MITRE ATT&CKtechnique
T1691 Block Operational Technology Message
- Domain
- ics
- Tactics
- Inhibit Response Function
- Platforms
- Embedded, Windows, Linux
- Version
- 1.0
- Created
- 2026-04-20
Description
Adversaries may block messages between systems and devices in an OT/ICS environment to disrupt processes. Messages typically fall into two categories: (1) reporting messages that contain telemetry data about the current state of systems, devices, and processes and (2) command messages that contain instructions to control systems, devices, and processes. Both types of messages are critical for the proper functioning of industrial control processes and failure of the messages to reach their intended destinations could inhibit response functions or create an unsafe condition that could have physical impacts.
Adversaries may block communications by either making modifications to software (System Firmware, Module Firmware, Hooking, and Rootkit) and services (Service Stop, Denial of Service) on systems and devices or by positioning themselves between systems and devices and intercepting and blocking the communications such as the case with an Adversary-in-the-Middle attack.
Related
Tactic · MITRE ATT&CK (1)
- TA0107 Inhibit Response Function tactic
Referenced by MITRE ATT&CK · mitigates (3)
References
- http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=6142258 Bonnie Zhu, Anthony Joseph, Shankar Sastry 2011
- https://assets.contentstack.io/v3/assets/blt36c2e63521272fdc/blt6a77276749b76a40/607f235992f0063e5c070fff/E-ISAC_SANS_Ukraine_DUC_5%5b73%5d.pdf Electricity Information Sharing and Analysis Center; SANS Industrial Control Systems March 2016