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  1. Frameworks
  2. >ATTACK
  3. >Defense Evasion
  4. >ATTACK-T1218.001
ATTACK-T1218.001Active

Compiled HTML File

Statement

Adversaries may abuse Compiled HTML files (.chm) to conceal malicious code. CHM files are commonly distributed as part of the Microsoft HTML Help system. CHM files are compressed compilations of various content such as HTML documents, images, and scripting/web related programming languages such VBA, JScript, Java, and ActiveX. (Citation: Microsoft HTML Help May 2018) CHM content is displayed using underlying components of the Internet Explorer browser (Citation: Microsoft HTML Help ActiveX) loaded by the HTML Help executable program (hh.exe). (Citation: Microsoft HTML Help Executable Program)

A custom CHM file containing embedded payloads could be delivered to a victim then triggered by User Execution. CHM execution may also bypass application application control on older and/or unpatched systems that do not account for execution of binaries through hh.exe. (Citation: MsitPros CHM Aug 2017) (Citation: Microsoft CVE-2017-8625 Aug 2017)

Location

Tactic
Defense Evasion

Technique Details

Identifier
ATTACK-T1218.001
Parent Technique
ATTACK-T1218
ATT&CK Page
View on MITRE

Tactics

Defense Evasion

Platforms

Windows

Detection

Detection of Suspicious Compiled HTML File Execution via hh.exe

Mitigations

Restrict Web-Based Content: Restricting web-based content involves enforcing policies and technologies that limit access to potentially malicious websites, unsafe downloads, and unauthorized browser behaviors. This can include URL filtering, download restrictions, script blocking, and extension control to protect against exploitation, phishing, and malware delivery. This mitigation can be implemented through the following measures:

Deploy Web Proxy Filtering:

  • Use solutions to filter web traffic based on categories, reputation, and content types.
  • Enforce policies that block unsafe websites or file types at the gateway level.

Enable DNS-Based Filtering:

  • Implement tools to restrict access to domains associated with malware or phishing campaigns.
  • Use public DNS filtering services to enhance protection.

Enforce Content Security Policies (CSP):

  • Configure CSP headers on internal and external web applications to restrict script execution, iframe embedding, and cross-origin requests.

Control Browser Features:

  • Disable unapproved browser features like automatic downloads, developer tools, or unsafe scripting.
  • Enforce policies through tools like Group Policy Management to control browser settings.

Monitor and Alert on Web-Based Threats:

  • Use SIEM tools to collect and analyze web proxy logs for signs of anomalous or malicious activity.
  • Configure alerts for access attempts to blocked domains or repeated file download failures.

Execution Prevention: Prevent the execution of unauthorized or malicious code on systems by implementing application control, script blocking, and other execution prevention mechanisms. This ensures that only trusted and authorized code is executed, reducing the risk of malware and unauthorized actions. This mitigation can be implemented through the following measures:

Application Control:

  • Use Case: Use tools like AppLocker or Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) to create whitelists of authorized applications and block unauthorized ones. On Linux, use tools like SELinux or AppArmor to define mandatory access control policies for application execution.
  • Implementation: Allow only digitally signed or pre-approved applications to execute on servers and endpoints. (e.g., New-AppLockerPolicy -PolicyType Enforced -FilePath "C:\Policies\AppLocker.xml")

Script Blocking:

  • Use Case: Use script control mechanisms to block unauthorized execution of scripts, such as PowerShell or JavaScript. Web Browsers: Use browser extensions or settings to block JavaScript execution from untrusted sources.
  • Implementation: Configure PowerShell to enforce Constrained Language Mode for non-administrator users. (e.g., Set-ExecutionPolicy AllSigned)

Executable Blocking:

  • Use Case: Prevent execution of binaries from suspicious locations, such as %TEMP% or %APPDATA% directories.
  • Implementation: Block execution of .exe, .bat, or .ps1 files from user-writable directories.

