Trusted Developer Utilities Proxy Execution: MSBuild (T1127.001)

Tactics: Stealth, Execution · Platforms: Windows

The interactive view maps 1 detection strategy, 2 mitigations, 3 software entries, 2 campaigns to this technique, alongside D3FEND countermeasures and data-component coverage.

Sub-technique of Trusted Developer Utilities Proxy Execution (T1127).

Overview

Adversaries may use MSBuild to proxy execution of code through a trusted Windows utility. MSBuild.exe (Microsoft Build Engine) is a software build platform used by Visual Studio. It handles XML formatted project files that define requirements for loading and building various platforms and configurations.

Adversaries can abuse MSBuild to proxy execution of malicious code. The inline task capability of MSBuild that was introduced in .NET version 4 allows for C# or Visual Basic code to be inserted into an XML project file. MSBuild will compile and execute the inline task. MSBuild.exe is a signed Microsoft binary, so when it is used this way it can execute arbitrary code and bypass application control defenses that are configured to allow MSBuild.exe execution.

Explore

• Open T1127.001 in the interactive ATT&CK matrix
• ATT&CK Intelligence View guide
• Official MITRE ATT&CK entry for T1127.001
• Sigma detection rules for MITRE ATT&CK
• Built by Shahrukh Khan