type: attack-pattern
spec_version: 2.1
id: attack-pattern--d742a578-d70e-4d0e-96a6-02a9c30204e6
created: 2018-04-18T17:59:24.739Z
created_by_ref: identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5
revoked: no
external_references: source_name: mitre-attack
url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1189
external_id: T1189
source_name: Shadowserver Strategic Web Compromise
description: Adair, S., Moran, N. (2012, May 15). Cyber Espionage & Strategic Web Compromises – Trusted Websites Serving Dangerous Results. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
url: http://blog.shadowserver.org/2012/05/15/cyber-espionage-strategic-web-compromises-trusted-websites-serving-dangerous-results/
source_name: push notification -mcafee
description: Craig Schmugar. (2021, May 17). Scammers Impersonating Windows Defender to Push Malicious Windows Apps. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
url: https://www.mcafee.com/blogs/other-blogs/mcafee-labs/scammers-impersonating-windows-defender-to-push-malicious-windows-apps/
source_name: Push notifications - viruspositive
description: Gaurav Sethi. (2021, December 14). The Dark Side of Web Push Notifications. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
url: https://viruspositive.com/resources/blogs/the-dark-side-of-web-push-notifications
source_name: push notifications - malwarebytes
description: Pieter Arntz. (2019, January 22). Browser push notifications: a feature asking to be abused. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
url: https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2019/01/browser-push-notifications-feature-asking-abused
object_marking_refs: marking-definition--fa42a846-8d90-4e51-bc29-71d5b4802168
modified: 2025-10-24T17:49:28.067Z
name: Drive-by Compromise
description: Adversaries may gain access to a system through a user visiting a website over the normal course of browsing. Multiple ways of delivering exploit code to a browser exist (i.e., [Drive-by Target](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1608/004)), including:

* A legitimate website is compromised, allowing adversaries to inject malicious code
* Script files served to a legitimate website from a publicly writeable cloud storage bucket are modified by an adversary
* Malicious ads are paid for and served through legitimate ad providers (i.e., [Malvertising](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1583/008))
* Built-in web application interfaces that allow user-controllable content are leveraged for the insertion of malicious scripts or iFrames (e.g., cross-site scripting)

Browser push notifications may also be abused by adversaries and leveraged for malicious code injection via [User Execution](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1204). By clicking "allow" on browser push notifications, users may be granting a website permission to run JavaScript code on their browser.(Citation: Push notifications - viruspositive)(Citation: push notification -mcafee)(Citation: push notifications - malwarebytes)

Often the website used by an adversary is one visited by a specific community, such as government, a particular industry, or a particular region, where the goal is to compromise a specific user or set of users based on a shared interest. This kind of targeted campaign is often referred to a strategic web compromise or watering hole attack. There are several known examples of this occurring.(Citation: Shadowserver Strategic Web Compromise)

Typical drive-by compromise process:

1. A user visits a website that is used to host the adversary controlled content.
2. Scripts automatically execute, typically searching versions of the browser and plugins for a potentially vulnerable version. The user may be required to assist in this process by enabling scripting, notifications, or active website components and ignoring warning dialog boxes.
3. Upon finding a vulnerable version, exploit code is delivered to the browser.
4. If exploitation is successful, the adversary will gain code execution on the user's system unless other protections are in place. In some cases, a second visit to the website after the initial scan is required before exploit code is delivered.

Unlike [Exploit Public-Facing Application](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1190), the focus of this technique is to exploit software on a client endpoint upon visiting a website. This will commonly give an adversary access to systems on the internal network instead of external systems that may be in a DMZ.
kill_chain_phases: kill_chain_name: mitre-attack
phase_name: initial-access
x_mitre_attack_spec_version: 3.2.0
x_mitre_contributors: Jeff Sakowicz, Microsoft Identity Developer Platform Services (IDPM Services)
Saisha Agrawal, Microsoft Threat Intelligent Center (MSTIC)
Frank Angiolelli
x_mitre_deprecated: no
x_mitre_domains: enterprise-attack
x_mitre_is_subtechnique: no
x_mitre_modified_by_ref: identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5
x_mitre_platforms: Identity Provider
Linux
macOS
Windows
x_mitre_version: 1.7