[9][10] |
| S0409 | Machete |
Machete retrieves the user profile data (e.g., browsers) from Chrome and Firefox browsers.[11] |
| S0079 | MobileOrder |
MobileOrder has a command to upload to its C2 server victim browser bookmarks.[12] |
This type of attack technique cannot be easily mitigated with preventive controls since it is based on the abuse of system features.
| ID | Data Source | Data Component |
|---|---|---|
| DS0017 | Command | Command Execution |
| DS0022 | File | File Access |
| DS0009 | Process | Process Creation |
Monitor processes and command-line arguments for actions that could be taken to gather browser bookmark information. 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.
System and network discovery techniques normally occur throughout an operation as an adversary learns the environment. Data and events should not be viewed in isolation, but as part of a chain of behavior that could lead to other activities, such as Collection and Exfiltration, based on the information obtained.