type: attack-pattern
spec_version: 2.1
id: attack-pattern--c267bbee-bb59-47fe-85e0-3ed210337c21
created: 2020-05-21T17:43:26.506Z
created_by_ref: identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5
revoked: no
external_references: source_name: mitre-attack
url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T0847
external_id: T0847
source_name: BBC April 2016
description: BBC 2016, April 28 German nuclear plant hit by computer viruses Retrieved. 2019/10/14 
url: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-36158606
source_name: Catalin Cimpanu April 2016
description: Catalin Cimpanu 2016, April 26 Malware Shuts Down German Nuclear Power Plant on Chernobyl's 30th Anniversary Retrieved. 2019/10/14 
url: https://news.softpedia.com/news/on-chernobyl-s-30th-anniversary-malware-shuts-down-german-nuclear-power-plant-503429.shtml
source_name: Christoph Steitz, Eric Auchard April 2016
description: Christoph Steitz, Eric Auchard 2016, April 26 German nuclear plant infected with computer viruses, operator says Retrieved. 2019/10/14 
url: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nuclearpower-cyber-germany/german-nuclear-plant-infected-with-computer-viruses-operator-says-idUSKCN0XN2OS
source_name: Dark Reading Staff April 2016
description: Dark Reading Staff 2016, April 28 German Nuclear Power Plant Infected With Malware Retrieved. 2019/10/14 
url: https://www.darkreading.com/endpoint/german-nuclear-power-plant-infected-with-malware/d/d-id/1325298
source_name: ESET April 2016
description: ESET 2016, April 28 Malware found at a German nuclear power plant Retrieved. 2019/10/14 
url: https://www.welivesecurity.com/2016/04/28/malware-found-german-nuclear-power-plant/
source_name: Kernkraftwerk Gundremmingen April 2016
description: Kernkraftwerk Gundremmingen 2016, April 25 Detektion von Bro-Schadsoftware an mehreren Rechnern Retrieved. 2019/10/14 
url: https://www.kkw-gundremmingen.de/presse.php?id=571
source_name: Lee Mathews April 2016
description: Lee Mathews 2016, April 27 German nuclear plant found riddled with Conficker, other viruses. Retrieved November 17, 2024. 
url: https://web.archive.org/web/20160430041256/https://www.geek.com/apps/german-nuclear-plant-found-riddled-with-conficker-other-viruses-1653415/
source_name: Peter Dockrill April 2016
description: Peter Dockrill 2016, April 28 Multiple Computer Viruses Have Been Discovered in This German Nuclear Plant Retrieved. 2019/10/14 
url: https://www.sciencealert.com/multiple-computer-viruses-have-been-discovered-in-this-german-nuclear-plant
source_name: Sean Gallagher April 2016
description: Sean Gallagher 2016, April 27 German nuclear plants fuel rod system swarming with old malware Retrieved. 2019/10/14 
url: https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2016/04/german-nuclear-plants-fuel-rod-system-swarming-with-old-malware/
source_name: Trend Micro April 2016
description: Trend Micro 2016, April 27 Malware Discovered in German Nuclear Power Plant Retrieved. 2019/10/14 
url: https://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/security/news/cyber-attacks/malware-discovered-in-german-nuclear-power-plant
object_marking_refs: marking-definition--fa42a846-8d90-4e51-bc29-71d5b4802168
modified: 2025-04-15T19:59:04.946Z
name: Replication Through Removable Media
description: Adversaries may move onto systems, such as those separated from the enterprise network, by copying malware to removable media which is inserted into the control systems environment. The adversary may rely on unknowing trusted third parties, such as suppliers or contractors with access privileges, to introduce the removable media. This technique enables initial access to target devices that never connect to untrusted networks, but are physically accessible. 

Operators of the German nuclear power plant, Gundremmingen, discovered malware on a facility computer not connected to the internet. (Citation: Kernkraftwerk Gundremmingen April 2016) (Citation: Trend Micro April 2016) The malware included Conficker and W32.Ramnit, which were also found on eighteen removable disk drives in the facility. (Citation: Christoph Steitz, Eric Auchard April 2016) (Citation: Catalin Cimpanu April 2016) (Citation: Peter Dockrill April 2016) (Citation: Lee Mathews April 2016) (Citation: Sean Gallagher April 2016) (Citation: Dark Reading Staff April 2016) The plant has since checked for infection and cleaned up more than 1,000 computers. (Citation: BBC April 2016) An ESET researcher commented that internet disconnection does not guarantee system safety from infection or payload execution. (Citation: ESET April 2016)
kill_chain_phases: kill_chain_name: mitre-ics-attack
phase_name: initial-access
x_mitre_attack_spec_version: 3.2.0
x_mitre_deprecated: no
x_mitre_domains: ics-attack
x_mitre_is_subtechnique: no
x_mitre_modified_by_ref: identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5
x_mitre_platforms: None
x_mitre_version: 1.0