Inter-Process Communication: Dynamic Data Exchange
Other sub-techniques of Inter-Process Communication (2)
| ID | Name |
|---|---|
| T1559.001 | Component Object Model |
| T1559.002 | Dynamic Data Exchange |
Adversaries may use Windows Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) to execute arbitrary commands. DDE is a client-server protocol for one-time and/or continuous inter-process communication (IPC) between applications. Once a link is established, applications can autonomously exchange transactions consisting of strings, warm data links (notifications when a data item changes), hot data links (duplications of changes to a data item), and requests for command execution.
Object Linking and Embedding (OLE), or the ability to link data between documents, was originally implemented through DDE. Despite being superseded by Component Object Model, DDE may be enabled in Windows 10 and most of Microsoft Office 2016 via Registry keys. [1] [2] [3]
Microsoft Office documents can be poisoned with DDE commands [4] [5], directly or through embedded files [6], and used to deliver execution via Phishing campaigns or hosted Web content, avoiding the use of Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) macros. [7] DDE could also be leveraged by an adversary operating on a compromised machine who does not have direct access to a Command and Scripting Interpreter.
Procedure Examples
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| APT28 |
APT28 has delivered JHUHUGIT and Koadic by executing PowerShell commands through DDE in Word documents.[19][20][21] |
| APT37 |
APT37 has used Windows DDE for execution of commands and a malicious VBS.[25] |
| Cobalt Group |
Cobalt Group has sent malicious Word OLE compound documents to victims.[23] |
| FIN7 |
FIN7 spear phishing campaigns have included malicious Word documents with DDE execution.[22] |
| Gallmaker |
Gallmaker attempted to exploit Microsoft’s DDE protocol in order to gain access to victim machines and for execution.[26] |
| GravityRAT |
GravityRAT has been delivered via Word documents using DDE for execution.[11] |
| HAWKBALL |
HAWKBALL has used an OLE object that uses Equation Editor to drop the embedded shellcode.[14] |
| KeyBoy |
KeyBoy uses the Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) protocol to download remote payloads.[13] |
| MuddyWater |
MuddyWater has used malware that can execute PowerShell scripts via DDE.[24] |
| Patchwork |
Patchwork leveraged the DDE protocol to deliver their malware.[18] |
| PoetRAT |
PoetRAT was delivered with documents using DDE to execute malicious code.[15] |
| POWERSTATS |
POWERSTATS can use DDE to execute additional payloads on compromised hosts.[12] |
| Ramsay |
Ramsay has been delivered using OLE objects in malicious documents.[16] |
| RTM |
RTM can search for specific strings within browser tabs using a Dynamic Data Exchange mechanism.[17] |
| Sharpshooter |
Sharpshooter has sent malicious Word OLE documents to victims.[28] |
| TA505 |
TA505 has leveraged malicious Word documents that abused DDE.[27] |
Mitigations
| Mitigation | Description |
|---|---|
| Application Isolation and Sandboxing |
Ensure Protected View is enabled.[9] |
| Behavior Prevention on Endpoint |
On Windows 10, enable Attack Surface Reduction (ASR) rules to prevent DDE attacks and spawning of child processes from Office programs.[10][6] |
| Disable or Remove Feature or Program |
Registry keys specific to Microsoft Office feature control security can be set to disable automatic DDE/OLE execution. [3][1][8] Microsoft also created, and enabled by default, Registry keys to completely disable DDE execution in Word and Excel.[2] |
| Software Configuration |
Consider disabling embedded files in Office programs, such as OneNote, that do not work with Protected View.[6][8] |
Detection
Monitor processes for abnormal behavior indicative of DDE abuse, such as Microsoft Office applications loading DLLs and other modules not typically associated with the application or these applications spawning unusual processes (such as cmd.exe).
OLE and Office Open XML files can be scanned for ‘DDEAUTO', ‘DDE’, and other strings indicative of DDE execution.[29]
References
- Cimpanu, C. (2017, December 15). Microsoft Disables DDE Feature in Word to Prevent Further Malware Attacks. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
- Microsoft. (2017, December 12). ADV170021 - Microsoft Office Defense in Depth Update. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
- Microsoft. (2017, November 8). Microsoft Security Advisory 4053440 - Securely opening Microsoft Office documents that contain Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) fields. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
- El-Sherei, S. (2016, May 20). PowerShell, C-Sharp and DDE The Power Within. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
- Kettle, J. (2014, August 29). Comma Separated Vulnerabilities. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
- Nelson, M. (2018, January 29). Reviving DDE: Using OneNote and Excel for Code Execution. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
- Stalmans, E., El-Sherei, S. (2017, October 9). Macro-less Code Exec in MSWord. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
- Dormann, W. (2017, October 20). Disable DDEAUTO for Outlook, Word, OneNote, and Excel versions 2010, 2013, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
- Microsoft. (n.d.). What is Protected View?. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
- Brower, N. & D'Souza-Wiltshire, I. (2017, November 9). Enable Attack surface reduction. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
- Mercer, W., Rascagneres, P. (2018, April 26). GravityRAT - The Two-Year Evolution Of An APT Targeting India. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
- Singh, S. et al.. (2018, March 13). Iranian Threat Group Updates Tactics, Techniques and Procedures in Spear Phishing Campaign. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
- Parys, B. (2017, February 11). The KeyBoys are back in town. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
- Patil, S. and Williams, M.. (2019, June 5). Government Sector in Central Asia Targeted With New HAWKBALL Backdoor Delivered via Microsoft Office Vulnerabilities. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
- Mercer, W, et al. (2020, April 16). PoetRAT: Python RAT uses COVID-19 lures to target Azerbaijan public and private sectors. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
- Sanmillan, I.. (2020, May 13). Ramsay: A cyber‑espionage toolkit tailored for air‑gapped networks. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- Faou, M. and Boutin, J. (2017, February). Read The Manual: A Guide to the RTM Banking Trojan. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
- Lunghi, D., et al. (2017, December). Untangling the Patchwork Cyberespionage Group. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
- Sherstobitoff, R., Rea, M. (2017, November 7). Threat Group APT28 Slips Office Malware into Doc Citing NYC Terror Attack. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
- Paganini, P. (2017, November 9). Russia-Linked APT28 group observed using DDE attack to deliver malware. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
- Lee, B., Falcone, R. (2018, June 06). Sofacy Group’s Parallel Attacks. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
- Waterman, S. (2017, October 16). Fin7 weaponization of DDE is just their latest slick move, say researchers. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
- Svajcer, V. (2018, July 31). Multiple Cobalt Personality Disorder. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
- Kaspersky Lab's Global Research & Analysis Team. (2018, October 10). MuddyWater expands operations. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
- Raiu, C., and Ivanov, A. (2016, June 17). Operation Daybreak. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
- Symantec Security Response. (2018, October 10). Gallmaker: New Attack Group Eschews Malware to Live off the Land. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
- Proofpoint Staff. (2018, June 8). TA505 shifts with the times. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
- Sherstobitoff, R., Malhotra, A., et. al.. (2018, December 18). Operation Sharpshooter Campaign Targets Global Defense, Critical Infrastructure. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
- NVISO Labs. (2017, October 11). Detecting DDE in MS Office documents. Retrieved November 21, 2017.