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Application Window Discovery

Adversaries may attempt to get a listing of open application windows. Window listings could convey information about how the system is used.[1] For example, information about application windows could be used identify potential data to collect as well as identifying security tooling (Security Software Discovery) to evade.[2]

Adversaries typically abuse system features for this type of enumeration. For example, they may gather information through native system features such as Command and Scripting Interpreter commands and Native API functions.

ID: T1010
Sub-techniques:  No sub-techniques
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Tactic: Discovery
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Platforms: Linux, Windows, macOS
Version: 1.3
Created: 31 May 2017
Last Modified: 24 October 2025
Version Permalink

Procedure Examples

ID Name Description
S0456 Aria-body

Aria-body has the ability to identify the titles of running windows on a compromised host.[3]
S0438 Attor

Attor can obtain application window titles and then determines which windows to perform Screen Capture on.[4]
S0454 Cadelspy

Cadelspy has the ability to identify open windows on the compromised host.[5]
S0261 Catchamas

Catchamas obtains application windows titles and then determines which windows to perform Screen Capture on.[6]
S1111 DarkGate

DarkGate will search for cryptocurrency wallets by examining application window names for specific strings.[7] DarkGate extracts information collected via NirSoft tools from the hosting process's memory by first identifying the window through the FindWindow API function.[7]
S0673 DarkWatchman

DarkWatchman reports window names along with keylogger information to provide application context.[1]
S0038 Duqu

The discovery modules used with Duqu can collect information on open windows.[8]
S1159 DUSTTRAP

DUSTTRAP can enumerate running application windows.[9]
S0696 Flagpro

Flagpro can check the name of the window displayed on the system.[10]

S1044 FunnyDream

FunnyDream has the ability to discover application windows via execution of EnumWindows.[11]
S0531 Grandoreiro

Grandoreiro can identify installed security tools based on window names.[2]
G1001 HEXANE

HEXANE has used a PowerShell-based keylogging tool to capture the window title.[12]
S0431 HotCroissant

HotCroissant has the ability to list the names of all open windows on the infected host.[13]
S0260 InvisiMole

InvisiMole can enumerate windows and child windows on a compromised host.[14][15]
S0265 Kazuar

Kazuar gathers information about opened windows.[16]
G0032 Lazarus Group

Lazarus Group malware IndiaIndia obtains and sends to its C2 server the title of the window for each running process. The KilaAlfa keylogger also reports the title of the window in the foreground.[17][18][19]
S0409 Machete

Machete saves the window names.[20]

S0455 Metamorfo

Metamorfo can enumerate all windows on the victim’s machine.[21][22]
S0033 NetTraveler

NetTraveler reports window names along with keylogger information to provide application context.[23]
S0198 NETWIRE

NETWIRE can discover and close windows on controlled systems.[24]
S1090 NightClub

NightClub can use GetForegroundWindow to enumerate the active window.[25]
S0385 njRAT

njRAT gathers information about opened windows during the initial infection.[26]
S1233 PAKLOG

PAKLOG has used GetForegroundWindow to access the foreground window. [27] PAKLOG has also captured text from the foreground windows.[27]
S0435 PLEAD

PLEAD has the ability to list open windows on the compromised host.[28][28]
S0012 PoisonIvy

PoisonIvy captures window titles.[29]
S0139 PowerDuke

PowerDuke has a command to get text of the current foreground window.[30]
S0650 QakBot

QakBot has the ability to enumerate windows on a compromised host.[31]
S0375 Remexi

Remexi has a command to capture active windows on the machine and retrieve window titles.[32]
S0240 ROKRAT

ROKRAT can use the GetForegroundWindow and GetWindowText APIs to discover where the user is typing.[33]
S0692 SILENTTRINITY

SILENTTRINITY can enumerate the active Window during keylogging through execution of GetActiveWindowTitle.[34]
S0157 SOUNDBITE

SOUNDBITE is capable of enumerating application windows.[35]
S1239 TONESHELL

TONESHELL has used GetForegroundWindow to detect virtualization or sandboxes by calling the API twice and comparing each window handle.[36]
S0094 Trojan.Karagany

Trojan.Karagany can monitor the titles of open windows to identify specific keywords.[37]

G1017 Volt Typhoon

Volt Typhoon has collected window title information from compromised systems.[38]
S0219 WINERACK

WINERACK can enumerate active windows.[39]

Mitigations

This type of attack technique cannot be easily mitigated with preventive controls since it is based on the abuse of system features.

Detection Strategy

ID Name Analytic ID Analytic Description
DET0097 Detection of Application Window Enumeration via API or Scripting AN0271

Processes using Win32 API calls (e.g., EnumWindows, GetForegroundWindow) or scripting tools (e.g., PowerShell, VBScript) to enumerate open windows. These often appear with reconnaissance or data collection TTPs.
AN0272

Scripted or binary usage of X11 utilities (e.g., xdotool, wmctrl) or direct /proc/*/window mappings to discover open GUI windows and active desktops.
AN0273

Processes that utilize AppleScript, CGWindowListCopyWindowInfo, or NSRunningApplication APIs to list active application windows and foreground processes.

