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

Checks installed software on the system

Looks up Uninstall key entries in the registry to enumerate software on the system.

Checks whether UAC is enabled

Drops desktop.ini file(s)

Enumerates connected drives

Attempts to read the root path of hard drives other than the default C: drive.

Network Share Discovery

Attempt to gather information on host network.

Process spawned suspicious child process

This child process is typically not spawned unless (for example) the parent process crashes. This typically indicates the parent process was unsuccessfully compromised.

Checks system information in the registry

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