type: attack-pattern
spec_version: 2.1
id: attack-pattern--cbb66055-0325-4111-aca0-40547b6ad5b0
created: 2020-03-13T20:26:49.433Z
created_by_ref: identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5
revoked: no
external_references: source_name: mitre-attack
url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1564/003
external_id: T1564.003
source_name: Cantoris Computing
description: Cantoris. (2016, July 22). PowerShell Malware. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
url: https://cantoriscomputing.wordpress.com/2016/07/22/powershell-malware/
source_name: Cybereason - Hidden Malicious Remote Access
description: Cybereason Security Services Team. (n.d.). Behind Closed Doors: The Rise of Hidden Malicious Remote Access. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
url: https://www.cybereason.com/blog/behind-closed-doors-the-rise-of-hidden-malicious-remote-access
source_name: LOLBAS Project GitHub Device Cred Dep
description: Elliot Killick. (n.d.). /DeviceCredentialDeployment.exe. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
url: https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/DeviceCredentialDeployment/
source_name: Hidden VNC
description: Hutchins, Marcus. (2015, September 13). Hidden VNC for Beginners. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
url: https://www.malwaretech.com/2015/09/hidden-vnc-for-beginners.html
source_name: Anatomy of an hVNC Attack
description: Keshet, Lior. Kessem, Limor. (2017, January 25). Anatomy of an hVNC Attack. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
url: https://securityintelligence.com/anatomy-of-an-hvnc-attack/
source_name: SecureList BlueNoroff Device Cred Dev
description: Seongsu Park. (2022, December 27). BlueNoroff introduces new methods bypassing MoTW. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
url: https://securelist.com/bluenoroff-methods-bypass-motw/108383/
source_name: Antiquated Mac Malware
description: Thomas Reed. (2017, January 18). New Mac backdoor using antiquated code. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
url: https://blog.malwarebytes.com/threat-analysis/2017/01/new-mac-backdoor-using-antiquated-code/
source_name: PowerShell About 2019
description: Wheeler, S. et al.. (2019, May 1). About PowerShell.exe. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/Microsoft.PowerShell.Core/About/about_PowerShell_exe?view=powershell-5.1
object_marking_refs: marking-definition--fa42a846-8d90-4e51-bc29-71d5b4802168
modified: 2025-10-24T17:49:23.485Z
name: Hidden Window
description: Adversaries may use hidden windows to conceal malicious activity from the plain sight of users. In some cases, windows that would typically be displayed when an application carries out an operation can be hidden. This may be utilized by system administrators to avoid disrupting user work environments when carrying out administrative tasks. 

Adversaries may abuse these functionalities to hide otherwise visible windows from users so as not to alert the user to adversary activity on the system.(Citation: Antiquated Mac Malware)

On macOS, the configurations for how applications run are listed in property list (plist) files. One of the tags in these files can be apple.awt.UIElement, which allows for Java applications to prevent the application's icon from appearing in the Dock. A common use for this is when applications run in the system tray, but don't also want to show up in the Dock.

Similarly, on Windows there are a variety of features in scripting languages, such as [PowerShell](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/001), Jscript, and [Visual Basic](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/005) to make windows hidden. One example of this is powershell.exe -WindowStyle Hidden.(Citation: PowerShell About 2019)

The Windows Registry can also be edited to hide application windows from the current user. For example, by setting the `WindowPosition` subkey in the `HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Console\%SystemRoot%_System32_WindowsPowerShell_v1.0_PowerShell.exe` Registry key to a maximum value, PowerShell windows will open off screen and be hidden.(Citation: Cantoris Computing)

In addition, Windows supports the `CreateDesktop()` API that can create a hidden desktop window with its own corresponding explorer.exe process.(Citation: Hidden VNC)(Citation: Anatomy of an hVNC Attack) All applications running on the hidden desktop window, such as a hidden VNC (hVNC) session,(Citation: Hidden VNC) will be invisible to other desktops windows.

Adversaries may also leverage cmd.exe(Citation: Cybereason - Hidden Malicious Remote Access) as a parent process, and then utilize a LOLBin, such as DeviceCredentialDeployment.exe,(Citation: LOLBAS Project GitHub Device Cred Dep)(Citation: SecureList BlueNoroff Device Cred Dev) to hide windows.
kill_chain_phases: kill_chain_name: mitre-attack
phase_name: defense-evasion
x_mitre_attack_spec_version: 3.3.0
x_mitre_contributors: Travis Smith, Tripwire
Mark Tsipershtein
Vijay Lalwani
Liran Ravich, CardinalOps
x_mitre_deprecated: no
x_mitre_domains: enterprise-attack
x_mitre_is_subtechnique: yes
x_mitre_modified_by_ref: identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5
x_mitre_platforms: Linux
macOS
Windows
x_mitre_version: 1.4