SyncAppvPublishingServer

T1216.002

Sub-technique of T1216 System Script Proxy Execution.View on attack.mitre.org

About this technique

Adversaries may abuse SyncAppvPublishingServer.vbs to proxy execution of malicious PowerShell commands. SyncAppvPublishingServer.vbs is a Visual Basic script associated with how Windows virtualizes applications (Microsoft Application Virtualization, or App-V). For example, Windows may render Win32 applications to users as virtual applications, allowing users to launch and interact with them as if they were installed locally.

The SyncAppvPublishingServer.vbs script is legitimate, may be signed by Microsoft, and is commonly executed from `\System32` through the command line via `wscript.exe`.

Adversaries may abuse SyncAppvPublishingServer.vbs to bypass PowerShell execution restrictions and evade defensive counter measures by "living off the land." Proxying execution may function as a trusted/signed alternative to directly invoking `powershell.exe`.

For example, PowerShell commands may be invoked using:

`SyncAppvPublishingServer.vbs "n; {PowerShell}"`

Detection rules0

Rules on DetectionCode tagged with T1216.002.

Sigma0

No Sigma rules are mapped to this technique yet.

Splunk0

No Splunk rules are mapped to this technique yet.

Groups0

None recorded.

Software0

None recorded.

Campaigns0

None recorded.

Procedure examples0

No procedure examples are recorded for this technique.

References7

  1. 1 - appv Open source
    SEONGSU PARK. (2022, December 27). BlueNoroff introduces new methods bypassing MoTW. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  2. 2 - appv Open source
    Microsoft. (2022, November 3). Getting started with App-V for Windows client. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  3. 3 - appv Open source
    Raj Chandel. (2022, March 17). Indirect Command Execution: Defense Evasion (T1202). Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  4. 4 - appv Open source
    John Fokker. (2022, March 17). Suspected DarkHotel APT activity update. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  5. 5 - appv Open source
    Nick Landers, Casey Smith. (n.d.). /Syncappvpublishingserver.vbs. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  6. 6 - appv Open source
    Strontic. (n.d.). SyncAppvPublishingServer.exe. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  7. 7 - appv Open source
    Nick Landers. (2017, August 8). Need a signed alternative to Powershell.exe? SyncAppvPublishingServer in Win10 has got you covered.. Retrieved September 12, 2024.

Data from MITRE ATT&CK® (Enterprise). ATT&CK® is a registered trademark of The MITRE Corporation.