control.exe

  • File Path: C:\WINDOWS\system32\control.exe
  • Description: Windows Control Panel

Hashes

Type Hash
MD5 62D970D8B60F75C12D21C740F2D8A5DA
SHA1 D054A1D1E0BECCA5EEF751CF616ECB811CFABECE
SHA256 D6E21DA3BE0701162A36F8C9F94E616B1A0C5FD4CC1B52EFD81959CB257957C1
SHA384 8A51959B1236046F187D89A86FC5595B0C4A7756448F90ED264EB19C7F59D5B2A77D188099F0ACCC4E88CC93CABAAC14
SHA512 AF57DC8A972FB2E0DDB589ABA26AC122CBE2A2CE034102148A24FDCC529E58CA628710160B0FE60BA01740ACF6E591DC74FC094242AD4E82BC8A3F1373DF6569
SSDEEP 1536:zrlJKByp4Ytve/qzSpZ3r1q6QkjfkQUk8+k6kawM1x8Dkf8dani25imK:zK0+Av7Sp5+1k12b/Af885RK

Signature

  • Status: Signature verified.
  • Serial: 330000023241FB59996DCC4DFF000000000232
  • Thumbprint: FF82BC38E1DA5E596DF374C53E3617F7EDA36B06
  • 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: 10.0.18362.1 (WinBuild.160101.0800)
  • Product Version: 10.0.18362.1
  • Language: English (United States)
  • Legal Copyright: Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

File Similarity (ssdeep match)

File Score
C:\Windows\system32\control.exe 68
C:\WINDOWS\system32\control.exe 79
C:\windows\system32\control.exe 83
C:\Windows\system32\control.exe 83
C:\Windows\system32\control.exe 82
C:\Windows\system32\control.exe 83
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\control.exe 86
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\control.exe 83
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\control.exe 65
C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\control.exe 85
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\control.exe 83
C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\control.exe 83
C:\windows\SysWOW64\control.exe 83

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.