T1546.013
Event Triggered Execution: PowerShell Profile
Description from ATT&CK
Adversaries may gain persistence and elevate privileges by executing malicious content triggered by PowerShell profiles. A PowerShell profile (profile.ps1) is a script that runs when PowerShell starts and can be used as a logon script to customize user environments.
PowerShell supports several profiles depending on the user or host program. For example, there can be different profiles for PowerShell host programs such as the PowerShell console, PowerShell ISE or Visual Studio Code. An administrator can also configure a profile that applies to all users and host programs on the local computer. (Citation: Microsoft About Profiles)
Adversaries may modify these profiles to include arbitrary commands, functions, modules, and/or PowerShell drives to gain persistence. Every time a user opens a PowerShell session the modified script will be executed unless the -NoProfile flag is used when it is launched. (Citation: ESET Turla PowerShell May 2019)
An adversary may also be able to escalate privileges if a script in a PowerShell profile is loaded and executed by an account with higher privileges, such as a domain administrator. (Citation: Wits End and Shady PowerShell Profiles)
Atomic Tests
Atomic Test #1 - Append malicious start-process cmdlet
Appends a start process cmdlet to the current user's powershell profile pofile that points to a malicious executable. Upon execution, calc.exe will be launched.
Supported Platforms: windows
auto_generated_guid: 090e5aa5-32b6-473b-a49b-21e843a56896
Inputs:
Name | Description | Type | Default Value |
---|---|---|---|
exe_path | Path the malicious executable | path | calc.exe |
ps_profile | Powershell profile to use | string | $profile |
Attack Commands: Run with powershell!
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Add-Content #{ps_profile} -Value ""
Add-Content #{ps_profile} -Value "Start-Process #{exe_path}"
powershell -Command exit
Cleanup Commands:
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$oldprofile = cat $profile | Select-Object -skiplast 1
Set-Content $profile -Value $oldprofile
Dependencies: Run with powershell!
Description: Ensure a powershell profile exists for the current user
Check Prereq Commands:
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if (Test-Path #{ps_profile}) {exit 0} else {exit 1}
Get Prereq Commands:
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New-Item -Path #{ps_profile} -Type File -Force