{"source_checked_on":"2026-10-19","schema_version":1,"key":"mobile/T1421","id":"T1421","name":"System Network Connections Discovery","domain":"mobile","reviewed_on":"2026-09-28","source_url":"https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1421","source_file":{"file":"mobile.json","url":"https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mitre-attack/attack-stix-data/20664a889568dce884a1dac0ec7b12ae3a199f51/mobile-attack/mobile-attack-20.0.json","sha256":"824f7d8a37e7893b29e4c6ca6d87b5fbbf3b228ec6384f1a69ee20d523ff59e5","bytes":6095145},"source_object_sha256":"d1723b1b0ea1729f306c7cba42f23dfd06be8f14bca5d7738f6007c8c1ad0df7","description":"Adversaries may attempt to get a listing of network connections to or from the compromised device they are currently accessing or from remote systems by querying for information over the network. \n\n \n\nThis is typically accomplished by utilizing device APIs to collect information about nearby networks, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular tower connections. On Android, this can be done by querying the respective APIs: \n\n \n\n* `WifiInfo` for information about the current Wi-Fi connection, as well as nearby Wi-Fi networks. Querying the `WiFiInfo` API requires the application to hold the `ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION` permission. \n\n* `BluetoothAdapter` for information about Bluetooth devices, which also requires the application to hold several permissions granted by the user at runtime. \n\n* For Android versions prior to Q, applications can use the `TelephonyManager.getNeighboringCellInfo()` method. For Q and later, applications can use the `TelephonyManager.getAllCellInfo()` method. Both methods require the application hold the `ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION` permission.","references":[{"source_name":"mitre-attack","url":"https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1421","external_id":"T1421"}],"platforms":["Android"],"environments":["mobile"],"visibility":"source_mapped","visibility_note":null,"parent":null,"children":[],"telemetry":[{"id":"DC0112","name":"API Calls","page":"telemetry/DC0112/","kind":"attack_component","category":"Mobile lab instrumentation","description":"Instrumented mobile API calls and results relevant to an application behavior.","collection_focus":"Instrument selected APIs in the owned test app or approved research build; log caller, API, sanitized argument class and return status.","providers":[{"name":"Android logcat","scope":"Permitted logs from a consented test device/emulator; output depends on build, permissions and instrumentation.","source_id":"android_logs"},{"name":"Android dumpsys","scope":"Point-in-time service/package state on an authorized development device.","source_id":"android_state"},{"name":"Instrumented test application","scope":"Own-app permission, API and state callbacks; not universal visibility into other apps.","source_id":"android_permissions"}],"configuration":["Use a disposable emulator or owned development device with approved debugging. Record OS/API level, app version and instrumentation privileges.","Collect only relevant logcat buffers/tags and service snapshots; add explicit own-app instrumentation for events absent from OS logs.","Forward sanitized logs and compare before/after state. Remove test data and revoke debugging access after the lab session."],"configuration_example":null,"required_fields":["package","api","result","thread"],"example":{"schema":"1200km.telemetry.example.v1","synthetic":true,"timestamp":"2026-09-27T12:00:00Z","telemetry_id":"DC0112","collector":"illustrative-lab-collector","observation":{"package":"test.example.lab","api":"android.hardware.camera2.CameraManager.openCamera","result":"permission_denied","thread":"main"}},"example_note":"Project-normalized synthetic JSON, not a native provider log, captured event, attack verdict or validated detection. A parser/adapter is required for a real SIEM. Example names, IPs and values are fictional.","limitations":"Android tooling does