control.exe

  • File Path: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\control.exe
  • Description: Windows Control Panel

Hashes

Type Hash
MD5 359DE40504BF90EFD590C248B71C8B81
SHA1 4361E1B498CA3025E641280FC4F71BF93AE5201C
SHA256 76D741C6FEDC2426483EBEE82AED4193F1DFFEC531154BC5EAD024BE1119A564
SHA384 3C49A4FB7E8907D45B5539875EDEA5EFD3A1F081A67BCDCE2214D9B7F259AA8D6F1AAB735A732AA2E1E15F3584D8E3B4
SHA512 02D4CF8A0E3569E562A4A63A179AD1567FA3DFD9DA1E2A332DF7F03B8574DCE318FA5D4D1B5EDE4EF56A5811BAB263B28218ADBBB76AE179D128AE12AF001461
SSDEEP 1536:dvJSk5ae/qzSpZ3r1q6QkjfkQUk8+k6kawM1x8Dkf8dani25imKvM:Ska7Sp5+1k12b/Af885RKv

Signature

  • Status: Signature verified.
  • Serial: 33000000BCE120FDD27CC8EE930000000000BC
  • Thumbprint: E85459B23C232DB3CB94C7A56D47678F58E8E51E
  • 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: CONTROL.EXE
  • Product Name: Microsoft Windows Operating System
  • Company Name: Microsoft Corporation
  • File Version: 10.0.14393.0 (rs1_release.160715-1616)
  • Product Version: 10.0.14393.0
  • Language: English (United States)
  • Legal Copyright: Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

File Similarity (ssdeep match)

File Score
C:\Windows\system32\control.exe 66
C:\WINDOWS\system32\control.exe 79
C:\windows\system32\control.exe 82
C:\WINDOWS\system32\control.exe 83
C:\Windows\system32\control.exe 80
C:\Windows\system32\control.exe 85
C:\Windows\system32\control.exe 82
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\control.exe 85
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\control.exe 66
C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\control.exe 86
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\control.exe 85
C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\control.exe 83
C:\windows\SysWOW64\control.exe 85

Possible Misuse

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

Source Source File Example License
sigma proc_creation_win_susp_control_cve_2021_40444.yml Image\|endswith: '\control.exe' DRL 1.0
sigma proc_creation_win_susp_control_cve_2021_40444.yml - '\control.exe input.dll' DRL 1.0
sigma proc_creation_win_susp_control_cve_2021_40444.yml - '\control.exe" input.dll' DRL 1.0
sigma proc_creation_win_susp_control_dll_load.yml description: Detects suspicious Rundll32 execution from control.exe as used by Equation Group and Exploit Kits DRL 1.0
sigma proc_creation_win_susp_control_dll_load.yml ParentImage\|endswith: '\System32\control.exe' DRL 1.0
sigma proc_creation_win_susp_workfolders.yml description: Detects using WorkFolders.exe to execute an arbitrary control.exe DRL 1.0
sigma proc_creation_win_susp_workfolders.yml Image\|endswith: '\control.exe' DRL 1.0
sigma proc_creation_win_susp_workfolders.yml Image: 'C:\Windows\System32\control.exe' DRL 1.0
LOLBAS Control.yml Name: Control.exe  
LOLBAS Control.yml - Command: control.exe c:\windows\tasks\file.txt:evil.dll  
LOLBAS Control.yml - Path: C:\Windows\System32\control.exe  
LOLBAS Control.yml - Path: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\control.exe  
LOLBAS Control.yml - IOC: Control.exe executing files from alternate data streams  
LOLBAS Control.yml - IOC: Control.exe executing library file without cpl extension  
LOLBAS Control.yml - IOC: Suspicious network connections from control.exe  
LOLBAS WorkFolders.yml Description: Execute control.exe in the current working directory  
atomic-red-team T1218.002.md <blockquote>Adversaries may abuse control.exe to proxy execution of malicious payloads. The Windows Control Panel process binary (control.exe) handles execution of Control Panel items, which are utilities that allow users to view and adjust computer settings. MIT License. © 2018 Red Canary
atomic-red-team T1218.002.md This test simulates an adversary leveraging control.exe MIT License. © 2018 Red Canary
atomic-red-team T1218.002.md control.exe #{cpl_file_path} MIT License. © 2018 Red Canary

MIT License. Copyright (c) 2020-2021 Strontic.