.. /Control.exe
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Alternate data streams (DLL)

Binary used to launch controlpanel items in Windows

Paths:

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

Resources:

Acknowledgements:

Jimmy (@bohops)

Detections:

Sigma: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/62d4fd26b05f4d81973e7c8e80d7c1a0c6a29d0e/rules-emerging-threats/2021/Exploits/CVE-2021-40444/proc_creation_win_exploit_cve_2021_40444.yml
Sigma: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/62d4fd26b05f4d81973e7c8e80d7c1a0c6a29d0e/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_rundll32_susp_control_dll_load.yml
Elastic: https://github.com/elastic/detection-rules/blob/414d32027632a49fb239abb8fbbb55d3fa8dd861/rules/windows/defense_evasion_network_connection_from_windows_binary.toml
Elastic: https://github.com/elastic/detection-rules/blob/0875c1e4c4370ab9fbf453c8160bb5abc8ad95e7/rules/windows/defense_evasion_execution_control_panel_suspicious_args.toml
Elastic: https://github.com/elastic/detection-rules/blob/61afb1c1c0c3f50637b1bb194f3e6fb09f476e50/rules/windows/defense_evasion_unusual_dir_ads.toml
IOC: Control.exe executing files from alternate data streams
IOC: Control.exe executing library file without cpl extension
IOC: Suspicious network connections from control.exe

Alternate data streams

Execute evil.dll which is stored in an Alternate Data Stream (ADS).
```
control.exe {PATH_ABSOLUTE}:evil.dll
```
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
T1218.002
Tags
Execute: DLL

Execute

Execute .cpl file. A CPL is a DLL file with CPlApplet export function)
```
control.exe {PATH_ABSOLUTE:.cpl}
```
Use case
Use to execute code and bypass application whitelisting

Privileges required
User

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

ATT&CK® technique
T1218.002
Tags
Execute: DLL