System Binary Proxy Execution: Утилита msiexec
Other sub-techniques of System Binary Proxy Execution (14)
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)
Примеры процедур |
|
| Название | Описание |
|---|---|
| Chaes |
Chaes has used .MSI files as an initial way to start the infection chain.(Citation: Cybereason Chaes Nov 2020) |
| Molerats |
Molerats has used msiexec.exe to execute an MSI payload.(Citation: Unit42 Molerat Mar 2020) |
| Duqu |
Duqu has used |
| Metamorfo |
Metamorfo has used MsiExec.exe to automatically execute files.(Citation: Fortinet Metamorfo Feb 2020)(Citation: ESET Casbaneiro Oct 2019) |
| Latrodectus |
Latrodectus has called `msiexec` to install remotely-hosted MSI files.(Citation: Latrodectus APR 2024)(Citation: Bleeping Computer Latrodectus April 2024) |
| DEADEYE |
DEADEYE can use `msiexec.exe` for execution of malicious DLL.(Citation: Mandiant APT41) |
| IcedID |
IcedID can inject itself into a suspended msiexec.exe process to send beacons to C2 while appearing as a normal msi application. (Citation: Juniper IcedID June 2020) IcedID has also used msiexec.exe to deploy the IcedID loader.(Citation: Trendmicro_IcedID) |
| Mispadu |
Mispadu has been installed via MSI installer.(Citation: SCILabs Malteiro 2021)(Citation: ESET Security Mispadu Facebook Ads 2019) |
| RCSession |
RCSession has the ability to execute inside the msiexec.exe process.(Citation: Profero APT27 December 2020) |
| TA505 |
TA505 has used |
| Melcoz |
Melcoz can use MSI files with embedded VBScript for execution.(Citation: Securelist Brazilian Banking Malware July 2020) |
| QakBot |
QakBot can use MSIExec to spawn multiple cmd.exe processes.(Citation: Crowdstrike Qakbot October 2020) |
| Grandoreiro |
Grandoreiro can use MSI files to execute DLLs.(Citation: Securelist Brazilian Banking Malware July 2020) |
| AppleJeus |
AppleJeus has been installed via MSI installer.(Citation: CISA AppleJeus Feb 2021) |
| Javali |
Javali has used the MSI installer to download and execute malicious payloads.(Citation: Securelist Brazilian Banking Malware July 2020) |
| Ragnar Locker |
Ragnar Locker has been delivered as an unsigned MSI package that was executed with |
|
Mustang Panda initial payloads downloaded a Windows Installer MSI file that in turn dropped follow-on files leading to installation of PlugX during RedDelta Modified PlugX Infection Chain Operations.(Citation: Recorded Future RedDelta 2025) |
|
| Rancor |
Rancor has used |
| ZIRCONIUM |
ZIRCONIUM has used the msiexec.exe command-line utility to download and execute malicious MSI files.(Citation: Zscaler APT31 Covid-19 October 2020) |
| Machete |
Machete has used msiexec to install the Machete malware.(Citation: 360 Machete Sep 2020) |
| Raspberry Robin |
Raspberry Robin uses msiexec.exe for post-installation communication to command and control infrastructure.(Citation: RedCanary RaspberryRobin 2022) Msiexec.exe is executed referencing a remote resource for second-stage payload retrieval and execution.(Citation: TrendMicro RaspberryRobin 2022) |
| APT38 |
APT38 has used `msiexec.exe` to execute malicious files.(Citation: 1 - appv) |
| LoudMiner |
LoudMiner used an MSI installer to install the virtualization software.(Citation: ESET LoudMiner June 2019) |
| Maze |
Maze has delivered components for its ransomware attacks using MSI files, some of which have been executed from the command-line using |
| RemoteUtilities |
RemoteUtilities can use Msiexec to install a service.(Citation: Trend Micro Muddy Water March 2021) |
| FlawedAmmyy |
FlawedAmmyy has been installed via `msiexec.exe`.(Citation: Korean FSI TA505 2020) |
| Clop |
Clop can use msiexec.exe to disable security tools on the system.(Citation: Cybereason Clop Dec 2020) |
Контрмеры |
|
| Контрмера | Описание |
|---|---|
| Disable or Remove Feature or Program |
