T1686: Disable or Modify System Firewall — MITRE ATT&CK Technique

Description

Adversaries may disable or modify host-based or network firewalls to impair defensive mechanisms and enable further action. Once an adversary has gathered sufficient privileges, they can tamper with firewall services, policies, or rule sets to remove restrictions on inbound or outbound traffic. For example, this may include turning off firewall profiles, altering existing rules to permit previously blocked ports or protocols, or adding new rules that create covert communication paths (e.g., adding a new firewall rule for a well-known protocol (such as RDP) using a non-traditional and potentially less securitized port.(Citation: change_rdp_port_conti)

Adversaries may disable or modify firewalls using different behaviors, depending on the platform. For example, in ESXi, firewall rules may be modified directly via the esxcli (e.g., via esxcli network firewall set) or via the vCenter user interface.(Citation: Broadcom ESXi Firewall)(Citation: Trellix Rnasomhouse 2024)

Platforms

ESXiLinuxmacOSNetwork DevicesWindows

Sub-Techniques (3)

T1686.001

Cloud Firewall

T1686.002

Network Device Firewall

T1686.003

Windows Host Firewall

Mitigations (4)

User Account ManagementM1018

Ensure proper user permissions are in place to prevent adversaries from disabling or modifying firewall settings.

Restrict File and Directory PermissionsM1022

Ensure proper process and file permissions are in place to prevent adversaries from disabling or modifying firewall settings.

Restrict Registry PermissionsM1024

Ensure proper Registry permissions are in place to prevent adversaries from disabling or modifying firewall settings.

AuditM1047

Routinely check account role permissions to ensure only expected users and roles have permission to modify system firewalls.

Threat Groups (13)

ID	Group	Context
G0082	APT38	[APT38](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0082) have created firewall exemptions on specific ports, including ports 443, 6443, 8443, and 9443.(Citation...
G1043	BlackByte	[BlackByte](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G1043) modified firewall rules on victim machines to enable remote system discovery.(Citation: Picus Black...
G0094	Kimsuky	[Kimsuky](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0094) has been observed disabling the system firewall.(Citation: Securelist Kimsuky Sept 2013)
G1045	Salt Typhoon	[Salt Typhoon](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G1045) has made changes to the Access Control List (ACL) and loopback interface address on compromised ...
G0035	Dragonfly	[Dragonfly](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0035) has disabled host-based firewalls. The group has also globally opened port 3389.(Citation: US-CERT ...
G0139	TeamTNT	[TeamTNT](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0139) has disabled <code>iptables</code>.(Citation: Aqua TeamTNT August 2020)
G0046	FIN7	[FIN7](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0046) has added a firewall rule to allow TCP port 59999 inbound and a rule to allow sshd.exe on TCP port 9898....
G0106	Rocke	[Rocke](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0106) used scripts which killed processes and added firewall rules to block traffic related to other cryptomi...
G1048	UNC3886	[UNC3886](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G1048) has used the TABLEFLIP traffic redirection utility and the esxcli command line to modify firewall ru...
G0008	Carbanak	[Carbanak](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0008) may use [netsh](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0108) to add local firewall rule exceptions.(Cita...
G1051	Medusa Group	[Medusa Group](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G1051) has utilized [PsExec](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0029) to execute batch scripts that mod...
G1022	ToddyCat	Prior to executing a backdoor [ToddyCat](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G1022) has run `cmd /c start /b netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="SG...
G1047	Velvet Ant	[Velvet Ant](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G1047) modified system firewall settings during [PlugX](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0013) installa...

Associated Software (15)

ID	Name	Type	Context
S0088	Kasidet	Malware	[Kasidet](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0088) has the ability to change firewall settings to allow a plug-in to be downloaded.(Citation: Zscaler ...
S1211	Hannotog	Malware	[Hannotog](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S1211) can modify local firewall settings via `netsh` commands to open a listening UDP port.(Citation: Sy...
S1032	PyDCrypt	Malware	[PyDCrypt](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S1032) has modified firewall rules to allow incoming SMB, NetBIOS, and RPC connections using `netsh.exe` ...
S1223	THINCRUST	Malware	[THINCRUST](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S1223) can use the Django python module "django.views.decorators.csrf” along with the decorator “csrf_ex...
S1178	ShrinkLocker	Malware	[ShrinkLocker](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S1178) turns on the system firewall and deletes all of its rules during execution.(Citation: Kaspersk...
S0376	HOPLIGHT	Malware	[HOPLIGHT](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0376) has modified the firewall using [netsh](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0108).(Citation: US-CER...
S0260	InvisiMole	Malware	[InvisiMole](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0260) has a command to disable routing and the Firewall on the victim’s machine.(Citation: ESET Invisi...
S0013	PlugX	Malware	[PlugX](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0013) has modified local firewall rules on victim machines to enable a random, high-number listening port f...
S1161	BPFDoor	Malware	[BPFDoor](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S1161) starts a shell on a high TCP port starting at 42391 up to 43391, then changes the local `iptables` ...
S0531	Grandoreiro	Malware	[Grandoreiro](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0531) can block the Deibold Warsaw GAS Tecnologia security tool at the firewall level.(Citation: ESET...
S0336	NanoCore	Malware	[NanoCore](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0336) can modify the victim's firewall.(Citation: DigiTrust NanoCore Jan 2017)(Citation: PaloAlto NanoCo...
S0412	ZxShell	Malware	[ZxShell](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0412) can disable the firewall by modifying the registry key <code>HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services...
S0492	CookieMiner	Malware	[CookieMiner](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0492) has checked for the presence of "Little Snitch", macOS network monitoring and application firew...
S0031	BACKSPACE	Malware	The "ZR" variant of [BACKSPACE](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0031) will check to see if known host-based firewalls are installed on the infected...
S0108	netsh	Tool	[netsh](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0108) can be used to disable local firewall settings.(Citation: TechNet Netsh)(Citation: TechNet Netsh Fire...

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is T1686 (Disable or Modify System Firewall)?

T1686 is a MITRE ATT&CK technique named 'Disable or Modify System Firewall'. It belongs to the Defense Impairment tactic(s). Adversaries may disable or modify host-based or network firewalls to impair defensive mechanisms and enable further action. Once an adversary has gathered sufficient privileges, they can tamper with f...

How can T1686 be detected?

Detection of T1686 (Disable or Modify System Firewall) typically involves monitoring system logs, network traffic, and endpoint telemetry. Use SIEM rules, EDR solutions, and behavioral analytics to identify suspicious activity associated with this technique.

What mitigations exist for T1686?

There are 4 documented mitigations for T1686. Key mitigations include: User Account Management, Restrict File and Directory Permissions, Restrict Registry Permissions, Audit.

Which threat groups use T1686?

Known threat groups using T1686 include: APT38, BlackByte, Kimsuky, Salt Typhoon, Dragonfly, TeamTNT, FIN7, Rocke.