Automation · API / MCP 中文

Technique note · T1218.003

CMSTP

Adversaries may abuse CMSTP to proxy execution of malicious code. The Microsoft Connection Manager Profile Installer (CMSTP.exe) is a command-line program used to install Connection Manager service profiles. CMSTP.exe accepts an installation information file (INF) as a parameter and installs a service profile leveraged for remote access connections. Adversaries may supply CMSTP.exe with INF files infected with malicious commands. Similar to Regsvr32 / ”Squiblydoo”, CMSTP.exe may be abused to load and execute DLLs and/or COM scriptlets (SCT) from remote servers. This execution may also bypass AppLocker and other application control defenses since CMSTP.exe is a legitimate binary that may be signed by Microsoft. CMSTP.exe can also be abused to Bypass User Account Control and execute arbitrary commands from a malicious INF through an auto-elevated COM interface.

ATT&CK T1218.003 platforms — Status Active Version 20.1

Adversaries may abuse CMSTP to proxy execution of malicious code. The Microsoft Connection Manager Profile Installer (CMSTP.exe) is a command-line program used to install Connection Manager service profiles.1 CMSTP.exe accepts an installation information file (INF) as a parameter and installs a service profile leveraged for remote access connections. Adversaries may supply CMSTP.exe with INF files infected with malicious commands.2 Similar to Regsvr32 / ”Squiblydoo”, CMSTP.exe may be abused to load and execute DLLs3 and/or COM scriptlets (SCT) from remote servers.456 This execution may also bypass AppLocker and other application control defenses since CMSTP.exe is a legitimate binary that may be signed by Microsoft. CMSTP.exe can also be abused to Bypass User Account Control and execute arbitrary commands from a malicious INF through an auto-elevated COM interface.789

  1. Microsoft Connection Manager Oct 2009
  2. Twitter CMSTP Usage Jan 2018
  3. MSitPros CMSTP Aug 2017
  4. Twitter CMSTP Jan 2018
  5. GitHub Ultimate AppLocker Bypass List
  6. Endurant CMSTP July 2018
  7. MSitPros CMSTP Aug 2017
  8. GitHub Ultimate AppLocker Bypass List
  9. Endurant CMSTP July 2018

Groups using this technique

GroupNameCountry
grp_g0080Cobalt Group—
grp_g0069MuddyWater—

Claims

No public claim points at this technique yet.

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