Asynchronous Procedure Call Injection via NtTestAlert
Shellcode Execution
Technique Details
Description
Asynchronous Procedure Call (APC) Injection via NtTestAlert is a malware technique that forces a target thread to execute malicious code using Asynchronous Procedure Calls (APCs). The attacker first allocates memory in the target process and writes the payload. Then, they queue an APC to the target thread. To ensure execution, they use NtTestAlert, which forces the thread into an alertable state, making it process the queued APC immediately. This technique is stealthy because it avoids direct thread creation and can bypass some security mechanisms.
Dependencies
Windows.h
string.h
string.h
Mitigations
Limit the ability of low-privileged processes to queue APCs in high-privileged threads. Tools like Windows Defender Exploit Guard can help enforce process integrity levels.
Monitor thread state changes, especially transitions into an alertable state (WAIT_ALERTABLE).
Monitor thread state changes, especially transitions into an alertable state (WAIT_ALERTABLE).
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Steps
– Define the payload as a byte array.
– Get a pointer to the NtTestAlert function from ntdll.dll using GetProcAddress.
– Calculate the length of the payload.
– Allocate executable memory using VirtualAlloc.
– Copy the payload into the allocated memory with WriteProcessMemory.
– Queue the payload as an – APC routine using QueueUserAPC.
– Trigger the APC by calling NtTestAlert.
– Get a pointer to the NtTestAlert function from ntdll.dll using GetProcAddress.
– Calculate the length of the payload.
– Allocate executable memory using VirtualAlloc.
– Copy the payload into the allocated memory with WriteProcessMemory.
– Queue the payload as an – APC routine using QueueUserAPC.
– Trigger the APC by calling NtTestAlert.
Code
- C++
- Rust
⚠️ Note: The Rust code examples shown here are not exhaustively tested in all environments or edge cases.
Proof of Concept
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