Indirect Command Execution
Adversaries may abuse utilities that allow for command execution to bypass security restrictions that limit the use of command-line interpreters. Various Windows utilities may be used to execute commands, possibly without invoking cmd. For example, Forfiles, the Program Compatibility Assistant (pcalua.exe), components of the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), Scriptrunner.exe, as well as other utilities may invoke the execution of programs and commands from a Command and Scripting Interpreter, Run window, or via scripts.(Citation: VectorSec ForFiles Aug 2017)(Citation: Evi1cg Forfiles Nov 2017)(Citation: Secure Team - Scriptrunner.exe)(Citation: SS64)(Citation: Bleeping Computer - Scriptrunner.exe) Adversaries may abuse these features for Defense Evasion, specifically to perform arbitrary execution while subverting detections and/or mitigation controls (such as Group Policy) that limit/prevent the usage of cmd or file extensions more commonly associated with malicious payloads.
Procedure Examples |
|
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Lazarus Group |
Lazarus Group persistence mechanisms have used |
| Forfiles |
Forfiles can be used to subvert controls and possibly conceal command execution by not directly invoking cmd.(Citation: VectorSec ForFiles Aug 2017)(Citation: Evi1cg Forfiles Nov 2017) |
| Revenge RAT |
Revenge RAT uses the Forfiles utility to execute commands on the system.(Citation: Cofense RevengeRAT Feb 2019) |
| RedCurl |
RedCurl has used pcalua.exe to obfuscate binary execution and remote connections.(Citation: trendmicro_redcurl) |
Mitigations |
|
| Mitigation | Description |
|---|---|
| Indirect Command Execution Mitigation |
Identify or block potentially malicious software that may contain abusive functionality by using whitelisting (Citation: Beechey 2010) tools, like AppLocker, (Citation: Windows Commands JPCERT) (Citation: NSA MS AppLocker) or Software Restriction Policies (Citation: Corio 2008) where appropriate. (Citation: TechNet Applocker vs SRP). These mechanisms can also be used to disable and/or limit user access to Windows utilities and file types/locations used to invoke malicious execution.(Citation: SpectorOPs SettingContent-ms Jun 2018) |
Detection
Monitor and analyze logs from host-based detection mechanisms, such as Sysmon, for events such as process creations that include or are resulting from parameters associated with invoking programs/commands/files and/or spawning child processes/network connections. (Citation: RSA Forfiles Aug 2017)
References
- vector_sec. (2017, August 11). Defenders watching launches of cmd? What about forfiles?. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
- SS64. (n.d.). ScriptRunner.exe. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- Secure Team - Information Assurance. (2023, January 8). Windows Error Reporting Tool Abused to Load Malware. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- Partington, E. (2017, August 14). Are you looking out for forfiles.exe (if you are watching for cmd.exe). Retrieved January 22, 2018.
- Evi1cg. (2017, November 26). block cmd.exe ? try this :. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
- Bill Toulas. (2023, January 4). Hackers abuse Windows error reporting tool to deploy malware. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
- Pradhan, A. (2022, February 8). LolZarus: Lazarus Group Incorporating Lolbins into Campaigns. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
- Gannon, M. (2019, February 11). With Upgrades in Delivery and Support Infrastructure, Revenge RAT Malware is a Bigger Threat. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
- Tancio et al. (2024, March 6). Unveiling Earth Kapre aka RedCurl’s Cyberespionage Tactics With Trend Micro MDR, Threat Intelligence. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
Связанные риски
Каталоги
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