<!-- Copyright (c) 2026 defconxt. All rights reserved. -->
<!-- Licensed under AGPL-3.0 — see LICENSE file for details. -->
<!-- NERF is a trademark of defconxt. -->
---
name: detecting-malleable-c2-profiles
description: >-
  Detect malleable C2 profiles by analyzing HTTP traffic patterns, JA3/JA3S fingerprints, header ordering anomalies, and behavioral indicators unique to C2 profile configurations.
domain: cybersecurity
subdomain: c2-frameworks
tags:
  - malleable-c2
  - ja3
  - traffic-analysis
  - detection
version: "1.0"
author: defconxt
license: AGPL-3.0
metadata:
  mitre-attack: ["T1071.001"]
  frameworks: ["MITRE ATT&CK", "NIST 800-53"]
  tools: ["zeek", "suricata", "sigma"]
---

# Detecting Malleable C2 Profiles

## Overview

Detect malleable C2 profiles by analyzing HTTP traffic patterns, JA3/JA3S fingerprints, header ordering anomalies, and behavioral indicators unique to C2 profile configurations.

## Prerequisites

| Tool / Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| `zeek` | Security tooling |
| `suricata` | Security tooling |
| `sigma` | Security tooling |
| Network traffic capture, Zeek/Suricata, JA3 fingerprint database | Environment requirement |

## Quick Reference

```bash
# Quick start commands
node scripts/agent.js --help
node scripts/agent.js analyze --pcap traffic.pcap --extract ja3
```

## Workflow

### Step 1: Extract JA3 Fingerprints

```bash
node scripts/agent.js analyze --pcap traffic.pcap --extract ja3
```

### Step 2: Profile HTTP Anomalies

```bash
node scripts/agent.js detect --pcap traffic.pcap --check http-anomalies
```

### Step 3: Generate Detection Rules

```bash
node scripts/agent.js rules --profile cobalt_strike --format sigma
```

## Detection

```yaml
title: Malleable C2 Profiles Detection
id: 440caa7c-05f3-46e7-b4f2-bf0e91dca961
status: experimental
description: Detects suspicious activity related to detecting malleable c2 profiles techniques in c2 frameworks context
logsource:
  category: network_connection
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    DestinationPort: 443
    Initiated: "true"
  condition: selection
level: high
tags:
  - attack.t1071.001
  - attack.command_and_control
falsepositives:
  - Authorized penetration testing tools during scheduled assessments
```


**Detection Opportunities**

| Indicator | Source | Detection Logic |
|---|---|---|
| Malleable C2 Profiles Detection | windows/network_connection | Sigma rule (high) |
| ATT&CK Coverage | MITRE ATT&CK | T1071.001 |

## Verification

- **Verify traffic analysis**: `node scripts/agent.js analyze --pcap traffic.pcap --extract ja3`
- **Confirm detection rules**: `node scripts/agent.js rules --profile cobalt_strike --format sigma`

## References

- MITRE ATT&CK: T1071.001
- Frameworks: MITRE ATT&CK, NIST 800-53
- Tools: zeek, suricata, sigma
