Techniques › T1505 › T1505.004
T1505.004 IIS Components
persistence — Windows · attack.mitre.org · JSON
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MITRE detection strategy
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analytics
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Sigma rules tagged attack.t1505.004
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KEV CVEs mapped here
<p>Adversaries may install malicious components that run on Internet Information Services (IIS) web servers to establish persistence. IIS provides several mechanisms to extend the functionality of the web servers. For example, Internet Server Application Programming Interface (ISAPI) extensions and filters can be installed to examine and/or modify incoming and outgoing IIS web requests. Extensions and filters are deployed as DLL files that export three functions: <code>Get{Extension/Filter}Version</code>, <code>Http{Extension/Filter}Proc</code>, and (optionally) <code>Terminate{Extension/Filter}</code>. IIS modules may also be installed to extend IIS web servers.</p><p>Adversaries may install malicious ISAPI extensions and filters to observe and/or modify traffic, execute commands on compromised machines, or proxy command and control traffic. ISAPI extensions and filters may have access to all IIS web requests and responses. For example, an adversary may abuse these mechanisms to modify HTTP responses in order to distribute malicious commands/content to previously comprised hosts.</p><p>Adversaries may also install malicious IIS modules to observe and/or modify traffic. IIS 7.0 introduced modules that provide the same unrestricted access to HTTP requests and responses as ISAPI extensions and filters. IIS modules can be written as a DLL that exports <code>RegisterModule</code>, or as a .NET application that interfaces with ASP.NET APIs to access IIS HTTP requests.</p>
KEV CVEs mapped to this technique · CTID Mappings Explorer
None. No KEV entry in the public mapping names this technique. Given that 74.7% of KEV has no mapping at all, this says more about the mapping than about the technique.
Detection strategy · ATT&CK Enterprise v19.2
- DET0068 Detection Strategy for T1505.004 - Malicious IIS Components v1.0
AN0184 WindowsAdversary installs or modifies IIS components (ISAPI filters, extensions, or modules) using DLL files registered via configuration changes or administrative tools like AppCmd.exe. These components intercept or manipulate HTTP requests/responses for persistence or C2.WinEventLog:System
Changes to applicationhost.config or DLLs loaded by w3wp.exe→ DC0038 Application Log ContentWinEventLog:Microsoft-IIS-ConfigurationModule or ISAPI filter registration events→ DC0065 Service ModificationTunable:TimeWindowUserContextWatchedPathsDLLNameEntropyThresholdParentProcessName
Sigma rules · SigmaHQ da9bb07d64, tag attack.t1505.004
Author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Microsoft (idea)
· 2022-08-04 (modified 2023-01-23) · logsource: product=windows category=process_creation · 043c4b8b-3a54-4780-9682-081cb6b8185c
Detects a suspicious IIS module registration as described in Microsoft threat report on IIS backdoors
Author: Nasreddine Bencherchali
· 2024-10-06 · logsource: product=windows service=iis-configuration · 9e1a1fdf-ee58-40ce-8e15-b66ca5a80e1f
Detects the removal of a previously installed IIS module.
Author: frack113, Nasreddine Bencherchali
· 2024-10-06 · logsource: product=windows service=iis-configuration · a5b40a90-baf5-4bf7-a6f7-373494881d22
Detects changes to of the IIS server configuration in order to disable/remove the ETW logging/processing option.
Author: frack113
· 2024-10-06 · logsource: product=windows service=iis-configuration · dd857d3e-0c6e-457b-9b48-e82ae7f86bd7
Detects the addition of a new module to an IIS server.
Author: frack113
· 2024-10-06 · logsource: product=windows service=iis-configuration · e8ebd53a-30c2-45bd-81bb-74befba07bdb
Detects changes to of the IIS server configuration in order to disable HTTP logging for successful requests.
Rules tagged at the parent level (attack.t1505) 1
These target the parent technique, not this sub-technique specifically. Listed for completeness, not counted as coverage.
Author: Austin Clark
· 2019-08-12 (modified 2025-04-28) · logsource: product=cisco service=aaa · 671ffc77-50a7-464f-9e3d-9ea2b493b26b
Modifications to a config that will serve an adversary's impacts or persistence