TIARAS - T1585.002: Email Accounts

MITRE ATT&CK Technique

Resource Development T1585.002

Description

Adversaries may create email accounts that can be used during targeting. Adversaries can use accounts created with email providers to further their operations, such as leveraging them to conduct [Phishing for Information](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1598) or [Phishing](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566).(Citation: Mandiant APT1) Establishing email accounts may also allow adversaries to abuse free services – such as trial periods – to [Acquire Infrastructure](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1583) for follow-on purposes.(Citation: Free Trial PurpleUrchin) Adversaries may also take steps to cultivate a persona around the email account, such as through use of [Social Media Accounts](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1585/001), to increase the chance of success of follow-on behaviors. Created email accounts can also be used in the acquisition of infrastructure (ex: [Domains](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1583/001)).(Citation: Mandiant APT1) To decrease the chance of physically tying back operations to themselves, adversaries may make use of disposable email services.(Citation: Trend Micro R980 2016)

Supported Platforms

PRE

Created

April 29, 2026

Last Updated

April 29, 2026

STIX Data

{'created': '2020-10-01T01:09:53.217Z',
 'created_by_ref': 'identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5',
 'description': 'Adversaries may create email accounts that can be used during '
                'targeting. Adversaries can use accounts created with email '
                'providers to further their operations, such as leveraging '
                'them to conduct [Phishing for '
                'Information](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1598) or '
                '[Phishing](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566).(Citation: '
                'Mandiant APT1) Establishing email accounts may also allow '
                'adversaries to abuse free services – such as trial periods – '
                'to [Acquire '
                'Infrastructure](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1583) '
                'for follow-on purposes.(Citation: Free Trial PurpleUrchin)\n'
                '\n'
                'Adversaries may also take steps to cultivate a persona around '
                'the email account, such as through use of [Social Media '
                'Accounts](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1585/001), to '
                'increase the chance of success of follow-on behaviors. '
                'Created email accounts can also be used in the acquisition of '
                'infrastructure (ex: '
                '[Domains](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1583/001)).(Citation: '
                'Mandiant APT1)\n'
                '\n'
                'To decrease the chance of physically tying back operations to '
                'themselves, adversaries may make use of disposable email '
                'services.(Citation: Trend Micro R980 2016) ',
 'external_references': [{'external_id': 'T1585.002',
                          'source_name': 'mitre-attack',
                          'url': 'https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1585/002'},
                         {'description': 'Antazo, F. and Yambao, M. (2016, '
                                         'August 10). R980 Ransomware Found '
                                         'Abusing Disposable Email Address '
                                         'Service. Retrieved October 13, 2020.',
                          'source_name': 'Trend Micro R980 2016',
                          'url': 'https://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/r980-ransomware-disposable-email-service/'},
                         {'description': 'Gamazo, William. Quist, Nathaniel.. '
                                         '(2023, January 5). PurpleUrchin '
                                         'Bypasses CAPTCHA and Steals Cloud '
                                         'Platform Resources. Retrieved '
                                         'February 28, 2024.',
                          'source_name': 'Free Trial PurpleUrchin',
                          'url': 'https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/purpleurchin-steals-cloud-resources/'},
                         {'description': 'Mandiant. (n.d.). APT1 Exposing One '
                                         'of China’s Cyber Espionage Units. '
                                         'Retrieved July 18, 2016.',
                          'source_name': 'Mandiant APT1',
                          'url': 'https://www.fireeye.com/content/dam/fireeye-www/services/pdfs/mandiant-apt1-report.pdf'}],
 'id': 'attack-pattern--65013dd2-bc61-43e3-afb5-a14c4fa7437a',
 'kill_chain_phases': [{'kill_chain_name': 'mitre-attack',
                        'phase_name': 'resource-development'}],
 'modified': '2025-10-24T17:48:52.378Z',
 'name': 'Email Accounts',
 'object_marking_refs': ['marking-definition--fa42a846-8d90-4e51-bc29-71d5b4802168'],
 'revoked': False,
 'spec_version': '2.1',
 'type': 'attack-pattern',
 'x_mitre_attack_spec_version': '3.2.0',
 'x_mitre_deprecated': False,
 'x_mitre_detection': '',
 'x_mitre_domains': ['enterprise-attack'],
 'x_mitre_is_subtechnique': True,
 'x_mitre_modified_by_ref': 'identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5',
 'x_mitre_platforms': ['PRE'],
 'x_mitre_version': '1.1'}