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Exploitation for Client Execution

Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in client applications to execute code. Vulnerabilities can exist in software due to unsecure coding practices that can lead to unanticipated behavior. Adversaries can take advantage of certain vulnerabilities through targeted exploitation for the purpose of arbitrary code execution. Oftentimes the most valuable exploits to an offensive toolkit are those that can be used to obtain code execution on a remote system because they can be used to gain access to that system. Users will expect to see files related to the applications they commonly used to do work, so they are a useful target for exploit research and development because of their high utility.

Several types exist:

Browser-based Exploitation

Web browsers are a common target through Drive-by Compromise and Spearphishing Link. Endpoint systems may be compromised through normal web browsing or from certain users being targeted by links in spearphishing emails to adversary controlled sites used to exploit the web browser. These often do not require an action by the user for the exploit to be executed.

Office Applications

Common office and productivity applications such as Microsoft Office are also targeted through Phishing. Malicious files will be transmitted directly as attachments or through links to download them. These require the user to open the document or file for the exploit to run.

Common Third-party Applications

Other applications that are commonly seen or are part of the software deployed in a target network may also be used for exploitation. Applications such as Adobe Reader and Flash, which are common in enterprise environments, have been routinely targeted by adversaries attempting to gain access to systems. Depending on the software and nature of the vulnerability, some may be exploited in the browser or require the user to open a file. For instance, some Flash exploits have been delivered as objects within Microsoft Office documents.

ID: T1203
Sub-techniques:  No sub-techniques
ⓘ
Tactic: Execution
ⓘ
Platforms: Linux, Windows, macOS
ⓘ
System Requirements: Remote exploitation for execution requires a remotely accessible service reachable over the network or other vector of access such as spearphishing or drive-by compromise.
Version: 1.4
Created: 18 April 2018
Last Modified: 15 October 2024
Version Permalink

Procedure Examples

ID Name Description
G0018 admin@338

admin@338 has exploited client software vulnerabilities for execution, such as Microsoft Word CVE-2012-0158.[1]
S0331 Agent Tesla

Agent Tesla has exploited Office vulnerabilities such as CVE-2017-11882 and CVE-2017-8570 for execution during delivery.[2]

G0138 Andariel

Andariel has exploited numerous ActiveX vulnerabilities, including zero-days.[3][4][5]
G1007 Aoqin Dragon

Aoqin Dragon has exploited CVE-2012-0158 and CVE-2010-3333 for execution against targeted systems.[6]
G0005 APT12

APT12 has exploited multiple vulnerabilities for execution, including Microsoft Office vulnerabilities (CVE-2009-3129, CVE-2012-0158) and vulnerabilities in Adobe Reader and Flash (CVE-2009-4324, CVE-2009-0927, CVE-2011-0609, CVE-2011-0611).[7][8]
G0007 APT28

APT28 has exploited Microsoft Office vulnerability CVE-2017-0262 for execution.[9]
G0016 APT29

APT29 has used multiple software exploits for common client software, like Microsoft Word, Exchange, and Adobe Reader, to gain code execution.[10][11][12]
G0022 APT3

APT3 has exploited the Adobe Flash Player vulnerability CVE-2015-3113 and Internet Explorer vulnerability CVE-2014-1776.[13][14]
G0050 APT32

APT32 has used RTF document that includes an exploit to execute malicious code. (CVE-2017-11882)[15]
G0064 APT33

APT33 has attempted to exploit a known vulnerability in WinRAR (CVE-2018-20250), and attempted to gain remote code execution via a security bypass vulnerability (CVE-2017-11774).[16][17]
G0067 APT37

APT37 has used exploits for Flash Player (CVE-2016-4117, CVE-2018-4878), Word (CVE-2017-0199), Internet Explorer (CVE-2020-1380 and CVE-2020-26411), and Microsoft Edge (CVE-2021-26411) for execution.[18][19][20][21]
G0096 APT41

