T1047 · execution · 34 actors · 9 correlated reports

Windows Management Instrumentation

Adversaries may abuse Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) to execute malicious commands and payloads. WMI is designed for programmers and is the infrastructure for management data and operations on Windows systems. WMI is an administration feature that provides a uniform environment to access Windows system components. The WMI service enables both local and remote access, though the latter is facilitated by Remote Services such as Distributed Component Object Model and Windows Remote Management. Remote WMI over DCOM operates using port 135, whereas WMI over WinRM operates over port 5985 when using HTTP and 5986 for HTTPS. An adversary can use WMI to interact with local and remote systems and use it as a means to execute various behaviors, such as gathering information for Discovery as well as Execution of commands and payloads. For example, `wmic.exe` can be abused by an adversary to delete shadow copies with the command `wmic.exe Shadowcopy Delete` (i.e., Inhibit System Recovery). **Note:** `wmic.exe` is deprecated as of January of 2024, with the WMIC feature being “disabled by default” on Windows 11+. WMIC will be removed from subsequent Windows releases and replaced by PowerShell as the primary WMI interface. In addition to PowerShell and tools like `wbemtool.exe`, COM APIs can also be used to programmatically interact with WMI via C++, .NET, VBScript, etc.

Open detection, hunting, mitigation, and evidence workspace

Detection logic

Monitor network traffic for WMI connections; the use of WMI in environments that do not typically use WMI may be suspect. Perform process monitoring to capture command-line arguments of "wmic" and detect commands that are used to perform remote behavior.

Observed actors

Correlated CTI and IR reports

APT41 Targeting Pharmaceutical Sector: Log4Shell to Domain Compromise
1200km CTI repository · explicit report mention ATT&CK as a Working Tool: Theory and Hands-On Practical Usage
1200km CTI repository · explicit report mention Attack Playbook — Operation DragonRx
1200km CTI repository · explicit report mention Operation DragonRx — APT41 Full Attack Simulation
1200km CTI repository · explicit report mention Operation DragonRx: Simulating an APT41 Attack End-to-End — From Log4Shell to DFIR and Malware Analysis
1200km CTI repository · explicit report mention APT41 Targeting Pharmaceutical Sector Log4Shell to Domain Compromise
1200km Medium · authored report mention ATT CK as a Working Tool Theory and Hands On Practical Usage
1200km Medium · authored report mention Attack Playbook Operation DragonRx
1200km Medium · authored report mention Operation DragonRx Simulating an APT41 Attack End to End From Log4Shell to DFIR and Malware
1200km Medium · authored report mention

Continue the investigation

Interactive ThreatMapper ThreatMapper documentation CTI Analyst Field Manual Israel Threat Actors CTI Anomaly Detection Atlas ITDR Handbook 1200km Medium research