COM Object Hijacking Via Modification Of Default System CLSID Default Value

title: COM Object Hijacking Via Modification Of Default System CLSID Default Value
id: 790317c0-0a36-4a6a-a105-6e576bf99a14
related:
    - id: 3d968d17-ffa4-4bc0-bfdc-f139de76ce77
      type: obsolete
    - id: a0ff33d8-79e4-4cef-b4f3-9dc4133ccd12
      type: obsolete
status: experimental
description: Detects potential COM object hijacking via modification of default system CLSID.
references:
    - https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2022/07/27/untangling-knotweed-european-private-sector-offensive-actor-using-0-day-exploits/ (idea)
    - https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/snipbot-romcom-malware-variant/
    - https://blog.talosintelligence.com/uat-5647-romcom/
    - https://global.ptsecurity.com/analytics/pt-esc-threat-intelligence/darkhotel-a-cluster-of-groups-united-by-common-techniques
    - https://threatbook.io/blog/Analysis-of-APT-C-60-Attack-on-South-Korea
    - https://catalyst.prodaft.com/public/report/inside-the-latest-espionage-campaign-of-nebulous-mantis
    - https://github.com/rtecCyberSec/BitlockMove
    - https://cert.gov.ua/article/6284080
    - https://securelist.com/forumtroll-apt-hacking-team-dante-spyware/117851/
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2024-07-16
modified: 2025-11-10
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.t1546.015
logsource:
    category: registry_set
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_target_root:
        TargetObject|contains: '\CLSID\'
        TargetObject|endswith:
            - '\InprocServer32\(Default)'
            - '\LocalServer32\(Default)'
    selection_target_builtin_clsid:
        TargetObject|contains:
            # Note: Add other legitimate CLSID
            - '\{1f486a52-3cb1-48fd-8f50-b8dc300d9f9d}\'
            - '\{2155fee3-2419-4373-b102-6843707eb41f}\'
            - '\{4590f811-1d3a-11d0-891f-00aa004b2e24}\'
            - '\{4de225bf-cf59-4cfc-85f7-68b90f185355}\'
            - '\{ddc05a5a-351a-4e06-8eaf-54ec1bc2dcea}\'
            - '\{F56F6FDD-AA9D-4618-A949-C1B91AF43B1A}\'
            - '\{F82B4EF1-93A9-4DDE-8015-F7950A1A6E31}\'
            - '\{7849596a-48ea-486e-8937-a2a3009f31a9}\'
            - '\{0b91a74b-ad7c-4a9d-b563-29eef9167172}\'
            - '\{603D3801-BD81-11d0-A3A5-00C04FD706EC}\'
            - '\{30D49246-D217-465F-B00B-AC9DDD652EB7}\'
            - '\{A7A63E5C-3877-4840-8727-C1EA9D7A4D50}\'
            - '\{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}\'
            - '\{2DEA658F-54C1-4227-AF9B-260AB5FC3543}\'
            - '\{AA509086-5Ca9-4C25-8F95-589D3C07B48A}\'
    selection_susp_location_1:
        Details|contains:
            # Note: Add more suspicious paths and locations
            - ':\Perflogs\'
            - '\AppData\Local\'
            - '\Desktop\'
            - '\Downloads\'
            - '\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\'
            - '\System32\spool\drivers\color\' # as seen in the knotweed blog
            - '\Temporary Internet'
            - '\Users\Public\'
            - '\Windows\Temp\'
            - '%appdata%'
            - '%temp%'
            - '%tmp%'
    selection_susp_location_2:
        - Details|contains|all:
              - ':\Users\'
              - '\Favorites\'
        - Details|contains|all:
              - ':\Users\'
              - '\Favourites\'
        - Details|contains|all:
              - ':\Users\'
              - '\Contacts\'
        - Details|contains|all:
              - ':\Users\'
              - '\Pictures\'
    condition: all of selection_target_* and 1 of selection_susp_location_*
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: high