Malicious COM Object Hijack Pointing to IconCache DLL

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 a COM object InProcServer32 registration whose default value references an iconcache prefixed DLL in the Explorer directory. Operation ForumTroll established persistence via a COM hijack under HKCR CLSID InProcServer32 pointing at its payload DLL as documented by Kaspersky. This combination of a COM handler mapped to a masquerading DLL path indicates stealthy persistence and defense evasion.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1546.015 — drag to rearrange

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Windows COM CLSID Hijacking via Registry Default InprocServer32/LocalServer32 Modification

Windows Registry COM InProcServer32 Hijack via PSFactory CLSID Default Value

Malicious COM Object Hijack Pointing to IconCache DLL

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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