Event Triggered Execution: Component Object Model Hijacking

Adversaries may establish persistence by executing malicious content triggered by hijacked references to Component Object Model (COM) objects.

Executes dropped EXE

Loads dropped DLL

Modifies system executable filetype association

Adds Run key to start application

Drops desktop.ini file(s)

Modifies Security services

Modifies the startup behavior of a security service.

An obfuscated cmd.exe command-line is typically used to evade detection.

Checks system information in the registry

System information is often read in order to detect sandboxing environments.

Drops file in System32 directory