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

Modifies system executable filetype association

Prevents Microsoft Defender from scanning certain paths by adding an exclusion.

Uses the Powershell Add-MpPreference cmdlet to exclude paths from being scanned by Microsoft Defender.

Writes to the Master Boot Record (MBR)

Bootkits write to the MBR to gain persistence at a level below the operating system.