.. /Forfiles.exe
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Alternate data streams (EXE)

Selects and executes a command on a file or set of files. This command is useful for batch processing.

Paths:

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

Resources:

Acknowledgements:

Eric (@vector_sec)
Oddvar Moe (@oddvarmoe)

Detections:

Sigma: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/6312dd1d44d309608552105c334948f793e89f48/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_lolbin_forfiles.yml

Execute

Executes specified command since there is a match for notepad.exe in the c:\windows\System32 folder.
```
forfiles /p c:\windows\system32 /m notepad.exe /c "{CMD}"
```
Use case
Use forfiles to start a new process to evade defensive counter measures

Privileges required
User

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

ATT&CK® technique
T1202
Tags
Execute: EXE

Alternate data streams

Executes the evil.exe Alternate Data Stream (AD) since there is a match for notepad.exe in the c:\windows\system32 folder.
```
forfiles /p c:\windows\system32 /m notepad.exe /c "{PATH_ABSOLUTE}:evil.exe"
```
Use case
Use forfiles to start a new process from a binary hidden in an alternate data stream

Privileges required
User

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

ATT&CK® technique
T1564.004
Tags
Execute: EXE