type: attack-pattern
spec_version: 2.1
id: attack-pattern--3f886f2a-874f-4333-b794-aa6075009b1c
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/T1190
external_id: T1190
source_name: CWE top 25
description: Christey, S., Brown, M., Kirby, D., Martin, B., Paller, A.. (2011, September 13). 2011 CWE/SANS Top 25 Most Dangerous Software Errors. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
url: https://cwe.mitre.org/top25/index.html
source_name: CIS Multiple SMB Vulnerabilities
description: CIS. (2017, May 15). Multiple Vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows SMB Server Could Allow for Remote Code Execution. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
url: https://www.cisecurity.org/advisory/multiple-vulnerabilities-in-microsoft-windows-smb-server-could-allow-for-remote-code-execution/
source_name: Ars Technica VMWare Code Execution Vulnerability 2021
description: Dan Goodin . (2021, February 25). Code-execution flaw in VMware has a severity rating of 9.8 out of 10. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
url: https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/02/armed-with-exploits-hackers-on-the-prowl-for-a-critical-vmware-vulnerability/
source_name: Recorded Future ESXiArgs Ransomware 2023
description: German Hoeffner, Aaron Soehnen and Gianni Perez. (2023, February 7). ESXiArgs Ransomware Targets Publicly-Exposed ESXi OpenSLP Servers. Retrieved March 26, 2025.
url: https://www.recordedfuture.com/blog/esxiargs-ransomware-targets-vmware-esxi-openslp-servers
source_name: Wired Russia Cyberwar
description: Greenberg, A. (2022, November 10). Russia’s New Cyberwarfare in Ukraine Is Fast, Dirty, and Relentless. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
url: https://www.wired.com/story/russia-ukraine-cyberattacks-mandiant/
source_name: Mandiant Fortinet Zero Day
description: Marvi, A. et al.. (2023, March 16). Fortinet Zero-Day and Custom Malware Used by Suspected Chinese Actor in Espionage Operation. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
url: https://www.mandiant.com/resources/blog/fortinet-malware-ecosystem
source_name: NVD CVE-2016-6662
description: National Vulnerability Database. (2017, February 2). CVE-2016-6662 Detail. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
url: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-6662
source_name: NVD CVE-2014-7169
description: National Vulnerability Database. (2017, September 24). CVE-2014-7169 Detail. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
url: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-7169
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: OWASP Top 10
description: OWASP. (2018, February 23). OWASP Top Ten Project. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
url: https://www.owasp.org/index.php/Category:OWASP_Top_Ten_Project
source_name: US-CERT TA18-106A Network Infrastructure Devices 2018
description: US-CERT. (2018, April 20). Russian State-Sponsored Cyber Actors Targeting Network Infrastructure Devices. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
url: https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ncas/alerts/TA18-106A
object_marking_refs: marking-definition--fa42a846-8d90-4e51-bc29-71d5b4802168
modified: 2025-10-24T17:48:41.788Z
name: Exploit Public-Facing Application
description: Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network. The weakness in the system can be a software bug, a temporary glitch, or a misconfiguration.

Exploited applications are often websites/web servers, but can also include databases (like SQL), standard services (like SMB or SSH), network device administration and management protocols (like SNMP and Smart Install), and any other system with Internet-accessible open sockets.(Citation: NVD CVE-2016-6662)(Citation: CIS Multiple SMB Vulnerabilities)(Citation: US-CERT TA18-106A Network Infrastructure Devices 2018)(Citation: Cisco Blog Legacy Device Attacks)(Citation: NVD CVE-2014-7169) On ESXi infrastructure, adversaries may exploit exposed OpenSLP services; they may alternatively exploit exposed VMware vCenter servers.(Citation: Recorded Future ESXiArgs Ransomware 2023)(Citation: Ars Technica VMWare Code Execution Vulnerability 2021) Depending on the flaw being exploited, this may also involve [Exploitation for Defense Evasion](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1211) or [Exploitation for Client Execution](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1203).

If an application is hosted on cloud-based infrastructure and/or is containerized, then exploiting it may lead to compromise of the underlying instance or container. This can allow an adversary a path to access the cloud or container APIs (e.g., via the [Cloud Instance Metadata API](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1552/005)), exploit container host access via [Escape to Host](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1611), or take advantage of weak identity and access management policies.

Adversaries may also exploit edge network infrastructure and related appliances, specifically targeting devices that do not support robust host-based defenses.(Citation: Mandiant Fortinet Zero Day)(Citation: Wired Russia Cyberwar)

For websites and databases, the OWASP top 10 and CWE top 25 highlight the most common web-based vulnerabilities.(Citation: OWASP Top 10)(Citation: CWE top 25)
kill_chain_phases: kill_chain_name: mitre-attack
phase_name: initial-access
x_mitre_attack_spec_version: 3.3.0
x_mitre_contributors: Praetorian
Yossi Weizman, Azure Defender Research Team
Don Le, Stifel Financial
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: Containers
ESXi
IaaS
Linux
macOS
Network Devices
Windows
x_mitre_version: 2.8