Unexpected Ground Station IP Address in Communication

Detection of network traffic originating from an unauthorized IP address that does not match any of the known or authorized ground station IPs, potentially indicating communication with a rogue ground station. The source IPs that are permitted to speak to the spacecraft should be very limited. Rogue devices may get deployed internal to mission operations networks in an attempt to communicate to the spacecraft.

STIX Pattern

[network-traffic:src_ref.value != 'authorized_ground_station_ip' AND network-traffic:protocols[*] = 'satellite_communication']

SPARTA TTPs

ID Name Description
IA-0004.01 Ground Station Threat actors may establish a foothold within the backup ground/mission operations center (MOC) and then perform attacks to force primary communication traffic through the backup communication channel so that other TTPs can be executed (man-in-the-middle, malicious commanding, malicious code, etc.). While an attacker would not be required to force the communications through the backup channel vice waiting until the backup is used for various reasons. The backup ground/MOC should be considered a viable attack vector and the appropriate/equivalent security controls from the primary communication channel should be on the backup ground/MOC as well.
IA-0007 Compromise Ground Station Threat actors may initially compromise the ground station in order to access the target SV. Once compromised, the threat actor can perform a multitude of initial access techniques, including replay, compromising FSW deployment, compromising encryption keys, and compromising authentication schemes.
IA-0008 Rogue External Entity Threat actors may gain access to a victim SV through the use of a rogue external entity. With this technique, the threat actor does not need access to a legitimate ground station or communication site.
IA-0008.01 Rogue Ground Station Threat actors may gain access to a victim SV through the use of a rogue ground system. With this technique, the threat actor does not need access to a legitimate ground station or communication site.
EXF-0007 Compromised Ground Station Threat actors may compromise target owned ground systems that can be used for future campaigns or to perpetuate other techniques. These ground systems have already been configured for communications to the victim SV. By compromising this infrastructure, threat actors can stage, launch, and execute an operation. Threat actors may utilize these systems for various tasks, including Execution and Exfiltration.