Component Object Model

Adversaries may use the Windows Component Object Model (COM) for local code execution. COM is an inter-process communication (IPC) component of the native Windows application programming interface (API) that enables interaction between software objects, or executable code that implements one or more interfaces.¹ Through COM, a client object can call methods of server objects, which are typically binary Dynamic Link Libraries (DLL) or executables (EXE).² Remote COM execution is facilitated by Remote Services such as Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM).³ Various COM interfaces are exposed that can be abused to invoke arbitrary execution via a variety of programming languages such as C, C++, Java, and Visual Basic.⁴ Specific COM objects also exist to directly perform functions beyond code execution, such as creating a Scheduled Task/Job, fileless download/execution, and other adversary behaviors related to privilege escalation and persistence.⁵⁶

1. Fireeye Hunting COM June 2019
2. Microsoft COM
3. Fireeye Hunting COM June 2019
4. Microsoft COM
5. Fireeye Hunting COM June 2019
6. ProjectZero File Write EoP Apr 2018

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Auto-ingested and not human-reviewed; confidence and validity read by citation.