MITRE ATT&CKsub-technique

T1216.002 SyncAppvPublishingServer

Published 2024-02-06 Modified 2026-05-12 Official page ↗
Domain
enterprise
Tactics
Stealth
Platforms
Windows
Version
2.0
Created
2024-02-06

Description

Adversaries may abuse SyncAppvPublishingServer.vbs to proxy execution of malicious PowerShell commands. SyncAppvPublishingServer.vbs is a Visual Basic script associated with how Windows virtualizes applications (Microsoft Application Virtualization, or App-V). For example, Windows may render Win32 applications to users as virtual applications, allowing users to launch and interact with them as if they were installed locally. The SyncAppvPublishingServer.vbs script is legitimate, may be signed by Microsoft, and is commonly executed from `\System32` through the command line via `wscript.exe`. Adversaries may abuse SyncAppvPublishingServer.vbs to bypass PowerShell execution restrictions and evade defensive counter measures by "living off the land." Proxying execution may function as a trusted/signed alternative to directly invoking `powershell.exe`. For example, PowerShell commands may be invoked using: `SyncAppvPublishingServer.vbs "n; {PowerShell}"`

Related

Subtechnique of · MITRE ATT&CK (1)

  • T1216 System Script Proxy Execution technique

Tactic · MITRE ATT&CK (1)

Referenced by MITRE ATT&CK · mitigates (1)

  • M1038 Execution Prevention mitigation

Referenced by Compliance · mitigates (4)

  • NIST-CM-2 Baseline Configuration NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-CM-6 Configuration Settings NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-CM-7 Least Functionality NIST 800-53 control
  • NIST-SI-7 Software, Firmware, and Information Integrity NIST 800-53 control

References