Bitsadmin.exe

Commands

1. ADSUser T1564.004

   Performs execution of specified file in the alternate data stream, can be used as a defensive evasion or persistence technique.

   bitsadmin /create 1 bitsadmin /addfile 1 c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe c:\data\playfolder\cmd.exe bitsadmin /SetNotifyCmdLine 1 c:\data\playfolder\1.txt:cmd.exe NULL bitsadmin /RESUME 1 bitsadmin /complete 1

   Create a bitsadmin job named 1, add cmd.exe to the job, configure the job to run the target command from an Alternate data stream, then resume and complete the job.

   os: Windows vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11

2. DownloadUser T1105

   Download file from Internet

   bitsadmin /create 1 bitsadmin /addfile 1 https://live.sysinternals.com/autoruns.exe c:\data\playfolder\autoruns.exe bitsadmin /RESUME 1 bitsadmin /complete 1

   Create a bitsadmin job named 1, add cmd.exe to the job, configure the job to run the target command, then resume and complete the job.

   os: Windows vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11

3. CopyUser T1105

   Copy file

   bitsadmin /create 1 & bitsadmin /addfile 1 c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe c:\data\playfolder\cmd.exe & bitsadmin /RESUME 1 & bitsadmin /Complete 1 & bitsadmin /reset

   Command for copying cmd.exe to another folder

   os: Windows vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10

4. ExecuteUser T1218

   Execute binary file specified. Can be used as a defensive evasion.

   bitsadmin /create 1 & bitsadmin /addfile 1 c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe c:\data\playfolder\cmd.exe & bitsadmin /SetNotifyCmdLine 1 c:\data\playfolder\cmd.exe NULL & bitsadmin /RESUME 1 & bitsadmin /Reset

   One-liner that creates a bitsadmin job named 1, add cmd.exe to the job, configure the job to run the target command, then resume and complete the job.

   os: Windows vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10

Detection

• Sigma https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/62d4fd26b05f4d81973e7c8e80d7c1a0c6a29d0e/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_bitsadmin_download.yml
• Sigma https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/62d4fd26b05f4d81973e7c8e80d7c1a0c6a29d0e/rules/web/proxy_generic/proxy_ua_bitsadmin_susp_tld.yml
• Sigma https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/62d4fd26b05f4d81973e7c8e80d7c1a0c6a29d0e/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_bitsadmin_potential_persistence.yml
• Splunk https://github.com/splunk/security_content/blob/3f77e24974239fcb7a339080a1a483e6bad84a82/detections/endpoint/bitsadmin_download_file.yml
• IOCChild process from bitsadmin.exe
• IOCbitsadmin creates new files
• IOCbitsadmin adds data to alternate data stream

Resources

• https://www.slideshare.net/chrisgates/windows-attacks-at-is-the-new-black-26672679
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8xJaaQlpBo
• https://gist.github.com/api0cradle/cdd2d0d0ec9abb686f0e89306e277b8f
• https://www.soc-labs.top/en/detections/100