Compromise Accounts, Technique T1586 - Enterprise

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang='en'> <head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=UA-62667723-1"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'UA-62667723-1'); </script> <meta name="google-site-verification" content="2oJKLqNN62z6AOCb0A0IXGtbQuj-lev5YPAHFF_cbHQ"/> <meta charset='utf-8'> <meta name='viewport' content='width=device-width, initial-scale=1,shrink-to-fit=no'> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge"> <link rel='shortcut icon' href='/theme/favicon.ico' type='image/x-icon'> <title>Compromise Accounts, Technique T1586 - Enterprise | MITRE ATT&CK®</title>   <link rel='stylesheet' href='/theme/style/bootstrap.min.css' /> <link rel='stylesheet' href='/theme/style/bootstrap-tourist.css' /> <link rel='stylesheet' href='/theme/style/bootstrap-select.min.css' />  <link rel="stylesheet" href="/theme/style/fontawesome-6.5.1/css/fontawesome.min.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/theme/style/fontawesome-6.5.1/css/brands.min.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/theme/style/fontawesome-6.5.1/css/solid.min.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/theme/style.min.css?6689c2db"> </head> <body> <div class="container-fluid attack-website-wrapper d-flex flex-column h-100"> <div class="row sticky-top flex-grow-0 flex-shrink-1">  <header class="col px-0"> <nav class='navbar navbar-expand-lg navbar-dark position-static'> <a class='navbar-brand' href='/'><img src="/theme/images/mitre_attack_logo.png" class="attack-logo"></a> <button class='navbar-toggler' type='button' data-toggle='collapse' data-target='#navbarCollapse' aria-controls='navbarCollapse' aria-expanded='false' aria-label='Toggle navigation'> <span class='navbar-toggler-icon'></span> </button> <div class='collapse navbar-collapse' id='navbarCollapse'> <ul class='nav nav-tabs ml-auto'> <li class="nav-item dropdown"> <a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" href="/matrices/" id="navbarDropdown" role="button" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false"> <b>Matrices</b> </a> <div class="dropdown-menu " aria-labelledby="navbarDropdown"> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/matrices/enterprise/">Enterprise</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/matrices/mobile/">Mobile</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/matrices/ics/">ICS</a> </div> </li> <li class="nav-item dropdown"> <a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" href="/tactics/" id="navbarDropdown" role="button" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false"> <b>Tactics</b> </a> <div class="dropdown-menu " aria-labelledby="navbarDropdown"> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/tactics/enterprise/">Enterprise</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/tactics/mobile/">Mobile</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/tactics/ics/">ICS</a> </div> </li> <li class="nav-item dropdown"> <a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" href="/techniques/" id="navbarDropdown" role="button" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false"> <b>Techniques</b> </a> <div class="dropdown-menu " aria-labelledby="navbarDropdown"> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/techniques/enterprise/">Enterprise</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/techniques/mobile/">Mobile</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/techniques/ics/">ICS</a> </div> </li> <li class="nav-item dropdown"> <a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" href="/datasources" id="navbarDropdown" role="button" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false"> <b>Defenses</b> </a> <div class="dropdown-menu " aria-labelledby="navbarDropdown"> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/datasources">Data Sources</a> <div class="dropright dropdown"> <a class="dropdown-item dropdown-toggle" href="/mitigations/" id="navbarDropdown" role="button" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false"> <b>Mitigations</b> </a> <div class="dropdown-menu " aria-labelledby="navbarDropdown"> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/mitigations/enterprise/">Enterprise</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/mitigations/mobile/">Mobile</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/mitigations/ics/">ICS</a> </div> </div> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/assets">Assets</a> </div> </li> <li class="nav-item dropdown"> <a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" href="/groups" id="navbarDropdown" role="button" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false"> <b>CTI</b> </a> <div class="dropdown-menu " aria-labelledby="navbarDropdown"> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/groups">Groups</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/software">Software</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/campaigns">Campaigns</a> </div> </li> <li class="nav-item dropdown"> <a class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" href="/resources/" id="navbarDropdown" role="button" data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false"> <b>Resources</b> </a> <div class="dropdown-menu " aria-labelledby="navbarDropdown"> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/resources/">Get