How to Hijack a Windows System with Nothing but Built-in Tools
Thu, Mar 20, 2025 • 2 min read
How to Hijack a Windows System with Nothing but Built-in Tools
A realistic multi-stage attack demonstration using only built-in Windows tools, showcasing advanced red teaming techniques.
Overview
This writeup demonstrates how an attacker can compromise a Windows environment using nothing but tools that come pre-installed with Windows. No external tools, no downloads, just pure Windows native capabilities.
Initial Access
The attack begins with initial access through various vectors:
- Phishing emails with malicious attachments
- USB drops
- Compromised credentials
- Social engineering
Stage 1: Information Gathering
Using built-in Windows commands:
systeminfo
whoami /all
net user
net localgroup administrators
Stage 2: Privilege Escalation
Leveraging Windows built-in tools for privilege escalation:
- PowerShell: For script execution and system manipulation
- WMIC: Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line
- schtasks: Task scheduler manipulation
- reg: Registry modifications
Stage 3: Lateral Movement
Moving through the network using:
- PsExec (if available) or PowerShell remoting
- WMI for remote command execution
- SMB shares for data exfiltration
Stage 4: Persistence
Establishing persistence mechanisms:
- Scheduled tasks
- Registry run keys
- Service creation
- Startup folder manipulation
Detection and Mitigation
Organizations should:
- Monitor for unusual PowerShell activity
- Implement application whitelisting
- Enable command-line auditing
- Monitor for lateral movement indicators
- Implement network segmentation
Conclusion
This demonstrates that attackers don't always need sophisticated tools. Understanding Windows built-in capabilities is crucial for both attackers and defenders.