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MITRE ATT&CK® Malware

S0673: DarkWatchman

DarkWatchman is a lightweight JavaScript-based remote access tool (RAT) that avoids file operations; it was first observed in November 2021.[1]

EnterpriseS0673MalwareObject v1.2Modified
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Glexia's Take · Automated analysis

Security context for executives and security teams

Automation confidenceMedium

S0673: DarkWatchman describes [DarkWatchman](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0673) is a lightweight JavaScript-based remote access tool (RAT) that avoids file operations; it was first observed in November 2021.(Citation: Prevailion DarkWatchman 2021)

Executive priority

S0673: DarkWatchman is an official MITRE ATT&CK software. Glexia treats it as defensive behavior context for prioritizing monitoring, control validation, and response planning without using the object by itself as an attribution claim.

Technical view

Security teams should validate S0673: DarkWatchman by reviewing the official ATT&CK relationships, mapped tactics (the mapped ATT&CK tactic context), supported platforms (Windows), and available local telemetry before making detection or mitigation decisions.

Likely telemetry

  • Official ATT&CK relationships and object metadata
  • Network, endpoint, and security-tool telemetry

Detection direction

  • Validate whether S0673: DarkWatchman appears in your detection coverage and tabletop scenarios.
  • Use the object to align executive risk language with SOC, incident response, and detection engineering work.
  • Do not treat ATT&CK relationship context as attribution without corroborating evidence.

Mitigation priorities

  • Map the object to existing controls and identify missing telemetry or response ownership.
  • Prioritize mitigations that reduce exposure on the listed platforms and tactics.
  • Review adjacent ATT&CK relationships before changing policy, detections, or reporting language.
Additional notes and limits

Baseline Glexia take generated from the official MITRE ATT&CK STIX object, source hash, tactics, platforms, and detection fields. It is safe to replace with a richer model-generated take for the same source hash later.

This baseline take is source-grounded and schema-validated, but it does not include environment-specific telemetry, incident evidence, or threat-intelligence corroboration.

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Official MITRE ATT&CK definition

DarkWatchman

DarkWatchman is a lightweight JavaScript-based remote access tool (RAT) that avoids file operations; it was first observed in November 2021.[1]

View the same entry on attack.mitre.org (MITRE-hosted reference; in-page links above use the Glexia ATT&CK library.)

Glexia analysis

How security teams should use this page

Treat this object as behavior context, not an attribution claim. Validate the related groups, software, data sources, and mitigations against official ATT&CK relationships and your own telemetry before making control-coverage decisions.

ATT&CK relationship table

Techniques used

This mirrors the MITRE pattern of making group, software, campaign, and technique relationships scannable. Relationship notes come from mirrored ATT&CK relationship text when available.

34 rows
DomainIDNameRelationship / procedure
EnterpriseT1614System Location Discovery

DarkWatchman can identity the OS locale of a compromised host.[1]

EnterpriseT1070.004File DeletionSub-technique

DarkWatchman has been observed deleting its original launcher after installation.[1]

EnterpriseT1027.011Fileless StorageSub-technique

DarkWatchman can store configuration strings, keylogger, and output of components in the Registry.[1]

EnterpriseT1027.015CompressionSub-technique

DarkWatchman has been delivered as compressed RAR payloads in ZIP files to victims.[1]

EnterpriseT1112Modify Registry

DarkWatchman can modify Registry values to store configuration strings, keylogger, and output of components.[1]

EnterpriseT1490Inhibit System Recovery

DarkWatchman can delete shadow volumes using vssadmin.exe.[1]

EnterpriseT1074.001Local Data StagingSub-technique

DarkWatchman can stage local data in the Windows Registry.[1]

EnterpriseT1010Application Window Discovery

DarkWatchman reports window names along with keylogger information to provide application context.[1]

EnterpriseT1059.001PowerShellSub-technique

DarkWatchman can execute PowerShell commands and has used PowerShell to execute a keylogger.[1]

EnterpriseT1124System Time Discovery

DarkWatchman can collect time zone information and system `UPTIME`.[1]

EnterpriseT1083File and Directory Discovery

DarkWatchman has the ability to enumerate file and folder names.[1]

EnterpriseT1027.010Command ObfuscationSub-technique

DarkWatchman has used Base64 to encode PowerShell commands.[1]

EnterpriseT1568.002Domain Generation AlgorithmsSub-technique

DarkWatchman has used a DGA to generate a domain name for C2.[1]

EnterpriseT1012Query Registry

DarkWatchman can query the Registry to determine if it has already been installed on the system.[1]

EnterpriseT1129Shared Modules

DarkWatchman can load DLLs.[1]

EnterpriseT1217Browser Information Discovery

DarkWatchman can retrieve browser history.[1]

