---
title: "Windows InstallUtil Uninstall Option with Network"
excerpt: "InstallUtil, Signed Binary Proxy Execution"
categories:
  - Endpoint
last_modified_at: 2021-11-12
toc: true
toc_label: ""
tags:
  - InstallUtil
  - Defense Evasion
  - Signed Binary Proxy Execution
  - Defense Evasion
  - Splunk Enterprise
  - Splunk Enterprise Security
  - Splunk Cloud
  - Endpoint
---



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#### Description

The following analytic identifies the Windows InstallUtil.exe binary making a remote network connection. This technique may be used to download and execute code while bypassing application control using the `/u` (uninstall) switch. \
InstallUtil uses the functions install and uninstall within the System.Configuration.Install namespace to process .net assembly. Install function requires admin privileges, however, uninstall function can be run as an unprivileged user.\
When `InstallUtil.exe` is used in a malicous manner, the path to an executable on the filesystem is typically specified. Take note of the parent process. In a suspicious instance, this will be spawned from a non-standard process like `Cmd.exe`, `PowerShell.exe` or `Explorer.exe`. \
If used by a developer, typically this will be found with multiple command-line switches/arguments and spawn from Visual Studio. \
During triage review resulting network connections, file modifications, and parallel processes. Capture any artifacts and review further.

- **Type**: [TTP](https://github.com/splunk/security_content/wiki/Detection-Analytic-Types)
- **Product**: Splunk Enterprise, Splunk Enterprise Security, Splunk Cloud
- **Datamodel**: [Endpoint](https://docs.splunk.com/Documentation/CIM/latest/User/Endpoint)
- **Last Updated**: 2021-11-12
- **Author**: Michael Haag, Splunk
- **ID**: 1a52c836-43ef-11ec-a36c-acde48001122


#### [ATT&CK](https://attack.mitre.org/)

| ID             | Technique        |  Tactic             |
| -------------- | ---------------- |-------------------- |
| [T1218.004](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218/004/) | InstallUtil | Defense Evasion |

| [T1218](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218/) | Signed Binary Proxy Execution | Defense Evasion |

#### Search

```

| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count FROM datamodel=Endpoint.Processes where `process_installutil` Processes.process IN ("*/u*", "*uninstall*") by _time span=1h  Processes.process_guid Processes.process_name Processes.dest Processes.process_path Processes.process Processes.parent_process_name 
| `drop_dm_object_name(Processes)` 
| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` 
| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` 
| join  process_guid [ 
| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count FROM datamodel=Endpoint.Ports where Ports.dest_port !="0" by Ports.process_guid Ports.dest Ports.dest_port 
| `drop_dm_object_name(Ports)` 
| rename  dest as connection_to_CNC] 
| table _time dest parent_process_name process_name original_file_name process_path process process_guid connection_to_CNC dest_port 
| `windows_installutil_uninstall_option_with_network_filter`
```

#### Macros
The SPL above uses the following Macros:
* [process_installutil](https://github.com/splunk/security_content/blob/develop/macros/process_installutil.yml)
* [security_content_ctime](https://github.com/splunk/security_content/blob/develop/macros/security_content_ctime.yml)
* [security_content_summariesonly](https://github.com/splunk/security_content/blob/develop/macros/security_content_summariesonly.yml)

Note that `windows_installutil_uninstall_option_with_network_filter` is a empty macro by default. It allows the user to filter out any results (false positives) without editing the SPL.

#### Required field
* _time
* Processes.dest
* Processes.user
* Processes.parent_process_name
* Processes.parent_process
* Processes.original_file_name
* Processes.process_name
* Processes.process
* Processes.process_id
* Processes.parent_process_path
* Processes.process_path
* Processes.parent_process_id
* Ports.process_guid
* Ports.dest
* Ports.dest_port


#### How To Implement
To successfully implement this search you need to be ingesting information on process that include the name of the process responsible for the changes from your endpoints into the `Endpoint` datamodel in the `Processes` and `Ports` node. In addition, confirm the latest CIM App 4.20 or higher is installed and the latest TA for the endpoint product.

#### Known False Positives
Limited false positives should be present as InstallUtil is not typically used to download remote files. Filter as needed based on Developers requirements.

#### Associated Analytic story
* [Signed Binary Proxy Execution InstallUtil](/stories/signed_binary_proxy_execution_installutil)


#### Kill Chain Phase
* Exploitation
* Privilege Escalation



#### RBA

| Risk Score  | Impact      | Confidence   | Message      |
| ----------- | ----------- |--------------|--------------|
| 80.0 | 80 | 100 | An instance of $parent_process_name$ spawning $process_name$ was identified on endpoint $dest$ by user $user$ performing an uninstall. |


Note that risk score is calculated base on the following formula: `(Impact * Confidence)/100`



#### Reference

* [https://evi1cg.me/archives/AppLocker_Bypass_Techniques.html#menu_index_12](https://evi1cg.me/archives/AppLocker_Bypass_Techniques.html#menu_index_12)
* [https://github.com/api0cradle/UltimateAppLockerByPassList/blob/master/md/Installutil.exe.md](https://github.com/api0cradle/UltimateAppLockerByPassList/blob/master/md/Installutil.exe.md)
* [https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/master/atomics/T1218.004/T1218.004.md](https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/master/atomics/T1218.004/T1218.004.md)



#### Test Dataset
Replay any dataset to Splunk Enterprise by using our [`replay.py`](https://github.com/splunk/attack_data#using-replaypy) tool or the [UI](https://github.com/splunk/attack_data#using-ui).
Alternatively you can replay a dataset into a [Splunk Attack Range](https://github.com/splunk/attack_range#replay-dumps-into-attack-range-splunk-server)

* [https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1218.004/atomic_red_team/windows-sysmon.log](https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1218.004/atomic_red_team/windows-sysmon.log)



[*source*](https://github.com/splunk/security_content/tree/develop/detections/endpoint/windows_installutil_uninstall_option_with_network.yml) \| *version*: **1**