Disable or remove unnecessary and potentially vulnerable software, features, or services to reduce the attack surface and prevent abuse by adversaries. This involves identifying software or features that are no longer needed or that could be exploited and ensuring they are either removed or properly disabled. This mitigation can be implemented through the following measures: Remove Legacy Software: - Use Case: Disable or remove older versions of software that no longer receive updates or security patches (e.g., legacy Java, Adobe Flash). - Implementation: A company removes Flash Player from all employee systems after it has reached its end-of-life date. Disable Unused Features: - Use Case: Turn off unnecessary operating system features like SMBv1, Telnet, or RDP if they are not required. - Implementation: Disable SMBv1 in a Windows environment to mitigate vulnerabilities like EternalBlue. Control Applications Installed by Users: - Use Case: Prevent users from installing unauthorized software via group policies or other management tools. - Implementation: Block user installations of unauthorized file-sharing applications (e.g., BitTorrent clients) in an enterprise environment. Remove Unnecessary Services: - Use Case: Identify and disable unnecessary default services running on endpoints, servers, or network devices. - Implementation: Disable unused administrative shares (e.g., C$, ADMIN$) on workstations. Restrict Add-ons and Plugins: - Use Case: Remove or disable browser plugins and add-ons that are not needed for business purposes. - Implementation: Disable Java and ActiveX plugins in web browsers to prevent drive-by attacks. |
| Privileged Account Management |
Privileged Account Management focuses on implementing policies, controls, and tools to securely manage privileged accounts (e.g., SYSTEM, root, or administrative accounts). This includes restricting access, limiting the scope of permissions, monitoring privileged account usage, and ensuring accountability through logging and auditing.This mitigation can be implemented through the following measures: Account Permissions and Roles: - Implement RBAC and least privilege principles to allocate permissions securely. - Use tools like Active Directory Group Policies to enforce access restrictions. Credential Security: - Deploy password vaulting tools like CyberArk, HashiCorp Vault, or KeePass for secure storage and rotation of credentials. - Enforce password policies for complexity, uniqueness, and expiration using tools like Microsoft Group Policy Objects (GPO). Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): - Enforce MFA for all privileged accounts using Duo Security, Okta, or Microsoft Azure AD MFA. Privileged Access Management (PAM): - Use PAM solutions like CyberArk, BeyondTrust, or Thycotic to manage, monitor, and audit privileged access. Auditing and Monitoring: - Integrate activity monitoring into your SIEM (e.g., Splunk or QRadar) to detect and alert on anomalous privileged account usage. Just-In-Time Access: - Deploy JIT solutions like Azure Privileged Identity Management (PIM) or configure ephemeral roles in AWS and GCP to grant time-limited elevated permissions. *Tools for Implementation* Privileged Access Management (PAM): - CyberArk, BeyondTrust, Thycotic, HashiCorp Vault. Credential Management: - Microsoft LAPS (Local Admin Password Solution), Password Safe, HashiCorp Vault, KeePass. Multi-Factor Authentication: - Duo Security, Okta, Microsoft Azure MFA, Google Authenticator. Linux Privilege Management: - sudo configuration, SELinux, AppArmor. Just-In-Time Access: - Azure Privileged Identity Management (PIM), AWS IAM Roles with session constraints, GCP Identity-Aware Proxy. |
Обнаружение
Use process monitoring to monitor the execution and arguments of msiexec.exe. Compare recent invocations of msiexec.exe with prior history of known good arguments and executed MSI files or DLLs to determine anomalous and potentially adversarial activity. Command arguments used before and after the invocation of msiexec.exe may also be useful in determining the origin and purpose of the MSI files or DLLs being executed.
