Cybersecurity researchers have uncovered a novel method for achieving lateral movement within Windows networks by exploiting yet another Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) object. This discovery adds to the growing list of techniques that threat actors can leverage to expand their presence after initial access, specifically through the abuse of Control Panel functionalities, posing a significant challenge for defenders.

DCOM, a core component of Windows operating systems, enables software components to communicate directly over a network. While designed for legitimate inter-process communication, DCOM has frequently been abused by attackers for various malicious purposes, including remote code execution and lateral movement. This new technique specifically focuses on a DCOM object related to the Windows Control Panel, which offers a previously less explored avenue for command execution across networked machines.

The identified DCOM object allows an attacker, with appropriate network access and credentials, to invoke specific Control Panel functionalities remotely. This capability can be weaponized to execute arbitrary commands or scripts on target systems, effectively facilitating lateral movement without relying on more commonly monitored services like PsExec or WMI. The subtlety of this method makes detection more challenging, as the activity might appear to be legitimate system-level communication.

Attackers can utilize this DCOM object to run commands as different users or with elevated privileges, depending on the context of the Control Panel functionality being abused. This grants them the ability to deploy malware, create new user accounts, or modify system configurations on remote hosts, all under the guise of DCOM communication. The technique highlights how legitimate Windows features, when misunderstood or misconfigured, can become powerful tools for malicious actors to navigate through a network undetected.

For network defenders and security professionals, this discovery necessitates a deeper understanding of DCOM interactions and the specific DCOM interfaces related to the Control Panel. Implementing robust monitoring for DCOM activity, especially unusual invocations or command executions associated with Control Panel components, becomes crucial. This new lateral movement technique serves as a stark reminder that even established and seemingly innocuous Windows components can harbor overlooked attack surfaces. Organizations must continually audit their systems, enhance behavioral analysis, and refine their detection strategies to identify and mitigate such sophisticated lateral movement methods, ensuring network resilience against persistent and adaptive cyber threats that continually seek to exploit integral operating system functionalities.

Source: https://securelist.com/lateral-movement-via-dcom-abusing-control-panel/118232/