type: attack-pattern
spec_version: 2.1
id: attack-pattern--f2857333-11d4-45bf-b064-2c28d8525be5
created: 2020-03-13T20:33:00.009Z
created_by_ref: identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5
revoked: no
external_references: source_name: mitre-attack
url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1564/004
external_id: T1564.004
source_name: MalwareBytes ADS July 2015
description: Arntz, P. (2015, July 22). Introduction to Alternate Data Streams. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
url: https://blog.malwarebytes.com/101/2015/07/introduction-to-alternate-data-streams/
source_name: SpectorOps Host-Based Jul 2017
description: Atkinson, J. (2017, July 18). Host-based Threat Modeling & Indicator Design. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
url: https://posts.specterops.io/host-based-threat-modeling-indicator-design-a9dbbb53d5ea
source_name: Journey into IR ZeroAccess NTFS EA
description: Harrell, C. (2012, December 11). Extracting ZeroAccess from NTFS Extended Attributes. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
url: http://journeyintoir.blogspot.com/2012/12/extracting-zeroaccess-from-ntfs.html
source_name: Microsoft NTFS File Attributes Aug 2010
description: Hughes, J. (2010, August 25). NTFS File Attributes. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
url: https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/askcore/2010/08/25/ntfs-file-attributes/
source_name: Microsoft ADS Mar 2014
description: Marlin, J. (2013, March 24). Alternate Data Streams in NTFS. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
url: https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/askcore/2013/03/24/alternate-data-streams-in-ntfs/
source_name: Microsoft File Streams
description: Microsoft. (n.d.). File Streams. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
url: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/fileio/file-streams
source_name: Oddvar Moe ADS2 Apr 2018
description: Moe, O. (2018, April 11). Putting Data in Alternate Data Streams and How to Execute It - Part 2. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
url: https://oddvar.moe/2018/04/11/putting-data-in-alternate-data-streams-and-how-to-execute-it-part-2/
source_name: Oddvar Moe ADS1 Jan 2018
description: Moe, O. (2018, January 14). Putting Data in Alternate Data Streams and How to Execute It. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
url: https://oddvar.moe/2018/01/14/putting-data-in-alternate-data-streams-and-how-to-execute-it/
source_name: Symantec ADS May 2009
description: Pravs. (2009, May 25). What you need to know about alternate data streams in windows? Is your Data secure? Can you restore that?. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
url: https://www.symantec.com/connect/articles/what-you-need-know-about-alternate-data-streams-windows-your-data-secure-can-you-restore
object_marking_refs: marking-definition--fa42a846-8d90-4e51-bc29-71d5b4802168
modified: 2025-10-24T17:49:35.944Z
name: NTFS File Attributes
description: Adversaries may use NTFS file attributes to hide their malicious data in order to evade detection. Every New Technology File System (NTFS) formatted partition contains a Master File Table (MFT) that maintains a record for every file/directory on the partition. (Citation: SpectorOps Host-Based Jul 2017) Within MFT entries are file attributes, (Citation: Microsoft NTFS File Attributes Aug 2010) such as Extended Attributes (EA) and Data [known as Alternate Data Streams (ADSs) when more than one Data attribute is present], that can be used to store arbitrary data (and even complete files). (Citation: SpectorOps Host-Based Jul 2017) (Citation: Microsoft File Streams) (Citation: MalwareBytes ADS July 2015) (Citation: Microsoft ADS Mar 2014)

Adversaries may store malicious data or binaries in file attribute metadata instead of directly in files. This may be done to evade some defenses, such as static indicator scanning tools and anti-virus. (Citation: Journey into IR ZeroAccess NTFS EA) (Citation: MalwareBytes ADS July 2015)
kill_chain_phases: kill_chain_name: mitre-attack
phase_name: defense-evasion
x_mitre_attack_spec_version: 3.2.0
x_mitre_contributors: Oddvar Moe, @oddvarmoe
Red Canary
x_mitre_deprecated: no
x_mitre_domains: enterprise-attack
x_mitre_is_subtechnique: yes
x_mitre_modified_by_ref: identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5
x_mitre_platforms: Windows
x_mitre_version: 1.2