access to other systems (WinRS and WinRM) - ties2/Red-Team GitHub Wiki

Lateral movement is a technique used by attackers to move through a network after compromising one system, allowing them to gain access to other systems on the same network. One way attackers can achieve lateral movement is by using remote management tools like WinRS and WinRM. In this essay, we will explore how attackers use WinRS and WinRM to move laterally through a network, and what can be done to prevent this type of attack.

WinRS (Windows Remote Shell) is a command-line tool that allows remote management of a Windows machine. It uses the Windows Remote Management (WinRM) service to communicate with the remote machine. WinRS is enabled by default on Windows Server 2008 and later versions, but it can also be enabled on Windows 7 and later versions by installing the Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT).

WinRM is a protocol used for remote management of Windows systems. It uses HTTP or HTTPS to establish a connection between the client and the remote machine, and it provides access to command execution, scripting, and other management tasks. WinRM is enabled by default on Windows Server 2012 and later versions, but it can also be enabled on Windows 7 and later versions by installing RSAT.

Attackers can use WinRS and WinRM to move laterally through a network by exploiting vulnerabilities in the service or by using stolen credentials. For example, an attacker may compromise a system and then use WinRS or WinRM to connect to other systems on the network using stolen credentials, allowing them to move laterally through the network and gain access to sensitive data.

To prevent lateral movement through WinRS and WinRM, organizations can take several steps. First, they can disable WinRS and WinRM on systems that do not require remote management. Second, they can restrict access to WinRS and WinRM using firewalls or other network security measures. Third, they can use strong authentication mechanisms, such as multi-factor authentication, to prevent attackers from using stolen credentials to gain access to WinRS and WinRM.

In conclusion, WinRS and WinRM are powerful tools for remote management of Windows systems, but they can also be used by attackers to move laterally through a network. Organizations can take steps to prevent lateral movement through WinRS and WinRM, such as disabling the services on systems that do not require remote management, restricting access to the services, and using strong authentication mechanisms. By doing so, they can reduce the risk of data breaches and other security incidents caused by lateral movement.

Sources:

"Windows Remote Management (WinRM)". Microsoft. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/winrm/portal "Windows Remote Shell". Microsoft. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/winrs "Lateral Movement". MITRE ATT&CK. https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0008/