{
  "node_id": "mitre-attack-t1578-003-delete-cloud-instance",
  "title": "MITRE ATT&CK T1578.003: Delete Cloud Instance (Enterprise Tactic TA0005 - Defense Evasion)",
  "domain": "Cybersecurity",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "last_updated": "2026-05-25",
  "bluf": "MITRE ATT&CK T1578.003 (Delete Cloud Instance) is an Enterprise Defense Evasion sub-technique of T1578 (Modify Cloud Compute Infrastructure). An adversary may delete a cloud instance after they have performed malicious activities in an attempt to evade detection and remove evidence of their presence. Deleting an instance or virtual machine can remove valuable forensic artifacts and other evidence of suspicious behavior if the instance is not recoverable. An adversary may also Create Cloud Instance and later terminate the instance after achieving their objectives. Affected platforms: IaaS. MITRE-documented mitigations include M1018 User Account Management, M1047 Audit. The Center for Threat-Informed Defense maps this technique to NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 controls AC-02, AC-03, AC-05, AC-06, CM-02, CM-05, IA-02, IA-04.",
  "paywall": {
    "status": "LOCKED",
    "unlock_cost_usd": "0.01",
    "skyfire_id": "41779894-ece2-4163-9761-b3b1b76e19b0"
  },
  "crosswalks": {
    "_available_keys": [
      "nist_framework",
      "iso_standard",
      "industry_mapping",
      "mitre_d3fend"
    ],
    "_note": "Full crosswalk values included in vault response"
  },
  "dependencies": [
    "nist-cybersecurity-framework-2-0",
    "iso-27001-2022",
    "nist-sp-800-53-r5",
    "cis-controls-v8",
    "mitre-attack-t1578-modify-cloud-compute-infrastructure"
  ],
  "primary_citations_count": 7
}