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WmicExec ​

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How It Works Explained ​

Processes can be opened on hosts where the username and either password or hash are known through the use of WMI. Commands are executed using WMI by Wmiexec, providing a semi-interactive shell experience.

dcomexec.py: Utilizing different DCOM endpoints, this script offers a semi-interactive shell akin to wmiexec.py, specifically leveraging the ShellBrowserWindow DCOM object. It currently supports MMC20. Application, Shell Windows, and Shell Browser Window objects. (source: Hacking Articles)

WMI Fundamentals ​

Namespace ​

Structured in a directory-style hierarchy, WMI's top-level container is \root, under which additional directories, referred to as namespaces, are organized. Commands to list namespaces:

bash
# Retrieval of Root namespaces
gwmi -namespace "root" -Class "__Namespace" | Select Name

# Enumeration of all namespaces (administrator privileges may be required)
Get-WmiObject -Class "__Namespace" -Namespace "Root" -List -Recurse 2> $null | select __Namespace | sort __Namespace

# Listing of namespaces within "root\cimv2"
Get-WmiObject -Class "__Namespace" -Namespace "root\cimv2" -List -Recurse 2> $null | select __Namespace | sort __Namespace

Classes within a namespace can be listed using:

bash
gwmwi -List -Recurse # Defaults to "root\cimv2" if no namespace specified
gwmi -Namespace "root/microsoft" -List -Recurse

Classes ​

Knowing a WMI class name, such as win32_process, and the namespace it resides in is crucial for any WMI operation. Commands to list classes beginning with win32:

bash
Get-WmiObject -Recurse -List -class win32* | more # Defaults to "root\cimv2"
gwmi -Namespace "root/microsoft" -List -Recurse -Class "MSFT_MpComput*"

Invocation of a class:

bash
# Defaults to "root/cimv2" when namespace isn't specified
Get-WmiObject -Class win32_share
Get-WmiObject -Namespace "root/microsoft/windows/defender" -Class MSFT_MpComputerStatus

Methods ​

Methods, which are one or more executable functions of WMI classes, can be executed.

bash
# Class loading, method listing, and execution
$c = [wmiclass]"win32_share"
$c.methods
# To create a share: $c.Create("c:\share\path","name",0,$null,"My Description")
bash
# Method listing and invocation
Invoke-WmiMethod -Class win32_share -Name Create -ArgumentList @($null, "Description", $null, "Name", $null, "c:\share\path",0)

WMI Enumeration ​

WMI Service Status ​

Commands to verify if the WMI service is operational:

bash
# WMI service status check
Get-Service Winmgmt

# Via CMD
net start | findstr "Instrumentation"

System and Process Information ​

Gathering system and process information through WMI:

bash
Get-WmiObject -ClassName win32_operatingsystem | select * | more
Get-WmiObject win32_process | Select Name, Processid

For attackers, WMI is a potent tool for enumerating sensitive data about systems or domains.

bash
wmic computerystem list full /format:list  
wmic process list /format:list  
wmic ntdomain list /format:list  
wmic useraccount list /format:list  
wmic group list /format:list  
wmic sysaccount list /format:list

Remote querying of WMI for specific information, such as local admins or logged-on users, is feasible with careful command construction.

Manual Remote WMI Querying ​

Stealthy identification of local admins on a remote machine and logged-on users can be achieved through specific WMI queries. wmic also supports reading from a text file to execute commands on multiple nodes simultaneously.

To remotely execute a process over WMI, such as deploying an Empire agent, the following command structure is employed, with successful execution indicated by a return value of "0":

bash
wmic /node:hostname /user:user path win32_process call create "empire launcher string here"

This process illustrates WMI's capability for remote execution and system enumeration, highlighting its utility for both system administration and penetration testing.

References ​

Automatic Tools ​

bash
SharpLateral redwmi HOSTNAME C:\\Users\\Administrator\\Desktop\\malware.exe
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