Uninstall Malicious Application

Adversaries may include functionality in malware that uninstalls the malicious application from the device. This can be achieved by:

  • Abusing device owner permissions to perform silent uninstallation using device owner API calls.
  • Abusing root permissions to delete files from the filesystem.
  • Abusing the accessibility service. This requires an intent be sent to the system to request uninstallation, and then abusing the accessibility service to click the proper places on the screen to confirm uninstallation.
ID: T1576
Sub-techniques:  No sub-techniques
Tactic Type: Post-Adversary Device Access
Tactic: Defense Evasion
Platforms: Android
MTC ID: APP-43
Version: 1.0
Created: 04 May 2020
Last Modified: 26 May 2020

Procedure Examples

ID Name Description
S0480 Cerberus

Cerberus can uninstall itself from a device on command.[1]

S0427 TrickMo

TrickMo can uninstall itself from a device on command by abusing the accessibility service.[2]

Mitigations

ID Mitigation Description
M1005 Application Vetting

Application vetting services could look for use of the accessibility service or features that typically require root access.

M1002 Attestation

Attestation can detect rooted devices.

M1001 Security Updates

Security updates typically provide patches for vulnerabilities that enable device rooting.

M1011 User Guidance

Inform users that device rooting or granting unnecessary access to the accessibility service presents security risks that could be taken advantage of without their knowledge.

References