not imply iOS coverage. Standard mobile apps cannot observe all other apps or protected OS internals; MDM status is not full API, filesystem or content telemetry.","sources":[{"id":"android_logs","title":"Android logcat and access limits","url":"https://developer.android.com/tools/logcat"},{"id":"android_state","title":"Android dumpsys","url":"https://developer.android.com/tools/dumpsys"},{"id":"android_permissions","title":"Android runtime permission requests","url":"https://developer.android.com/training/permissions/requesting"}],"association":"attack_component","anomaly_design":"Per owned device, app version and permission state: unexpected API/permission changes, background activity and network destinations. OS privacy restrictions and emulator differences limit observability."},{"id":"DC0082","name":"Network Connection Creation","page":"telemetry/DC0082/","kind":"attack_component","category":"Endpoint activity","description":"Creation of an endpoint network connection linked to a process.","collection_focus":"Enable scoped Sysmon NetworkConnect (3), disabled by default, or a platform-equivalent process-aware network sensor.","providers":[{"name":"Microsoft Sysmon","scope":"Windows event-based collection; enable the event types needed below.","source_id":"sysmon"},{"name":"Linux Audit","scope":"Linux alternative for supported system-call and file events; different semantics and fields.","source_id":"linux"},{"name":"Apple Endpoint Security clients","scope":"macOS alternative where the subscribed event exists; requires an entitled, approved client, not an iOS collector.","source_id":"apple"}],"configuration":["On a disposable Windows host, review the installed Sysmon schema and current configuration; merge scoped event filters into the existing policy rather than replacing it.","Forward Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational to the lab collector. Preserve event ID, timestamp, computer, process identifiers and the original event.","For Linux or macOS, select the equivalent sensor separately and test its emitted fields; a Windows event ID does not transfer across platforms."],"configuration_example":null,"required_fields":["process_guid","destination_ip","destination_port","protocol","initiated"],"example":{"schema":"1200km.telemetry.example.v1","synthetic":true,"timestamp":"2026-09-27T12:00:00Z","telemetry_id":"DC0082","collector":"illustrative-lab-collector","observation":{"process_guid":"lab-process-001","destination_ip":"198.51.100.20","destination_port":443,"protocol":"tcp","initiated":true}},"example_note":"Project-normalized synthetic JSON, not a native provider log, captured event, attack verdict or validated detection. A parser/adapter is required for a real SIEM. Example names, IPs and values are fictional.","limitations":"Event filtering and sensor versions change coverage. High-volume image-load and process-access collection needs tuning; endpoint events alone do not establish intent.","sources":[{"id":"sysmon","title":"Microsoft Sysmon events and configuration","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/sysmon"},{"id":"sysmon_config","title":"Microsoft Sysmon configuration files","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/operating-system-security/sysmon/sysmon-configuration-files"},{"id":"linux","title":"Linux Audit rule configuration","url":"https://www.man7.org/linux/man-pages/man8/auditctl.8.html"},{"id":"apple","title":"Apple Endpoint Security framework for macOS","url":"https://developer.apple.com/documentation/endpointsecurity"},{"id":"process_audit","title":"Microsoft process creation event 4688","url":"https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/it-pro/windows-10/security/threat-protection/auditing/event-4688"}],"association":"attack_component","anomaly_design":"Per host role and user: rare process/object combinations, bursts of object access or modification, and ordered parent/action sequences. Compare maintenance windows and signed software rollout activity."