T1574.012 COR_PROFILER
sub-techniqueEnterpriseAdversaries may leverage the COR_PROFILER environment variable to hijack the execution flow of programs that load the.NET CLR. The COR_PROFILER is a.NET Framework feature which allows developers to specify an unmanaged (or external of.NET) profiling DLL to be loaded into each.NET process that loads the Common Language Runtime (CLR). These profilers are designed to monitor, troubleshoot, and debug managed code executed by the.NET CLR. The COR_PROFILER environment variable can be set at various scopes (system, user, or process) resulting in different levels of influence. System and user-wide environment variable scopes are specified in the Registry, where a Component Object Model (COM) object can be registered as a profiler DLL. A process scope COR_PROFILER can also be created in-memory without modifying the Registry. Starting with.NET Framework 4, the profiling DLL does not need to be registered as long as the location of the DLL is specified in the COR_PROFILER_PATH environment variable. Adversaries may abuse COR_PROFILER to establish persistence that executes a malicious DLL in the context of all.NET processes every time the CLR is invoked. The COR_PROFILER can also be used to elevate privileges (ex: Bypass User Account Control) if the victim.NET process executes at a higher permission level, as well as to hook and impair defenses provided by.NET processes.
platforms
Platforms this applies to.
tactics
ATT&CK tactics this technique serves.
sub-technique of
The broader entity this sits under.
mitigations
ATT&CK mitigations that reduce this.
detected by (4)
Data components that detect this.
countered by (D3FEND)
D3FEND countermeasures that counter this.
Isolate
Deceive
NIST CSF 2.0 — areas of relevance (Protect / Detect)
NIST CSF 2.0 areas this most relates to (evidence-ranked).
- PR.AAIdentity Management, Authentication, and Access Controlstrong · backed by 5 of 9 mapped controls
- PR.DSData Securitymoderate · backed by 4 of 9 mapped controls
- PR.PSPlatform Securitymoderate · backed by 3 of 9 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 (9)
Security controls that mitigate this.
groups (1)
Threat groups associated with this.
software (1)
Malware and tools associated with this.
Detected by (Sigma) (2)
Sigma detection rules related to this.
source
Where this definition is published.