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

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.

Drops desktop.ini file(s)

Enumerates connected drives

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

Maps connected drives based on registry

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

Drops file in System32 directory

Suspicious use of NtSetInformationThreadHideFromDebugger