Cyber attackers continue to evolve their techniques by abusing trusted system features instead of relying only on traditional malware downloads. A newly observed campaign shows threat actors leveraging Windows File Explorer together with WebDAV functionality to silently deliver malicious payloads while bypassing common security controls.
This approach highlights a growing trend where legitimate operating system tools are repurposed to appear harmless, making detection significantly more difficult for organizations.
Understanding the Attack Technique
WebDAV is a protocol that allows users to access and manage files hosted on remote servers directly through Windows File Explorer. Because it integrates seamlessly with the operating system, users often interact with remote content without realizing they are connecting to external infrastructure.
Threat actors exploit this behavior by:
• Hosting malicious files on remote WebDAV servers
• Delivering links or shortcuts that open directly in File Explorer
• Triggering downloads that appear as normal file access activity
• Evading browser based security controls and traditional filtering
Since the activity mimics legitimate file operations, security tools may initially treat it as normal user behavior.
Why This Method Is Effective
Attackers increasingly prefer living off the land techniques that rely on built in system components. By avoiding suspicious executables or obvious phishing attachments, they reduce the chances of triggering endpoint protection alerts.
The abuse of File Explorer also introduces a psychological advantage. Users trust familiar interfaces, which lowers suspicion and increases the likelihood of interaction.
This method can enable:
• Malware deployment
• Credential harvesting
• Remote access establishment
• Lateral movement within enterprise networks
Industries Most at Risk
Organizations that depend heavily on shared files and remote collaboration environments face elevated risk, including:
• Financial services managing sensitive transaction documents
• Healthcare institutions handling confidential records
• Retail organizations operating distributed teams
• Manufacturing companies sharing operational files globally
• Government entities relying on remote file access workflows
These sectors require strong endpoint visibility and strict access governance to prevent exploitation.
<h5style=”color: #008000;”>Strengthening Defensive Strategies
To reduce exposure, organizations should adopt layered defenses that extend beyond traditional malware scanning. Effective measures include monitoring WebDAV activity, restricting unnecessary remote file access, strengthening endpoint detection, and improving user awareness around unfamiliar file sources.
Security teams must also correlate endpoint behavior with network telemetry to identify abnormal file access patterns early.
Conclusion
The abuse of Windows File Explorer and WebDAV demonstrates how attackers increasingly weaponize trusted technologies rather than breaking them. As cyber threats become more stealth focused, organizations must shift toward behavior based detection and proactive monitoring.
Security today is less about blocking known malware and more about recognizing suspicious activity hidden within normal operations. Visibility across endpoints, users, and network interactions is now essential for cyber resilience.
About COE Security
COE Security partners with organizations in financial services, healthcare, retail, manufacturing, and government to secure AI-powered systems and ensure compliance. Our offerings include:
AI-enhanced threat detection and real-time monitoring Data governance aligned with GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS Secure model validation to guard against adversarial attacks Customized training to embed AI security best practices Penetration Testing (Mobile, Web, AI, Product, IoT, Network & Cloud) Secure Software Development Consulting (SSDLC) Customized CyberSecurity Services
In response to emerging endpoint based threats like WebDAV abuse, COE Security helps organizations strengthen endpoint monitoring, implement Zero Trust access controls, conduct secure configuration assessments, and deploy advanced threat detection strategies that identify suspicious system behavior before compromise occurs. We support enterprises in securing remote access workflows and maintaining compliance while enabling safe collaboration.
Follow COE Security on LinkedIn for ongoing insights into safe, compliant AI adoption and stay updated and cyber safe.