EnterpriseT1132.001Standard EncodingSub-technique

DarkWatchman encodes data using hexadecimal representation before sending it to the C2 server.[1]

EnterpriseT1059.003Windows Command ShellSub-technique

DarkWatchman can use `cmd.exe` to execute commands.[1]

EnterpriseT1573.002Asymmetric CryptographySub-technique

DarkWatchman can use TLS to encrypt its C2 channel.[1]

EnterpriseT1071.001Web ProtocolsSub-technique

DarkWatchman uses HTTPS for command and control.[1]

EnterpriseT1005Data from Local System

DarkWatchman can collect files from a compromised host.[1]

EnterpriseT1140Deobfuscate/Decode Files or Information

DarkWatchman has the ability to self-extract as a RAR archive.[1]

EnterpriseT1047Windows Management Instrumentation

DarkWatchman can use WMI to execute commands.[1]

EnterpriseT1566.001Spearphishing AttachmentSub-technique

DarkWatchman has been delivered via spearphishing emails that contain a malicious zip file.[1]

EnterpriseT1027.004Compile After DeliverySub-technique

DarkWatchman has used the csc.exe tool to compile a C# executable.[1]

EnterpriseT1053.005Scheduled TaskSub-technique

DarkWatchman has created a scheduled task for persistence.[1]

EnterpriseT1518.001Security Software DiscoverySub-technique

DarkWatchman can search for anti-virus products on the system.[1]

EnterpriseT1056.001KeyloggingSub-technique

DarkWatchman can track key presses with a keylogger module.[1]

EnterpriseT1036Masquerading

DarkWatchman has used an icon mimicking a text file to mask a malicious executable.[1]

EnterpriseT1082System Information Discovery

DarkWatchman can collect the OS version, system architecture, and computer name.[1]

EnterpriseT1033System Owner/User Discovery

DarkWatchman has collected the username from a victim machine.[1]

EnterpriseT1070Indicator Removal

DarkWatchman can uninstall malicious components from the Registry, stop processes, and clear the browser history.[1]

EnterpriseT1059.007JavaScriptSub-technique

DarkWatchman uses JavaScript to perform its core functionalities.[1]

EnterpriseT1120Peripheral Device Discovery

DarkWatchman can list signed PnP drivers for smartcard readers.[1]

Relationship explorer

All related ATT&CK context

uses · TechniqueT1614: System Location DiscoveryEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1070.004: File DeletionEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1027.011: Fileless StorageEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1027.015: CompressionEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1112: Modify RegistryEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1490: Inhibit System RecoveryEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1074.001: Local Data StagingEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1010: Application Window DiscoveryEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1059.001: PowerShellEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1124: System Time DiscoveryEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1083: File and Directory DiscoveryEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1027.010: Command ObfuscationEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1568.002: Domain Generation AlgorithmsEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1012: Query RegistryEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1129: Shared ModulesEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1217: Browser Information DiscoveryEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1132.001: Standard EncodingEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1059.003: Windows Command ShellEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1573.002: Asymmetric CryptographyEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1071.001: Web ProtocolsEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1005: Data from Local SystemEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1140: Deobfuscate/Decode Files or InformationEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1047: Windows Management InstrumentationEnterpriseuses · TechniqueT1566.001: Spearphishing AttachmentEnterprise
Change history

Object version and sync metadata

The fields below describe the current mirrored snapshot. When Glexia retains multiple ATT&CK source imports, you can open the table to compare the same object across releases (hashes and MITRE timestamps). For MITRE’s own release notes and roadmap, see ATT&CK resources — Updates.

ATT&CK release
19.2
Object version
1.2
Created
Modified
Raw hash
e2fa177e61c90086...
Imported snapshots across ATT&CK releases(2)
ReleaseBundle importedObject versionModifiedStatusRaw hash
19.21.2Current bundlee2fa177e61c9…
19.11.2Older bundlee2fa177e61c9…
Raw source

Mirrored ATT&CK source object

The raw object is retained through the mirrored ATT&CK source bundle and object hash. The raw endpoint returns the exact object from the mirrored bundle when available.

Open mirrored raw JSONOpen MITRE-hosted copy
Source references

External references and citations

MITRE external references are preserved separately from Glexia analysis so citations remain traceable to their original source records.

  1. [1]
    Prevailion DarkWatchman 2021

    Smith, S., Stafford, M. (2021, December 14). DarkWatchman: A new evolution in fileless techniques. Retrieved January 10, 2022.

    Open source URL
  2. [2]
    mitre-attackS0673
    Open source URL
Source and licensing

Source: MITRE ATT&CK®. © 2026 The MITRE Corporation. This work is reproduced and distributed with the permission of The MITRE Corporation. MITRE ATT&CK and ATT&CK are registered trademarks of The MITRE Corporation. Glexia is not affiliated with or endorsed by MITRE.

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