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MITRE ATT&CK® Technique

T1693: Modify Firmware

Firmware is low-level software embedded in hardware that enables systems and devices to function properly and is commonly found in ICS environments. Adversaries may modify firmware on a system or device by installing malicious or vulnerable versions that enable them to achieve objectives such as Persistence, Impair Process Control, and Inhibit Response Function.

Adversaries may modify system and device firmware by using the built-in firmware update functionality which may support local or remote installation. The malicious or vulnerable firmware may be delivered via Replication Through Removable Media, Supply Chain Compromise, or Remote Services. Once installed, the malicious or vulnerable firmware could be used to provide Rootkit and Hooking functionality, Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, or Denial of Service.[1]

ICST1693TechniqueObject v1.0Modified
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Glexia's Take · Automated analysis

Security context for executives and security teams

Automation confidenceMedium

T1693: Modify Firmware describes Firmware is low-level software embedded in hardware that enables systems and devices to function properly and is commonly found in ICS environments. Adversaries may modify firmware on a system or device by installing malicious or vulnerable versions that enable them to achieve objectives such as [Persistence](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0110), [Impair Process Control](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0106), and [Inhibit Response Function](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0107). Adversaries may modify sys...

Executive priority

T1693: Modify Firmware is an official MITRE ATT&CK technique. Glexia treats it as defensive behavior context for prioritizing monitoring, control validation, and response planning without using the object by itself as an attribution claim.

Technical view

Security teams should validate T1693: Modify Firmware by reviewing the official ATT&CK relationships, mapped tactics (persistence, inhibit-response-function, impair-process-control), supported platforms (the platforms named in the official object), and available local telemetry before making detection or mitigation decisions.

Likely telemetry

  • Official ATT&CK relationships and object metadata
  • Identity, privilege, and authentication events

Detection direction

  • Validate whether T1693: Modify Firmware appears in your detection coverage and tabletop scenarios.
  • Use the object to align executive risk language with SOC, incident response, and detection engineering work.
  • Do not treat ATT&CK relationship context as attribution without corroborating evidence.

Mitigation priorities

  • Map the object to existing controls and identify missing telemetry or response ownership.
  • Prioritize mitigations that reduce exposure on the listed platforms and tactics.
  • Review adjacent ATT&CK relationships before changing policy, detections, or reporting language.
Additional notes and limits

Baseline Glexia take generated from the official MITRE ATT&CK STIX object, source hash, tactics, platforms, and detection fields. It is safe to replace with a richer model-generated take for the same source hash later.

This baseline take is source-grounded and schema-validated, but it does not include environment-specific telemetry, incident evidence, or threat-intelligence corroboration.

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Official MITRE ATT&CK definition

Modify Firmware

Firmware is low-level software embedded in hardware that enables systems and devices to function properly and is commonly found in ICS environments. Adversaries may modify firmware on a system or device by installing malicious or vulnerable versions that enable them to achieve objectives such as Persistence, Impair Process Control, and Inhibit Response Function.

Adversaries may modify system and device firmware by using the built-in firmware update functionality which may support local or remote installation. The malicious or vulnerable firmware may be delivered via Replication Through Removable Media, Supply Chain Compromise, or Remote Services. Once installed, the malicious or vulnerable firmware could be used to provide Rootkit and Hooking functionality, Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, or Denial of Service.[1]

View the same entry on attack.mitre.org (MITRE-hosted reference; in-page links above use the Glexia ATT&CK library.)

Glexia analysis

How security teams should use this page

Treat this object as behavior context, not an attribution claim. Validate the related groups, software, data sources, and mitigations against official ATT&CK relationships and your own telemetry before making control-coverage decisions.

ATT&CK relationship table

Related techniques

This mirrors the MITRE pattern of making group, software, campaign, and technique relationships scannable. Relationship notes come from mirrored ATT&CK relationship text when available.

2 rows
DomainIDNameRelationship / procedure
ICST1693.001System FirmwareSub-techniqueSystem Firmware subtechnique of this object.
ICST1693.002Module FirmwareSub-techniqueModule Firmware subtechnique of this object.
Relationship explorer

