Adversaries may establish persistence and elevate privileges by executing malicious content triggered by a Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) event subscription. WMI can be used to install event filters, providers, consumers, and bindings that execute code when a defined event occurs. Examples of events that may be subscribed to are the wall clock time, user login, or the computer's uptime.(Citation: Mandiant M-Trends 2015)
Adversaries may use the capabilities of WMI to subscribe to an event and execute arbitrary code when that event occurs, providing persistence on a system.(Citation: FireEye WMI SANS 2015)(Citation: FireEye WMI 2015) Adversaries may also compile WMI scripts – using mofcomp.exe –into Windows Management Object (MOF) files (.mof extension) that can be used to create a malicious subscription.(Citation: Dell WMI Persistence)(Citation: Microsoft MOF May 2018)
WMI subscription execution is proxied by the WMI Provider Host process (WmiPrvSe.exe) and thus may result in elevated SYSTEM privileges.
View in MITRE ATT&CK®| Capability ID | Capability Description | Mapping Type | ATT&CK ID | ATT&CK Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PR.IR-01.06 | Production environment segregation | Mitigates | T1546.003 | Windows Management Instrumentation Event Subscription |
Comments
This diagnostic statement provides protections for production environments. Measures such as network segmentation and access control reduce the attack surface, restrict movement by adversaries, and protect critical assets and data from compromise.
References
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| PR.AA-05.02 | Privileged system access | Mitigates | T1546.003 | Windows Management Instrumentation Event Subscription |
Comments
This diagnostic statement protects against Windows Management Instrumentation Event Subscription through the use of privileged account management and the use of multi-factor authentication.
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| PR.IR-01.05 | Remote access protection | Mitigates | T1546.003 | Windows Management Instrumentation Event Subscription |
Comments
This diagnostic statement implements security controls and restrictions for remote user access to systems. Remote user access control involves managing and securing how users remotely access systems, such as through encrypted connections and account use policies, which help prevent adversary access.
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| PR.AA-01.01 | Identity and credential management | Mitigates | T1546.003 | Windows Management Instrumentation Event Subscription |
Comments
This diagnostic statement protects against Windows Management Instrumentation Event Subscription through the use of hardened access control policies, secure defaults, password complexity requirements, multifactor authentication requirements, and removal of terminated accounts.
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| Capability ID | Capability Description | Mapping Type | ATT&CK ID | ATT&CK Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| attribute.integrity.variety.Alter behavior | Influence or alter human behavior | related-to | T1546.003 | Windows Management Instrumentation Event Subscription |
| Capability ID | Capability Description | Mapping Type | ATT&CK ID | ATT&CK Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| google_secops | Google Security Operations | technique_scores | T1546.003 | Windows Management Instrumentation Event Subscription |
Comments
Google Security Ops is able to trigger an alert based on suspicious events used by adversary's to establish persistence using Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) command-line events (e.g. "C:\\Windows\\System32\\wbem\\WmiPrvSE.exe").
This technique was scored as minimal based on low or uncertain detection coverage factor.
https://github.com/chronicle/detection-rules/blob/783e0e5947774785db1c55041b70176deeca6f46/soc_prime_rules/threat_hunting/process_creation/wmi_spawning_windows_powershell.yaral
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