TA0003 · PERSISTENCE
Bootkit
Adversaries may use bootkits to persist on systems. A bootkit is a malware variant that modifies the boot sectors of a hard drive, allowing malicious code to execute before a computer's operating system has loaded.
Detect it with
Perform integrity checking on MBR and VBR. Take snapshots of MBR and VBR and compare against known good samples.
Why it matters on shift
Bootkit is one of the concrete ways adversaries achieve persistence. 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 persistence, the next tactic is usually Privilege Escalation. Search your telemetry for the transition before closing the ticket.
Kill-chain context