Adversaries may disable or modify system firewalls in order to bypass controls limiting network usage. Changes could be disabling the entire mechanism as well as adding, deleting, or modifying particular rules. This can be done numerous ways depending on the operating system, including via command-line, editing Windows Registry keys, and Windows Control Panel.
Modifying or disabling a system firewall may enable adversary C2 communications, lateral movement, and/or data exfiltration that would otherwise not be allowed. For example, adversaries may add a new firewall rule for a well-known protocol (such as RDP) using a non-traditional and potentially less securitized port (i.e. Non-Standard Port).(Citation: change_rdp_port_conti)
Adversaries may also modify host networking settings that indirectly manipulate system firewalls, such as interface bandwidth or network connection request thresholds.(Citation: Huntress BlackCat) Settings related to enabling abuse of various Remote Services may also indirectly modify firewall rules.
View in MITRE ATT&CK®| Capability ID | Capability Description | Mapping Type | ATT&CK ID | ATT&CK Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PR.AA-01.01 | Identity and credential management | Mitigates | T1562.004 | Disable or Modify System Firewall |
Comments
This diagnostic statement protects against Disable or Modify System Firewall through the use of hardened access control policies, secure defaults, password complexity requirements, multifactor authentication requirements, and removal of terminated accounts.
References
|
| Capability ID | Capability Description | Mapping Type | ATT&CK ID | ATT&CK Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| action.hacking.variety.Disable controls | Disable or interfere with security controls | related-to | T1562.004 | Disable or Modify System Firewall | |
| action.malware.variety.Disable controls | Disable or interfere with security controls | related-to | T1562.004 | Disable or Modify System Firewall |
| Capability ID | Capability Description | Mapping Type | ATT&CK ID | ATT&CK Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| file_integrity_monitoring | Microsoft Defender for Cloud: File Integrity Monitoring | technique_scores | T1562.004 | Disable or Modify System Firewall |
Comments
There are numerous ways depending on the operating system that these sub-techniques can be accomplished. Monitoring the Windows Registry is one way depending on the procedure chosen to implement the sub-technique and therefore the overall coverage is low.
References
|
| alerts_for_linux_machines | Alerts for Linux Machines | technique_scores | T1562.004 | Disable or Modify System Firewall |
Comments
This control may alert on manipulation of the on-host firewall. Firewall rules should not be changed often in a standard environment and such an event can provide a high fidelity alert.
References
|
| alerts_for_windows_machines | Alerts for Windows Machines | technique_scores | T1562.004 | Disable or Modify System Firewall |
Comments
This control may detect modification of the Windows firewall through use of netsh.exe or using a method that matches a known threat actor. The following alerts may be generated: "Malicious firewall rule created by ZINC server implant [seen multiple times]", "Detected suspicious new firewall rule".
References
|
| Capability ID | Capability Description | Mapping Type | ATT&CK ID | ATT&CK Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| google_secops | Google Security Operations | technique_scores | T1562.004 | Disable or Modify System Firewall |
Comments
Google Security Ops is able to trigger an alert based on processes, such as VPC Network Firewall rule changes.
This technique was scored as minimal based on low or uncertain detection coverage factor.
https://github.com/chronicle/detection-rules/blob/783e0e5947774785db1c55041b70176deeca6f46/gcp_cloudaudit/gcp_firewall_rule_changes.yaral
References
|
| Capability ID | Capability Description | Mapping Type | ATT&CK ID | ATT&CK Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| amazon_inspector | Amazon Inspector | technique_scores | T1562.004 | Disable or Modify System Firewall |
Comments
The Amazon Inspector Best Practices assessment package can assess security control "Configure permissions for system directories" that prevents privilege escalation by local users and ensures only the root account can modify/execute system configuration information and binaries. Amazon Inspector does not directly protect against system modifications rather it just checks to see if security controls are in place which can inform decisions around hardening the system. Due to this and the fact the security control is only supported for Linux platforms, the score is Minimal.
References
|