type: attack-pattern
spec_version: 2.1
id: attack-pattern--47f2d673-ca62-47e9-929b-1b0be9657611
created: 2020-01-31T12:42:44.103Z
created_by_ref: identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5
revoked: no
external_references: source_name: mitre-attack
url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1070/006
external_id: T1070.006
source_name: Juniper Networks ESXi Backdoor 2022
description: Asher Langton. (2022, December 9). A Custom Python Backdoor for VMWare ESXi Servers. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
url: https://blogs.juniper.net/en-us/threat-research/a-custom-python-backdoor-for-vmware-esxi-servers
source_name: WindowsIR Anti-Forensic Techniques
description: Carvey, H. (2013, July 23). HowTo: Determine/Detect the use of Anti-Forensics Techniques. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
url: http://windowsir.blogspot.com/2013/07/howto-determinedetect-use-of-anti.html
source_name: Inversecos Linux Timestomping
description: inversecos. (2022, August 4). Detecting Linux Anti-Forensics: Timestomping. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
url: https://www.inversecos.com/2022/08/detecting-linux-anti-forensics.html
source_name: Inversecos Timestomping 2022
description: Lina Lau. (2022, April 28). Defence Evasion Technique: Timestomping Detection – NTFS Forensics. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
url: https://www.inversecos.com/2022/04/defence-evasion-technique-timestomping.html
source_name: Magnet Forensics
description: Magnet Forensics. (2020, August 24). Expose Evidence of Timestomping with the NTFS Timestamp Mismatch Artifact. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
url: https://www.magnetforensics.com/blog/expose-evidence-of-timestomping-with-the-ntfs-timestamp-mismatch-artifact-in-magnet-axiom-4-4/
source_name: Double Timestomping
description: Matthew Dunwoody. (2022, April 28). I have seen double-timestomping ITW, including by APT29. Stay sharp out there.. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
url: https://x.com/matthewdunwoody/status/1519846657646604289
object_marking_refs: marking-definition--fa42a846-8d90-4e51-bc29-71d5b4802168
modified: 2025-10-24T17:48:43.937Z
name: Timestomp
description: Adversaries may modify file time attributes to hide new files 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 and blend malicious files with legitimate files.

In Windows systems, both the `$STANDARD_INFORMATION` (`$SI`) and `$FILE_NAME` (`$FN`) attributes record times in a Master File Table (MFT) file.(Citation: Inversecos Timestomping 2022) `$SI` (dates/time stamps) is displayed to the end user, including in the File System view, while `$FN` is dealt with by the kernel.(Citation: Magnet Forensics)

Modifying the `$SI` attribute is the most common method of timestomping because it can be modified at the user level using API calls. `$FN` timestomping, however, typically requires interacting with the system kernel or moving or renaming a file.(Citation: Inversecos Timestomping 2022)

Adversaries modify timestamps on files so that they do not appear conspicuous to forensic investigators or file analysis tools. In order to evade detections that rely on identifying discrepancies between the `$SI` and `$FN` attributes, adversaries may also engage in “double timestomping” by modifying times on both attributes simultaneously.(Citation: Double Timestomping)

In Linux systems and on ESXi servers, threat actors may attempt to perform timestomping using commands such as `touch -a -m -t ` (which sets access and modification times to a specific value) or `touch -r ` (which sets access and modification times to match those of another file).(Citation: Inversecos Linux Timestomping)(Citation: Juniper Networks ESXi Backdoor 2022)

Timestomping may be used along with file name [Masquerading](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1036) to hide malware and tools.(Citation: WindowsIR Anti-Forensic Techniques)
kill_chain_phases: kill_chain_name: mitre-attack
phase_name: defense-evasion
x_mitre_attack_spec_version: 3.2.0
x_mitre_contributors: Romain Dumont, ESET
Mike Hartley @mikehartley10
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: ESXi
Linux
macOS
Windows
x_mitre_version: 1.2