control.exe

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

Hashes

Type Hash
MD5 F74B09C54E47526BB0679F8F0967AD0E
SHA1 14ACDB96C0CF537B20099962B2536BCA48775DC4
SHA256 088B7693BE0643277D16A66862B4446A288AFB86B2E987FE7A943126D0DD08F0
SHA384 4084BF18B0E4C83B02D4C22C6176D4656AF15A860FC357B666BCCF46763D396E44284C53F8FB5D5F9C885343365807DA
SHA512 08C22D09276984DC35CD660E02A0593898970AAABFE0EC1CF2DA8236F04AFF372624BA48D8BE9B6BAF411EB867554F016A08E92453B9943F81558DEDF87D14C2
SSDEEP 1536:e4EMLqAaMre/qzSpZ3r1q6QkjfkQUk8+k6kawM1x8Dkf8dani25imK:NLL9rr7Sp5+1k12b/Af885RK

Signature

  • Status: The file C:\windows\SysWOW64\control.exe is not digitally signed. You cannot run this script on the current system. For more information about running scripts and setting execution policy, see about_Execution_Policies at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=135170
  • Serial: ``
  • Thumbprint: ``
  • Issuer:
  • Subject:

File Metadata

  • Original Filename: CONTROL.EXE
  • Product Name: Microsoft Windows Operating System
  • Company Name: Microsoft Corporation
  • File Version: 6.3.9600.17415 (winblue_r4.141028-1500)
  • Product Version: 6.3.9600.17415
  • 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 80
C:\windows\system32\control.exe 85
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 86
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\control.exe 85
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\control.exe 65
C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\control.exe 83
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\control.exe 85
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.