APT41 leveraged the follow exploits in their operations: CVE-2012-0158, CVE-2015-1641, CVE-2017-0199, CVE-2017-11882, and CVE-2019-3396.[22]

G0001 Axiom

Axiom has used exploits for multiple vulnerabilities including CVE-2014-0322, CVE-2012-4792, CVE-2012-1889, and CVE-2013-3893.[23]
S0239 Bankshot

Bankshot leverages a known zero-day vulnerability in Adobe Flash to execute the implant into the victims’ machines.[24]
G1002 BITTER

BITTER has exploited Microsoft Office vulnerabilities CVE-2012-0158, CVE-2017-11882, CVE-2018-0798, and CVE-2018-0802.[25][26]
G0098 BlackTech

BlackTech has exploited multiple vulnerabilities for execution, including Microsoft Office vulnerabilities CVE-2012-0158, CVE-2014-6352, CVE-2017-0199, and Adobe Flash CVE-2015-5119.[27]
G0060 BRONZE BUTLER

BRONZE BUTLER has exploited Microsoft Office vulnerabilities CVE-2014-4114, CVE-2018-0802, and CVE-2018-0798 for execution.[28][29]
G0080 Cobalt Group

Cobalt Group had exploited multiple vulnerabilities for execution, including Microsoft’s Equation Editor (CVE-2017-11882), an Internet Explorer vulnerability (CVE-2018-8174), CVE-2017-8570, CVE-2017-0199, and CVE-2017-8759.[30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37]
S0154 Cobalt Strike

Cobalt Strike can exploit Oracle Java vulnerabilities for execution, including CVE-2011-3544, CVE-2013-2465, CVE-2012-4681, and CVE-2013-2460.[38][39]
G0142 Confucius

Confucius has exploited Microsoft Office vulnerabilities, including CVE-2015-1641, CVE-2017-11882, and CVE-2018-0802.[40][41]
G0012 Darkhotel

Darkhotel has exploited Adobe Flash vulnerability CVE-2015-8651 for execution.[42]
S0243 DealersChoice

DealersChoice leverages vulnerable versions of Flash to perform execution.[43]
G0035 Dragonfly

Dragonfly has exploited CVE-2011-0611 in Adobe Flash Player to gain execution on a targeted system.[44]
G0066 Elderwood

Elderwood has used exploitation of endpoint software, including Microsoft Internet Explorer Adobe Flash vulnerabilities, to gain execution. They have also used zero-day exploits.[45]
G1003 Ember Bear

Ember Bear has used exploits to enable follow-on execution of frameworks such as Meterpreter.[46]
S0396 EvilBunny

EvilBunny has exploited CVE-2011-4369, a vulnerability in the PRC component in Adobe Reader.[47]
G1011 EXOTIC LILY

EXOTIC LILY has used malicious documents containing exploits for CVE-2021-40444 affecting Microsoft MSHTML.[48]
C0001 Frankenstein

During Frankenstein, the threat actors exploited CVE-2017-11882 to execute code on the victim's machine.[49]
S0391 HAWKBALL

HAWKBALL has exploited Microsoft Office vulnerabilities CVE-2017-11882 and CVE-2018-0802 to deliver the payload.[50]

G0126 Higaisa

Higaisa has exploited CVE-2018-0798 for execution.[51]
G0100 Inception

Inception has exploited CVE-2012-0158, CVE-2014-1761, CVE-2017-11882 and CVE-2018-0802 for execution.[52][53][54][55]
S0260 InvisiMole

InvisiMole has installed legitimate but vulnerable Total Video Player software and wdigest.dll library drivers on compromised hosts to exploit stack overflow and input validation vulnerabilities for code execution.[56]
G0032 Lazarus Group

Lazarus Group has exploited Adobe Flash vulnerability CVE-2018-4878 for execution.[24]
G0065 Leviathan

