What is steganography in cybersecurity, and how do attackers use it to hide malware in images? Learn how steganography conceals malicious payloads in files to evade detection—key knowledge for the CompTIA Security+ (Plus) SY0-701 exam.
Table of Contents
Question
A security team suspects an attacker is hiding malware commands inside image files and sending them over email. What technique is the attacker using?
A. Data exfiltration via tunneling
B. Steganography
C. Digital watermarking
D. Fileless malware execution
E. Whaling
Answer
B. Steganography
Explanation
Steganography conceals data within other files, like images, to avoid detection. Attackers use this to hide malicious payloads or exfiltrate data covertly.
The technique being used is steganography.
Steganography is the practice of hiding data within another file or medium, making the hidden information invisible to casual inspection or standard security tools. In cybersecurity, this often means embedding malicious code or commands within benign-looking files, such as images, audio, or video files.
Attackers use steganography to conceal malware payloads or command-and-control instructions inside image files (e.g., JPEG, PNG). These files are then distributed via email or other channels. When the recipient opens or processes the image, a script or malware on the system extracts and executes the hidden code.
Common steganographic methods include modifying the least significant bits (LSB) of image pixels, using discrete cosine transform (DCT) changes, or encoding data in unused file sections. This allows the image to appear normal while secretly carrying malicious content.
Steganography is effective for evading detection because traditional security tools rarely inspect the contents of image files for hidden data, allowing attackers to bypass antivirus, firewalls, and email filters.
Real-world attacks have leveraged steganography to deliver malware, exfiltrate data, and maintain covert communication channels with compromised systems.
Steganography conceals data—such as malware commands—within image files, enabling attackers to evade detection and deliver malicious payloads through seemingly harmless email attachments.
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