T1542.002sub-technique of T1542 Pre-OS Boot
Component Firmware
Windows · Linux · macOSnothing on this site yetT1542.002 on attack.mitre.org
Adversaries may modify component firmware to persist on systems. Some adversaries may employ sophisticated means to compromise computer components and install malicious firmware that will execute adversary code outside of the operating system and main system firmware or BIOS. This technique may be similar to System Firmware but conducted upon other system components/devices that may not have the same capability or level of integrity checking.
If this is happening now
Checklists and playbooks to open while the alert is still live.
Playbook for this stage
Suspicious execution on an endpoint
An EDR alert, an unexplained process, or a user reporting something odd.
how MITRE says to see it
Detection Strategy for T1542.002 Pre-OS Boot: Component Firmware
- Detection of anomalous driver and firmware interactions, including unsigned or unexpected firmware updates, driver loads linked to hardware components, and suspicious use of privileged APIs to read/write firmware or controller memory.
- Detection of suspicious use of ioctl/sysfs calls to access device firmware, unexpected flashing tools execution, and anomalous firmware checksums logged by SMART or kernel audit mechanisms.
- Detection of EFI/firmware manipulation attempts via abnormal driver loads, unsigned kexts, or tampered NVRAM variables associated with component firmware configuration.
what reduces it
- M1051 Update Software. Perform regular firmware updates to mitigate risks of exploitation and/or abuse.