Leviathan has exploited multiple Microsoft Office and .NET vulnerabilities for execution, including CVE-2017-0199, CVE-2017-8759, and CVE-2017-11882.[57][58][59][60]
G0069 MuddyWater

MuddyWater has exploited the Office vulnerability CVE-2017-0199 for execution.[61]
G0129 Mustang Panda

Mustang Panda has exploited CVE-2017-0199 in Microsoft Word to execute code.[62]
C0016 Operation Dust Storm

During Operation Dust Storm, the threat actors exploited Adobe Flash vulnerability CVE-2011-0611, Microsoft Windows Help vulnerability CVE-2010-1885, and several Internet Explorer vulnerabilities, including CVE-2011-1255, CVE-2012-1889, and CVE-2014-0322.[63]
G0040 Patchwork

Patchwork uses malicious documents to deliver remote execution exploits as part of. The group has previously exploited CVE-2017-8570, CVE-2012-1856, CVE-2014-4114, CVE-2017-0199, CVE-2017-11882, and CVE-2015-1641.[64][65][66][67][68][69][70]
S0458 Ramsay

Ramsay has been embedded in documents exploiting CVE-2017-0199, CVE-2017-11882, and CVE-2017-8570.[71][72]
G1031 Saint Bear

Saint Bear has leveraged vulnerabilities in client applications such as CVE-2017-11882 in Microsoft Office to enable code execution in victim environments.[73]
G0034 Sandworm Team

Sandworm Team has exploited vulnerabilities in Microsoft PowerPoint via OLE objects (CVE-2014-4114) and Microsoft Word via crafted TIFF images (CVE-2013-3906).[74][75][76]
G0121 Sidewinder

Sidewinder has exploited vulnerabilities to gain execution including CVE-2017-11882 and CVE-2020-0674.[77][78]
S0374 SpeakUp

SpeakUp attempts to exploit the following vulnerabilities in order to execute its malicious script: CVE-2012-0874, CVE-2010-1871, CVE-2017-10271, CVE-2018-2894, CVE-2016-3088, JBoss AS 3/4/5/6, and the Hadoop YARN ResourceManager. [79]
S0578 SUPERNOVA

SUPERNOVA was installed via exploitation of a SolarWinds Orion API authentication bypass vulnerability (CVE-2020-10148).[80][81]
G0062 TA459

TA459 has exploited Microsoft Word vulnerability CVE-2017-0199 for execution.[82]
G0089 The White Company

The White Company has taken advantage of a known vulnerability in Microsoft Word (CVE 2012-0158) to execute code.[83]
G0027 Threat Group-3390

Threat Group-3390 has exploited CVE-2018-0798 in Equation Editor.[84]
G0131 Tonto Team

Tonto Team has exploited Microsoft vulnerabilities, including CVE-2018-0798, CVE-2018-8174, CVE-2018-0802, CVE-2017-11882, CVE-2019-9489 CVE-2020-8468, and CVE-2018-0798 to enable execution of their delivered malicious payloads.[85][86][87][88]

G0134 Transparent Tribe

Transparent Tribe has crafted malicious files to exploit CVE-2012-0158 and CVE-2010-3333 for execution.[89]
G0081 Tropic Trooper

Tropic Trooper has executed commands through Microsoft security vulnerabilities, including CVE-2017-11882, CVE-2018-0802, and CVE-2012-0158.[90][91]
S1154 VersaMem

VersaMem was installed through exploitation of CVE-2024-39717 in Versa Director servers.[92]
S1065 Woody RAT

Woody RAT has relied on CVE-2022-30190 (Follina) for execution during delivery.[93]
S0341 Xbash

Xbash can attempt to exploit known vulnerabilities in Hadoop, Redis, or ActiveMQ when it finds those services running in order to conduct further execution.[94][95]

Mitigations

ID Mitigation Description
M1048 Application Isolation and Sandboxing

Browser sandboxes can be used to mitigate some of the impact of exploitation, but sandbox escapes may still exist. [96] [97]

