Valid Credentials

Threat actors may seek out valid credentials which can be utilized to maintain persistent access to the spacecraft or related C2 systems and facilitate additional tactics throughout an attack. Credentials may include, but are not limited to: system service accounts, user accounts, maintenance accounts, cryptographic keys and other authentication mechanisms.

ID: CM0029

Sub-techniques: No sub-techniques

Related Aerospace Threat IDs: SV-AC-3 SV-AC-4 SV-CF-3

Related MITRE ATT&CK TTPs: T1586 T1589.001 T1078

Related ESA SPACE-SHIELD TTPs: T2038 | T2038.001 | T2039 | T2039.001 | T2039.002 | T2039.003 | T2014.001 | T2015 | T2015.001 |

ⓘ

Tactic: Persistence

Created: 2023/04/22

Last Modified: 2023/04/22

Countermeasures

ID	Name	Description	NIST Rev5	D3FEND	ISO 27001
CM0001	Protect Sensitive Information	Organizations should look to identify and properly classify mission sensitive design/operations information (e.g., fault management approach) and apply access control accordingly. Any location (ground system, contractor networks, etc.) storing design information needs to ensure design info is protected from exposure, exfiltration, etc. Space system sensitive information may be classified as Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) or Company Proprietary. Space system sensitive information can typically include a wide range of candidate material: the functional and performance specifications, any ICDs (like radio frequency, ground-to-space, etc.), command and telemetry databases, scripts, simulation and rehearsal results/reports, descriptions of uplink protection including any disabling/bypass features, failure/anomaly resolution, and any other sensitive information related to architecture, software, and flight/ground /mission operations. This could all need protection at the appropriate level (e.g., unclassified, CUI, proprietary, classified, etc.) to mitigate levels of cyber intrusions that may be conducted against the project’s networks. Stand-alone systems and/or separate database encryption may be needed with controlled access and on-going Configuration Management to ensure changes in command procedures and critical database areas are tracked, controlled, and fully tested to avoid loss of science or the entire mission. Sensitive documentation should only be accessed by personnel with defined roles and a need to know. Well established access controls (roles, encryption at rest and transit, etc.) and data loss prevention (DLP) technology are key countermeasures. The DLP should be configured for the specific data types in question.	