- AN2030 · Analytic 2030 — A process with no prior history or outside of known whitelisted tools initiates file or registry modifications to configure exclusion rules for antivirus, backup, or file-handling systems. Or a file system enumeration for specific file names andcritical extensions like .dll, .exe, .sys, or specific directories such as 'Program Files' or security tool paths or system component discovery for the exclusion of the files or components.
Selective Exclusion
Adversaries may intentionally exclude certain files, folders, directories, file types, or system components from encryption or tampering during a ransomware or malicious payload execution. Some file extensions that adversaries may avoid encrypting include `.dll`, `.exe`, and `.lnk`.(Citation: Palo Alto Unit 42 Medusa Group Medusa Ransomware January 2024) Adversaries may perform this behavior to avoid alerting users, to evade detection by security tools and analysts, or, in the case of ransomware, to ensure that the system remains operational enough to deliver the ransom notice. Exclusions may target files and components whose corruption would cause instability, break core services, or immediately expose the attack. By carefully avoiding these areas, adversaries maintain system responsiveness while minimizing indicators that could trigger alarms or otherwise inhibit achieving their goals.
Open in the interactive knowledge mesh
Detection overview
Use the published detection strategies below and validate required telemetry in the target environment.
Observed groups
Cyber Knowledge context
Use these routes to move from the ATT&CK behavior into explanation, implementation, evidence handling, validation, and defensive operations. Relevance is generated from explicit identifiers/names and governed topic mappings; it is not attribution evidence.
Controlled dynamic behavior and differential observation
Malware Analysis & Reverse Engineering · tactic-route · 24/100Module 4 — Detection engineering and detection as code
Blue Team & Defensive Security · tactic-route · 24/100Disk, file-system, and persistence forensics
Digital Forensics & Incident Response (DFIR) · tactic-route · 24/100
Malware Analysis & Reverse Engineering · tactic-route · 24/100Module 4 — Detection engineering and detection as code
Blue Team & Defensive Security · tactic-route · 24/100Disk, file-system, and persistence forensics
Digital Forensics & Incident Response (DFIR) · tactic-route · 24/100
MITRE mitigations
No ATT&CK mitigation relationship is published for this technique. Apply risk-based controls and verify scope.