TA0001 · INITIAL ACCESS
Exploit Public-Facing Application
Abusing a vulnerability in an internet-exposed web app, VPN appliance, or file transfer product.
Detect it with
WAF blocks followed by a 200; a web server process spawning a shell (w3wp.exe or httpd launching cmd.exe / bash).
Why it matters on shift
Exploit Public-Facing Application is one of the concrete ways adversaries achieve initial access. Recognising it in telemetry lets you name the technique in your ticket and pivot to what came before and after.
What to look for next
After initial access, the next tactic is usually Execution. Search your telemetry for the transition before closing the ticket.
Kill-chain context