},{"id":"DC0116","name":"Permissions Request","page":"telemetry/DC0116/","kind":"attack_component","category":"Mobile lab instrumentation","description":"A system prompt for an application permission, with request and response context where observable.","collection_focus":"Correlate own-app request/callback instrumentation with the consented test-device prompt. A request callback alone does not prove a prompt appeared (for example, a previously denied permission).","providers":[{"name":"Android logcat","scope":"Permitted logs from a consented test device/emulator; output depends on build, permissions and instrumentation.","source_id":"android_logs"},{"name":"Android dumpsys","scope":"Point-in-time service/package state on an authorized development device.","source_id":"android_state"},{"name":"Instrumented test application","scope":"Own-app permission, API and state callbacks; not universal visibility into other apps.","source_id":"android_permissions"}],"configuration":["Use a disposable emulator or owned development device with approved debugging. Record OS/API level, app version and instrumentation privileges.","Collect only relevant logcat buffers/tags and service snapshots; add explicit own-app instrumentation for events absent from OS logs.","Forward sanitized logs and compare before/after state. Remove test data and revoke debugging access after the lab session."],"configuration_example":null,"required_fields":["package","permission","action","prompt_observed","result"],"example":{"schema":"1200km.telemetry.example.v1","synthetic":true,"timestamp":"2026-09-27T12:00:00Z","telemetry_id":"DC0116","collector":"illustrative-lab-collector","observation":{"package":"test.example.lab","permission":"android.permission.CAMERA","action":"permission_prompt","prompt_observed":true,"result":"denied"}},"example_note":"Project-normalized synthetic JSON, not a native provider log, captured event, attack verdict or validated detection. A parser/adapter is required for a real SIEM. Example names, IPs and values are fictional.","limitations":"Android tooling does not imply iOS coverage. Standard mobile apps cannot observe all other apps or protected OS internals; MDM status is not full API, filesystem or content telemetry.","sources":[{"id":"android_logs","title":"Android logcat and access limits","url":"https://developer.android.com/tools/logcat"},{"id":"android_state","title":"Android dumpsys","url":"https://developer.android.com/tools/dumpsys"},{"id":"android_permissions","title":"Android runtime permission requests","url":"https://developer.android.com/training/permissions/requesting"}],"association":"attack_component","anomaly_design":"Per owned device, app version and permission state: unexpected API/permission changes, background activity and network destinations. OS privacy restrictions and emulator differences limit observability."}],"detection":{"key":"mobile/T1421","id":"T1421","name":"System Network Connections Discovery","domain":"mobile","platforms":["Android"],"environments":["mobile"],"source_url":"https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1421","technique_page":"techniques/mobile/T1421/","page":"detections/mobile/T1421/","status":"guidance_only","counts":{"sigma":0,"atlas_basic":0,"atlas_anomaly":0,"strategies":1,"analytics":1,"live_validated":0},"sigma_rules":[],"atlas_basic":[],"atlas_anomaly":[],"anomaly_types":[],"strategies":[{"id":"DET0636","name":"Detection of System Network Connections Discovery","url":"https://attack.mitre.org/detectionstrategies/DET0636","stix_id":"x-mitre-detection-strategy--7ea45fed-cd52-4e26-96d5-31d3fd2c7b22","relationship_id":"relationship--ade33114-0204-49af-95c0-988e39e68989","description":"","analytics":[{"id":"AN1710","name":"Analytic 1710","guidance":"For Android, detect System Network Connections Discovery by correlating analyst-visible device/network evidence and management state; use streaming or batched telemetry only where the documented collector is deployed. Correlate API Calls via Application Vetting / Instrumented Dynamic Analysis [Dynamic API/runtime trace: WifiInfo.getBSSID()]; Network Connection Creation