ICS Command and Control consists of techniques adversaries use to communicate with compromised systems within ICS environments. Adversaries may use commonly used ports and standard ICS protocols like Modbus, DNP3, and OPC to blend in with legitimate traffic. Connection proxies may be used to relay communications through intermediary systems.
Tactic Overview
Tactic ID: TA0101 — Matrix: ICS — Techniques: 3
The Command and Control tactic represents a phase in the adversary lifecycle where the adversary is trying to communicate with and control compromised systems, controllers, and platforms. This tactic is part of the MITRE ATT&CK ICS matrix and encompasses 3 known techniques that adversaries employ during this phase of an attack.
Understanding this tactic is critical for defenders to build effective detection strategies and implement appropriate countermeasures. Organizations should map their security controls against each technique to identify coverage gaps and prioritize defensive investments.
Techniques (3)
The following techniques are categorized under the Command and Control tactic in the MITRE ATT&CK ICS matrix:
| Technique ID | Name | Description | MITRE Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
T0885 | Commonly Used Port | Adversaries communicate over commonly used ports (80, 443, 502) to blend ICS C2 traffic with legitimate protocol traffic. | T0885 |
T0884 | Connection Proxy | Adversaries use connection proxies within ICS environments to relay communications and hide the origin of C2 traffic. | T0884 |
T0869 | Standard Application Layer Protocol | Adversaries use standard ICS protocols (Modbus, DNP3, OPC, HTTP) for C2 to disguise malicious communications. | T0869 |
Detection & Mitigation
Organizations should implement layered defenses addressing each technique within this tactic. Below are key mitigation strategies recommended by Mjolnir Security analysts.
Key Mitigations
- Deep packet inspection for ICS protocols
- Network monitoring and anomaly detection
- Restrict outbound ICS network traffic
- ICS-aware firewalls
Detection Strategies
Effective detection of Command and Control techniques requires a combination of log analysis, behavioral monitoring, and threat intelligence correlation. Security teams should focus on establishing baselines for normal activity and alerting on deviations that may indicate adversary behavior aligned with this tactic.
- SIEM Integration: Correlate events across multiple data sources to detect technique patterns
- Behavioral Analytics: Deploy UEBA solutions to identify anomalous activity indicative of this tactic
- Threat Hunting: Proactively search for indicators of techniques within this tactic using hypothesis-driven investigations
- Purple Teaming: Regularly test detection coverage by simulating techniques from this tactic
Associated Threat Actors
The following threat actors are known to heavily leverage techniques from the Command and Control tactic:
For comprehensive threat actor profiles, visit the APT Groups Hub.
Resources & References
Defend Against Command and Control Techniques
Mjolnir Security provides expert threat intelligence, purple team exercises, and detection engineering services to help organizations defend against adversary tactics mapped to the MITRE ATT&CK framework.
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View All Reports →Written by Mjolnir Security Research — Published March 7, 2026