T1495

Official Description

Adversaries may overwrite or corrupt the flash memory contents of system BIOS or other firmware in devices attached to a system in order to render them inoperable or unable to boot, thus denying the availability to use the devices and/or the system.(Citation: Symantec Chernobyl W95.CIH) Firmware is software that is loaded and executed from non-volatile memory on hardware devices in order to initialize and manage device functionality. These devices may include the motherboard, hard drive, or video cards.

In general, adversaries may manipulate, overwrite, or corrupt firmware in order to deny the use of the system or devices. For example, corruption of firmware responsible for loading the operating system for network devices may render the network devices inoperable.(Citation: dhs_threat_to_net_devices)(Citation: cisa_malware_orgs_ukraine) Depending on the device, this attack may also result in [Data Destruction](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1485).

Tactics: Impact
Platforms: Linux, macOS, Network Devices, Windows
MITRE Version: 1.3
Last Modified: May 12, 2026

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Reported Context (1)

Attackers loaded corrupted firmware onto Hitachi RTU560 devices, causing reboot loops; the report also describes erased automation-device firmware. 2026 OT Threat Report Finds Physical-Impact Cyber Incidents Fell 25% in 2025

Malware (3)

People (3)

Threat Actors (8)

MITRE ATT&CK (5)

Vendors (4)

Products (3)

Industries (5)

Countries (10)

Note: Related entities, including threat actors, malware, CVEs, MITRE ATT&CK techniques, vendors, products, tools, countries, and industries, are shown when they appear in the same reporting. Their presence does not necessarily mean they were targeted, compromised, vulnerable, responsible for the activity, or directly involved in the incident.