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S0029 PsExec

PsExec is a free Microsoft tool that can be used to execute a program on another computer. It is used by IT administrators and attackers.21

Item Value
ID S0029
Associated Names
Type TOOL
Version 1.7
Created 31 May 2017
Last Modified 25 September 2024
Navigation Layer View In ATT&CK® Navigator

Techniques Used

Domain ID Name Use
enterprise T1136 Create Account -
enterprise T1136.002 Domain Account PsExec has the ability to remotely create accounts on target systems.4
enterprise T1543 Create or Modify System Process -
enterprise T1543.003 Windows Service PsExec can leverage Windows services to escalate privileges from administrator to SYSTEM with the -s argument.2
enterprise T1570 Lateral Tool Transfer PsExec can be used to download or upload a file over a network share.3
enterprise T1021 Remote Services -
enterprise T1021.002 SMB/Windows Admin Shares PsExec, a tool that has been used by adversaries, writes programs to the ADMIN$ network share to execute commands on remote systems.3
enterprise T1569 System Services -
enterprise T1569.002 Service Execution Microsoft Sysinternals PsExec is a popular administration tool that can be used to execute binaries on remote systems using a temporary Windows service.2

Groups That Use This Software

ID Name References
G1017 Volt Typhoon 10
G0010 Turla 11
G0114 Chimera 12
G0006 APT1 13
G0076 Thrip Thrip used PsExec to move laterally between computers on the victim’s network.14
G1009 Moses Staff 15
G0098 BlackTech 16
G0003 Cleaver 17
G0105 DarkVishnya 18
G1032 INC Ransom 20221921
G0034 Sandworm Team 23
G1046 Storm-1811 Storm-1811 has used PsExec for remote process execution.24
G0125 HAFNIUM 25
G1024 Akira 26
G0087 APT39 272829
G1040 Play 30
G0053 FIN5 FIN5 uses a customized version of PsExec.31
G0037 FIN6 3233
G0119 Indrik Spider 34
G0088 TEMP.Veles 3536
G0094 Kimsuky 37
G0093 GALLIUM 3839
G0016 APT29 409
G1043 BlackByte BlackByte has used PsExec to remotely execute payloads during wormable ransomware execution.41
G1003 Ember Bear Ember Bear has used PsExec through frameworks such as Impacket for remote command execution.42
G0008 Carbanak 43
G0077 Leafminer 44
G1051 Medusa Group Medusa Group has utilized PsExec to facilitate execution, lateral movement, defense evasion, and exfiltration.45
G0061 FIN8 46
G0117 Fox Kitten 4748
G0035 Dragonfly 49505152
G0059 Magic Hound 53
G0049 OilRig 54
G0080 Cobalt Group 5556
G0019 Naikon 57
G0028 Threat Group-1314 58
G0045 menuPass 6059
G0102 Wizard Spider 616263

References

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  2. Russinovich, M. (2014, May 2). Windows Sysinternals PsExec v2.11. Retrieved May 13, 2015. ↩↩↩

  3. Russinovich, M. (2004, June 28). PsExec. Retrieved December 17, 2015. ↩↩

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