APT28 COM Hijacking Persistence via CLSID InprocServer32 (via registry_set)

ATT&CK techniques

Persistence → Priv Esc

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
- T1546.015Component Object Model Hijacking
Priv Esc
- T1546.015Component Object Model Hijacking
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects registration of an InprocServer32 handler under the CLSID D9144DCD-E998-4ECA-AB6A-DCD83CCBA16D, the COM hijack APT28 uses to load its SimpleLoader DLL when explorer.exe instantiates the object. Adversaries leverage COM hijacking for stealthy persistence tied to normal shell activity, making detection of this specific CLSID registration important for exposing the implant.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1546.015 — drag to rearrange

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Suspicious COM Hijack via InprocServer32 Pointing to AppData DLL via registry_set

Malicious COM TypeLib Hijack via Persistence CLSID Registration

Malicious COM Hijacking via Twinapi CLSID InprocServer32 Registration

Suspicious Child Process Spawned by Control Panel DCOM Surrogate

Suspicious MDaemon WorldClient CgiBase6 Extension Registration by Careto

Malicious APT-C-60 COM Hijack via CLSID 566296fe InProcServer32 (via registry_set)

Malicious DarkMe COM Object Execution via rundll32 CLSID

APT28 COM Hijacking Persistence via CLSID InprocServer32 (via registry_set)

Pivot detection · T1546.015 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.

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