| name | T1458_replication-through-removable-media |
| description | Adversaries may move onto devices by exploiting or copying malware to devices connected via USB. |
| category | input-validation |
| version | 18.1 |
| author | cyberstrike-official |
| tags | ["mitre-attack","mobile","t1458","initial-access","lateral-movement","android","ios"] |
| technique_id | T1458 |
| tactic | initial-access |
| all_tactics | ["initial-access","lateral-movement"] |
| platforms | ["Android","iOS"] |
| mitre_url | https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1458 |
| tech_stack | ["android","ios"] |
| cwe_ids | ["CWE-20"] |
| chains_with | [] |
| prerequisites | [] |
| severity_boost | {} |
T1458 Replication Through Removable Media
High-Level Description
Adversaries may move onto devices by exploiting or copying malware to devices connected via USB. In the case of Lateral Movement, adversaries may utilize the physical connection of a device to a compromised or malicious charging station or PC to bypass application store requirements and install malicious applications directly. In the case of Initial Access, adversaries may attempt to exploit the device via the connection to gain access to data stored on the device. Examples of this include:
- Exploiting insecure bootloaders in a Nexus 6 or 6P device over USB and gaining the ability to perform actions including intercepting phone calls, intercepting network traffic, and obtaining the device physical location.
- Exploiting weakly-enforced security boundaries in Android devices such as the Google Pixel 2 over USB.
- Products from Cellebrite and Grayshift purportedly that can exploit some iOS devices using physical access to the data port to unlock the passcode.
Kill Chain Phase
- Initial Access (TA0027)
- Lateral Movement (TA0033)
Platforms: Android, iOS
What to Check
How to Test
Identify Attack Surface
Determine if the target mobile environment is susceptible to Replication Through Removable Media by examining the target platforms (Android, iOS).
Assess Existing Defenses
Review whether mitigations for T1458 are in place. If defenses are absent or misconfigured, this technique may be exploitable.
Remediation Guide
M1003 Lock Bootloader
Users should ensure bootloaders are locked to prevent arbitrary operating system code from being flashed onto the device.
M1006 Use Recent OS Version
iOS 11.4.1 and higher introduce USB Restricted Mode, which disables data access through the device's charging port under certain conditions (making the port only usable for power), likely preventing this technique from working.
