MITRE ATT&CK Technique
Description
Adversaries may delete files left behind by the actions of their intrusion activity. Malware, tools, or other non-native files dropped or created on a system by an adversary may leave traces to indicate to what was done within a network and how. Removal of these files can occur during an intrusion, or as part of a post-intrusion process to minimize the adversary's footprint. There are tools available from the host operating system to perform cleanup, but adversaries may use other tools as well. Examples include native [cmd](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0106) functions such as DEL, secure deletion tools such as Windows Sysinternals SDelete, or other third-party file deletion tools. (Citation: Trend Micro APT Attack Tools)
Supported Platforms
Created
April 29, 2026
Last Updated
April 29, 2026
STIX Data
{'created': '2017-05-31T21:31:17.915Z',
'created_by_ref': 'identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5',
'description': 'Adversaries may delete files left behind by the actions of '
'their intrusion activity. Malware, tools, or other non-native '
'files dropped or created on a system by an adversary may '
'leave traces to indicate to what was done within a network '
'and how. Removal of these files can occur during an '
'intrusion, or as part of a post-intrusion process to minimize '
"the adversary's footprint.\n"
'\n'
'There are tools available from the host operating system to '
'perform cleanup, but adversaries may use other tools as well. '
'Examples include native '
'[cmd](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0106) functions such '
'as DEL, secure deletion tools such as Windows Sysinternals '
'SDelete, or other third-party file deletion tools. (Citation: '
'Trend Micro APT Attack Tools)',
'external_references': [{'external_id': 'T1107',
'source_name': 'mitre-attack',
'url': 'https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1107'},
{'description': 'Wilhoit, K. (2013, March 4). '
'In-Depth Look: APT Attack Tools of '
'the Trade. Retrieved December 2, '
'2015.',
'source_name': 'Trend Micro APT Attack Tools',
'url': 'http://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/in-depth-look-apt-attack-tools-of-the-trade/'}],
'id': 'attack-pattern--56fca983-1cf1-4fd1-bda0-5e170a37ab59',
'kill_chain_phases': [{'kill_chain_name': 'mitre-attack',
'phase_name': 'defense-evasion'}],
'modified': '2025-10-24T17:48:49.115Z',
'name': 'File Deletion',
'object_marking_refs': ['marking-definition--fa42a846-8d90-4e51-bc29-71d5b4802168'],
'revoked': True,
'spec_version': '2.1',
'type': 'attack-pattern',
'x_mitre_attack_spec_version': '3.2.0',
'x_mitre_contributors': ['Walker Johnson'],
'x_mitre_deprecated': False,
'x_mitre_detection': '',
'x_mitre_domains': ['enterprise-attack'],
'x_mitre_is_subtechnique': False,
'x_mitre_modified_by_ref': 'identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5',
'x_mitre_platforms': ['Linux', 'macOS', 'Windows'],
'x_mitre_version': '1.1'}