control.exe

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

Hashes

Type Hash
MD5 D7D596CA323E67AAE7F8752BD9B45A1E
SHA1 E511037D1581FFF142A7B3AA5E2439D802473711
SHA256 B631D48964A6960FD326D1288163882DDB385EE9E9324ED6415237499361499B
SHA384 499AA1727B8D1F4F6AF4D608A0A9965FD9A35790F2402B248D041C43351C9F02FD1B905088A646ACB3D892B41461F237
SHA512 11974E58DDA5DE047BB8521CE6820F7878FA14C86BB3B7F520E31F39DEA7984F2CC90382AC9A1CB5A43007DB80E14C9409B5FC7C03A4108B23A756FCD1E5C64F
SSDEEP 1536:ATHrLJptbBRui4dU6e/qzSpZ3r1q6QkjfkQUk8+k6kawM1x8Dkf8dani25imK:2r30la67Sp5+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 77
C:\windows\system32\control.exe 80
C:\WINDOWS\system32\control.exe 83
C:\Windows\system32\control.exe 79
C:\Windows\system32\control.exe 79
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\control.exe 83
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\control.exe 82
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\control.exe 66
C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\control.exe 80
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\control.exe 86
C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\control.exe 83
C:\windows\SysWOW64\control.exe 82

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.