{
  "type": "attack-pattern",
  "spec_version": "2.1",
  "id": "attack-pattern--0cfe31a7-81fc-472c-bc45-e2808d1066a3",
  "created": "2020-02-20T14:34:08.496Z",
  "created_by_ref": "identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5",
  "revoked": false,
  "external_references": [
    {
      "source_name": "mitre-attack",
      "url": "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1491/002",
      "external_id": "T1491.002"
    },
    {
      "source_name": "Anonymous Hackers Deface Russian Govt Site",
      "description": "Andy. (2018, May 12). ‘Anonymous’ Hackers Deface Russian Govt. Site to Protest Web-Blocking (NSFW). Retrieved April 19, 2019.",
      "url": "https://torrentfreak.com/anonymous-hackers-deface-russian-govt-site-to-protest-web-blocking-nsfw-180512/"
    },
    {
      "source_name": "FireEye Cyber Threats to Media Industries",
      "description": "FireEye. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2024.",
      "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20210719110553/https://www.fireeye.com/content/dam/fireeye-www/current-threats/pdfs/ib-entertainment.pdf"
    },
    {
      "source_name": "Kevin Mandia Statement to US Senate Committee on Intelligence",
      "description": "Kevin Mandia. (2017, March 30). Prepared Statement of Kevin Mandia, CEO of FireEye, Inc. before the United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Retrieved April 19, 2019.",
      "url": "https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/documents/os-kmandia-033017.pdf"
    },
    {
      "source_name": "Trend Micro Deep Dive Into Defacement",
      "description": "Marco Balduzzi, Ryan Flores, Lion Gu, Federico Maggi, Vincenzo Ciancaglini, Roel Reyes, Akira Urano. (n.d.). A Deep Dive into Defacement: How Geopolitical Events Trigger Web Attacks. Retrieved April 19, 2019.",
      "url": "https://documents.trendmicro.com/assets/white_papers/wp-a-deep-dive-into-defacement.pdf"
    }
  ],
  "object_marking_refs": [
    "marking-definition--fa42a846-8d90-4e51-bc29-71d5b4802168"
  ],
  "modified": "2025-10-24T17:48:23.460Z",
  "name": "External Defacement",
  "description": "An adversary may deface systems external to an organization in an attempt to deliver messaging, intimidate, or otherwise mislead an organization or users. [External Defacement](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1491/002) may ultimately cause users to distrust the systems and to question/discredit the system’s integrity. Externally-facing websites are a common victim of defacement; often targeted by adversary and hacktivist groups in order to push a political message or spread propaganda.(Citation: FireEye Cyber Threats to Media Industries)(Citation: Kevin Mandia Statement to US Senate Committee on Intelligence)(Citation: Anonymous Hackers Deface Russian Govt Site) [External Defacement](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1491/002) may be used as a catalyst to trigger events, or as a response to actions taken by an organization or government. Similarly, website defacement may also be used as setup, or a precursor, for future attacks such as [Drive-by Compromise](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1189).(Citation: Trend Micro Deep Dive Into Defacement)",
  "kill_chain_phases": [
    {
      "kill_chain_name": "mitre-attack",
      "phase_name": "impact"
    }
  ],
  "x_mitre_attack_spec_version": "3.2.0",
  "x_mitre_deprecated": false,
  "x_mitre_domains": [
    "enterprise-attack"
  ],
  "x_mitre_is_subtechnique": true,
  "x_mitre_modified_by_ref": "identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5",
  "x_mitre_platforms": [
    "Windows",
    "IaaS",
    "Linux",
    "macOS"
  ],
  "x_mitre_version": "1.2",
  "x_mitre_impact_type": [
    "Integrity"
  ]
}