T1218.013SubTechniquedefense-evasionagent-callable
T1218.013Mavinject
Sub-technique of T1218
Platforms: Windows
ATT&CK version: 14.1
What it is
Adversaries may abuse mavinject.exe to proxy execution of malicious code. Mavinject.exe is the Microsoft Application Virtualization Injector, a Windows utility that can inject code into external processes as part of Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V).(Citation: LOLBAS Mavinject)
Adversaries may abuse mavinject.exe to inject malicious DLLs into running processes (i.e. [Dynamic-link Library Injection](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1055/001)), allowing for arbitrary code execution (ex. <code>C:\Windows\system32\mavinject.exe PID /INJECTRUNNING PATH_DLL</code>).(Citation: ATT Lazarus TTP Evolution)(Citation: Reaqta Mavinject) Since mavinject.exe may be digitally signed by Microsoft, proxying execution via this method may evade detection by security products because the execution is masked under a legitimate process.
In addition to [Dynamic-link Library Injection](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1055/001), Mavinject.exe can also be abused to perform import descriptor injection via its <code>/HMODULE</code> command-line parameter (ex. <code>mavinject.exe PID /HMODULE=BASE_ADDRESS PATH_DLL ORDINAL_NUMBER</code>). This command would inject an import table entry consisting of the specified DLL into the module at the given base address.(Citation: Mavinject Functionality Deconstructed)
ATT&CK tactics· 1
References
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218/013
- https://cybersecurity.att.com/blogs/labs-research/lazarus-campaign-ttps-and-evolution
- https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Mavinject/
- https://posts.specterops.io/mavinject-exe-functionality-deconstructed-c29ab2cf5c0e
- https://reaqta.com/2017/12/mavinject-microsoft-injector/