MITRE ATT&CK Technique
Execution T1204.001
Description

An adversary may rely upon a user clicking a malicious link in order to gain execution. Users may be subjected to social engineering to get them to click on a link that will lead to code execution. This user action will typically be observed as follow-on behavior from [Spearphishing Link](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566/002). Clicking on a link may also lead to other execution techniques such as exploitation of a browser or application vulnerability via [Exploitation for Client Execution](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1203). Links may also lead users to download files that require execution via [Malicious File](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1204/002).

Supported Platforms
Linux macOS Windows
Created

April 29, 2026

Last Updated

April 29, 2026

STIX Data
{'created': '2020-03-11T14:43:31.706Z',
 'created_by_ref': 'identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5',
 'description': 'An adversary may rely upon a user clicking a malicious link '
                'in order to gain execution. Users may be subjected to social '
                'engineering to get them to click on a link that will lead to '
                'code execution. This user action will typically be observed '
                'as follow-on behavior from [Spearphishing '
                'Link](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566/002). '
                'Clicking on a link may also lead to other execution '
                'techniques such as exploitation of a browser or application '
                'vulnerability via [Exploitation for Client '
                'Execution](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1203). Links '
                'may also lead users to download files that require execution '
                'via [Malicious '
                'File](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1204/002).',
 'external_references': [{'external_id': 'T1204.001',
                          'source_name': 'mitre-attack',
                          'url': 'https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1204/001'}],
 'id': 'attack-pattern--ef67e13e-5598-4adc-bdb2-998225874fa9',
 'kill_chain_phases': [{'kill_chain_name': 'mitre-attack',
                        'phase_name': 'execution'}],
 'modified': '2025-10-24T17:49:35.144Z',
 'name': 'Malicious Link',
 'object_marking_refs': ['marking-definition--fa42a846-8d90-4e51-bc29-71d5b4802168'],
 'revoked': False,
 'spec_version': '2.1',
 'type': 'attack-pattern',
 'x_mitre_attack_spec_version': '3.2.0',
 'x_mitre_deprecated': False,
 'x_mitre_detection': '',
 'x_mitre_domains': ['enterprise-attack'],
 'x_mitre_is_subtechnique': True,
 'x_mitre_modified_by_ref': 'identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5',
 'x_mitre_platforms': ['Linux', 'macOS', 'Windows'],
 'x_mitre_remote_support': False,
 'x_mitre_version': '1.2'}
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