AC-3(11) \| AC-4(23) \| AC-4(25) \| AC-4(6) \| CA-3 \| CM-12 \| CM-12(1) \| PL-8 \| PL-8(1) \| PM-11 \| PM-17 \| SA-3 \| SA-3(1) \| SA-3(2) \| SA-4(12) \| SA-5 \| SA-8 \| SA-9(7) \| SC-16 \| SC-8(1) \| SC-8(3) \| SI-21 \| SI-23 \| SR-12 \| SR-7	D3-AI \| D3-AVE \| D3-NVA \| D3-CH \| D3-CBAN \| D3-CTS \| D3-PA \| D3-FAPA \| D3-SAOR \|	A.8.4 \| A.8.11 \| A.8.10 \| A.5.14 \| A.8.21 \| A.5.8 \| A.5.2 \| A.5.8 \| A.8.25 \| A.8.31 \| A.8.33 \| 7.5.1 \| 7.5.2 \| 7.5.3 \| A.5.37 \| A.8.27 \| A.8.28 \| A.5.33 \| A.8.10 \| A.5.22
CM0002	COMSEC	A component of cybersecurity to deny unauthorized persons information derived from telecommunications and to ensure the authenticity of such telecommunications. COMSEC includes cryptographic security, transmission security, emissions security, and physical security of COMSEC material. It is imperative to utilize secure communication protocols with strong cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized disclosure of, and detect changes to, information during transmission. Systems should also maintain the confidentiality and integrity of information during preparation for transmission and during reception. Spacecraft should not employ a mode of operations where cryptography on the TT&C link can be disabled (i.e., crypto-bypass mode). The cryptographic mechanisms should identify and reject wireless transmissions that are deliberate attempts to achieve imitative or manipulative communications deception based on signal parameters.	AC-17 \| AC-17(1) \| AC-17(10) \| AC-17(10) \| AC-17(2) \| AC-18 \| AC-18(1) \| AC-2(11) \| AC-3(10) \| CA-3 \| IA-4(9) \| IA-5 \| IA-5(7) \| IA-7 \| PL-8 \| PL-8(1) \| SA-8(18) \| SA-9(6) \| SC-10 \| SC-12 \| SC-12(1) \| SC-12(2) \| SC-12(3) \| SC-12(6) \| SC-13 \| SC-16(3) \| SC-28(1) \| SC-28(3) \| SC-7 \| SC-7(10) \| SC-7(11) \| SC-7(18) \| SC-7(5) \| SC-8(1) \| SC-8(3) \| SI-10 \| SI-10(3) \| SI-10(5) \| SI-10(6) \| SI-19(4) \| SI-3(8)	D3-ET \| D3-MH \| D3-MAN \| D3-MENCR \| D3-NTF \| D3-ITF \| D3-OTF \| D3-CH \| D3-DTP \| D3-NTA \| D3-CAA \| D3-DNSTA \| D3-IPCTA \| D3-NTCD \| D3-RTSD \| D3-PHDURA \| D3-PMAD \| D3-CSPP \| D3-MA \| D3-SMRA \| D3-SRA \|	A.5.14 \| A.6.7 \| A.8.1 \| A.8.16 \| A.5.14 \| A.8.1 \| A.8.20 \| A.5.14 \| A.8.21 \| A.5.16 \| A.5.17 \| A.5.8 \| A.5.14 \| A.8.16 \| A.8.20 \| A.8.22 \| A.8.23 \| A.8.26 \| A.8.12 \| A.5.33 \| A.8.20 \| A.8.24 \| A.8.24 \| A.8.26 \| A.5.31 \| A.5.33 \| A.8.11
