Adversaries may abuse Compiled HTML files (.chm) to conceal malicious code. CHM files are commonly distributed as part of the Microsoft HTML Help system. CHM files are compressed compilations of various content such as HTML documents, images, and scripting/web related programming languages such VBA, JScript, Java, and ActiveX. (Citation: Microsoft HTML Help May 2018) CHM content is displayed using underlying components of the Internet Explorer browser (Citation: Microsoft HTML Help ActiveX) loaded by the HTML Help executable program (hh.exe). (Citation: Microsoft HTML Help Executable Program)
A custom CHM file containing embedded payloads could be delivered to a victim then triggered by User Execution. CHM execution may also bypass application application control on older and/or unpatched systems that do not account for execution of binaries through hh.exe. (Citation: MsitPros CHM Aug 2017) (Citation: Microsoft CVE-2017-8625 Aug 2017)
View in MITRE ATT&CK®| Capability ID | Capability Description | Mapping Type | ATT&CK ID | ATT&CK Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CM-11 | User-installed Software | Protects | T1218.001 | Compiled HTML File |
| CM-2 | Baseline Configuration | Protects | T1218.001 | Compiled HTML File |
| CM-6 | Configuration Settings | Protects | T1218.001 | Compiled HTML File |
| CM-7 | Least Functionality | Protects | T1218.001 | Compiled HTML File |
| SC-18 | Mobile Code | Protects | T1218.001 | Compiled HTML File |
| SI-10 | Information Input Validation | Protects | T1218.001 | Compiled HTML File |
| SI-16 | Memory Protection | Protects | T1218.001 | Compiled HTML File |
| SI-3 | Malicious Code Protection | Protects | T1218.001 | Compiled HTML File |
| SI-4 | System Monitoring | Protects | T1218.001 | Compiled HTML File |
| SI-7 | Software, Firmware, and Information Integrity | Protects | T1218.001 | Compiled HTML File |
| action.hacking.variety.Abuse of functionality | Abuse of functionality. | related-to | T1218.001 | Signed Binary Proxy Execution: Compiled HTML File |