MITRE ATT&CKtechnique

T1601 Modify System Image

Published 2020-10-19 Modified 2026-08-27 Official page ↗
Domain
enterprise
Tactics
Defense Impairment
Platforms
Network Devices
Version
2.1
Created
2020-10-19

Description

Adversaries may make changes to the operating system of embedded network devices to weaken defenses and provide new capabilities for themselves. On such devices, the operating systems are typically monolithic and most of the device functionality and capabilities are contained within a single file. To change the operating system, the adversary typically only needs to affect this one file, replacing or modifying it. This can either be done live in memory during system runtime for immediate effect, or in storage to implement the change on the next boot of the network device.

Related

Tactic · MITRE ATT&CK (1)

  • TA0112 Defense Impairment tactic

Referenced by MITRE ATT&CK · mitigates (6)

  • M1043 Credential Access Protection mitigation
  • M1045 Code Signing mitigation
  • M1046 Boot Integrity mitigation
  • M1032 Multi-factor Authentication mitigation
  • M1026 Privileged Account Management mitigation
  • M1027 Password Policies mitigation

Referenced by MITRE ATT&CK · subtechnique of (2)

  • T1601.001 Patch System Image sub-technique
  • T1601.002 Downgrade System Image sub-technique

Referenced by MITRE ATT&CK · uses (1)

  • S9013 DRYHOOK software (malware)

Referenced by Compliance · mitigates (25)

  • CIS-6.5 Require MFA for Administrative Access CIS Safeguard v8.1
  • NIST-AC-2 Account Management NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-AC-3 Access Enforcement NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-AC-4 Information Flow Enforcement NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-AC-5 Separation of Duties NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-AC-6 Least Privilege NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-CM-2 Baseline Configuration NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-CM-3 Configuration Change Control NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-CM-5 Access Restrictions for Change NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-CM-6 Configuration Settings NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-CM-7 Least Functionality NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-CM-8 System Component Inventory NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-IA-2 Identification and Authentication (Organizational Users) NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-IA-5 Authenticator Management NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-IA-7 Cryptographic Module Authentication NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-RA-9 Criticality Analysis NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-SA-10 Developer Configuration Management NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-SA-11 Developer Testing and Evaluation NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-SC-34 Non-modifiable Executable Programs NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-SI-2 Flaw Remediation NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-SI-4 System Monitoring NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-SI-7 Software, Firmware, and Information Integrity NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-SR-11 Component Authenticity NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-SR-4 Provenance NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-SR-5 Acquisition Strategies, Tools, and Methods NIST 800-53 control

References