.. /SettingSyncHost.exe
Star

Execute (EXE, CMD)

Host Process for Setting Synchronization

Paths:

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

Resources:

https://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2020/02/02/settingsynchost-exe-as-a-lolbin/

Acknowledgements:

Adam (@hexacorn)
Elliot Killick (@elliotkillick)

Detections:

Sigma: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/c04bef2fbbe8beff6c7620d5d7ea6872dbe7acba/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_lolbin_settingsynchost.yml
IOC: SettingSyncHost.exe should not be run on a normal workstation

Execute

Execute file specified in %COMSPEC%
```
SettingSyncHost -LoadAndRunDiagScript {PATH:.exe}
```
Use case
Can be used to evade defensive countermeasures or to hide as a persistence mechanism

Privileges required
User

Operating systems
Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10

ATT&CK® technique
T1218
Tags
Execute: EXE
Execute a batch script in the background (no window ever pops up) which can be subverted to running arbitrary programs by setting the current working directory to %TMP% and creating files such as reg.bat/reg.exe in that directory thereby causing them to execute instead of the ones in C:\Windows\System32.
```
SettingSyncHost -LoadAndRunDiagScriptNoCab {PATH:.bat}
```
Use case
Can be used to evade defensive countermeasures or to hide as a persistence mechanism. Additionally, effectively act as a -WindowStyle Hidden option (as there is in PowerShell) for any arbitrary batch file.

Privileges required
User

Operating systems
Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10

ATT&CK® technique
T1218
Tags
Execute: CMD