Obfuscated Files or Information: Software Packing

ID: T1027.002
Tactics: TA0005 Stealth
Sub-technique of: T1027 Obfuscated Files or Information
Platforms: Linux, macOS, Windows
Data sources: Process Access, Process Creation, Process Modification
Source: attack.mitre.org
MITRE last modified: 12 Sep 2026

Adversaries may perform software packing or virtual machine software protection to conceal their code. Software packing is a method of compressing or encrypting an executable. Packing an executable changes the file signature in an attempt to avoid signature-based detection. Most decompression techniques decompress the executable code in memory. Virtual machine software protection translates an executable's original code into a special format that only a special virtual machine can run. A virtual machine is then called to run this code.^[1]

Utilities used to perform software packing are called packers. Example packers are MPRESS and UPX. A more comprehensive list of known packers is available, but adversaries may create their own packing techniques that do not leave the same artifacts as well-known packers to evade defenses.^[2]

Detection

DET0023 Obfuscated Binary Unpacking Detection via Behavioral Patterns
Data components: Process Access, Process Creation, Process Modification

Mitigations (1)

M1049 Antivirus/Antimalware: Employ heuristic-based malware detection. Ensure updated virus definitions and create custom signatures for observed malware.

Groups (24)

Software (74)

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