type: attack-pattern
spec_version: 2.1
id: attack-pattern--68a0c5ed-bee2-4513-830d-5b0d650139bd
created: 2020-02-11T18:26:36.444Z
created_by_ref: identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5
revoked: no
external_references: source_name: mitre-attack
url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1021/003
external_id: T1021.003
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: MSDN WMI
description: Microsoft. (n.d.). Windows Management Instrumentation. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
url: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa394582.aspx
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 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 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 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: 2025-10-24T17:48:53.724Z
name: Distributed Component Object Model
description: Adversaries may use [Valid Accounts](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1078) to interact with remote machines by taking advantage of Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM). The adversary may then perform actions as the logged-on user.

The Windows Component Object Model (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. Through COM, a client object can call methods of server objects, which are typically Dynamic Link Libraries (DLL) or executables (EXE). Distributed COM (DCOM) is transparent middleware that extends the functionality of COM beyond a local computer using remote procedure call (RPC) technology.(Citation: Fireeye Hunting COM June 2019)(Citation: Microsoft COM)

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

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/T1559/002) (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. DCOM can be used as a method of remotely interacting with [Windows Management Instrumentation](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1047). (Citation: MSDN WMI)
kill_chain_phases: kill_chain_name: mitre-attack
phase_name: lateral-movement
x_mitre_attack_spec_version: 3.2.0
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: 1.3