T1673 · discovery · ATT&CK 19.1

Virtual Machine Discovery

An adversary may attempt to enumerate running virtual machines (VMs) after gaining access to a host or hypervisor. For example, adversaries may enumerate a list of VMs on an ESXi hypervisor using a [Hypervisor CLI](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/012) such as `esxcli` or `vim-cmd` (e.g. `esxcli vm process list or vim-cmd vmsvc/getallvms`).(Citation: Crowdstrike Hypervisor Jackpotting Pt 2 2021)(Citation: TrendMicro Play) Adversaries may also directly leverage a graphical user interface, such as VMware vCenter, in order to view virtual machines on a host. Adversaries may use the information from [Virtual Machine Discovery](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1673) during discovery to shape follow-on behaviors. Subsequently discovered VMs may be leveraged for follow-on activities such as [Service Stop](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1489) or [Data Encrypted for Impact](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1486).(Citation: Crowdstrike Hypervisor Jackpotting Pt 2 2021)

Open in the interactive knowledge mesh

Detection overview

Use the published detection strategies below and validate required telemetry in the target environment.

Observed groups

UNC3886
G1048

Cyber Knowledge context

Use these routes to move from the ATT&CK behavior into explanation, implementation, evidence handling, validation, and defensive operations. Relevance is generated from explicit identifiers/names and governed topic mappings; it is not attribution evidence.

Internet exposure, service indexes, and infrastructure search
OSINT & Reconnaissance · tactic-route · 24/100Module 5 — Cloud, containers, and Kubernetes
Red Team & Offensive Security · tactic-route · 24/100Data classification, storage, cryptography, keys, backup, and deletion
Cloud Security · tactic-route · 24/100

MITRE mitigations

No ATT&CK mitigation relationship is published for this technique. Apply risk-based controls and verify scope.

MITRE detection strategies and analytics

DET0199 · Detection Strategy for Virtual Machine Discovery
  • AN0572 · Analytic 0572 — Monitor for execution of hypervisor management commands such as `esxcli vm process list` or `vim-cmd vmsvc/getallvms` that enumerate virtual machines. Defenders observe unexpected users issuing VM listing commands outside normal administrative workflows.
  • AN0573 · Analytic 0573 — Detects attempts to enumerate VMs via hypervisor tools like `virsh`, `VBoxManage`, or `qemu-img`. Defender correlates suspicious command invocations with parent process lineage and unexpected users.
  • AN0574 · Analytic 0574 — Detects enumeration of VMs using PowerShell (`Get-VM`), VMware Workstation (`vmrun.exe`), or Hyper-V (`VBoxManage.exe`). Defender observes suspicious command lines executed by unexpected users or outside normal administrative sessions.
  • AN0575 · Analytic 0575 — Detects VM enumeration attempts using virtualization utilities such as VirtualBox (`VBoxManage`) or Parallels CLI. Defender observes abnormal invocation of VM listing commands correlated with non-admin users or unusual parent processes.
MITRE detection source