Started</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/resources/learn-more-about-attack/">Learn More about ATT&CK</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/resources/attackcon/">ATT&CKcon</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/resources/attack-data-and-tools/">ATT&CK Data & Tools</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/resources/faq/">FAQ</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/resources/engage-with-attack/contact/">Engage with ATT&CK</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/resources/versions/">Version History</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/resources/legal-and-branding/">Legal & Branding</a> </div> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/resources/engage-with-attack/benefactors/" class="nav-link" ><b>Benefactors</b></a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="https://medium.com/mitre-attack/" target="_blank" class="nav-link"> <b>Blog</b>  <img src="/theme/images/external-site.svg" alt="External site" class="external-icon" /> </a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <button id="search-button" class="btn search-button">Search <div id="search-icon" class="icon-button search-icon"></div></button> </li> </ul> </div> </nav> </header> </div> <div class="row flex-grow-0 flex-shrink-1">  <div class="col px-0">   <div class="container-fluid banner-message"> ATT&CK v16 has been released! Check out the <a href='https://medium.com/mitre-attack/attack-v16-561c76af94cf'>blog post</a> for more information. </div> </div> </div> <div class="row flex-grow-1 flex-shrink-0">   <div class="sidebar nav sticky-top flex-column pr-0 pt-4 pb-3 pl-3" id="v-tab" role="tablist" aria-orientation="vertical"> <div class="resizer" id="resizer"></div>  <div id="sidebars"></div>  </div> <div class="tab-content col-xl-9 pt-4" id="v-tabContent"> <div class="tab-pane fade show active" id="v-attckmatrix" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="v-attckmatrix-tab"> <ol class="breadcrumb"> <li class="breadcrumb-item"><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li class="breadcrumb-item"><a href="/techniques/enterprise">Techniques</a></li> <li class="breadcrumb-item"><a href="/techniques/enterprise">Enterprise</a></li> <li class="breadcrumb-item">Compromise Accounts</li> </ol> <div class="tab-pane fade show active" id="v-" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="v--tab"></div> <div class="row"> <div class="col-xl-12"> <div class="jumbotron jumbotron-fluid"> <div class="container-fluid"> <h1 id=""> Compromise Accounts </h1> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-8">  <div class="card-block pb-2"> <div class="card"> <div class="card-header collapsed" id="subtechniques-card-header" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#subtechniques-card-body" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="subtechniques-card-body"> <h5 class="mb-0" id ="sub-techniques">Sub-techniques (3)</h5> </div> <div id="subtechniques-card-body" class="card-body p-0 collapse" aria-labelledby="subtechniques-card-header"> <table class="table table-bordered"> <thead> <tr> <th scope="col">ID</th> <th scope="col">Name</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td> <a href="/techniques/T1586/001/" class="subtechnique-table-item" data-subtechnique_id="T1586.001"> T1586.001 </a> </td> <td> <a href="/techniques/T1586/001/" class="subtechnique-table-item" data-subtechnique_id="T1586.001"> Social Media Accounts </a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a href="/techniques/T1586/002/" class="subtechnique-table-item" data-subtechnique_id="T1586.002"> T1586.002 </a> </td> <td> <a href="/techniques/T1586/002/" class="subtechnique-table-item" data-subtechnique_id="T1586.002"> Email Accounts </a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <a href="/techniques/T1586/003/" class="subtechnique-table-item" data-subtechnique_id="T1586.003"> T1586.003 </a> </td> <td> <a href="/techniques/T1586/003/" class="subtechnique-table-item" data-subtechnique_id="T1586.003"> Cloud Accounts </a> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="description-body"> <p>Adversaries may compromise accounts with services that can be used during targeting. For operations incorporating social engineering, the utilization of an online persona may be important. Rather than creating and cultivating accounts (i.e. <a href="/techniques/T1585">Establish Accounts</a>), adversaries may compromise existing accounts. Utilizing an existing persona may engender a level of trust in a potential victim if they have a relationship, or knowledge of, the compromised persona. </p><p>A variety of methods exist for compromising accounts, such as gathering credentials via <a href="/techniques/T1598">Phishing for Information</a>, purchasing credentials from third-party sites, brute forcing credentials (ex: password reuse from breach credential dumps), or paying employees, suppliers or business partners for access to credentials.