control.exe

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

Hashes

Type Hash
MD5 924219B426830FF7476AF7D22AE91DE1
SHA1 6230F80FEF1563F087E641B34A318811FD82B57A
SHA256 CB089C50698BEE280244437BCAF56D3955402A582E5E928DBC8812A5D9C0EF4D
SHA384 2EC3CAC66FFF26E48FFDA6920FE2E6429E2F828B4B798CD6E0C6B96FC205F2F1D2EF79045EE6113A0458886ACEBD1FFC
SHA512 4447C609ED3428F7F44A4015C7B9C320A8C2CA38DD3AD41B33A8F100B5255621CBDD9B66B1230873F2F809631CC15B182CF33F8305224E51F9573674B520FC90
SSDEEP 1536:vhM9USq0WalUt7ae/qzSpZ3r1q6QkjfkQUk8+k6kawM1x8Dkf8dani25imK:vBUUxa7Sp5+1k12b/Af885RK

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 68
C:\WINDOWS\system32\control.exe 77
C:\windows\system32\control.exe 82
C:\WINDOWS\system32\control.exe 82
C:\Windows\system32\control.exe 77
C:\Windows\system32\control.exe 79
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\control.exe 85
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\control.exe 85
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\control.exe 65
C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\control.exe 83
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\control.exe 80
C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\control.exe 80
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

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