State or Mode Manipulation - IMP-0008

State or Mode Manipulation is the deliberate alteration of a spacecraft’s operational state, mode, or mission phase. An adversary may force an unauthorized transition, prevent an expected transition, or hold the system in a selected state. This mechanism may affect the spacecraft as a whole or a specific subsystem, payload, software service, or mission function. It applies when the actual operating condition changes. Falsifying only the reported state is instead Data Manipulation. Vector: Illustrative Application Collect: If the objective is Collect, an adversary could place the spacecraft or payload into a diagnostic mode that exposes protected engineering data or internal system information. Pivot: If the objective is Pivot, an adversary could force a communications subsystem into a relay or bridging mode that provides access to another connected asset or trust domain. Subvert: TIf the objective is Subvert, an adversary could force repeated transitions into safe mode to interrupt mission operations and draw defenders toward an apparent spacecraft fault. Seize: If the objective is Seize, an adversary could place the spacecraft into a maintenance, bypass, or manual-control mode that permits unauthorized tasking of a payload or mission function. Disable: If the objective is Disable, an adversary could hold the spacecraft in a non-mission mode that prevents it from performing its intended mission or an essential mission function.