TA0040 · IMPACT
Disk Wipe
Adversaries may wipe or corrupt raw disk data on specific systems or in large numbers in a network to interrupt availability to system and network resources. With direct write access to a disk, adversaries may attempt to overwrite portions of disk data.
Detect it with
Look for attempts to read/write to sensitive locations like the partition boot sector, master boot record, disk partition table, or BIOS parameter block/superblock. Monitor for direct access read/write attempts using the \\\\.\\ notation.
Why it matters on shift
Disk Wipe is one of the concrete ways adversaries achieve impact. 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 impact, the next tactic is usually Impact. Search your telemetry for the transition before closing the ticket.
2 sub-techniques
How it shows up in practice
- T1561.001
Disk Content Wipe
Adversaries may erase the contents of storage devices on specific systems or in large numbers in a network to interrupt availability to system and network resources.
- T1561.002
Disk Structure Wipe
Adversaries may corrupt or wipe the disk data structures on a hard drive necessary to boot a system; targeting specific critical systems or in large numbers in a network to interrupt availability to system and network resources.
Kill-chain context