<span onclick=scrollToRef('scite-1') id="scite-ref-1-a" class="scite-citeref-number" title="Bright, P. (2011, February 15). Anonymous speaks: the inside story of the HBGary hack. Retrieved March 9, 2017."data-reference="AnonHBGary"><sup><a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2011/02/anonymous-speaks-the-inside-story-of-the-hbgary-hack/" target="_blank" data-hasqtip="0" aria-describedby="qtip-0">[1]</a></sup></span><span onclick=scrollToRef('scite-2') id="scite-ref-2-a" class="scite-citeref-number" title="Microsoft. (2022, March 22). DEV-0537 criminal actor targeting organizations for data exfiltration and destruction. Retrieved March 23, 2022."data-reference="Microsoft DEV-0537"><sup><a href="https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2022/03/22/dev-0537-criminal-actor-targeting-organizations-for-data-exfiltration-and-destruction/" target="_blank" data-hasqtip="1" aria-describedby="qtip-1">[2]</a></sup></span> Prior to compromising accounts, adversaries may conduct Reconnaissance to inform decisions about which accounts to compromise to further their operation.</p><p>Personas may exist on a single site or across multiple sites (ex: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google, etc.). Compromised accounts may require additional development, this could include filling out or modifying profile information, further developing social networks, or incorporating photos.</p><p>Adversaries may directly leverage compromised email accounts for <a href="/techniques/T1598">Phishing for Information</a> or <a href="/techniques/T1566">Phishing</a>.</p> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-4"> <div class="card"> <div class="card-body"> <div class="row card-data" id="card-id"> <div class="col-md-1 px-0 text-center"></div> <div class="col-md-11 pl-0"> <span class="h5 card-title">ID: </span>T1586 </div> </div>  <div class="row card-data"> <div class="col-md-1 px-0 text-center"></div> <div class="col-md-11 pl-0"> <span class="h5 card-title">Sub-techniques: </span> <a href="/techniques/T1586/001">T1586.001</a>, <a href="/techniques/T1586/002">T1586.002</a>, <a href="/techniques/T1586/003">T1586.003</a> </div> </div>  <div id="card-tactics" class="row card-data"> <div class="col-md-1 px-0 text-center"> <span data-toggle="tooltip" data-placement="left" title="" data-test-ignore="true" data-original-title="The tactic objectives that the (sub-)technique can be used to accomplish">ⓘ</span> </div> <div class="col-md-11 pl-0"> <span class="h5 card-title">Tactic:</span> <a href="/tactics/TA0042">Resource Development</a> </div> </div> <div class="row card-data"> <div class="col-md-1 px-0 text-center"> <span data-toggle="tooltip" data-placement="left" title="" data-test-ignore="true" data-original-title="The system an adversary is operating within; could be an operating system or application">ⓘ</span> </div> <div class="col-md-11 pl-0"> <span class="h5 card-title">Platforms: </span>PRE </div> </div> <div class="row card-data"> <div class="col-md-1 px-0 text-center"></div> <div class="col-md-11 pl-0"> <span class="h5 card-title">Version: </span>1.2 </div> </div> <div class="row card-data"> <div class="col-md-1 px-0 text-center"></div> <div class="col-md-11 pl-0"> <span class="h5 card-title">Created: </span>01 October 2020 </div> </div> <div class="row card-data"> <div class="col-md-1 px-0 text-center"></div> <div class="col-md-11 pl-0"> <span class="h5 card-title">Last Modified: </span>11 April 2023 </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="text-center pt-2 version-button live"> <div class="live"> <a data-toggle="tooltip" data-placement="bottom" title="Permalink to this version of T1586" href="/versions/v16/techniques/T1586/" data-test-ignore="true">Version Permalink</a> </div> <div class="permalink"> <a data-toggle="tooltip" data-placement="bottom" title="Go to the live version of T1586" href="/versions/v16/techniques/T1586/" data-test-ignore="true">Live Version</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2 class="pt-3" id ="mitigations">Mitigations</h2> <div class="tables-mobile"> <table class="table table-bordered table-alternate mt-2"> <thead> <tr> <th scope="col">ID</th> <th scope="col">Mitigation</th> <th scope="col">Description</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td> <a href="/mitigations/M1056"> M1056 </a> </td> <td> <a href="/mitigations/M1056"> Pre-compromise </a> </td> <td> <p>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.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> <h2 class="pt-3" id="detection">Detection</h2> <div class="tables-mobile"> <table class="table datasources-table table-bordered"> <thead> <tr> <th class="p-2" scope="col">ID</th> <th class="p-2 nowrap" scope="col">Data Source</th> <th class="p-2 nowrap" scope="col">Data Component</th> <th class="p-2" scope="col">Detects</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr class="datasource" id="uses-DS0029"> <td> <a href="/datasources/DS0029">DS0029</a> </td> <td class="nowrap"> <a href="/datasources/DS0029">Network Traffic</a> </td>  <td> <a href="/datasources/DS0029/#Network%20Traffic%20Content">Network Traffic Content</a> </td> <td> <p>Monitor and analyze traffic patterns and packet inspection associated to protocol(s) that do not follow the expected protocol standards and traffic flows (e.g extraneous packets that do not belong to established flows, gratuitous or anomalous traffic patterns, anomalous syntax, or structure). Consider correlation with process monitoring and command line to detect anomalous processes execution and command line arguments associated to traffic patterns (e.g. monitor anomalies in use of files that do not normally initiate connections for respective protocol(s)).