NIST SP 800-53 rev5 · Access Control
AC-2 Account Management
Mitigates 220 ATT&CK techniques, used by 12 threats in this month's news.
Why it matters this month
Threats in SecurityTabs news using techniques this control mitigates.
Weaknesses it helps against
Through the techniques typically used to exploit them (CTID, CISA KEV).
- CWE-777 techniquesImproper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')Input is pasted into a command without escaping, so attackers append commands of their own.
- CWE-787 techniquesImproper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')Input reaches an operating-system shell, letting an attacker run any command the service can.
- CWE-1196 techniquesImproper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory BufferCode reads or writes past the end of a buffer, the root of most classic memory-corruption exploits.
- CWE-1206 techniquesBuffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')Input is copied into a fixed-size buffer without checking its length, overwriting whatever follows.
- CWE-1216 techniquesStack-based Buffer OverflowAn overflow on the stack can overwrite the return address and redirect the program to attacker code.
- CWE-1226 techniquesHeap-based Buffer OverflowAn overflow on the heap corrupts neighbouring objects, often turned into code execution.
- CWE-1255 techniquesOut-of-bounds ReadCode reads beyond a buffer, leaking secrets such as keys or memory addresses that defeat other defences.
- CWE-225 techniquesImproper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')Sequences like ../ in a file path escape the intended folder, exposing or overwriting other files.
- CWE-235 techniquesRelative Path TraversalRelative ../ segments in input climb out of the allowed directory.
- CWE-365 techniquesAbsolute Path TraversalAn absolute path in input points straight at a file outside the allowed directory.
Techniques it mitigates
The 30 most used of 220, by how many ATT&CK groups and malware use them.
- T1059.003Command and Scripting Interpreter: Windows Command Shell371 users
- T1005Data from Local System221 users
- T1059.001Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell219 users
- T1036.005Masquerading: Match Legitimate Resource Name or Location211 users
- T1041Exfiltration Over C2 Channel201 users
- T1053.005Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task181 users
- T1047Windows Management Instrumentation137 users
- T1543.003Create or Modify System Process: Windows Service136 users
- T1059.005Command and Scripting Interpreter: Visual Basic115 users
- T1055Process Injection81 users
- T1059.007Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript73 users
- T1003.001OS Credential Dumping: LSASS Memory70 users
- T1569.002System Services: Service Execution69 users
- T1059.004Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell63 users
- T1548.002Abuse Elevation Control Mechanism: Bypass User Account Control63 users
- T1059.006Command and Scripting Interpreter: Python61 users
- T1021.002Remote Services: SMB/Windows Admin Shares59 users
- T1021.001Remote Services: Remote Desktop Protocol57 users
- T1489Service Stop57 users
- T1078Valid Accounts56 users
- T1490Inhibit System Recovery56 users
- T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application55 users
- T1036Masquerading54 users
- T1505.003Server Software Component: Web Shell53 users
- T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation42 users
- T1552.001Unsecured Credentials: Credentials In Files41 users
- T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter40 users
- T1048.003Exfiltration Over Alternative Protocol: Exfiltration Over Unencrypted Non-C2 Protocol33 users
- T1070Indicator Removal31 users
- T1136.001Create Account: Local Account31 users
Weaknesses from each CVE's CVE Record (CWE, © MITRE). Techniques: MITRE ATT&CK®. Technique ↔ control and CVE ↔ technique links: Center for Threat-Informed Defense Mappings Explorer (NIST SP 800-53 rev5; CISA KEV). Plain-language explainers are SecurityTabs editorial. Mapping version rev5/attack-16.1.