Compromise Infrastructure: Botnet

Adversaries may compromise numerous third-party systems to form a botnet that can be used during targeting. A botnet is a network of compromised systems that can be instructed to perform coordinated tasks.[1] Instead of purchasing/renting a botnet from a booter/stresser service, adversaries may build their own botnet by compromising numerous third-party systems.[2] Adversaries may also conduct a takeover of an existing botnet, such as redirecting bots to adversary-controlled C2 servers.[3] With a botnet at their disposal, adversaries may perform follow-on activity such as large-scale Phishing or Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS).

ID: T1584.005
Sub-technique of:  T1584
Platforms: PRE
Version: 1.0
Created: 01 October 2020
Last Modified: 19 April 2022

Procedure Examples

ID Name Description
G0001 Axiom

Axiom has used large groups of compromised machines for use as proxy nodes.[4]

G0034 Sandworm Team

Sandworm Team has used a large-scale botnet to target Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) network devices.[5]

G1017 Volt Typhoon

Volt Typhoon has routed traffic through compromised small office and home office (SOHO) network equipment, many of which were located in the same geographic area as the victim.[6][7]

Mitigations

ID Mitigation Description
M1056 Pre-compromise

This technique cannot be easily mitigated with preventive controls since it is based on behaviors performed outside of the scope of enterprise defenses and controls.

Detection

Much of this activity will take place outside the visibility of the target organization, making detection of this behavior difficult. Detection efforts may be focused on related stages of the adversary lifecycle, such as during Phishing, Endpoint Denial of Service, or Network Denial of Service.

References