# T1680_local-storage-discovery

> Adversaries may enumerate local drives, disks, and/or volumes and their attributes like total or free space and volume serial number.

- Skill: `cyberstrikeus/t1680-local-storage-discovery` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add cyberstrikeus/t1680-local-storage-discovery`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/cyberstrikeus/t1680-local-storage-discovery/raw
- Safety review: PASS (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Product & Planning
- Author: cyberstrikeus (https://skillmd.com/u/cyberstrikeus)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/cyberstrikeus/t1680-local-storage-discovery

---


# T1680 Local Storage Discovery

## High-Level Description

Adversaries may enumerate local drives, disks, and/or volumes and their attributes like total or free space and volume serial number. This can be done to prepare for ransomware-related encryption, to perform Lateral Movement, or as a precursor to Direct Volume Access.

On ESXi systems, adversaries may use Hypervisor CLI commands such as `esxcli` to list storage connected to the host as well as `.vmdk` files.

On Windows systems, adversaries can use `wmic logicaldisk get` to find information about local network drives. They can also use `Get-PSDrive` in PowerShell to retrieve drives and may additionally use Windows API functions such as `GetDriveType`.

Linux has commands such as `parted`, `lsblk`, `fdisk`, `lshw`, and `df` that can list information about disk partitions such as size, type, file system types, and free space. The command `diskutil` on MacOS can be used to list disks while `system_profiler SPStorageDataType` can additionally show information such as a volume’s mount path, file system, and the type of drive in the system.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) cloud providers also have commands for storage discovery such as `describe volume` in AWS, `gcloud compute disks list` in GCP, and `az disk list` in Azure.

## Kill Chain Phase

- Discovery (TA0007)

**Platforms:** ESXi, IaaS, Linux, macOS, Windows

## What to Check

- [ ] Identify if Local Storage Discovery technique is applicable to target environment
- [ ] Check ESXi systems for indicators of Local Storage Discovery
- [ ] Check IaaS systems for indicators of Local Storage Discovery
- [ ] Check Linux systems for indicators of Local Storage Discovery
- [ ] Assess detection coverage (1 detection strategies)

## How to Test

### Manual Testing

1. **Identify Attack Surface**: Determine if the target environment is susceptible to Local Storage Discovery by examining the target platforms (ESXi, IaaS, Linux).

2. **Assess Existing Defenses**: Review whether mitigations for T1680 are in place. If defenses are absent or misconfigured, this technique may be exploitable.

3. **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](https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team) for updates.

## Remediation Guide

No specific mitigations documented for this technique.

## Detection

### Local Storage Discovery via Drive Enumeration and Filesystem Probing

## Risk Assessment

| Finding                                      | Severity | Impact    |
| -------------------------------------------- | -------- | --------- |
| Local Storage Discovery technique applicable | Medium   | Discovery |

## CWE Categories

| CWE ID  | Title                             |
| ------- | --------------------------------- |
| CWE-200 | Exposure of Sensitive Information |

## References

- [Volexity](https://www.volexity.com/blog/2023/06/28/charming-kitten-updates-powerstar-with-an-interplanetary-twist/)
- [AWS docs describe volumes](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cli/latest/reference/ec2/describe-volumes.html)
- [azure az disk](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cli/azure/disk?view=azure-cli-latest)
- [GCP gcloud compute disks list](https://cloud.google.com/sdk/gcloud/reference/compute/disks/list)
- [TrendMicro ESXI Ransomware](https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/22/a/analysis-and-Impact-of-lockbit-ransomwares-first-linux-and-vmware-esxi-variant.html)
- [Trend Micro MUSTANG PANDA PUBLOAD HIUPAN SEPTEMBER 2024](https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/24/i/earth-preta-new-malware-and-strategies.html)
- [TrendMicro](https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/21/e/darkside-linux-vms-targeted.html)
- [Atomic Red Team - T1680](https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/tree/master/atomics/T1680)
- [MITRE ATT&CK - T1680](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1680)