t1574-014-appdomainmanager

name	T1574.014_appdomainmanager
description	Adversaries may execute their own malicious payloads by hijacking how the .NET `AppDomainManager` loads assemblies.
category	configuration
version	18.1
author	cyberstrike-official
tags	["mitre-attack","enterprise","t1574.014","persistence","privilege-escalation","defense-evasion","windows","sub-technique"]
technique_id	T1574.014
tactic	persistence
all_tactics	["persistence","privilege-escalation","defense-evasion"]
platforms	["Windows"]
mitre_url	https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1574/014
tech_stack	["windows"]
cwe_ids	["CWE-276"]
chains_with	["T1574","T1574.001","T1574.004","T1574.005","T1574.006","T1574.007","T1574.008","T1574.009","T1574.010","T1574.011","T1574.012","T1574.013"]
prerequisites	["T1574"]
severity_boost	{"T1574":"Chain with T1574 for deeper attack path","T1574.001":"Chain with T1574.001 for deeper attack path","T1574.004":"Chain with T1574.004 for deeper attack path"}

T1574.014 AppDomainManager

Sub-technique of: T1574

High-Level Description

Adversaries may execute their own malicious payloads by hijacking how the .NET AppDomainManager loads assemblies. The .NET framework uses the AppDomainManager class to create and manage one or more isolated runtime environments (called application domains) inside a process to host the execution of .NET applications. Assemblies (.exe or .dll binaries compiled to run as .NET code) may be loaded into an application domain as executable code.

Known as "AppDomainManager injection," adversaries may execute arbitrary code by hijacking how .NET applications load assemblies. For example, malware may create a custom application domain inside a target process to load and execute an arbitrary assembly. Alternatively, configuration files (.config) or process environment variables that define .NET runtime settings may be tampered with to instruct otherwise benign .NET applications to load a malicious assembly (identified by name) into the target process.

Kill Chain Phase

• Persistence (TA0003)
• Privilege Escalation (TA0004)
• Defense Evasion (TA0005)

Platforms: Windows

What to Check

• Identify if AppDomainManager technique is applicable to target environment
• Check Windows systems for indicators of AppDomainManager
• Verify mitigations are bypassed or absent (1 known mitigations)
• Assess detection coverage (1 detection strategies)

How to Test

Manual Testing

1. Identify Attack Surface: Determine if the target environment is susceptible to AppDomainManager by examining the target platforms (Windows).

2. Assess Existing Defenses: Review whether mitigations for T1574.014 are in place. If defenses are absent or misconfigured, this technique may be exploitable.

3. Execute Test: Use tools and methods described in the MITRE ATT&CK page and external references below.

Note: No Atomic Red Team tests available for this technique. See Atomic Red Team GitHub for updates.