Other types of virtualization and application microsegmentation may also mitigate the impact of client-side exploitation. Risks of additional exploits and weaknesses in those systems may still exist. [97]
M1050 Exploit Protection

Security applications that look for behavior used during exploitation such as Windows Defender Exploit Guard (WDEG) and the Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit (EMET) can be used to mitigate some exploitation behavior. [98] Control flow integrity checking is another way to potentially identify and stop a software exploit from occurring. [99] Many of these protections depend on the architecture and target application binary for compatibility.
M1051 Update Software

Perform regular software updates to mitigate exploitation risk. Keeping software up-to-date with the latest security patches helps prevent adversaries from exploiting known vulnerabilities in client software, reducing the risk of successful attacks.

Detection

ID Data Source Data Component Detects
DS0015 Application Log Application Log Content

Monitor log entries from browsers, Office applications, and third-party applications for suspicious behavior, such as crashes, abnormal terminations, or instability that could indicate an attempted exploit.

Analytic 1 - logs related to application crashes or unexpected behavior, which could signal an attempt to exploit vulnerabilities.

sourcetype=WinEventLog:Application EventCode=1000| search application IN ("chrome.exe", "firefox.exe", "winword.exe", "excel.exe", "acrord32.exe", "flashplayer.exe")| stats count by application event_description| where event_description IN ("crash", "instability", "unexpected termination")

DS0022 File File Modification

Monitor file system changes associated with exploitation, such as suspicious files dropped by browsers, Office apps, or third-party programs, which can be used for further stages of attack.

Analytic 1 - identifies file creations or modifications associated with commonly exploited software

sourcetype=linux_auditd| search file_path IN ("/Users//Library/", "C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\", "/home/*/.config/", "/var/tmp/")| stats count by file_path process_name user| where process_name IN ("chrome.exe", "firefox.exe", "winword.exe", "excel.exe", "acrord32.exe", "flashplayer.exe")

DS0029 Network Traffic Network Traffic Flow

Look for unusual outbound connections following abnormal process execution, as this could indicate an adversary has established a foothold and is initiating communication with C2 infrastructure.

Analytic 1 - monitors for network traffic generated by exploited processes

sourcetype=network_flow OR (sourcetype=Sysmon AND EventCode=3)| search process_name IN ("chrome.exe", "firefox.exe", "winword.exe", "excel.exe", "acrord32.exe", "flashplayer.exe")| stats count by src_ip dest_ip dest_port process_name| where dest_ip NOT IN ("")
DS0009 Process Process Creation

Identify abnormal child processes spawned by applications commonly targeted by exploits, such as browsers or Office programs, particularly those launched with suspicious arguments or into unknown directories.

Example, it is not expected behavior for print spool service to be executing discovery type processes. However, this is one example and could be any number of native or third party processes that are executing either unusual or unknown (potentially adversary brought) processes.

Note:- Analytic 1, look for instances where Office Applications (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint) are launched with suspicious parameters or from unusual locations- Analytic 2, look for abnormal child process creation by Office Applications especially when accompanied by suspicious command-line parameters

Analytic 1 - Office Application Process Execution

(source="WinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational" EventCode="1") OR (source="WinEventLog:Security" EventCode="4688") AND (Image= "\winword.exe" OR Image= "\excel.exe" OR Image= "\powerpnt.exe") AND (CommandLine= "macro" OR CommandLine= "automation" OR CommandLine= "shellcode") AND ParentCommandLine= "open*"

Analytic 2 - Unusual Child Process Creation

(source="WinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational" EventCode="1") OR (source="WinEventLog:Security" EventCode="4688") AND (ParentImage= "\winword.exe" OR ParentImage= "\excel.exe" OR ParentImage= "\powerpnt.exe") AND (Image != "\system32\" OR Image != "*\program files")

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