Threat intelligence / Technique

Component Firmware

Adversaries may modify component firmware to persist on systems. Some adversaries may employ sophisticated means to compromise computer components and install malicious firmware that will execute adversary code outside of the operating system and main system firmware or BIOS. This technique may be similar to [System Firmware](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1542/001) but conducted upon other system components/devices that may not have the same capability or level of integrity checking. Malicious component firmware could provide both a persistent level of access to systems despite potential typical failures to maintain access and hard disk re-images, as well as a way to evade host software-based defenses and integrity checks.

Technique

TypeTechnique

External ID—

First seen2026-08-14

Last seen2026-08-14

Confidence

—

Adversaries may modify component firmware to persist on systems. Some adversaries may employ sophisticated means to compromise computer components and install malicious firmware that will execute adversary code outside of the operating system and main system firmware or BIOS. This technique may be similar to [System Firmware](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1542/001) but conducted upon other system components/devices that may not have the same capability or level of integrity checking. Malicious component firmware could provide both a persistent level of access to systems despite potential typical failures to maintain access and hard disk re-images, as well as a way to evade host software-based defenses and integrity checks.

7 recorded

Relationships

mapped-to

from Altered Component Firmware

Technique

mapped-to

from Exploitation of Thunderbolt Protection Flaws

Technique

mitigates

from Update Software

Mitigation

revoked-by

from Component Firmware

Technique

subtechnique-of

Technique

uses

from Cyclops Blink

Malware

uses

Group

1 external

References

mitre-attack

T1542.002