MaxPatrol EDR

Safeguards endpoints from advanced and targeted attacks, supports all popular operating systems

T1546.011: Application Shimming

Adversaries may establish persistence and/or elevate privileges by executing malicious content triggered by application shims. The Microsoft Windows Application Compatibility Infrastructure/Framework (Application Shim) was created to allow for backward compatibility of software as the operating system codebase changes over time. For example, the application shimming feature allows developers to apply fixes to applications (without rewriting code) that were created for Windows XP so that it will work with Windows 10.

Within the framework, shims are created to act as a buffer between the program (or more specifically, the Import Address Table) and the Windows OS. When a program is executed, the shim cache is referenced to determine if the program requires the use of the shim database (.sdb). If so, the shim database uses hooking to redirect the code as necessary in order to communicate with the OS.

A list of all shims currently installed by the default Windows installer (sdbinst.exe) is kept in:

  • %WINDIR%\AppPatch\sysmain.sdb and
  • hklm\software\microsoft\windows nt\currentversion\appcompatflags\installedsdb

Custom databases are stored in:

  • %WINDIR%\AppPatch\custom & %WINDIR%\AppPatch\AppPatch64\Custom and
  • hklm\software\microsoft\windows nt\currentversion\appcompatflags\custom

To keep shims secure, Windows designed them to run in user mode so they cannot modify the kernel and you must have administrator privileges to install a shim. However, certain shims can be used to Bypass User Account Control (UAC and RedirectEXE), inject DLLs into processes (InjectDLL), disable Data Execution Prevention (DisableNX) and Structure Exception Handling (DisableSEH), and intercept memory addresses (GetProcAddress).

Utilizing these shims may allow an adversary to perform several malicious acts such as elevate privileges, install backdoors, disable defenses like Windows Defender, etc. Shims can also be abused to establish persistence by continuously being invoked by affected programs.

Positive Technologies products that cover the technique

Description of detection methods is not available yet

Detection

IDDS0011Data source and componentModule: Module LoadDescription

Monitor DLL loads by processes that load user32.dll and look for DLLs that are not recognized or not normally loaded into a process.

IDDS0009Data source and componentProcess: Process CreationDescription

Monitor newly executed processs for sdbinst.exe for potential indications of application shim abuse. There are several public tools available that will detect shims that are currently available :

  • Shim-Process-Scanner - checks memory of every running process for any shim flags
  • Shim-Detector-Lite - detects installation of custom shim databases
  • Shim-Guard - monitors registry for any shim installations
  • ShimScanner - forensic tool to find active shims in memory
  • ShimCacheMem - Volatility plug-in that pulls shim cache from memory (note: shims are only cached after reboot)
IDDS0024Data source and componentWindows Registry: Windows Registry Key ModificationDescription

Monitor for changes to windows registry keys and/or values that may establish persistence and/or elevate privileges by executing malicious content triggered by application shims.

IDDS0017Data source and componentCommand: Command ExecutionDescription

Monitor executed commands and arguments for sdbinst.exe for potential indications of application shim abuse.

IDDS0022Data source and componentFile: File ModificationDescription

Monitor for changes made to files that may establish persistence and/or elevate privileges by executing malicious content triggered by application shims.

Mitigation

IDM1052NameUser Account ControlDescription

Changing UAC settings to "Always Notify" will give the user more visibility when UAC elevation is requested, however, this option will not be popular among users due to the constant UAC interruptions.

IDM1051NameUpdate SoftwareDescription

Microsoft released an optional patch update - KB3045645 - that will remove the "auto-elevate" flag within the sdbinst.exe. This will prevent use of application shimming to bypass UAC.