T1059.003
Command and Scripting Interpreter: Windows Command Shell
Description from ATT&CK
Adversaries may abuse the Windows command shell for execution. The Windows command shell (cmd) is the primary command prompt on Windows systems. The Windows command prompt can be used to control almost any aspect of a system, with various permission levels required for different subsets of commands. The command prompt can be invoked remotely via Remote Services such as SSH.(Citation: SSH in Windows)
Batch files (ex: .bat or .cmd) also provide the shell with a list of sequential commands to run, as well as normal scripting operations such as conditionals and loops. Common uses of batch files include long or repetitive tasks, or the need to run the same set of commands on multiple systems.
Adversaries may leverage cmd to execute various commands and payloads. Common uses include cmd to execute a single command, or abusing cmd interactively with input and output forwarded over a command and control channel.
Atomic Tests
Atomic Test #1 - Create and Execute Batch Script
Creates and executes a simple batch script. Upon execution, CMD will briefly launch to run the batch script then close again.
Supported Platforms: windows
auto_generated_guid: 9e8894c0-50bd-4525-a96c-d4ac78ece388
Inputs:
| Name | Description | Type | Default Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| command_to_execute | Command to execute within script. | string | dir |
| script_path | Script path. | path | PathToAtomicsFolder..\ExternalPayloads\T1059.003_script.bat |
Attack Commands: Run with powershell!
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Start-Process "#{script_path}"
Cleanup Commands:
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Remove-Item "#{script_path}" -Force -ErrorAction Ignore
Dependencies: Run with powershell!
Description: Batch file must exist on disk at specified location (#{script_path})
Check Prereq Commands:
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if (Test-Path "#{script_path}") {exit 0} else {exit 1}
Get Prereq Commands:
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New-Item "#{script_path}" -Force | Out-Null
Set-Content -Path "#{script_path}" -Value "#{command_to_execute}"
Atomic Test #2 - Writes text to a file and displays it.
Writes text to a file and display the results. This test is intended to emulate the dropping of a malicious file to disk.
Supported Platforms: windows
auto_generated_guid: 127b4afe-2346-4192-815c-69042bec570e
Inputs:
| Name | Description | Type | Default Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| file_contents_path | Path to the file that the command prompt will drop. | path | %TEMP%\test.bin |
| message | Message that will be written to disk and then displayed. | string | Hello from the Windows Command Prompt! |
Attack Commands: Run with command_prompt!
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echo "#{message}" > "#{file_contents_path}" & type "#{file_contents_path}"
Cleanup Commands:
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del "#{file_contents_path}" >nul 2>&1
Atomic Test #3 - Suspicious Execution via Windows Command Shell
Command line executed via suspicious invocation. Example is from the 2021 Threat Detection Report by Red Canary.
Supported Platforms: windows
auto_generated_guid: d0eb3597-a1b3-4d65-b33b-2cda8d397f20
Inputs:
| Name | Description | Type | Default Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| output_file | File to output to | string | hello.txt |
| input_message | Message to write to file | string | Hello, from CMD! |
Attack Commands: Run with command_prompt!
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%LOCALAPPDATA:~-3,1%md /c echo #{input_message} > #{output_file} & type #{output_file}
Atomic Test #4 - Simulate BlackByte Ransomware Print Bombing
This test attempts to open a file a specified number of times in Wordpad, then prints the contents. It is designed to mimic BlackByte ransomware's print bombing technique, where tree.dll, which contains the ransom note, is opened in Wordpad 75 times and then printed. See https://redcanary.com/blog/blackbyte-ransomware/.
Supported Platforms: windows
auto_generated_guid: 6b2903ac-8f36-450d-9ad5-b220e8a2dcb9
Inputs:
| Name | Description | Type | Default Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| file_to_print | File to be opened/printed by Wordpad. | string | PathToAtomicsFolder..\ExternalPayloads\T1059_003note.txt |
| max_to_print | The maximum number of Wordpad windows the test will open/print. | integer | 75 |
Attack Commands: Run with powershell!
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cmd /c "for /l %x in (1,1,#{max_to_print}) do start wordpad.exe /p #{file_to_print}" | out-null
Cleanup Commands:
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stop-process -name wordpad -force -erroraction silentlycontinue
Dependencies: Run with powershell!
Description: File to print must exist on disk at specified location (#{file_to_print})
Check Prereq Commands:
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if (test-path "#{file_to_print}"){exit 0} else {exit 1}
Get Prereq Commands:
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new-item "#{file_to_print}" -value "This file has been created by T1059.003 Test 4" -Force | Out-Null
Atomic Test #5 - Command Prompt read contents from CMD file and execute
Simulate Raspberry Robin using the "standard-in" command prompt feature cmd 1
/R <
Supported Platforms: windows
auto_generated_guid: df81db1b-066c-4802-9bc8-b6d030c3ba8e
Inputs:
| Name | Description | Type | Default Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| input_file | CMD file that is read by Command Prompt and execute, which launches calc.exe | path | PathToAtomicsFolder\T1059.003\src\t1059.003_cmd.cmd |
Attack Commands: Run with command_prompt!
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cmd /r cmd<"#{input_file}"
Dependencies: Run with powershell!
Description: CMD file must exist on disk at specified location (#{input_file})
Check Prereq Commands:
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if (Test-Path "#{input_file}") {exit 0} else {exit 1}
Get Prereq Commands:
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New-Item -Type Directory (split-path "#{input_file}") -ErrorAction ignore | Out-Null
Invoke-WebRequest "https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/raw/master/atomics/T1059.003/src/t1059.003_cmd.cmd" -OutFile "#{input_file}"
Atomic Test #6 - Command prompt writing script to file then executes it
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Simulate DarkGate malware's second stage by writing a VBscript to disk directly from the command prompt then executing it.
The script will execute 'whoami' then exit.
Supported Platforms: windows
auto_generated_guid: 00682c9f-7df4-4df8-950b-6dcaaa3ad9af
Inputs:
| Name | Description | Type | Default Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| script_path | Path in which the script will be written. | path | %TEMP%\ |
| script_name | Script name (without the extension) | string | AtomicTest |
Attack Commands: Run with command_prompt! Elevation Required (e.g. root or admin)
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c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe /c cd /d #{script_path} & echo Set objShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell"):Set objExec = objShell.Exec("whoami"):Set objExec = Nothing:Set objShell = Nothing > #{script_name}.vbs & #{script_name}.vbs
Cleanup Commands:
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del "#{script_name}.vbs" >nul 2>&1