T1218.003 CMSTP
sub-techniqueEnterpriseAdversaries may abuse CMSTP to proxy execution of malicious code. The Microsoft Connection Manager Profile Installer (CMSTP.exe) is a command-line program used to install Connection Manager service profiles. CMSTP.exe accepts an installation information file (INF) as a parameter and installs a service profile leveraged for remote access connections. Adversaries may supply CMSTP.exe with INF files infected with malicious commands. Similar to Regsvr32 / ”Squiblydoo”, CMSTP.exe may be abused to load and execute DLLs and/or COM scriptlets (SCT) from remote servers. This execution may also bypass AppLocker and other application control defenses since CMSTP.exe is a legitimate binary that may be signed by Microsoft. CMSTP.exe can also be abused to Bypass User Account Control and execute arbitrary commands from a malicious INF through an auto-elevated COM interface.
platforms
Platforms this applies to.
tactics
ATT&CK tactics this technique serves.
sub-technique of
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mitigations
ATT&CK mitigations that reduce this.
detected by (7)
Data components that detect this.
countered by (D3FEND)
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Detect
NIST CSF 2.0 — areas of relevance (Protect / Detect)
NIST CSF 2.0 areas this most relates to (evidence-ranked).
- PR.PSPlatform Securitystrong · backed by 6 of 11 mapped controls
- PR.DSData Securitymoderate · backed by 5 of 11 mapped controls
- DE.CMContinuous Monitoringmoderate · backed by 4 of 11 mapped controls
Derived from MITRE CTID (Apache-2.0) and the NIST 800-53 ↔ CSF crosswalk (public domain). Indicative relevance along the Protect/Detect axis — not a compliance assessment or coverage claim.
mitigating controls (11)
Security controls that mitigate this.
groups (2)
Threat groups associated with this.
software (2)
Malware and tools associated with this.
Detected by (Sigma) (7)
Sigma detection rules related to this.
source
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