Forfiles.exe

Commands

1. ExecuteUser T1202

   Use forfiles to start a new process to evade defensive counter measures

   forfiles /p c:\windows\system32 /m notepad.exe /c "{CMD}"

   Executes specified command since there is a match for notepad.exe in the c:\windows\System32 folder.

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

   Execute: EXE

2. ADSUser T1564.004

   Use forfiles to start a new process from a binary hidden in an alternate data stream

   forfiles /p c:\windows\system32 /m notepad.exe /c "{PATH_ABSOLUTE}:evil.exe"

   Executes the evil.exe Alternate Data Stream (AD) since there is a match for notepad.exe in the c:\windows\system32 folder.

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

   Execute: EXE

Detection

• Sigma https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/6312dd1d44d309608552105c334948f793e89f48/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_lolbin_forfiles.yml

Resources

• https://twitter.com/vector_sec/status/896049052642533376
• https://gist.github.com/api0cradle/cdd2d0d0ec9abb686f0e89306e277b8f
• https://oddvar.moe/2018/01/14/putting-data-in-alternate-data-streams-and-how-to-execute-it/