type: attack-pattern
spec_version: 2.1
id: attack-pattern--772bc7a8-a157-42cc-8728-d648e25c7fe7
created: 2018-01-16T16:13:52.465Z
created_by_ref: identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5
revoked: no
external_references: source_name: mitre-attack
url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1175
external_id: T1175
source_name: Fireeye Hunting COM June 2019
description: Hamilton, C. (2019, June 4). Hunting COM Objects. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
url: https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2019/06/hunting-com-objects.html
source_name: Microsoft COM
description: Microsoft. (n.d.). Component Object Model (COM). Retrieved November 22, 2017.
url: https://msdn.microsoft.com/library/windows/desktop/ms680573.aspx
source_name: Microsoft COM ACL
description: Microsoft. (n.d.). DCOM Security Enhancements in Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/desktop/com/dcom-security-enhancements-in-windows-xp-service-pack-2-and-windows-server-2003-service-pack-1
source_name: Microsoft Process Wide Com Keys
description: Microsoft. (n.d.). Setting Process-Wide Security Through the Registry. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
url: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms687317(v=vs.85).aspx
source_name: Microsoft System Wide Com Keys
description: Microsoft. (n.d.). Registry Values for System-Wide Security. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
url: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms694331(v=vs.85).aspx
source_name: ProjectZero File Write EoP Apr 2018
description: Forshaw, J. (2018, April 18). Windows Exploitation Tricks: Exploiting Arbitrary File Writes for Local Elevation of Privilege. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
url: https://googleprojectzero.blogspot.com/2018/04/windows-exploitation-tricks-exploiting.html
source_name: Enigma Outlook DCOM Lateral Movement Nov 2017
description: Nelson, M. (2017, November 16). Lateral Movement using Outlook's CreateObject Method and DotNetToJScript. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
url: https://enigma0x3.net/2017/11/16/lateral-movement-using-outlooks-createobject-method-and-dotnettojscript/
source_name: Enigma MMC20 COM Jan 2017
description: Nelson, M. (2017, January 5). Lateral Movement using the MMC20 Application COM Object. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
url: https://enigma0x3.net/2017/01/05/lateral-movement-using-the-mmc20-application-com-object/
source_name: Enigma DCOM Lateral Movement Jan 2017
description: Nelson, M. (2017, January 23). Lateral Movement via DCOM: Round 2. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
url: https://enigma0x3.net/2017/01/23/lateral-movement-via-dcom-round-2/
source_name: Enigma Excel DCOM Sept 2017
description: Nelson, M. (2017, September 11). Lateral Movement using Excel.Application and DCOM. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
url: https://enigma0x3.net/2017/09/11/lateral-movement-using-excel-application-and-dcom/
source_name: Cyberreason DCOM DDE Lateral Movement Nov 2017
description: Tsukerman, P. (2017, November 8). Leveraging Excel DDE for lateral movement via DCOM. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
url: https://www.cybereason.com/blog/leveraging-excel-dde-for-lateral-movement-via-dcom
object_marking_refs: marking-definition--fa42a846-8d90-4e51-bc29-71d5b4802168
modified: 2025-10-24T17:48:58.243Z
name: Component Object Model and Distributed COM
description: **This technique has been deprecated. Please use [Distributed Component Object Model](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1021/003) and [Component Object Model](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1559/001).**

Adversaries may use the Windows Component Object Model (COM) and Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) for local code execution or to execute on remote systems as part of lateral movement. 

COM is a component of the native Windows application programming interface (API) that enables interaction between software objects, or executable code that implements one or more interfaces.(Citation: Fireeye Hunting COM June 2019) Through COM, a client object can call methods of server objects, which are typically Dynamic Link Libraries (DLL) or executables (EXE).(Citation: Microsoft COM) DCOM is transparent middleware that extends the functionality of Component Object Model (COM) (Citation: Microsoft COM) beyond a local computer using remote procedure call (RPC) technology.(Citation: Fireeye Hunting COM June 2019)

Permissions to interact with local and remote server COM objects are specified by access control lists (ACL) in the Registry. (Citation: Microsoft COM ACL)(Citation: Microsoft Process Wide Com Keys)(Citation: Microsoft System Wide Com Keys) By default, only Administrators may remotely activate and launch COM objects through DCOM.

Adversaries may abuse COM for local command and/or payload execution. Various COM interfaces are exposed that can be abused to invoke arbitrary execution via a variety of programming languages such as C, C++, Java, and VBScript.(Citation: Microsoft COM) Specific COM objects also exists to directly perform functions beyond code execution, such as creating a [Scheduled Task/Job](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1053), fileless download/execution, and other adversary behaviors such as Privilege Escalation and Persistence.(Citation: Fireeye Hunting COM June 2019)(Citation: ProjectZero File Write EoP Apr 2018)

Adversaries may use DCOM for lateral movement. Through DCOM, adversaries operating in the context of an appropriately privileged user can remotely obtain arbitrary and even direct shellcode execution through Office applications (Citation: Enigma Outlook DCOM Lateral Movement Nov 2017) as well as other Windows objects that contain insecure methods.(Citation: Enigma MMC20 COM Jan 2017)(Citation: Enigma DCOM Lateral Movement Jan 2017) DCOM can also execute macros in existing documents (Citation: Enigma Excel DCOM Sept 2017) and may also invoke [Dynamic Data Exchange](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1173) (DDE) execution directly through a COM created instance of a Microsoft Office application (Citation: Cyberreason DCOM DDE Lateral Movement Nov 2017), bypassing the need for a malicious document.
kill_chain_phases: kill_chain_name: mitre-attack
phase_name: lateral-movement
kill_chain_name: mitre-attack
phase_name: execution
x_mitre_attack_spec_version: 3.2.0
x_mitre_deprecated: yes
x_mitre_domains: enterprise-attack
x_mitre_is_subtechnique: no
x_mitre_modified_by_ref: identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5
x_mitre_platforms: Windows
x_mitre_version: 2.1