control.exe

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

Hashes

Type Hash
MD5 C8FA632CEF3B25E6AAD2C3ACFCF98E59
SHA1 114616773DBBB6212039C9D7895694FCADEF56F1
SHA256 398A51E3D0B818F8B7D4D0349D97821D68BCF98C6760A3062528B4B7B43F2B1D
SHA384 764E14C0BBD22A2D79FC2957CD28AD8E75FE761F7D84B44784A97CAAE8BFAFC6DF72B97EC9921A4E85716BF941045F44
SHA512 43606A04E07C287030A33524505A3D4E93E2F1AA71BEE46FE177F16D6904F6D128662B4771EEB5BDB4B79C59BF8A10BF1BCB9F206C229FB7456D53BEFFF72AE0
SSDEEP 1536:61uTV4Ny6e/qzSpZ3r1q6QkjfkQUk8+k6kawM1x8Dkf8dani25imK:2DY67Sp5+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: 10.0.19041.1 (WinBuild.160101.0800)
  • Product Version: 10.0.19041.1
  • 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 80
C:\windows\system32\control.exe 83
C:\WINDOWS\system32\control.exe 83
C:\Windows\system32\control.exe 83
C:\Windows\system32\control.exe 80
C:\Windows\system32\control.exe 86
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\control.exe 86
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\control.exe 85
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\control.exe 66
C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\control.exe 88
C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\control.exe 88
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.