CM0030	Crypto Key Management	Leverage best practices for crypto key management as defined by organization like NIST or the National Security Agency. Leverage only approved cryptographic algorithms, cryptographic key generation algorithms or key distribution techniques, authentication techniques, or evaluation criteria. Encryption key handling should be performed outside of the onboard software and protected using cryptography. Encryption keys should be restricted so that they cannot be read via any telecommands.	PL-8 \| PL-8(1) \| SA-3 \| SA-4(5) \| SA-8 \| SA-9(6) \| SC-12 \| SC-12(1) \| SC-12(2) \| SC-12(3) \| SC-12(6) \| SC-28(3) \| SC-8(1)	D3-CH \| D3-CP \|	A.5.8 \| A.5.2 \| A.5.8 \| A.8.25 \| A.8.31 \| A.8.27 \| A.8.28 \| A.5.33 \| A.8.24
CM0005	Ground-based Countermeasures	This countermeasure is focused on the protection of terrestrial assets like ground networks and development environments/contractor networks, etc. Traditional detection technologies and capabilities would be applicable here. Utilizing resources from NIST CSF to properly secure these environments using identify, protect, detect, recover, and respond is likely warranted. Additionally, NISTIR 8401 may provide resources as well since it was developed to focus on ground-based security for space systems (https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/ir/2022/NIST.IR.8401.ipd.pdf). Furthermore, the MITRE ATT&CK framework provides IT focused TTPs and their mitigations https://attack.mitre.org/mitigations/enterprise/. Several recommended NIST 800-53 Rev5 controls are provided for reference when designing ground systems/networks.	AC-1 \| AC-10 \| AC-11 \| AC-11(1) \| AC-12 \| AC-12(1) \| AC-14 \| AC-16 \| AC-16(6) \| AC-17 \| AC-17 \| AC-17(1) \| AC-17(10) \| AC-17(2) \| AC-17(3) \| AC-17(4) \| AC-17(6) \| AC-17(9) \| AC-18 \| AC-18 \| AC-18(1) \| AC-18(3) \| AC-18(4) \| AC-18(5) \| AC-19 \| AC-19(5) \| AC-2 \| AC-2 \| AC-2(1) \| AC-2(11) \| AC-2(12) \| AC-2(13) \| AC-2(2) \| AC-2(3) \| AC-2(4) \| AC-2(9) \| AC-20 \| AC-20(1) \| AC-20(2) \| AC-20(3) \| AC-20(5) \| AC-21 \| AC-22 \| AC-3 \| AC-3(11) \| AC-3(13) \| AC-3(15) \| AC-3(4) \| AC-4 \| AC-4(23) \| AC-4(24) \| AC-4(25) \| AC-4(26) \| AC-4(31) \| AC-4(32) \| AC-6 \| AC-6(1) \| AC-6(10) \| AC-6(2) \| AC-6(3) \| AC-6(5) \| AC-6(8) \| AC-6(9) \| AC-7 \| AC-8 \| AT-2(4) \| AT-2(4) \| AT-2(5) \| AT-2(6) \| AT-3 \| AT-3(2) \| AT-4 \| AU-10 \| AU-11 \| AU-12 \| AU-12(1) \| AU-12(3) \| AU-14 \| AU-14(1) \| AU-14(3) \| AU-2 \| AU-3 \| AU-3(1) \| AU-4 \| AU-4(1) \| AU-5 \| AU-5(1) \| AU-5(2) \| AU-5(5) \| AU-6 \| AU-6(1) \| AU-6(3) \| AU-6(4) \| AU-6(5) \| AU-6(6) \| AU-7 \| AU-7(1) \| AU-8 \| AU-9 \| AU-9(2) \| AU-9(3) \| AU-9(4) \| CA-3 \| CA-3 \| CA-3(6) \| CA-3(7) \| CA-7 \| CA-7(1) \| CA-7(6) \| CA-8 \| CA-9 \| CM-10(1) \| CM-11 \| CM-11 \| CM-11(2) \| CM-11(3) \| CM-12 \| CM-12(1) \| CM-14 \| CM-2 \| CM-2(2) \| CM-2(3) \| CM-2(7) \| CM-3 \| CM-3(1) \| CM-3(2) \| CM-3(5) \| CM-3(7) \| CM-3(7) \| CM-3(8) \| CM-4 \| CM-5(1) \| CM-5(5) \| CM-6 \| CM-6(1) \| CM-6(2) \| CM-7 \| CM-7(1) \| CM-7(2) \| CM-7(3) \| CM-7(5) \| CM-7(8) \| CM-7(8) \| CM-7(9) \| CM-8 \| CM-8(1) \| CM-8(2) \| CM-8(3) \| CM-8(4) \| CM-9 \| CP-10 \| CP-10(2) \| CP-10(4) \| CP-2 \| CP-2 \| CP-2(2) \| CP-2(5) \| CP-2(8) \| CP-3(1) \| CP-4(5) \| CP-8 \| CP-8(1) \| CP-8(2) \| CP-8(3) \| CP-8(4) \| CP-8(5) \| CP-9 \| CP-9(1) \| CP-9(2) \| CP-9(3) \| IA-11 \| IA-12 \| IA-12(1) \| IA-12(2) \| IA-12(3) \| IA-12(4) \| IA-12(5) \| IA-12(6) \| IA-2 \| IA-2(1) \| IA-2(12) \| IA-2(2) \| IA-2(5) \| IA-2(6) \| IA-2(8) \| IA-3 \| IA-3(1) \| IA-4 \| IA-4(9) \| IA-5 \| IA-5(1) \| IA-5(13) \| IA-5(14) \| IA-5(2) \| IA-5(7) \| IA-5(8) \| IA-6 \| IA-7 \| IA-8 \| IR-2 \| IR-2(2) \| IR-2(3) \| IR-3(3) \| IR-4 \| IR-4(1) \| IR-4(11) \| IR-4(11) \| IR-4(12) \| IR-4(13) \| IR-4(14) \| IR-4(3) \| IR-4(4) \| IR-4(5) \| IR-4(6) \| IR-4(7) \| IR-4(8) \| IR-5 \| IR-5(1) \| IR-6 \| IR-6(1) \| IR-7 \| IR-7(1) \| MA-2 \| MA-3 \| MA-3(1) \| MA-3(2) \| MA-3(3) \| MA-4 \| MA-4(1) \| MA-4(3) \| MA-4(6) \| MA-4(7) \| MA-5(1) \| MA-6 \| MA-7 \| MP-2 \| MP-3 \| MP-4 \| MP-5 \| MP-5(4) \| MP-6 \| MP-6(3) \| MP-7 \| PE-3(7) \| PL-10 \| PL-11 \| PL-8 \| PL-8(1) \| PL-8(2) \| PL-9 \| PL-9 \| PM-11 \| PM-16(1) \| PM-17 \| PM-30 \| PM-30(1) \| PM-31 \| PM-32 \| RA-10 \| RA-3(1) \| RA-3(2) \| RA-3(2) \| RA-3(3) \| RA-3(4) \| RA-5 \| RA-5(10) \| RA-5(11) \| RA-5(2) \| RA-5(4) \| RA-5(5) \| RA-7 \| RA-9 \| RA-9 \| SA-10 \| SA-10(1) \| SA-10(7) \| SA-11 \| SA-11 \| SA-11(2) \| SA-11(4) \| SA-11(7) \| SA-11(9) \| SA-15 \| SA-15(3) \| SA-15(7) \| SA-17 \| SA-17 \| SA-2 \| SA-2 \| SA-22 \| SA-3 \| SA-3 \| SA-3(1) \| SA-3(2) \| SA-3(2) \| SA-4 \| SA-4 \| SA-4(1) \| SA-4(10) \| SA-4(12) \| SA-4(2) \| SA-4(3) \| SA-4(3) \| SA-4(5) \| SA-4(5) \| SA-4(7) \| SA-4(9) \| SA-4(9) \| SA-5 \| SA-8 \| SA-8 \| SA-8(14) \| SA-8(15) \| SA-8(18) \| SA-8(21) \| SA-8(22) \| SA-8(23) \| SA-8(24) \| SA-8(9) \| SA-9 \| SA-9 \| SA-9(1) \| SA-9(2) \| SA-9(6) \| SA-9(7) \| SC-10 \| SC-12 \| SC-12(1) \| SC-12(6) \| SC-13 \| SC-15 \| SC-16(2) \| SC-16(3) \| SC-18(1) \| SC-18(2) \| SC-18(3) \| SC-18(4) \| SC-2 \| SC-2(2) \| SC-20 \| SC-21 \| SC-22 \| SC-23 \| SC-23(1) \| SC-23(3) \| SC-23(5) \| SC-24 \| SC-28 \| SC-28(1) \| SC-28(11) \| SC-28(3) \| SC-3 \| SC-38 \| SC-39 \| SC-4 \| SC-45 \| SC-45(1) \| SC-45(1) \| SC-45(2) \| SC-49 \| SC-5 \| SC-5(1) \| SC-5(2) \| SC-5(3) \| SC-50 \| SC-51 \| SC-7 \| SC-7(10) \| SC-7(11) \| SC-7(12) \| SC-7(13) \| SC-7(14) \| SC-7(18) \| SC-7(21) \| SC-7(25) \| SC-7(29) \| SC-7(3) \| SC-7(4) \| SC-7(5) \| SC-7(5) \| SC-7(7) \| SC-7(8) \| SC-7(9) \| SC-8 \| SC-8(1) \| SC-8(2) \| SC-8(5) \| SI-10 \| SI-10(3) \| SI-10(6) \| SI-11 \| SI-14(3) \| SI-16 \| SI-19(4) \| SI-2 \| SI-2(2) \| SI-2(3) \| SI-2(6) \| SI-21 \| SI-3 \| SI-3 \| SI-3(10) \| SI-4 \| SI-4(1) \| SI-4(10) \| SI-4(11) \| SI-4(12) \| SI-4(13) \| SI-4(14) \| SI-4(15) \| SI-4(16) \| SI-4(17) \| SI-4(2) \| SI-4(20) \| SI-4(22) \| SI-4(23) \| SI-4(24) \| SI-4(25) \| SI-4(4) \| SI-4(5) \| SI-5 \| SI-5(1) \| SI-6 \| SI-7 \| SI-7(1) \| SI-7(17) \| SI-7(2) \| SI-7(5) \| SI-7(7) \| SI-7(8) \| SR-1 \| SR-1 \| SR-10 \| SR-11 \| SR-11 \| SR-11(1) \| SR-11(2) \| SR-11(3) \| SR-12 \| SR-2 \| SR-2(1) \| SR-3 \| SR-3(1) \| SR-3(2) \| SR-3(2) \| SR-3(3) \| SR-4 \| SR-4(1) \| SR-4(2) \| SR-4(3) \| SR-4(4) \| SR-5 \| SR-5 \| SR-5(1) \| SR-5(2) \| SR-6 \| SR-6(1) \| SR-6(1) \| SR-7 \| SR-7 \| SR-8 \| SR-9 \| SR-9(1)	Nearly all D3FEND Techniques apply to Ground \|	5.2 \| 5.3 \| 7.5.1 \| 7.5.2 \| 7.5.3 \| A.5.1 \| A.5.2 \| A.5.4 \| A.5.15 \| A.5.31 \| A.5.36 \| A.5.37 \| A.5.16 \| A.5.18 \| A.8.2 \| A.8.16 \| A.5.15 \| A.5.33 \| A.8.3 \| A.8.4 \| A.8.18 \| A.8.20 \| A.8.2 \| A.8.4 \| A.5.14 \| A.8.22 \| A.8.23 \| A.8.11 \| A.8.10 \| A.5.15 \| A.8.2 \| A.8.18 \| A.8.5 \| A.8.5 \| A.7.7 \| A.8.1 \| A.5.14 \| A.6.7 \| A.8.1 \| A.8.16 \| A.5.14 \| A.8.1 \| A.8.20 \| A.5.14 \| A.7.9 \| A.8.1 \| A.5.14 \| A.7.9 \| A.8.20 \| A.6.3 \| A.8.15 \| A.8.15 \| A.8.6 \| A.5.25 \| A.6.8 \| A.8.15 \| A.7.4 \| A.8.17 \| A.5.33 \| A.8.15 \| A.5.28 \| A.8.15 \| A.8.15 \| A.8.15 \| A.5.14 \| A.8.21 \| 9.1 \| 9.3.2 \| 9.3.3 \| A.5.36 \| 9.2.2 \| A.8.9 \| A.8.9 \| 8.1 \| 9.3.3 \| A.8.9 \| A.8.32 \| A.8.9 \| A.8.9 \| A.8.9 \| A.8.9 \| A.8.19 \| A.8.19 \| A.5.9 \| A.8.9 \| A.5.2 \| A.8.9 \| A.8.19 \| 7.5.1 \| 7.5.2 \| 7.5.3 \| A.5.2 \| A.5.29 \| A.8.1 \| A.8.6 \| A.5.30 \| A.5.29 \| A.7.11 \| A.5.29 \| A.5.33 \| A.8.13 \| A.5.29 \| A.5.16 \| A.5.16 \| A.5.16 \| A.5.17 \| A.8.5 \| A.5.16 \| A.6.3 \| A.5.25 \| A.5.26 \| A.5.27 \| A.8.16 \| A.5.5 \| A.6.8 \| A.7.10 \| A.7.13 \| A.8.10 \| A.8.10 \| A.8.16 \| A.8.10 \| A.7.13 \| A.5.10 \| A.7.7 \| A.7.10 \| A.5.13 \| A.5.10 \| A.7.7 \| A.7.10 \| A.8.10 \| A.5.10 \| A.7.9 \| A.7.10 \| A.5.10 \| A.7.10 \| A.7.14 \| A.8.10 \| A.5.10 \| A.7.10 \| A.5.8 \| A.5.7 \| 4.4 \| 6.2 \| 7.5.1 \| 7.5.2 \| 7.5.3 \| 10.2 \| 4.4 \| 6.2 \| 7.4 \| 7.5.1 \| 7.5.2 \| 7.5.3 \| 9.1 \| 9.2.2 \| 10.1 \| 10.2 \| A.8.8 \| 6.1.3 \| 8.3 \| 10.2 \| A.5.22 \| A.5.7 \| A.5.2 \| A.5.8 \| A.8.25 \| A.8.31 \| A.8.33 \| 8.1 \| A.5.8 \| A.5.20 \| A.5.23 \| A.8.29 \| A.8.30 \| A.8.28 \| 7.5.1 \| 7.5.2 \| 7.5.3 \| A.5.37 \| A.8.27 \| A.8.28 \| A.5.2 \| A.5.4 \| A.5.8 \| A.5.14 \| A.5.22 \| A.5.23 \| A.8.21 \| A.8.9 \| A.8.28 \| A.8.30 \| A.8.32 \| A.8.29 \| A.8.30 \| A.5.8 \| A.8.25 \| A.8.25 \| A.8.27 \| A.8.6 \| A.5.14 \| A.8.16 \| A.8.20 \| A.8.22 \| A.8.23 \| A.8.26 \| A.8.23 \| A.8.12 \| A.5.10 \| A.5.14 \| A.8.20 \| A.8.26 \| A.5.33 \| A.8.20 \| A.8.24 \| A.8.24 \| A.8.26 \| A.5.31 \| A.5.14 \| A.5.10 \| A.5.33 \| A.6.8 \| A.8.8 \| A.8.32 \| A.8.7 \| A.8.16 \| A.8.16 \| A.8.16 \| A.8.16 \| A.5.6 \| A.8.11 \| A.8.10 \| 5.2 \| 5.3 \| 7.5.1 \| 7.5.2 \| 7.5.3 \| A.5.1 \| A.5.2 \| A.5.4 \| A.5.19 \| A.5.31 \| A.5.36 \| A.5.37 \| A.5.19 \| A.5.20 \| A.5.21 \| A.8.30 \| A.5.20 \| A.5.21 \| A.5.21 \| A.8.30 \| A.5.20 \| A.5.21 \| A.5.23 \| A.8.29 \| A.5.22 \| A.5.22
CM0035	Protect Authenticators	Protect authenticator content from unauthorized disclosure and modification.	AC-3(11) \| IA-4(9) \| IA-5 \| PL-8 \| PL-8(1) \| SA-3 \| SA-4(5) \| SA-8 \| SA-8(13) \| SC-16 \| SC-8(1)	D3-CE \| D3-ANCI \| D3-CA \| D3-ACA \| D3-PCA \| D3-CRO \| D3-CTS \| D3-SPP \|	A.8.4 \| A.5.16 \| A.5.17 \| A.5.8 \| A.5.2 \| A.5.8 \| A.8.25 \| A.8.31 \| A.8.27 \| A.8.28 \| A.5.33
CM0029	TRANSEC	Utilize TRANSEC in order to prevent interception, disruption of reception, communications deception, and/or derivation of intelligence by analysis of transmission characteristics such as signal parameters or message externals. For example, jam-resistant waveforms can be utilized to improve the resistance of radio frequency signals to jamming and spoofing. Note: TRANSEC is that field of COMSEC which deals with the security of communication transmissions, rather than that of the information being communicated.	AC-17 \| AC-18 \| AC-18(5) \| CA-3 \| CP-8 \| PL-8 \| PL-8(1) \| SC-16 \| SC-40 \| SC-40(1) \| SC-40(3) \| SC-40(4) \| SC-5 \| SC-8(1) \| SC-8(3) \| SC-8(4)	D3-MH \| D3-MAN \| D3-MENCR \| D3-NTA \| D3-DNSTA \| D3-ISVA \| D3-NTCD \| D3-RTA \| D3-PMAD \| D3-FC \| D3-CSPP \| D3-ANAA \| D3-RPA \| D3-IPCTA \| D3-NTCD \| D3-NTPM \| D3-TAAN \|	A.5.14 \| A.6.7 \| A.8.1 \| A.5.14 \| A.8.1 \| A.8.20 \| A.5.14 \| A.8.21 \| A.5.29 \| A.7.11 \| A.5.8 \| A.5.33

Valid Credentials

Countermeasures

References