Adversaries may perform a program download to transfer a user program to a controller.
Variations of program download, such as online edit and program append, allow a controller to continue running during the transfer and reconfiguration process without interruption to process control. However, before starting a full program download (i.e., download all) a controller may need to go into a stop state. This can have negative consequences on the physical process, especially if the controller is not able to fulfill a time-sensitive action. Adversaries may choose to avoid a download all in favor of an online edit or program append to avoid disrupting the physical process. An adversary may need to use the technique Detect Operating Mode or Change Operating Mode to make sure the controller is in the proper mode to accept a program download.
The granularity of control to transfer a user program in whole or parts is dictated by the management protocol (e.g., S7CommPlus, TriStation) and underlying controller API. Thus, program download is a high-level term for the suite of vendor-specific API calls used to configure a controllers user program memory space.
Modify Controller Tasking and Modify Program represent the configuration changes that are transferred to a controller via a program download.
Sotto-ticket
| Titolo | Descrizione |
|---|---|
| Program Append | Adversaries may execute a program append to a PLC to update parts of an existing program. It may or may not require stopping the PLC which may allow it to continue running during transfer and reconfiguration without interruption to process control. Adversaries may leverage this approach to minimize downtime and evade detection. The ability to perform a program append to the PLC typically relies on access to a workstation with the vendor-specific PLC programming software installed. |
| Download All | Adversaries may execute a full program download to a PLC to overwrite the entire PLC program and configuration to deploy a new project or make major changes. This typically requires stopping the PLC and adversely impacting control processes. The ability to perform a full program download to the PLC typically relies on access to a workstation with the vendor-specific PLC programming software installed. |
| Online Edit | Adversaries may execute an online edit of a PLC to update parts of an existing program. It does not require stopping the PLC which allows it to continue running during transfer and reconfiguration without interruption to process control. Adversaries may leverage this approach to minimize downtime and evade detection. The ability to perform an online edit to the PLC typically relies on access to a workstation with the vendor-specific PLC programming software installed. |
Ticket collegati
- MITREATTACK -
© 2026 The MITRE Corporation. This work is reproduced and distributed with the permission of The MITRE Corporation. https://attack.mitre.org/
Terms of Use
LICENSE
The MITRE Corporation (MITRE) hereby grants you a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use ATT&CK® for research, development, and commercial purposes. Any copy you make for such purposes is authorized provided that you reproduce MITRE's copyright designation and this license in any such copy.
"© 2026 The MITRE Corporation. This work is reproduced and distributed with the permission of The MITRE Corporation."
DISCLAIMERS
MITRE does not claim ATT&CK enumerates all possibilities for the types of actions and behaviors documented as part of its adversary model and framework of techniques. Using the information contained within ATT&CK to address or cover full categories of techniques will not guarantee full defensive coverage as there may be undisclosed techniques or variations on existing techniques not documented by ATT&CK.
ALL DOCUMENTS AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED THEREIN ARE PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" BASIS AND THE CONTRIBUTOR, THE ORGANIZATION HE/SHE REPRESENTS OR IS SPONSORED BY (IF ANY), THE MITRE CORPORATION, ITS BOARD OF TRUSTEES, OFFICERS, AGENTS, AND EMPLOYEES, DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTY THAT THE USE OF THE INFORMATION THEREIN WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY RIGHTS OR ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
See our FAQ for more information on how to use and represent the ATT&CK name.