Spawn - Empire Module
This page contains detailed information about how to use the powershell/management/spawn Empire module. For list of all Empire modules, visit the Empire Module Library.
Module Overview
Name: Spawn
Module: powershell/management/spawn
Source code [1]: empire/server/modules/powershell/management/spawn.yaml
Source code [2]: empire/server/modules/powershell/management/spawn.py
MITRE ATT&CK:
T1055
Language: PowerShell
Needs admin: No
OPSEC safe: Yes
Background: No
The spawn module spawns a new agent in a new powershell.exe process.
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 spawn 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 spawn module:
Agent
Agent to run module on.
Listener
Listener to use.
Additional Module Options
This is a list of additional options that are supported by the spawn module:
Bypasses
Bypasses as a space separated list to be prepended to the launcher.
Default value: mattifestation etw.
Obfuscate
Switch. Obfuscate the launcher powershell code, uses the ObfuscateCommand for obfuscation types. For powershell only.
Default value: False.
ObfuscateCommand
The Invoke-Obfuscation command to use. Only used if Obfuscate switch is True. For powershell only.
Default value: Token\All\1.
Proxy
Proxy to use for request (default, none, or other).
Default value: default.
ProxyCreds
Proxy credentials ([domain\]username:password) to use for request (default, none, or other).
Default value: default.
SysWow64
Switch. Spawn a SysWow64 (32-bit) powershell.exe.
UserAgent
User-agent string to use for the staging request (default, none, or other).
Default value: default.
Spawn Example Usage
Here's an example of how to use the spawn 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 powershell/management/spawn
Author @harmj0y
Background False
Description Spawns a new agent in a new powershell.exe process.
Language powershell
Name powershell/management/spawn
NeedsAdmin False
OpsecSafe True
Techniques http://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1055
,Record Options----,--------------------,----------,-------------------------------------,
| Name | Value | Required | Description |
|------------------|--------------------|----------|-------------------------------------|
| Agent | | True | Agent to run module on. |
|------------------|--------------------|----------|-------------------------------------|
| Bypasses | mattifestation etw | False | Bypasses as a space separated list |
| | | | to be prepended to the launcher. |
|------------------|--------------------|----------|-------------------------------------|
| Listener | | True | Listener to use. |
|------------------|--------------------|----------|-------------------------------------|
| Obfuscate | False | False | Switch. Obfuscate the launcher |
| | | | powershell code, uses the |
| | | | ObfuscateCommand for obfuscation |
| | | | types. For powershell only. |
|------------------|--------------------|----------|-------------------------------------|
| ObfuscateCommand | Token\All\1 | False | The Invoke-Obfuscation command to |
| | | | use. Only used if Obfuscate switch |
| | | | is True. For powershell only. |
|------------------|--------------------|----------|-------------------------------------|
| Proxy | default | False | Proxy to use for request (default, |
| | | | none, or other). |
|------------------|--------------------|----------|-------------------------------------|
| ProxyCreds | default | False | Proxy credentials |
| | | | ([domain\]username:password) to use |
| | | | for request (default, none, or |
| | | | other). |
|------------------|--------------------|----------|-------------------------------------|
| SysWow64 | | False | Switch. Spawn a SysWow64 (32-bit) |
| | | | powershell.exe. |
|------------------|--------------------|----------|-------------------------------------|
| UserAgent | default | False | User-agent string to use for the |
| | | | staging request (default, none, or |
| | | | other). |
'------------------'--------------------'----------'-------------------------------------'
(Empire: usemodule/powershell/management/spawn) > set Agent Y4LHEV83
[*] Set Agent to Y4LHEV83
(Empire: usemodule/powershell/management/spawn) > set Listener listener1
[*] Set Listener to listener1
(Empire: usemodule/powershell/management/spawn) > execute
[*] Tasked Y4LHEV83 to run Task 1
...
Now wait for the results to come.
Author
References
- https://github.com/BC-SECURITY/Empire/tree/master/empire/server/modules/powershell/management/spawn.yaml
- https://github.com/BC-SECURITY/Empire/tree/master/empire/server/modules/powershell/management/spawn.py
- http://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1055
See Also
Check also the following modules related to this module:
- powershell/management/timestomp
- powershell/management/spawnas
- powershell/management/zipfolder
- powershell/management/switch_listener
- powershell/management/start-processasuser
- powershell/management/invoke_script
- powershell/management/invoke_sharpchisel
- powershell/management/get_domain_sid
- powershell/management/enable_multi_rdp
- powershell/management/enable_rdp
- powershell/management/reflective_inject
- powershell/management/shinject
- powershell/management/lock
- powershell/management/sid_to_user
- powershell/management/psinject
- powershell/management/phant0m
- powershell/management/disable_rdp
- powershell/management/user_to_sid
- powershell/management/wdigest_downgrade
- powershell/management/runas
- powershell/management/downgrade_account
- powershell/management/vnc
- powershell/management/powercat
- powershell/management/logoff
- powershell/management/invoke_socksproxy
- powershell/management/restart
- powershell/management/honeyhash
- powershell/management/mailraider/get_subfolders
- powershell/management/mailraider/mail_search
- powershell/management/mailraider/send_mail
- powershell/management/mailraider/view_email
- powershell/management/mailraider/search_gal
- powershell/management/mailraider/get_emailitems
- powershell/management/mailraider/disable_security
Version
This page has been created based on Empire version 4.1.3 (BC Security Fork).
Visit Empire Module Library for more modules.