</p> </td> </tr> <tr class="datasource" id="uses-DS0021"> <td> <a href="/datasources/DS0021">DS0021</a> </td> <td class="nowrap"> <a href="/datasources/DS0021">Persona</a> </td>  <td> <a href="/datasources/DS0021/#Social%20Media">Social Media</a> </td> <td> <p>Consider monitoring social media activity related to your organization. Suspicious activity may include personas claiming to work for your organization or recently modified accounts making numerous connection requests to accounts affiliated with your organization.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 Initial Access (ex: <a href="/techniques/T1566">Phishing</a>).</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> <h2 class="pt-3" id="references">References</h2> <div class="row"> <div class="col"> <ol> <li> <span id="scite-1" class="scite-citation"> <span class="scite-citation-text"> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" name="scite-1" href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2011/02/anonymous-speaks-the-inside-story-of-the-hbgary-hack/" target="_blank"> Bright, P. (2011, February 15). Anonymous speaks: the inside story of the HBGary hack. Retrieved March 9, 2017. </a> </span> </span> </li> </ol> </div> <div class="col"> <ol start="2.0"> <li> <span id="scite-2" class="scite-citation"> <span class="scite-citation-text"> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" name="scite-2" href="https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2022/03/22/dev-0537-criminal-actor-targeting-organizations-for-data-exfiltration-and-destruction/" target="_blank"> Microsoft. (2022, March 22). DEV-0537 criminal actor targeting organizations for data exfiltration and destruction. Retrieved March 23, 2022. </a> </span> </span> </li> </ol> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>   <div class="overlay search" id="search-overlay" style="display: none;"> <div class="overlay-inner">  <div class="search-header"> <div class="search-input"> <input type="text" id="search-input" placeholder="search"> </div> <div class="search-icons"> <div class="search-parsing-icon spinner-border" style="display: none" id="search-parsing-icon"></div> <div class="close-search-icon" id="close-search-icon">×</div> </div> </div>  <div id="search-body" class="search-body"> <div class="results" id="search-results">  </div> <div id="load-more-results" class="load-more-results"> <button class="btn btn-default" id="load-more-results-button">load more results</button> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row flex-grow-0 flex-shrink-1">  <footer class="col footer"> <div class="container-fluid"> <div class="row row-footer"> <div class="col-2 col-sm-2 col-md-2"> <div class="footer-center-responsive my-auto"> <a href="https://www.mitre.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener" aria-label="MITRE"> <img src="/theme/images/mitrelogowhiteontrans.gif" class="mitre-logo-wtrans"> </a> </div> </div> <div class="col-2 col-sm-2 footer-responsive-break"></div> <div class="footer-link-group"> <div class="row row-footer"> <div class="px-3 col-footer"> <u class="footer-link"><a href="/resources/engage-with-attack/contact" class="footer-link">Contact Us</a></u> </div> <div class="px-3 col-footer"> <u class="footer-link"><a href="/resources/legal-and-branding/terms-of-use" class="footer-link">Terms of Use</a></u> </div> <div class="px-3 col-footer"> <u class="footer-link"><a href="/resources/legal-and-branding/privacy" class="footer-link">Privacy Policy</a></u> </div> <div class="px-3"> <u class="footer-link"><a href="/resources/changelog.html" class="footer-link" data-toggle="tooltip" data-placement="top" data-html="true" title="ATT&CK content v16.1Website v4.2.1">Website Changelog</a></u> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <small class="px-3"> © 2015 - 2024, The MITRE Corporation. MITRE ATT&CK and ATT&CK are registered trademarks of The MITRE Corporation. </small> </div> </div> <div class="w-100 p-2 footer-responsive-break"></div> <div class="col pr-4"> <div class="footer-float-right-responsive-brand"> <div class="row row-footer row-footer-icon"> <div class="mb-1"> <a href="https://twitter.com/MITREattack" class="btn btn-footer"> <i class="fa-brands fa-x-twitter fa-lg"></i> </a> <a href="https://github.com/mitre-attack" class="btn btn-footer"> <i class="fa-brands fa-github fa-lg"></i> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </footer> </div> </div>  </div>  <script src="/theme/scripts/jquery-3.5.1.min.js"></script> <script src="/theme/scripts/popper.min.js"></script> <script src="/theme/scripts/bootstrap-select.min.js"></script> <script src="/theme/scripts/bootstrap.bundle.min.js"></script> <script src="/theme/scripts/site.js"></script> <script src="/theme/scripts/settings.js"></script> <script src="/theme/scripts/search_bundle.js"></script>  <script src="/theme/scripts/resizer.js"></script>  <script src="/theme/scripts/bootstrap-tourist.js"></script> <script src="/theme/scripts/settings.js"></script> <script src="/theme/scripts/tour/tour-techniques.js"></script> <script src="/theme/scripts/sidebar-load-all.js"></script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Compromise Accounts, Technique T1586 - Enterprise | MITRE ATT&CK®