type: attack-pattern
spec_version: 2.1
id: attack-pattern--a718a0c8-5768-41a1-9958-a1cc3f995e99
created: 2024-09-25T13:34:30.100Z
created_by_ref: identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5
revoked: no
external_references: source_name: mitre-attack
url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1496/001
external_id: T1496.001
source_name: Unit 42 Hildegard Malware
description: Chen, J. et al. (2021, February 3). Hildegard: New TeamTNT Cryptojacking Malware Targeting Kubernetes. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
url: https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/hildegard-malware-teamtnt/
source_name: CloudSploit - Unused AWS Regions
description: CloudSploit. (2019, June 8). The Danger of Unused AWS Regions. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
url: https://medium.com/cloudsploit/the-danger-of-unused-aws-regions-af0bf1b878fc
source_name: Kaspersky Lazarus Under The Hood Blog 2017
description: GReAT. (2017, April 3). Lazarus Under the Hood. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
url: https://securelist.com/lazarus-under-the-hood/77908/
source_name: Trend Micro Exposed Docker APIs
description: Oliveira, A. (2019, May 30). Infected Containers Target Docker via Exposed APIs. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
url: https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/19/e/infected-cryptocurrency-mining-containers-target-docker-hosts-with-exposed-apis-use-shodan-to-find-additional-victims.html
source_name: Trend Micro War of Crypto Miners
description: Oliveira, A., Fiser, D. (2020, September 10). War of Linux Cryptocurrency Miners: A Battle for Resources. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
url: https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/20/i/war-of-linux-cryptocurrency-miners-a-battle-for-resources.html
object_marking_refs: marking-definition--fa42a846-8d90-4e51-bc29-71d5b4802168
modified: 2025-04-15T22:08:46.014Z
name: Compute Hijacking
description: Adversaries may leverage the compute resources of co-opted systems to complete resource-intensive tasks, which may impact system and/or hosted service availability. 

One common purpose for [Compute Hijacking](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1496/001) is to validate transactions of cryptocurrency networks and earn virtual currency. Adversaries may consume enough system resources to negatively impact and/or cause affected machines to become unresponsive.(Citation: Kaspersky Lazarus Under The Hood Blog 2017) Servers and cloud-based systems are common targets because of the high potential for available resources, but user endpoint systems may also be compromised and used for [Compute Hijacking](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1496/001) and cryptocurrency mining.(Citation: CloudSploit - Unused AWS Regions) Containerized environments may also be targeted due to the ease of deployment via exposed APIs and the potential for scaling mining activities by deploying or compromising multiple containers within an environment or cluster.(Citation: Unit 42 Hildegard Malware)(Citation: Trend Micro Exposed Docker APIs)

Additionally, some cryptocurrency mining malware identify then kill off processes for competing malware to ensure it’s not competing for resources.(Citation: Trend Micro War of Crypto Miners)
kill_chain_phases: kill_chain_name: mitre-attack
phase_name: impact
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: Windows
IaaS
Linux
macOS
Containers
x_mitre_version: 1.0
x_mitre_impact_type: Availability