cyberstrikeus T1596 Search Open Technical Databases
High-Level Description
Adversaries may search freely available technical databases for information about victims that can be used during targeting. Information about victims may be available in online databases and repositories, such as registrations of domains/certificates as well as public collections of network data/artifacts gathered from traffic and/or scans.
Adversaries may search in different open databases depending on what information they seek to gather. Information from these sources may reveal opportunities for other forms of reconnaissance (ex: Phishing for Information or Search Open Websites/Domains), establishing operational resources (ex: Acquire Infrastructure or Compromise Infrastructure), and/or initial access (ex: External Remote Services or Trusted Relationship).
Kill Chain Phase
- Reconnaissance (TA0043)
Platforms: PRE
What to Check
- Identify if Search Open Technical Databases technique is applicable to target environment
- Check PRE systems for indicators of Search Open Technical Databases
- Verify mitigations are bypassed or absent (1 known mitigations)
- Assess detection coverage (1 detection strategies)
How to Test
Manual Testing
Identify Attack Surface: Determine if the target environment is susceptible to Search Open Technical Databases by examining the target platforms (PRE).
Assess Existing Defenses: Review whether mitigations for T1596 are in place. If defenses are absent or misconfigured, this technique may be exploitable.
Execute Test: Use tools and methods described in the MITRE ATT&CK page and external references below.
Note: No Atomic Red Team tests available for this technique. See Atomic Red Team GitHub for updates.
Remediation Guide
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. Efforts should focus on minimizing the amount and sensitivity of data available to external parties.
Detection
Detection of Search Open Technical Databases
Risk Assessment
| Finding | Severity | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Search Open Technical Databases technique applicable | High | Reconnaissance |
CWE Categories
| CWE ID | Title |
|---|---|
| CWE-200 | Exposure of Sensitive Information |