References

  1. Smith, S., Stafford, M. (2021, December 14). DarkWatchman: A new evolution in fileless techniques. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  2. ESET. (2020, April 28). Grandoreiro: How engorged can an EXE get?. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  3. CheckPoint. (2020, May 7). Naikon APT: Cyber Espionage Reloaded. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  4. Hromcova, Z. (2019, October). AT COMMANDS, TOR-BASED COMMUNICATIONS: MEET ATTOR, A FANTASY CREATURE AND ALSO A SPY PLATFORM. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  5. Symantec Security Response. (2015, December 7). Iran-based attackers use back door threats to spy on Middle Eastern targets. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  6. Balanza, M. (2018, April 02). Infostealer.Catchamas. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  7. Adi Zeligson & Rotem Kerner. (2018, November 13). Enter The DarkGate - New Cryptocurrency Mining and Ransomware Campaign. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  8. Symantec Security Response. (2011, November). W32.Duqu: The precursor to the next Stuxnet. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  9. Mike Stokkel et al. (2024, July 18). APT41 Has Arisen From the DUST. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  10. Hada, H. (2021, December 28). Flagpro The new malware used by BlackTech. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  11. Vrabie, V. (2020, November). Dissecting a Chinese APT Targeting South Eastern Asian Government Institutions. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  12. SecureWorks 2019, August 27 LYCEUM Takes Center Stage in Middle East Campaign Retrieved. 2019/11/19
  13. Knight, S.. (2020, April 16). VMware Carbon Black TAU Threat Analysis: The Evolution of Lazarus. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  14. Hromcová, Z. (2018, June 07). InvisiMole: Surprisingly equipped spyware, undercover since 2013. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  15. Hromcova, Z. and Cherpanov, A. (2020, June). INVISIMOLE: THE HIDDEN PART OF THE STORY. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  16. Levene, B, et al. (2017, May 03). Kazuar: Multiplatform Espionage Backdoor with API Access. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  17. Novetta Threat Research Group. (2016, February 24). Operation Blockbuster: Unraveling the Long Thread of the Sony Attack. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  18. Novetta Threat Research Group. (2016, February 24). Operation Blockbuster: Loaders, Installers and Uninstallers Report. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  19. Novetta Threat Research Group. (2016, February 24). Operation Blockbuster: Tools Report. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
  20. ESET. (2019, July). MACHETE JUST GOT SHARPER Venezuelan government institutions under attack. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
  1. Sierra, E., Iglesias, G.. (2018, April 24). Metamorfo Campaigns Targeting Brazilian Users. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  2. Zhang, X. (2020, February 4). Another Metamorfo Variant Targeting Customers of Financial Institutions in More Countries. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  3. Kaspersky Lab's Global Research and Analysis Team. (n.d.). The NetTraveler (aka ‘Travnet’). Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  4. Lambert, T. (2020, January 29). Intro to Netwire. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  5. Faou, M. (2023, August 10). MoustachedBouncer: Espionage against foreign diplomats in Belarus. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  6. Fidelis Cybersecurity. (2013, June 28). Fidelis Threat Advisory #1009: "njRAT" Uncovered. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  7. Sudeep Singh. (2025, April 16). Latest Mustang Panda Arsenal: PAKLOG, CorKLOG, and SplatCloak | P2. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  8. Bermejo, L., et al. (2017, June 22). Following the Trail of BlackTech’s Cyber Espionage Campaigns. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  9. Hayashi, K. (2005, August 18). Backdoor.Darkmoon. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  10. Adair, S.. (2016, November 9). PowerDuke: Widespread Post-Election Spear Phishing Campaigns Targeting Think Tanks and NGOs. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  11. Morrow, D. (2021, April 15). The rise of QakBot. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  12. Legezo, D. (2019, January 30). Chafer used Remexi malware to spy on Iran-based foreign diplomatic entities. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  13. Mercer, W., Rascagneres, P. (2017, April 03). Introducing ROKRAT. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
  14. Salvati, M. (2019, August 6). SILENTTRINITY Modules. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  15. Carr, N.. (2017, May 14). Cyber Espionage is Alive and Well: APT32 and the Threat to Global Corporations. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  16. Nick Dai, Vickie Su, Sunny Lu. (2022, November 18). Earth Preta Spear-Phishing Governments Worldwide. Retrieved August 4, 2025.
  17. Secureworks. (2019, July 24). Updated Karagany Malware Targets Energy Sector. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  18. CISA et al.. (2024, February 7). PRC State-Sponsored Actors Compromise and Maintain Persistent Access to U.S. Critical Infrastructure. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  19. FireEye. (2018, February 20). APT37 (Reaper): The Overlooked North Korean Actor. Retrieved November 17, 2024.