via Android Enterprise Network Logging / Enterprise VPN [DevicePolicyManager.retrieveNetworkLogs(): DnsEvent / ConnectEvent; VPN flow metadata]; Permissions Request via Android Enterprise DPC / Application Vetting [DevicePolicyManager.getPermissionGrantState(); PackageManager manifest/requested-permission review]. Alert on a sequence or state change inconsistent with the device/app baseline, approved management policy, or expected user workflow; do not infer unobserved API calls, file/process activity, or payload content from management state alone.","url":"https://attack.mitre.org/detectionstrategies/DET0636#AN1710","platforms":["Android"],"tuning":[{"field":"LocationAllowList","description":"Navigation, mapping, enterprise fleet apps. Derive from MDM catalog."},{"field":"NetworkScanWindow","description":"Default 30s — multi-radio scan is rapid."},{"field":"AppCDNList","description":"Per-app CDN. Derive by measurement."},{"field":"FollowOnWindow","description":"Default 120s."}],"log_sources":[{"component_id":"DC0112","component":"API Calls","name":"mobile:DynamicAnalysis","channel":"Dynamic API/runtime trace: WifiInfo.getBSSID()","platforms":["Android"],"analytic_id":"AN1710","source_url":"https://attack.mitre.org/detectionstrategies/DET0636#AN1710","validation":"upstream_definition_not_locally_validated","component_page":"telemetry/DC0112/"},{"component_id":"DC0082","component":"Network Connection Creation","name":"android:EnterpriseNetworkLog","channel":"DevicePolicyManager.retrieveNetworkLogs(): DnsEvent / ConnectEvent; VPN flow metadata","platforms":["Android"],"analytic_id":"AN1710","source_url":"https://attack.mitre.org/detectionstrategies/DET0636#AN1710","validation":"upstream_definition_not_locally_validated","component_page":"telemetry/DC0082/"},{"component_id":"DC0116","component":"Permissions Request","name":"android:DevicePolicyManager","channel":"DevicePolicyManager.getPermissionGrantState(); PackageManager manifest/requested-permission review","platforms":["Android"],"analytic_id":"AN1710","source_url":"https://attack.mitre.org/detectionstrategies/DET0636#AN1710","validation":"upstream_definition_not_locally_validated","component_page":"telemetry/DC0116/"}]}]}],"telemetry_references":[{"id":"DC0112","name":"API Calls","tag":"API Calls","page":"telemetry/DC0112/","kind":"attack_component"},{"id":"DC0082","name":"Network Connection Creation","tag":"Network Connection Creation","page":"telemetry/DC0082/","kind":"attack_component"},{"id":"DC0116","name":"Permissions Request","tag":"Permissions Request","page":"telemetry/DC0116/","kind":"attack_component"}],"visibility":"source_mapped","visibility_note":null,"tool_references":[{"id":"S0408","name":"FlexiSpy","page":"tools/S0408/","kind":"attack_tool","bases":["attack_uses"],"guides":[]}],"related_parent":null,"article_url":"https://1200km.com/articles/read/2026/2026-04-20-malicious-activity-as-a-statistical-signal-a-detection-engineering-analysis-of-anomaly-bas-90df8b6dea12/","validation":{"source_join":"exact_ids","sigma_yaml":"parsed","backend_compilation":"not_run","live_telemetry":"not_run","detection_execution":"not_run"}},"tools":[{"id":"S0408","name":"FlexiSpy","page":"tools/S0408/","kind":"attack_tool","bases":["attack_uses"],"guides":[]}],"software":[{"id":"S0289","name":"Pegasus for iOS","url":"https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0289","kind":"malware","description":"[Pegasus for iOS](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0289) monitors the connection state and tracks which types of networks the phone is connected to, potentially to determine the bandwidth and ability to send full data across the network.(Citation: Lookout-Pegasus)","relationship_id":"relationship--450a1b75-efa5-4d7a-bcd5-d3e63723b408","references":[{"source_name":"Lookout-Pegasus","description":"Lookout. (2016). Technical Analysis of Pegasus Spyware. Retrieved December 12, 2016.","url":"https://info.lookout.com/rs/051-ESQ-475/images/lookout-pegasus-technical-analysis.pdf"}]},{"id":"S0399","name":"Pallas","url":"https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0399","kind":"malware","description":"[Pallas](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0399) gathers and exfiltrates data about nearby Wi-Fi access points.