Dynamic Analysis Prevention:

  • Use Case: Use behavior-based execution prevention tools to identify and block malicious activity in real time.
  • Implemenation: Employ EDR solutions that analyze runtime behavior and block suspicious code execution.
SP 800-53
SP800-53-CM-11relatedvia ctid-attack-to-sp800-53
SP800-53-CM-2relatedvia ctid-attack-to-sp800-53
SP800-53-CM-6relatedvia ctid-attack-to-sp800-53
SP800-53-CM-7relatedvia ctid-attack-to-sp800-53
SP800-53-SC-18relatedvia ctid-attack-to-sp800-53
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← Back to Defense Evasion
Defense Evasion183 controls
ATTACK-T1006Direct Volume AccessATTACK-T1014RootkitATTACK-T1027Obfuscated Files or InformationATTACK-T1027.001Binary PaddingATTACK-T1027.002Software PackingATTACK-T1027.003SteganographyATTACK-T1027.004Compile After DeliveryATTACK-T1027.005Indicator Removal from ToolsATTACK-T1027.006HTML SmugglingATTACK-T1027.007Dynamic API ResolutionATTACK-T1027.008Stripped PayloadsATTACK-T1027.009Embedded PayloadsATTACK-T1027.010Command ObfuscationATTACK-T1027.011Fileless StorageATTACK-T1027.012LNK Icon SmugglingATTACK-T1027.013Encrypted/Encoded FileATTACK-T1027.014Polymorphic CodeATTACK-T1027.015CompressionATTACK-T1027.016Junk Code InsertionATTACK-T1027.017SVG SmugglingATTACK-T1036MasqueradingATTACK-T1036.001Invalid Code SignatureATTACK-T1036.002Right-to-Left OverrideATTACK-T1036.003Rename Legitimate UtilitiesATTACK-T1036.004Masquerade Task or ServiceATTACK-T1036.005Match Legitimate Resource Name or LocationATTACK-T1036.006Space after FilenameATTACK-T1036.007Double File ExtensionATTACK-T1036.008Masquerade File TypeATTACK-T1036.009Break Process TreesATTACK-T1036.010Masquerade Account NameATTACK-T1036.011Overwrite Process ArgumentsATTACK-T1036.012Browser FingerprintATTACK-T1055Process InjectionATTACK-T1055.001Dynamic-link Library InjectionATTACK-T1055.002Portable Executable InjectionATTACK-T1055.003Thread Execution HijackingATTACK-T1055.004Asynchronous Procedure CallATTACK-T1055.005Thread Local StorageATTACK-T1055.008Ptrace System CallsATTACK-T1055.009Proc MemoryATTACK-T1055.011Extra Window Memory InjectionATTACK-T1055.012Process HollowingATTACK-T1055.013Process DoppelgängingATTACK-T1055.014VDSO HijackingATTACK-T1055.015ListPlantingATTACK-T1070Indicator RemovalATTACK-T1070.001Clear Windows Event LogsATTACK-T1070.002Clear Linux or Mac System LogsATTACK-T1070.003Clear Command HistoryATTACK-T1070.004File DeletionATTACK-T1070.005Network Share Connection RemovalATTACK-T1070.006TimestompATTACK-T1070.007Clear Network Connection History and ConfigurationsATTACK-T1070.008Clear Mailbox DataATTACK-T1070.009Clear PersistenceATTACK-T1070.010Relocate MalwareATTACK-T1078Valid AccountsATTACK-T1078.001Default AccountsATTACK-T1078.002Domain AccountsATTACK-T1078.003Local AccountsATTACK-T1078.004Cloud AccountsATTACK-T1112Modify RegistryATTACK-T1127Trusted Developer Utilities Proxy ExecutionATTACK-T1127.001MSBuildATTACK-T1127.002ClickOnceATTACK-T1127.003JamPlusATTACK-T1134Access Token ManipulationATTACK-T1134.001Token Impersonation/TheftATTACK-T1134.002Create Process with TokenATTACK-T1134.003Make and Impersonate TokenATTACK-T1134.004Parent PID SpoofingATTACK-T1134.005SID-History InjectionATTACK-T1140Deobfuscate/Decode Files or InformationATTACK-T1197BITS JobsATTACK-T1202Indirect Command ExecutionATTACK-T1205Traffic SignalingATTACK-T1205.001Port KnockingATTACK-T1205.002Socket FiltersATTACK-T1207Rogue Domain ControllerATTACK-T1211Exploitation for Defense EvasionATTACK-T1216System Script Proxy