Adversaries may access network configuration files to collect sensitive data about the device and the network. The network configuration is a file containing parameters that determine the operation of the device. The device typically stores an in-memory copy of the configuration while operating, and a separate configuration on non-volatile storage to load after device reset. Adversaries can inspect the configuration files to reveal information about the target network and its layout, the network device and its software, or identifying legitimate accounts and credentials for later use. Adversaries can use common management tools and protocols, such as Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) and Smart Install (SMI), to access network configuration files.12 These tools may be used to query specific data from a configuration repository or configure the device to export the configuration for later analysis.
- US-CERT TA18-106A Network Infrastructure Devices 2018
- Cisco Blog Legacy Device Attacks
Groups using this technique
| Group | Name | Country |
|---|---|---|
| grp_g1045 | Salt Typhoon | — |
Claims
No public claim points at this technique yet.
Auto-ingested and not human-reviewed; confidence and validity read by citation.