(Citation: Lookout Dark Caracal Jan 2018)","relationship_id":"relationship--5a036fb8-9f72-4383-91c5-0f47b33b2c9d","references":[{"source_name":"Lookout Dark Caracal Jan 2018","description":"Blaich, A., et al. (2018, January 18). Dark Caracal: Cyber-espionage at a Global Scale. Retrieved April 11, 2018.","url":"https://info.lookout.com/rs/051-ESQ-475/images/Lookout_Dark-Caracal_srr_20180118_us_v.1.0.pdf"}]},{"id":"S0405","name":"Exodus","url":"https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0405","kind":"malware","description":"[Exodus](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0405) Two collects a list of nearby base stations.(Citation: SWB Exodus March 2019) ","relationship_id":"relationship--cf4243f5-562a-457f-bb15-d45a2047f7ca","references":[{"source_name":"SWB Exodus March 2019","description":"Security Without Borders. (2019, March 29). Exodus: New Android Spyware Made in Italy. Retrieved November 17, 2024.","url":"https://web.archive.org/web/20200314194610/https://securitywithoutborders.org/blog/2019/03/29/exodus.html"}]},{"id":"S0407","name":"Monokle","url":"https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0407","kind":"malware","description":"[Monokle](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0407) can retrieve nearby cell tower and Wi-Fi network information.(Citation: Lookout-Monokle)","relationship_id":"relationship--25cdb4f2-5b38-411c-bfb6-eca7ea4d4527","references":[{"source_name":"Lookout-Monokle","description":"Bauer A., Kumar A., Hebeisen C., et al. (2019, July). Monokle: The Mobile Surveillance Tooling of the Special Technology Center. Retrieved September 4, 2019.","url":"https://www.lookout.com/documents/threat-reports/lookout-discovers-monokle-threat-report.pdf"}]},{"id":"S0408","name":"FlexiSpy","url":"https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0408","kind":"tool","description":"[FlexiSpy](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0408) can collect a list of known Wi-Fi access points.(Citation: FlexiSpy-Features) ","relationship_id":"relationship--4449ac76-8329-4483-b152-99b990006cbc","references":[{"source_name":"FlexiSpy-Features","description":"FlexiSpy. (n.d.). FlexiSpy Monitoring Features. Retrieved September 4, 2019.","url":"https://www.flexispy.com/en/features-overview.htm"}]},{"id":"S0506","name":"ViperRAT","url":"https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0506","kind":"malware","description":"[ViperRAT](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0506) can collect the device’s cell tower information.(Citation: Lookout ViperRAT)","relationship_id":"relationship--d358ac0b-4c67-44e3-939b-24cd36d3c3fb","references":[{"source_name":"Lookout ViperRAT","description":"M. Flossman. (2017, February 16). ViperRAT: The mobile APT targeting the Israeli Defense Force that should be on your radar. Retrieved September 11, 2020.","url":"https://blog.lookout.com/viperrat-mobile-apt"}]},{"id":"S0509","name":"FakeSpy","url":"https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0509","kind":"malware","description":"[FakeSpy](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0509) can collect the device’s network information.(Citation: Cybereason FakeSpy)","relationship_id":"relationship--c9c22e0d-c427-42ef-ae76-beb8ae9f6bf2","references":[{"source_name":"Cybereason FakeSpy","description":"O. Almkias. (2020, July 1). FakeSpy Masquerades as Postal Service Apps Around the World. Retrieved September 15, 2020.","url":"https://www.cybereason.com/blog/fakespy-masquerades-as-postal-service-apps-around-the-world"}]},{"id":"S1185","name":"LightSpy","url":"https://attack.mitre.org/software/S1185","kind":"malware","description":"[LightSpy](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S1185) has collected a list of cellular networks and connected Wi-Fi history using a LAN scanner based on MMLanScan.