Locator.exe

  • File Path: C:\Windows\system32\Locator.exe
  • Description: Rpc Locator

Hashes

Type Hash
MD5 A0DD6042F7734F61D55D6A62D60FE498
SHA1 47D3CD96D2D9776F4CCE212859EAD98E2B4FC4DF
SHA256 8B5743D4ACF8C571F039F83464672306D9F899E4C8512FAB9538807C43DF4A67
SHA384 5BC396F747EAE4121C26326C4BE82B51B7ABE860B1B8C057D528CF6E7E8942424FC03D72F67C02C6F2BCB151F5933880
SHA512 2DE5658F244D5196D501D5E3ED56256995FCCBF6691B78B843BC2866B10CC4CE46F8573E8FCC01BE7AD6914FF81CD7F4A25D724083A17A99ABBEE55C23B26D1A
SSDEEP 192:GkJX2saUpB315IDs0sCESBFJDK0zK5T9PCGFrsa1q18oDDoie21mDyW/lW:GcjF3u5E+JiPCArpo1ZDOLDyW/lW
IMP CBECBDF0E16268273DCA4CB132D15D23
PESHA1 59565DBE8FFB2D4A88E341D2148CBA7F8B6DC9F9
PE256 AA5DEE2A205FFB2BAC7EE69DECDA27AA973A2733DE134DC349A931B067DA50C1

Signature

  • Status: Signature verified.
  • Serial: 33000001C422B2F79B793DACB20000000001C4
  • Thumbprint: AE9C1AE54763822EEC42474983D8B635116C8452
  • Issuer: CN=Microsoft Windows Production PCA 2011, O=Microsoft Corporation, L=Redmond, S=Washington, C=US
  • Subject: CN=Microsoft Windows, O=Microsoft Corporation, L=Redmond, S=Washington, C=US

File Metadata

  • Original Filename: locator.exe.mui
  • Product Name: Microsoft Windows Operating System
  • Company Name: Microsoft Corporation
  • File Version: 10.0.17763.1 (WinBuild.160101.0800)
  • Product Version: 10.0.17763.1
  • Language: English (United States)
  • Legal Copyright: Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
  • Machine Type: 64-bit

File Scan

  • VirusTotal Detections: 0/72
  • VirusTotal Link: https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/8b5743d4acf8c571f039f83464672306d9f899e4c8512fab9538807c43df4a67/detection/

File Similarity (ssdeep match)

File Score
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Locator.exe 66
C:\Windows\system32\Locator.exe 41
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Locator.exe 40

Possible Misuse

The following table contains possible examples of Locator.exe being misused. While Locator.exe is not inherently malicious, its legitimate functionality can be abused for malicious purposes.

Source Source File Example License
malware-ioc oceanlotus-rtf_ocx_campaigns.misp.event.json "description": "Regsvr32.exe is a command-line program used to register and unregister object linking and embedding controls, including dynamic link libraries (DLLs), on Windows systems. Regsvr32.exe can be used to execute arbitrary binaries. (Citation: Microsoft Regsvr32)\n\nAdversaries may take advantage of this functionality to proxy execution of code to avoid triggering security tools that may not monitor execution of, and modules loaded by, the regsvr32.exe process because of whitelists or false positives from Windows using regsvr32.exe for normal operations. Regsvr32.exe is also a Microsoft signed binary.\n\nRegsvr32.exe can also be used to specifically bypass process whitelisting using functionality to load COM scriptlets to execute DLLs under user permissions. Since regsvr32.exe is network and proxy aware, the scripts can be loaded by passing a uniform resource locator (URL) to file on an external Web server as an argument during invocation. This method makes no changes to the Registry as the COM object is not actually registered, only executed. (Citation: SubTee Regsvr32 Whitelisting Bypass) This variation of the technique is often referred to as a \"Squiblydoo\" attack and has been used in campaigns targeting governments. (Citation: Carbon Black Squiblydoo Apr 2016) (Citation: FireEye Regsvr32 Targeting Mongolian Gov)\n\nRegsvr32.exe can also be leveraged to register a COM Object used to establish Persistence via Component Object Model Hijacking. (Citation: Carbon Black Squiblydoo Apr 2016)\n\nDetection: Use process monitoring to monitor the execution and arguments of regsvr32.exe. Compare recent invocations of regsvr32.exe with prior history of known good arguments and loaded files to determine anomalous and potentially adversarial activity. Command arguments used before and after the regsvr32.exe invocation may also be useful in determining the origin and purpose of the script or DLL being loaded. (Citation: Carbon Black Squiblydoo Apr 2016)\n\nPlatforms: Windows\n\nData Sources: Loaded DLLs, Process monitoring, Process command-line parameters, Windows Registry\n\nDefense Bypassed: Process whitelisting, Anti-virus\n\nPermissions Required: User, Administrator\n\nRemote Support: No\n\nContributors: Casey Smith", © ESET 2014-2018
atomic-red-team T1218.010.md Malicious usage of Regsvr32.exe may avoid triggering security tools that may not monitor execution of, and modules loaded by, the regsvr32.exe process because of allowlists or false positives from Windows using regsvr32.exe for normal operations. Regsvr32.exe can also be used to specifically bypass application control using functionality to load COM scriptlets to execute DLLs under user permissions. Since Regsvr32.exe is network and proxy aware, the scripts can be loaded by passing a uniform resource locator (URL) to file on an external Web server as an argument during invocation. This method makes no changes to the Registry as the COM object is not actually registered, only executed. (Citation: LOLBAS Regsvr32) This variation of the technique is often referred to as a “Squiblydoo” attack and has been used in campaigns targeting governments. (Citation: Carbon Black Squiblydoo Apr 2016) (Citation: FireEye Regsvr32 Targeting Mongolian Gov) MIT License. © 2018 Red Canary
signature-base apt_project_sauron_extras.yar $s4 = “Network Configuration Locator” fullword wide CC BY-NC 4.0

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