Description
Adversaries may inject dynamic-link libraries (DLLs) into processes in order to evade process-based defenses as well as possibly elevate privileges. DLL injection is a method of executing arbitrary code in the address space of a separate live process.
DLL injection is commonly performed by writing the path to a DLL in the virtual address space of the target process before loading the DLL by invoking a new thread. The write can be performed with native Windows API calls such as VirtualAllocEx and WriteProcessMemory, then invoked with CreateRemoteThread (which calls the LoadLibrary API responsible for loading the DLL). (Citation: Elastic Process Injection July 2017)
Variations of this method such as reflective DLL injection (writing a self-mapping DLL into a process) and memory module (map DLL when writing into process) overcome the address relocation issue as well as the additional APIs to invoke execution (since these methods load and execute the files in memory by manually preforming the function of LoadLibrary).(Citation: Elastic HuntingNMemory June 2017)(Citation: Elastic Process Injection July 2017)
Another variation of this method, often referred to as Module Stomping/Overloading or DLL Hollowing, may be leveraged to conceal injected code within a process. This method involves loading a legitimate DLL into a remote process then manually overwriting the module's AddressOfEntryPoint before starting a new thread in the target process.(Citation: Module Stomping for Shellcode Injection) This variation allows attackers to hide malicious injected code by potentially backing its execution with a legitimate DLL file on disk.(Citation: Hiding Malicious Code with Module Stomping)
Running code in the context of another process may allow access to the process's memory, system/network resources, and possibly elevated privileges. Execution via DLL injection may also evade detection from security products since the execution is masked under a legitimate process.
Platforms
Mitigations (1)
Behavior Prevention on EndpointM1040
Some endpoint security solutions can be configured to block some types of process injection based on common sequences of behavior that occur during the injection process.
Threat Groups (10)
| ID | Group | Context |
|---|---|---|
| G0094 | Kimsuky | [Kimsuky](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0094) has the ability to load DLLs via reflective injection by allocating memory using `VirtualAllocEx()`, ... |
| G0081 | Tropic Trooper | [Tropic Trooper](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0081) has injected a DLL backdoor into dllhost.exe and svchost.exe.(Citation: TrendMicro Tropic Troo... |
| G0024 | Putter Panda | An executable dropped onto victims by [Putter Panda](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0024) aims to inject the specified DLL into a process that would... |
| G0065 | Leviathan | [Leviathan](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0065) has utilized techniques like reflective DLL loading to write a DLL into memory and load a shell tha... |
| G0010 | Turla | [Turla](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0010) has used Metasploit to perform reflective DLL injection in order to escalate privileges.(Citation: ESET... |
| G0092 | TA505 | [TA505](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0092) has been seen injecting a DLL into winword.exe.(Citation: IBM TA505 April 2020) |
| G0135 | BackdoorDiplomacy | [BackdoorDiplomacy](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0135) has dropped legitimate software onto a compromised host and used it to execute malicious DL... |
| G1026 | Malteiro | [Malteiro](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G1026) has injected [Mispadu](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S1122)’s DLL into a process.(Citation: SCIL... |
| G0032 | Lazarus Group | A [Lazarus Group](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0032) malware sample performs reflective DLL injection.(Citation: McAfee Lazarus Resurfaces Feb 201... |
| G0102 | Wizard Spider | [Wizard Spider](https://attack.mitre.org/groups/G0102) has injected malicious DLLs into memory with read, write, and execute permissions.(Citation: DH... |
Associated Software (56)
| ID | Name | Type | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1039 | Bumblebee | Malware | The [Bumblebee](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S1039) loader can support the `Dij` command which gives it the ability to inject DLLs into the memor... |
| S0603 | Stuxnet | Malware | [Stuxnet](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0603) injects an entire DLL into an existing, newly created, or preselected trusted process.(Citation: Ni... |
| S0460 | Get2 | Malware | [Get2](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0460) has the ability to inject DLLs into processes.(Citation: Proofpoint TA505 October 2019) |
