Network Connection Enumeration

Adversaries may perform network connection enumeration to discover information about device communication patterns. If an adversary can inspect the state of a network connection with tools, such as Netstat[1], in conjunction with System Firmware, then they can determine the role of certain devices on the network [2]. The adversary can also use Network Sniffing to watch network traffic for details about the source, destination, protocol, and content.

ID: T0840
Sub-techniques:  No sub-techniques
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Tactic: Discovery
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Platforms: Embedded, Linux, Network Devices, Windows
Version: 1.2
Created: 21 May 2020
Last Modified: 13 October 2026

Procedure Examples

ID Name Description
C0063 2025 Poland Wiper Attacks

During the 2025 Poland Wiper Attacks, the adversaries used netstat to enumerate network connections on the Mikronika HMI computers.[3]

S0605 EKANS

EKANS performs a DNS lookup of an internal domain name associated with its target network to identify if it was deployed on the intended system. [4]

S0604 Industroyer

Industroyer contains an IEC 61850 module that enumerates all connected network adapters to determine their TCP/IP subnet masks. [5]

Targeted Assets

ID Asset
A0008 Application Server
A0007 Control Server
A0009 Data Gateway
A0006 Data Historian
A0017 Distributed Control System (DCS) Controller
A0016 Firewall
A0002 Human-Machine Interface (HMI)
A0005 Intelligent Electronic Device (IED)
A0012 Jump Host
A0018 Programmable Automation Controller (PAC)
A0003 Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)
A0004 Remote Terminal Unit (RTU)
A0010 Safety Controller
A0015 Switch
A0011 Virtual Private Network (VPN) Server
A0001 Workstation

Mitigations

ID Mitigation Description
M0816 Mitigation Limited or Not Effective

Network connection enumeration is likely obtained by using common system tools (e.g., netstat, ipconfig).

Detection Strategy

ID Name Analytic ID Analytic Description
DET0770 Detection of Network Connection Enumeration AN1902

Real-time monitoring identifies execution of network enumeration commands (netstat, arp -a, Get-NetTCPConnection) on an Industrial Control System (ICS) host from an account not associated with documented network administration, where multiple such commands execute in sequence within a short window. OT operational-fidelity gate: Do not alert on novelty, scan/read volume, or enumeration alone. Alert when the source role is not authorized for discovery/polling and the target scope, address/tag range, protocol, or rate deviates from the established operational baseline. Suppress normal SCADA/HMI/historian polling, commissioning, asset inventory, backup, diagnostics, and approved engineering activity.

AN2142

Real-time monitoring identifies execution of network enumeration tools (ss, netstat, arp, ip neigh) on an Industrial Control System (ICS) Linux asset from a User Identifier (UID) that does not normally perform network administration. OT operational-fidelity gate: Do not alert on novelty, scan/read volume, or enumeration alone. Alert when the source role is not authorized for discovery/polling and the target scope, address/tag range, protocol, or rate deviates from the established operational baseline. Suppress normal SCADA/HMI/historian polling, commissioning, asset inventory, backup, diagnostics, and approved engineering activity.

AN2184

Real-time monitoring identifies Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) walk requests, Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP)/Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) enumeration frames, or Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP)-based traceroute sequences from an Industrial Control System (ICS) host that has not previously generated management-protocol traffic. OT operational-fidelity gate: Do not alert on novelty, scan/read volume, or enumeration alone. Alert when the source role is not authorized for discovery/polling and the target scope, address/tag range, protocol, or rate deviates from the established operational baseline. Suppress normal SCADA/HMI/historian polling, commissioning, asset inventory, backup, diagnostics, and approved engineering activity.

AN2232

Real-time monitoring identifies Industrial Control System (ICS) protocol messages querying network topology information from embedded devices -- neighbor device lists, Common Industrial Protocol (CIP) port object information -- from a source not in the approved control server list. OT operational-fidelity gate: Do not alert on novelty, scan/read volume, or enumeration alone. Alert when the source role is not authorized for discovery/polling and the target scope, address/tag range, protocol, or rate deviates from the established operational baseline. Suppress normal SCADA/HMI/historian polling, commissioning, asset inventory, backup, diagnostics, and approved engineering activity.

References