T1602.001: SNMP (MIB Dump)

Adversaries may target the Management Information Base (MIB) to collect and/or mine valuable information in a network managed using Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).

The MIB is a configuration repository that stores variable information accessible via SNMP in the form of object identifiers (OID). Each OID identifies a variable that can be read or set and permits active management tasks, such as configuration changes, through remote modification of these variables. SNMP can give administrators great insight in their systems, such as, system information, description of hardware, physical location, and software packages. The MIB may also contain device operational information, including running configuration, routing table, and interface details.

Adversaries may use SNMP queries to collect MIB content directly from SNMP-managed devices in order to collect network information that allows the adversary to build network maps and facilitate future targeted exploitation.

Positive Technologies products that cover the technique

Detection

PT NAD can identify and dissect the SNMP protocol. The operator can search for SNMP sessions using a special filter in the interface.

Examples of PT NAD filters

  • app_proto == "snmp"

Expert Required. The technique is detected only with the combination of «PT Product + Expert»

Detection

IDDS0029Data source and componentNetwork Traffic: Network Connection CreationDescription

Monitor for newly constructed network connections that are sent or received by untrusted hosts or uncommon data flows. Consider analyzing packet contents to detect application layer protocols, leveraging SSL/TLS inspection for encrypted traffic, that do not follow the expected protocol standards and traffic flows(e.g. snmp traffic originating from unauthorized or untrusted hosts, signature detection for strings mapped to device configuration(s), and anomolies in snmp request(s))

IDDS0029Data source and componentNetwork Traffic: Network Traffic ContentDescription

Monitor and analyze traffic patterns and packet inspection associated to protocol(s) that do not follow the expected protocol standards and traffic flow (e.g. snmp traffic originating from unauthorized or untrusted hosts, signature detection for strings mapped to device configuration(s), and anomolies in snmp request(s))

Mitigation

IDM1030NameNetwork SegmentationDescription

Segregate SNMP traffic on a separate management network.

IDM1031NameNetwork Intrusion PreventionDescription

Configure intrusion prevention devices to detect SNMP queries and commands from unauthorized sources.

IDM1037NameFilter Network TrafficDescription

Apply extended ACLs to block unauthorized protocols outside the trusted network.

IDM1041NameEncrypt Sensitive InformationDescription

Configure SNMPv3 to use the highest level of security (authPriv) available.

IDM1051NameUpdate SoftwareDescription

Keep system images and software updated and migrate to SNMPv3.

IDM1054NameSoftware ConfigurationDescription

Allowlist MIB objects and implement SNMP views.