ExecutionATTACK-T1216.001PubPrnATTACK-T1216.002SyncAppvPublishingServerATTACK-T1218System Binary Proxy ExecutionATTACK-T1218.001Compiled HTML FileATTACK-T1218.002Control PanelATTACK-T1218.003CMSTPATTACK-T1218.004InstallUtilATTACK-T1218.005MshtaATTACK-T1218.007MsiexecATTACK-T1218.008OdbcconfATTACK-T1218.009Regsvcs/RegasmATTACK-T1218.010Regsvr32ATTACK-T1218.011Rundll32ATTACK-T1218.012VerclsidATTACK-T1218.013MavinjectATTACK-T1218.014MMCATTACK-T1218.015Electron ApplicationsATTACK-T1220XSL Script ProcessingATTACK-T1221Template InjectionATTACK-T1222File and Directory Permissions ModificationATTACK-T1222.001Windows File and Directory Permissions ModificationATTACK-T1222.002Linux and Mac File and Directory Permissions ModificationATTACK-T1480Execution GuardrailsATTACK-T1480.001Environmental KeyingATTACK-T1480.002Mutual ExclusionATTACK-T1484Domain or Tenant Policy ModificationATTACK-T1484.001Group Policy ModificationATTACK-T1484.002Trust ModificationATTACK-T1497Virtualization/Sandbox EvasionATTACK-T1497.001System ChecksATTACK-T1497.002User Activity Based ChecksATTACK-T1497.003Time Based ChecksATTACK-T1535Unused/Unsupported Cloud RegionsATTACK-T1542Pre-OS BootATTACK-T1542.004ROMMONkitATTACK-T1542.005TFTP BootATTACK-T1548.006TCC ManipulationATTACK-T1550Use Alternate Authentication MaterialATTACK-T1550.001Application Access TokenATTACK-T1550.002Pass the HashATTACK-T1550.003Pass the TicketATTACK-T1550.004Web Session CookieATTACK-T1553Subvert Trust ControlsATTACK-T1553.001Gatekeeper BypassATTACK-T1553.002Code SigningATTACK-T1553.003SIP and Trust Provider HijackingATTACK-T1553.004Install Root CertificateATTACK-T1553.005Mark-of-the-Web BypassATTACK-T1553.006Code Signing Policy ModificationATTACK-T1562Impair DefensesATTACK-T1562.001Disable or Modify ToolsATTACK-T1562.002Disable Windows Event LoggingATTACK-T1562.003Impair Command History LoggingATTACK-T1562.004Disable or Modify System FirewallATTACK-T1562.006Indicator BlockingATTACK-T1562.007Disable or Modify Cloud FirewallATTACK-T1562.008Disable or Modify Cloud LogsATTACK-T1562.009Safe Mode BootATTACK-T1562.010Downgrade AttackATTACK-T1562.011Spoof Security AlertingATTACK-T1562.012Disable or Modify Linux Audit SystemATTACK-T1562.013Disable or Modify Network Device FirewallATTACK-T1564Hide ArtifactsATTACK-T1564.001Hidden Files and DirectoriesATTACK-T1564.002Hidden UsersATTACK-T1564.003Hidden WindowATTACK-T1564.004NTFS File AttributesATTACK-T1564.005Hidden File SystemATTACK-T1564.006Run Virtual InstanceATTACK-T1564.007VBA StompingATTACK-T1564.008Email Hiding RulesATTACK-T1564.009Resource ForkingATTACK-T1564.010Process Argument SpoofingATTACK-T1564.011Ignore Process InterruptsATTACK-T1564.012File/Path ExclusionsATTACK-T1564.013Bind MountsATTACK-T1564.014Extended AttributesATTACK-T1578Modify Cloud Compute InfrastructureATTACK-T1578.001Create SnapshotATTACK-T1578.002Create Cloud InstanceATTACK-T1578.003Delete Cloud InstanceATTACK-T1578.004Revert Cloud InstanceATTACK-T1578.005Modify Cloud Compute ConfigurationsATTACK-T1599Network Boundary BridgingATTACK-T1599.001Network Address Translation TraversalATTACK-T1600Weaken EncryptionATTACK-T1600.001Reduce Key SpaceATTACK-T1600.002Disable Crypto HardwareATTACK-T1601Modify System ImageATTACK-T1601.001Patch System ImageATTACK-T1601.002Downgrade System ImageATTACK-T1610Deploy ContainerATTACK-T1612Build Image on HostATTACK-T1620Reflective Code LoadingATTACK-T1622Debugger EvasionATTACK-T1647Plist File ModificationATTACK-T1656ImpersonationATTACK-T1666Modify Cloud Resource HierarchyATTACK-T1672Email SpoofingATTACK-T1678Delay ExecutionATTACK-T1679Selective Exclusion