| S0082 | Emissary | Malware | [Emissary](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0082) injects its DLL file into a newly spawned Internet Explorer process.(Citation: Lotus Blossom Dec 2... |
| S0613 | PS1 | Malware | [PS1](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0613) can inject its payload DLL Into memory.(Citation: BlackBerry CostaRicto November 2020) |
| S1229 | Havoc | Malware | [Havoc](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S1229) has DLL spawn and injection modules.(Citation: Havoc Framework Documentation) |
| S0167 | Matryoshka | Malware | [Matryoshka](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0167) uses reflective DLL injection to inject the malicious library and execute the RAT.(Citation: Cop... |
| S1239 | TONESHELL | Malware | [TONESHELL](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S1239) has used DLL injection to execute payloads received from the C2 server.(Citation: Zscaler) |
| S0456 | Aria-body | Malware | [Aria-body](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0456) has the ability to inject itself into another process such as rundll32.exe and dllhost.exe.(Citat... |
| S0367 | Emotet | Malware | [Emotet](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0367) has been observed injecting in to Explorer.exe and other processes. (Citation: Picus Emotet Dec 2018... |
| S1081 | BADHATCH | Malware | [BADHATCH](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S1081) has the ability to execute a malicious DLL by injecting into `explorer.exe` on a compromised machi... |
| S0615 | SombRAT | Malware | [SombRAT](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0615) can execute <code>loadfromfile</code>, <code>loadfromstorage</code>, and <code>loadfrommem</code> t... |
| S0575 | Conti | Malware | [Conti](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0575) has loaded an encrypted DLL into memory and then executes it.(Citation: Cybereason Conti Jan 2021)(Ci... |
| S0265 | Kazuar | Malware | If running in a Windows environment, [Kazuar](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0265) saves a DLL to disk that is injected into the explorer.exe proc... |
| S0089 | BlackEnergy | Malware | [BlackEnergy](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0089) injects its DLL component into svchost.exe.(Citation: F-Secure BlackEnergy 2014) |
| S1066 | DarkTortilla | Malware | [DarkTortilla](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S1066) can use a .NET-based DLL named `RunPe6` for process injection.(Citation: Secureworks DarkTorti... |
| S0024 | Dyre | Malware | [Dyre](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0024) injects into other processes to load modules.(Citation: Symantec Dyre June 2015) |
| S0125 | Remsec | Malware | [Remsec](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0125) can perform DLL injection.(Citation: Kaspersky ProjectSauron Technical Analysis) |
| S0018 | Sykipot | Malware | [Sykipot](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S0018) injects itself into running instances of outlook.exe, iexplore.exe, or firefox.exe.(Citation: Alien... |
| S1026 | Mongall | Malware | [Mongall](https://attack.mitre.org/software/S1026) can inject a DLL into `rundll32.exe` for execution.(Citation: SentinelOne Aoqin Dragon June 2022) |
Related CWE Weaknesses
References
- Aliz Hammond. (2019, August 15). Hiding Malicious Code with "Module Stomping": Part 1. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
- Desimone, J. (2017, June 13). Hunting in Memory. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
- Hosseini, A. (2017, July 18). Ten Process Injection Techniques: A Technical Survey Of Common And Trending Process Injection Techniques. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
- Red Teaming Experiments. (n.d.). Module Stomping for Shellcode Injection. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is T1055.001 (Dynamic-link Library Injection)?
T1055.001 is a MITRE ATT&CK technique named 'Dynamic-link Library Injection'. It belongs to the Stealth, Privilege Escalation tactic(s). Adversaries may inject dynamic-link libraries (DLLs) into processes in order to evade process-based defenses as well as possibly elevate privileges. DLL injection is a method of executing arbitrary co...
How can T1055.001 be detected?
Detection of T1055.001 (Dynamic-link Library Injection) typically involves monitoring system logs, network traffic, and endpoint telemetry. Use SIEM rules, EDR solutions, and behavioral analytics to identify suspicious activity associated with this technique.
What mitigations exist for T1055.001?
There are 1 documented mitigations for T1055.001. Key mitigations include: Behavior Prevention on Endpoint.
Which threat groups use T1055.001?
Known threat groups using T1055.001 include: Kimsuky, Tropic Trooper, Putter Panda, Leviathan, Turla, TA505, BackdoorDiplomacy, Malteiro.