T1021.004 SSH Mappings

Adversaries may use Valid Accounts to log into remote machines using Secure Shell (SSH). The adversary may then perform actions as the logged-on user.

SSH is a protocol that allows authorized users to open remote shells on other computers. Many Linux and macOS versions come with SSH installed by default, although typically disabled until the user enables it. The SSH server can be configured to use standard password authentication or public-private keypairs in lieu of or in addition to a password. In this authentication scenario, the user’s public key must be in a special file on the computer running the server that lists which keypairs are allowed to login as that user.

View in MITRE ATT&CK®

VERIS Mappings

Capability ID Capability Description Mapping Type ATT&CK ID ATT&CK Name Notes
action.hacking.variety.Use of stolen creds Use of stolen or default authentication credentials (including credential stuffing) related-to T1021.004 Remote Services: SSH
action.hacking.vector.Command shell Remote shell related-to T1021.004 Remote Services: SSH

AWS Mappings

Capability ID Capability Description Mapping Type ATT&CK ID ATT&CK Name Notes
amazon_inspector Amazon Inspector technique_scores T1021.004 SSH
Comments
The Amazon Inspector Best Practices assessment package can detect a security control setting related to remote service access on Linux endpoints. Specifically, "Disable root login over SSH". This information can be used identify insecure configurations and harden the endpoints. Amazon Inspector does not directly protect against adversaries accessing remote services. Given Amazon Inspector can only assess this security control on Linux platforms (although it also supports Windows) and it only restricts access to remote services for one user account, the coverage score is Minimal leading to an overall Minimal score.
References
    amazon_virtual_private_cloud Amazon Virtual Private Cloud technique_scores T1021.004 SSH
    Comments
    VPC security groups and network access control lists (NACLs) can be used to restrict direct access to remote services to trusted networks. This mitigates even an adversary with a valid account from accessing resources. This can be circumvented though if an adversary is able to compromise a trusted host and move laterally to a protected network. This results in an overall partial (coverage) score.
    References
      aws_network_firewall AWS Network Firewall technique_scores T1021.004 SSH
      Comments
      AWS Network Firewall has the ability to pass, drop, or alert on traffic based on the network protocol as well as perform deep packet inspection on the payload. This functionality can be used to only allow remote services from trusted hosts (i.e., only allow remote access traffic from certain hosts). This mapping is given a score of Partial because even though it can restrict remote services traffic from untrusted hosts, it cannot protect against an adversary using a trusted host that is permitted to use remote services as part of an attack.
      References