T1218.007SubTechniquedefense-evasionagent-callable

T1218.007Msiexec

Sub-technique of T1218

Platforms: Windows

ATT&CK version: 14.1

What it is

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 <code>AlwaysInstallElevated</code> policy is enabled.(Citation: Microsoft AlwaysInstallElevated 2018)

ATT&CK tactics· 1

Defense Evasion

References

  1. https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218/007
  2. https://blog.trendmicro.com/trendlabs-security-intelligence/attack-using-windows-installer-msiexec-exe-leads-lokibot/
  3. https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Msiexec/
  4. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/msiexec
  5. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/msi/alwaysinstallelevated
Sourced from MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v14.1. Curated and contextualized for EU compliance use cases by Adam Lundqvist, Founder at SQUR.