All related ATT&CK context

mitigates · MitigationM0937: Filter Network TrafficICSmitigates · MitigationM0930: Network SegmentationICSmitigates · MitigationM0801: Access ManagementICSmitigates · MitigationM0804: Human User AuthenticationICSmitigates · MitigationM0945: Code SigningICSmitigates · MitigationM0813: Software Process and Device AuthenticationICSmitigates · MitigationM0808: Encrypt Network TrafficICSmitigates · MitigationM0946: Boot IntegrityICSmitigates · MitigationM0941: Encrypt Sensitive InformationICSmitigates · MitigationM0807: Network AllowlistsICSmitigates · MitigationM0947: AuditICSmitigates · MitigationM0802: Communication AuthenticityICSsubtechnique of · TechniqueT1693.001: System FirmwareICSsubtechnique of · TechniqueT1693.002: Module FirmwareICStargets · ICS AssetA0017: Distributed Control System (DCS) ControllerICStargets · ICS AssetA0003: Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)ICStargets · ICS AssetA0018: Programmable Automation Controller (PAC)ICStargets · ICS AssetA0010: Safety ControllerICSdetects · Detection StrategyDET0904: Detection of Firmware ModificationICS
Mitigations

Mitigation direction

MitigationICS

M0937: Filter Network Traffic

Use network appliances to filter ingress or egress traffic and perform protocol-based filtering. Configure software on endpoints to filter network traffic. Perform inline allow/denylisting of network messages based on the application layer (OSI Layer 7) protocol, especially for automation protocols. Application allowlists are beneficial when there are well-defined communication sequences, types, rates, or patterns needed during expected system operations. Application denylists may be needed if all acceptable communication sequences cannot be defined, but instead a set of known malicious uses can be denied (e.g., excessive communication attempts, shutdown messages, invalid commands). Devices performing these functions are often referred to as deep-packet inspection (DPI) firewalls, context-aware firewalls, or firewalls blocking specific automation/SCADA protocol aware firewalls. [1]

MitigationICS

M0930: Network Segmentation

Architect sections of the network to isolate critical systems, functions, or resources. Use physical and logical segmentation to prevent access to potentially sensitive systems and information. Use a DMZ to contain any internet-facing services that should not be exposed from the internal network. Restrict network access to only required systems and services. In addition, prevent systems from other networks or business functions (e.g., enterprise) from accessing critical process control systems. For example, in IEC 62443, systems within the same secure level should be grouped into a zone, and access to that zone is restricted by a conduit, or mechanism to restrict data flows between zones by segmenting the network. [1] [2]

MitigationICS

M0801: Access Management

Access Management technologies can be used to enforce authorization polices and decisions, especially when existing field devices do not provide sufficient capabilities to support user identification and authentication. [1] These technologies typically utilize an in-line network device or gateway system to prevent access to unauthenticated users, while also integrating with an authentication service to first verify user credentials. [2]

MitigationICS

M0804: Human User Authentication

Require user authentication before allowing access to data or accepting commands to a device. While strong multi-factor authentication is preferable, it is not always feasible within ICS environments. Performing strong user authentication also requires additional security controls and processes which are often the target of related adversarial techniques (e.g., Valid Accounts, Default Credentials). Therefore, associated ATT&CK mitigations should be considered in addition to this, including Multi-factor Authentication, Account Use Policies, Password Policies, User Account Management, Privileged Account Management, and User Account Control.

MitigationICS

M0945: Code Signing

Enforce binary and application integrity with digital signature verification to prevent untrusted code from executing.

MitigationICS

M0813: Software Process and Device Authentication

Require the authentication of devices and software processes where appropriate. Devices that connect remotely to other systems should require strong authentication to prevent spoofing of communications. Furthermore, software processes should also require authentication when accessing APIs.

MitigationICS

M0946: Boot Integrity

Use secure methods to boot a system and verify the integrity of the operating system and loading mechanisms.

Change history

Object version and sync metadata

The fields below describe the current mirrored snapshot. When Glexia retains multiple ATT&CK source imports, you can open the table to compare the same object across releases (hashes and MITRE timestamps). For MITRE’s own release notes and roadmap, see ATT&CK resources — Updates.

ATT&CK release
19.2
Object version
1.0
Created
Modified
Raw hash
a919c4648fce157e...
Imported snapshots across ATT&CK releases(2)
ReleaseBundle importedObject versionModifiedStatusRaw hash
19.21.0Current bundlea919c4648fce…
19.11.0Older bundlea919c4648fce…
Raw source

Mirrored ATT&CK source object

The raw object is retained through the mirrored ATT&CK source bundle and object hash. The raw endpoint returns the exact object from the mirrored bundle when available.

Open mirrored raw JSONOpen MITRE-hosted copy
Source references

External references and citations

MITRE external references are preserved separately from Glexia analysis so citations remain traceable to their original source records.

  1. [1]
    Basnight, Zachry, et al.

    Basnight, Zachry, et al. 2013 Retrieved. 2017/10/17

  2. [2]
    mitre-attackT1693
    Open source URL
Source and licensing

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