type: attack-pattern
spec_version: 2.1
id: attack-pattern--ffbcfdb0-de22-4106-9ed3-fc23c8a01407
created: 2021-09-28T01:36:41.638Z
created_by_ref: identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5
revoked: no
external_references: source_name: mitre-attack
url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218/014
external_id: T1218.014
source_name: abusing_com_reg
description: bohops. (2018, August 18). ABUSING THE COM REGISTRY STRUCTURE (PART 2): HIJACKING & LOADING TECHNIQUES. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
url: https://bohops.com/2018/08/18/abusing-the-com-registry-structure-part-2-loading-techniques-for-evasion-and-persistence/
source_name: mmc_vulns
description: Boxiner, A., Vaknin, E. (2019, June 11). Microsoft Management Console (MMC) Vulnerabilities. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
url: https://research.checkpoint.com/2019/microsoft-management-console-mmc-vulnerabilities/
source_name: win_msc_files_overview
description: Brinkmann, M.. (2017, June 10). Windows .msc files overview. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
url: https://www.ghacks.net/2017/06/10/windows-msc-files-overview/
source_name: win_mmc
description: Microsoft. (2017, October 16). mmc. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/mmc
source_name: win_wbadmin_delete_catalog
description: Microsoft. (2017, October 16). wbadmin delete catalog. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/wbadmin-delete-catalog
source_name: win_clsid_key
description: Microsoft. (2018, May 31). CLSID Key. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/com/clsid-key-hklm
source_name: what_is_mmc
description: Microsoft. (2020, September 27). What is Microsoft Management Console?. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
url: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-server/system-management-components/what-is-microsoft-management-console
source_name: phobos_virustotal
description: Phobos Ransomware. (2020, December 30). Phobos Ransomware, Fast.exe. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
url: https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/0b4c743246478a6a8c9fa3ff8e04f297507c2f0ea5d61a1284fe65387d172f81/detection
object_marking_refs: marking-definition--fa42a846-8d90-4e51-bc29-71d5b4802168
modified: 2025-10-24T17:49:40.236Z
name: MMC
description: Adversaries may abuse mmc.exe to proxy execution of malicious .msc files. Microsoft Management Console (MMC) is a binary that may be signed by Microsoft and is used in several ways in either its GUI or in a command prompt.(Citation: win_mmc)(Citation: what_is_mmc) MMC can be used to create, open, and save custom consoles that contain administrative tools created by Microsoft, called snap-ins. These snap-ins may be used to manage Windows systems locally or remotely. MMC can also be used to open Microsoft created .msc files to manage system configuration.(Citation: win_msc_files_overview)

For example, mmc C:\Users\foo\admintools.msc /a will open a custom, saved console msc file in author mode.(Citation: win_mmc) Another common example is mmc gpedit.msc, which will open the Group Policy Editor application window. 

Adversaries may use MMC commands to perform malicious tasks. For example, mmc wbadmin.msc delete catalog -quiet deletes the backup catalog on the system (i.e. [Inhibit System Recovery](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1490)) without prompts to the user (Note: wbadmin.msc may only be present by default on Windows Server operating systems).(Citation: win_wbadmin_delete_catalog)(Citation: phobos_virustotal)

Adversaries may also abuse MMC to execute malicious .msc files. For example, adversaries may first create a malicious registry Class Identifier (CLSID) subkey, which uniquely identifies a [Component Object Model](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1559/001) class object.(Citation: win_clsid_key) Then, adversaries may create custom consoles with the “Link to Web Address” snap-in that is linked to the malicious CLSID subkey.(Citation: mmc_vulns) Once the .msc file is saved, adversaries may invoke the malicious CLSID payload with the following command: mmc.exe -Embedding C:\path\to\test.msc.(Citation: abusing_com_reg)
kill_chain_phases: kill_chain_name: mitre-attack
phase_name: defense-evasion
x_mitre_attack_spec_version: 3.2.0
x_mitre_contributors: Wes Hurd
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: Windows
x_mitre_version: 2.1