Ссылки
- Microsoft. (2018, May 31). AlwaysInstallElevated. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
- Microsoft. (2017, October 15). msiexec. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
- LOLBAS. (n.d.). Msiexec.exe. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
- Co, M. and Sison, G. (2018, February 8). Attack Using Windows Installer msiexec.exe leads to LokiBot. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
- Salem, E. (2020, November 17). CHAES: Novel Malware Targeting Latin American E-Commerce. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
- Falcone, R., et al. (2020, March 3). Molerats Delivers Spark Backdoor to Government and Telecommunications Organizations. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
- Kaspersky Lab. (2015, June 11). The Duqu 2.0. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
- ESET Research. (2019, October 3). Casbaneiro: peculiarities of this banking Trojan that affects Brazil and Mexico. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
- Zhang, X. (2020, February 4). Another Metamorfo Variant Targeting Customers of Financial Institutions in More Countries. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
- Proofpoint Threat Research and Team Cymru S2 Threat Research. (2024, April 4). Latrodectus: This Spider Bytes Like Ice . Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- Abrams, L. (2024, April 30). New Latrodectus malware attacks use Microsoft, Cloudflare themes. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
- Rufus Brown, Van Ta, Douglas Bienstock, Geoff Ackerman, John Wolfram. (2022, March 8). Does This Look Infected? A Summary of APT41 Targeting U.S. State Governments. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
- Kimayong, P. (2020, June 18). COVID-19 and FMLA Campaigns used to install new IcedID banking malware. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- Kenefick , I. (2022, December 23). IcedID Botnet Distributors Abuse Google PPC to Distribute Malware. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
- SCILabs. (2021, December 23). Cyber Threat Profile Malteiro. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
- ESET Security. (2019, November 19). Mispadu: Advertisement for a discounted Unhappy Meal. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
- Global Threat Center, Intelligence Team. (2020, December). APT27 Turns to Ransomware. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
- Vilkomir-Preisman, S. (2019, April 2). New ServHelper Variant Employs Excel 4.0 Macro to Drop Signed Payload. Retrieved September 16, 2024..
- Salem, E. (2019, April 25). Threat Actor TA505 Targets Financial Enterprises Using LOLBins and a New Backdoor Malware. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
- Hiroaki, H. and Lu, L. (2019, June 12). Shifting Tactics: Breaking Down TA505 Group’s Use of HTML, RATs and Other Techniques in Latest Campaigns. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
- GReAT. (2020, July 14). The Tetrade: Brazilian banking malware goes global. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
- CS. (2020, October 7). Duck Hunting with Falcon Complete: A Fowl Banking Trojan Evolves, Part 2. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
- Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. (2021, February 21). AppleJeus: Analysis of North Korea’s Cryptocurrency Malware. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
- SophosLabs. (2020, May 21). Ragnar Locker ransomware deploys virtual machine to dodge security. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
- Insikt Group. (2025, January 9). Chinese State-Sponsored RedDelta Targeted Taiwan, Mongolia, and Southeast Asia with Adapted PlugX Infection Chain. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
- Ash, B., et al. (2018, June 26). RANCOR: Targeted Attacks in South East Asia Using PLAINTEE and DDKONG Malware Families. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
- Singh, S. and Antil, S. (2020, October 27). APT-31 Leverages COVID-19 Vaccine Theme and Abuses Legitimate Online Services. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
- kate. (2020, September 25). APT-C-43 steals Venezuelan military secrets to provide intelligence support for the reactionaries — HpReact campaign. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- Lauren Podber and Stef Rand. (2022, May 5). Raspberry Robin gets the worm early. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
- Christopher So. (2022, December 20). Raspberry Robin Malware Targets Telecom, Governments. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
- SEONGSU PARK. (2022, December 27). BlueNoroff introduces new methods bypassing MoTW. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
- Malik, M. (2019, June 20). LoudMiner: Cross-platform mining in cracked VST software. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
- Brandt, A., Mackenzie, P.. (2020, September 17). Maze Attackers Adopt Ragnar Locker Virtual Machine Technique. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
- Peretz, A. and Theck, E. (2021, March 5). Earth Vetala – MuddyWater Continues to Target Organizations in the Middle East. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- Financial Security Institute. (2020, February 28). Profiling of TA505 Threat Group That Continues to Attack the Financial Sector. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
- Cybereason Nocturnus. (2020, December 23). Cybereason vs. Clop Ransomware. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
Связанные риски
Каталоги
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