(Citation: FirshSecureList LightSpy 2020)(Citation: MelikovBlackBerry LightSpy 2024)(Citation: Threatfabric LightSpy 2023)(Citation: Threatfabric LightSpy 2024)(Citation: Shoshin_Kaspersky LightSpy 2020) ","relationship_id":"relationship--a111958f-bb98-48c1-ad44-bf55fad232e9","references":[{"source_name":"FirshSecureList LightSpy 2020","description":"Firsh, A., et al. (2020, March 26). iOS exploit chain deploys LightSpy feature-rich malware. Retrieved January 13, 2025.","url":"https://securelist.com/ios-exploit-chain-deploys-lightspy-malware/96407/"},{"source_name":"MelikovBlackBerry LightSpy 2024","description":"Melikov, D. (2024, April 11). LightSpy Returns: Renewed Espionage Campaign Targets Southern Asia, Possibly India. Retrieved January 14, 2025.","url":"https://blogs.blackberry.com/en/2024/04/lightspy-returns-renewed-espionage-campaign-targets-southern-asia-possibly-india"},{"source_name":"Shoshin_Kaspersky LightSpy 2020","description":"Shoshin, P. (2020, March 27). LightSpy spyware targets iPhone users in Hong Kong. Retrieved February 12, 2025.","url":"https://usa.kaspersky.com/blog/lightspy-watering-hole-attack/21301/"},{"source_name":"Threatfabric LightSpy 2023","description":"ThreatFabric. (2023, October 2). LightSpy mAPT Mobile Payment System Attack. Retrieved January 17, 2025.","url":"https://www.threatfabric.com/blogs/lightspy-mapt-mobile-payment-system-attack"},{"source_name":"Threatfabric LightSpy 2024","description":"ThreatFabric. (2024, October 29). LightSpy: Implant for iOS. Retrieved January 30, 2025.","url":"https://www.threatfabric.com/blogs/lightspy-implant-for-ios"}]},{"id":"S9040","name":"NGate","url":"https://attack.mitre.org/software/S9040","kind":"malware","description":"[NGate](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S9040) has requested for the `ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE` permission.(Citation: CERTPL_NGate_Nov2025) ","relationship_id":"relationship--c5186dde-b30d-4471-a90e-9c834e35c40d","references":[{"source_name":"CERTPL_NGate_Nov2025","description":"Ratajczak, K. (2025, November 3). Analysis of NGate malware campaign (NFC relay). Retrieved November 10, 2025.","url":"https://cert.pl/en/posts/2025/11/analiza-ngate/"}]}],"actors":[],"mitigations":[],"candidates":[],"simulation":{"atomic_status":"no_atomic_candidate","lab_execution":"not_run","browser_attack_runner":false,"prerequisites":"Use owned test devices or emulators, disposable app accounts and test data. Verify platform/version instrumentation; desktop test procedures do not establish mobile coverage.","scenario":null},"validation":{"source_identity":"checked_against_pinned_source","relationship_join":"exact_ids_no_inheritance","page_contract":"automated_checks_required","sensor_capture":"not_run","detection_backend":"not_run","adversary_simulation":"not_run","independent_incident_fact_check":"not_performed"},"technique_links":{"T1421":"/ttp-simulation/techniques/mobile/T1421/"},"synthetic":{"schema":"1200km.ttp.collection-fixture.v1","synthetic":true,"technique_key":"mobile/T1421","purpose":"Collection/parser contract exercise, NOT a positive example or detection of this TTP.","events":[{"schema":"1200km.telemetry.example.v1","synthetic":true,"timestamp":"2026-09-27T12:00:00Z","telemetry_id":"DC0112","collector":"illustrative-lab-collector","observation":{"package":"test.example.lab","api":"android.hardware.camera2.CameraManager.openCamera","result":"permission_denied","thread":"main"}},{"schema":"1200km.telemetry.example.v1","synthetic":true,"timestamp":"2026-09-27T12:00:00Z","telemetry_id":"DC0082","collector":"illustrative-lab-collector","observation":{"process_guid":"lab-process-001","destination_ip":"198.51.100.20","destination_port":443,"protocol":"tcp","initiated":true}},{"schema":"1200km.telemetry.example.v1","synthetic":true,"timestamp":"2026-09-27T12:00:00Z","telemetry_id":"DC0116","collector":"illustrative-lab-collector","observation":{"package":"test.example.lab","permission":"android.permission.CAMERA","action":"permission_prompt","prompt_observed":true,"result":"denied"}}]}}