Defacement: Internal Defacement

ID Name
T1491.001 Internal Defacement
T1491.002 External Defacement

An adversary may deface systems internal to an organization in an attempt to intimidate or mislead users, thus discrediting the integrity of the systems. This may take the form of modifications to internal websites, or directly to user systems with the replacement of the desktop wallpaper.[1] Disturbing or offensive images may be used as a part of Internal Defacement in order to cause user discomfort, or to pressure compliance with accompanying messages. Since internally defacing systems exposes an adversary's presence, it often takes place after other intrusion goals have been accomplished.[2]

ID: T1491.001
Sub-technique of:  T1491
Tactic: Impact
Platforms: Linux, Windows, macOS
Impact Type: Integrity
Version: 1.1
Created: 20 February 2020
Last Modified: 25 March 2022

Procedure Examples

ID Name Description
S0659 Diavol

After encryption, Diavol will capture the desktop background window, set the background color to black, and change the desktop wallpaper to a newly created bitmap image with the text "All your files are encrypted! For more information see "README-FOR-DECRYPT.txt".[3]

G0047 Gamaredon Group

Gamaredon Group has left taunting images and messages on the victims' desktops as proof of system access.[4]

G0032 Lazarus Group

Lazarus Group replaced the background wallpaper of systems with a threatening image after rendering the system unbootable with a Disk Structure Wipe.[2]

S0688 Meteor

Meteor can change both the desktop wallpaper and the lock screen image to a custom image.[5]

Mitigations

ID Mitigation Description
M1053 Data Backup

Consider implementing IT disaster recovery plans that contain procedures for taking regular data backups that can be used to restore organizational data.[6] Ensure backups are stored off system and is protected from common methods adversaries may use to gain access and destroy the backups to prevent recovery.

Detection

ID Data Source Data Component
DS0015 Application Log Application Log Content
DS0022 File File Creation
File Modification
DS0029 Network Traffic Network Traffic Content

Monitor internal and websites for unplanned content changes. Monitor application logs for abnormal behavior that may indicate attempted or successful exploitation. Use deep packet inspection to look for artifacts of common exploit traffic, such as SQL injection. Web Application Firewalls may detect improper inputs attempting exploitation.

References