Block Communications: Ethernet

Adversaries may block access to Ethernet communications to prevent instructions or configurations messages from reaching target systems and devices. Ethernet connections allow for communications between IT and OT systems and devices. Blocking Ethernet communications may also block command and reporting messages.[1]

An adversary may block Ethernet communications by disabling network interfaces, Service Stop, or conducting an Adversary-in-the-Middle attack and dropping the network traffic.

ID: T1695.002
Sub-technique of:  T1695
ⓘ
Platforms: Embedded, Linux, Network Devices, Windows
Version: 1.0
Created: 20 April 2026
Last Modified: 13 October 2026

Procedure Examples

ID Name Description
S0372 LockerGoga

LockerGoga had blocked network communications by disabling all the network interfaces on the system via netsh.exe.[2][3][4]

Targeted Assets

ID Asset
A0008 Application Server
A0007 Control Server
A0009 Data Gateway
A0006 Data Historian
A0017 Distributed Control System (DCS) Controller
A0013 Field I/O
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)
A0014 Routers
A0010 Safety Controller
A0015 Switch
A0011 Virtual Private Network (VPN) Server
A0001 Workstation

Mitigations

ID Mitigation Description
M0807 Network Allowlists

Implement network allowlists to minimize network access to only authorized hosts.

M0930 Network Segmentation

Segment operational networks to isolate critical systems and devices that do not require broad network access.

M0810 Out-of-Band Communications Channel

Ensure systems and devices have an alternative method for communicating in the event that Ethernet communication channels become unavailable.

Detection Strategy

ID Name Analytic ID Analytic Description
DET0911 Detection of Block Ethernet AN2054

Real-time monitoring identifies a Windows network-adapter disable or administrative interface-down event on an ICS gateway or protocol-converter host outside the approved network-maintenance window. OT operational-fidelity gate: Alert only when the action is not attributable to an authorized operator/engineering source for the specific target and function, and it is either outside an approved change/maintenance window or lacks matching change-control context; where telemetry permits, require corroborating device, configuration, or process-state effect. Suppress activity that fully matches approved maintenance, commissioning, failover, recovery, or tested control procedures.

AN2165

Real-time monitoring identifies ip link set down commands on Industrial Control System (ICS) Linux gateway hosts by a User Identifier (UID) not in the authorized net admin UIDs, affecting the device subnet interface. OT operational-fidelity gate: Alert only when the action is not attributable to an authorized operator/engineering source for the specific target and function, and it is either outside an approved change/maintenance window or lacks matching change-control context; where telemetry permits, require corroborating device, configuration, or process-state effect. Suppress activity that fully matches approved maintenance, commissioning, failover, recovery, or tested control procedures.

AN2204

Real-time monitoring identifies a switch interface transitioning to administratively-down state on a port connected to an Industrial Control System (ICS) field device, from a configuration change source not in the approved network administration list. OT operational-fidelity gate: Alert only when the action is not attributable to an authorized operator/engineering source for the specific target and function, and it is either outside an approved change/maintenance window or lacks matching change-control context; where telemetry permits, require corroborating device, configuration, or process-state effect. Suppress activity that fully matches approved maintenance, commissioning, failover, recovery, or tested control procedures.

AN2214

Real-time monitoring identifies device_ip offline alarm coinciding with switch port admin-down syslog for that port, distinguishing deliberate Ethernet blocking from physical disconnection. OT operational-fidelity gate: Alert only when the action is not attributable to an authorized operator/engineering source for the specific target and function, and it is either outside an approved change/maintenance window or lacks matching change-control context; where telemetry permits, require corroborating device, configuration, or process-state effect. Suppress activity that fully matches approved maintenance, commissioning, failover, recovery, or tested control procedures.

References