type: attack-pattern
spec_version: 2.1
id: attack-pattern--28abec6c-4443-4b03-8206-07f2e264a6b4
created: 2020-10-20T00:06:56.180Z
created_by_ref: identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5
external_references: source_name: mitre-attack
url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1542/005
external_id: T1542.005
source_name: Cisco Blog Legacy Device Attacks
description: Omar Santos. (2020, October 19). Attackers Continue to Target Legacy Devices. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
url: https://community.cisco.com/t5/security-blogs/attackers-continue-to-target-legacy-devices/ba-p/4169954
source_name: Cisco IOS Software Integrity Assurance - Secure Boot
description: Cisco. (n.d.). Cisco IOS Software Integrity Assurance - Secure Boot. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
url: https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/resources/integrity_assurance.html#35
source_name: Cisco IOS Software Integrity Assurance - Image File Verification
description: Cisco. (n.d.). Cisco IOS Software Integrity Assurance - Cisco IOS Image File Verification. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
url: https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/resources/integrity_assurance.html#7
source_name: Cisco IOS Software Integrity Assurance - Run-Time Memory Verification
description: Cisco. (n.d.). Cisco IOS Software Integrity Assurance - Cisco IOS Run-Time Memory Integrity Verification. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
url: https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/resources/integrity_assurance.html#13
source_name: Cisco IOS Software Integrity Assurance - Command History
description: Cisco. (n.d.). Cisco IOS Software Integrity Assurance - Command History. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
url: https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/resources/integrity_assurance.html#23
source_name: Cisco IOS Software Integrity Assurance - Boot Information
description: Cisco. (n.d.). Cisco IOS Software Integrity Assurance - Boot Information. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
url: https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/resources/integrity_assurance.html#26
object_marking_refs: marking-definition--fa42a846-8d90-4e51-bc29-71d5b4802168
modified: 2025-10-24T17:48:33.317Z
name: TFTP Boot
description: Adversaries may abuse netbooting to load an unauthorized network device operating system from a Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) server. TFTP boot (netbooting) is commonly used by network administrators to load configuration-controlled network device images from a centralized management server. Netbooting is one option in the boot sequence and can be used to centralize, manage, and control device images.

Adversaries may manipulate the configuration on the network device specifying use of a malicious TFTP server, which may be used in conjunction with [Modify System Image](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1601) to load a modified image on device startup or reset. The unauthorized image allows adversaries to modify device configuration, add malicious capabilities to the device, and introduce backdoors to maintain control of the network device while minimizing detection through use of a standard functionality. This technique is similar to [ROMMONkit](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1542/004) and may result in the network device running a modified image. (Citation: Cisco Blog Legacy Device Attacks)
kill_chain_phases: kill_chain_name: mitre-attack
phase_name: defense-evasion
kill_chain_name: mitre-attack
phase_name: persistence
x_mitre_attack_spec_version: 3.2.0
x_mitre_deprecated: no
x_mitre_domains: enterprise-attack
x_mitre_is_subtechnique: yes
x_mitre_modified_by_ref: identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5
x_mitre_platforms: Network Devices
x_mitre_version: 1.1