MITRE ATT&CK sub-technique
T1218.004 — InstallUtil
Last fetched
T1218.004 (InstallUtil) is a MITRE ATT&CK sub-technique tracked in WhisperGraph, serving the Stealth tactic.
Description
Adversaries may use InstallUtil to proxy execution of code through a trusted Windows utility. InstallUtil is a command-line utility that allows for installation and uninstallation of resources by executing specific installer components specified in .NET binaries. (Citation: MSDN InstallUtil) The InstallUtil binary may also be digitally signed by Microsoft and located in the .NET directories on a Windows system: <code>C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v<version>\InstallUtil.exe</code> and <code>C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v<version>\InstallUtil.exe</code>. InstallUtil may also be used to bypass application control through use of attributes within the binary that execute the class decorated with the attribute <code>[System.ComponentModel.RunInstaller(true)]</code>. (Citation: LOLBAS Installutil)
Tactics
Related techniques
Parent technique: T1218 · System Binary Proxy Execution
Threat actors observed using this technique
© The MITRE Corporation. This work is reproduced and distributed with the permission of The MITRE Corporation.
Related pages
Pivot from T1218.004 into its tactic, related techniques and the actors that use it.
Queries
Resolves the segment to this technique or tactic.
MATCH (t:ATTACK_PATTERN {name: $id})
RETURN t.id AS id, t.name AS name, t.kind AS kind, t.description AS descriptionRun yourself →The tactic(s) this technique serves.
MATCH (t:ATTACK_PATTERN {name: $id})-[:USES_TACTIC]->(tac:ATTACK_PATTERN)
RETURN tac.id AS id, tac.name AS name
LIMIT 10Run yourself →This id's parent technique, if it is a sub-technique.
MATCH (p:ATTACK_PATTERN {name: $parentId})
RETURN p.id AS id, p.name AS name
LIMIT 1Run yourself →Sub-techniques of this technique, if any.
MATCH (c:ATTACK_PATTERN) WHERE c.id STARTS WITH $subPrefix
RETURN c.id AS id, c.name AS name
ORDER BY c.id
LIMIT 25Run yourself →Threat actors observed using this technique.
MATCH (a:ACTOR)-[:USES_TECHNIQUE]->(t:ATTACK_PATTERN {name: $id})
RETURN a.name AS name
LIMIT 100Run yourself →Or query Whisper from your own LLM workflow via the Whisper MCP server.