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Process Injection - T1055

(ATT&CK® Technique)
Subtechniques

Definition

Adversaries may inject code into processes in order to evade process-based defenses as well as possibly elevate privileges. Process injection is a method of executing arbitrary code in the address space of a separate live process. Running code in the context of another process may allow access to the process's memory, system/network resources, and possibly elevated privileges. Execution via process injection may also evade detection from security products since the execution is masked under a legitimate process.
D3FEND Inferred Relationships

Browse the D3FEND knowledge graph by clicking on the nodes below.
        graph LR;

     T1055["Process Injection"] --> |invokes| SystemCall["System Call"]; class T1055 OffensiveTechniqueNode;
        class SystemCall ArtifactNode; click SystemCall href "/dao/artifact/d3f:SystemCall";
        click T1055 href "/offensive-technique/attack/T1055/"; click SystemCall href "/dao/artifact/d3f:SystemCall"; T1055["Process Injection"] --> |invokes| CreateProcess["Create Process"]; class T1055 OffensiveTechniqueNode;
        class CreateProcess ArtifactNode; click CreateProcess href "/dao/artifact/d3f:CreateProcess";
        click T1055 href "/offensive-technique/attack/T1055/"; click CreateProcess href "/dao/artifact/d3f:CreateProcess"; T1055["Process Injection"] --> |may-invoke| CreateProcess["Create Process"]; class T1055 OffensiveTechniqueNode;
        class CreateProcess ArtifactNode; click CreateProcess href "/dao/artifact/d3f:CreateProcess";
        click T1055 href "/offensive-technique/attack/T1055/"; click CreateProcess href "/dao/artifact/d3f:CreateProcess"; T1055["Process Injection"] --> |accesses| OperatingSystemFile["Operating System File"]; class T1055 OffensiveTechniqueNode;
        class OperatingSystemFile ArtifactNode; click OperatingSystemFile href "/dao/artifact/d3f:OperatingSystemFile";
        click T1055 href "/offensive-technique/attack/T1055/"; click OperatingSystemFile href "/dao/artifact/d3f:OperatingSystemFile"; T1055["Process Injection"] --> |may-add| ObjectFile["Object File"]; class T1055 OffensiveTechniqueNode;
        class ObjectFile ArtifactNode; click ObjectFile href "/dao/artifact/d3f:ObjectFile";
        click T1055 href "/offensive-technique/attack/T1055/"; click ObjectFile href "/dao/artifact/d3f:ObjectFile"; T1055["Process Injection"] --> |may-modify| OperatingSystemFile["Operating System File"]; class T1055 OffensiveTechniqueNode;
        class OperatingSystemFile ArtifactNode; click OperatingSystemFile href "/dao/artifact/d3f:OperatingSystemFile";
        click T1055 href "/offensive-technique/attack/T1055/"; click OperatingSystemFile href "/dao/artifact/d3f:OperatingSystemFile"; T1055["Process Injection"] --> |modifies| ProcessCodeSegment["Process Code Segment"]; class T1055 OffensiveTechniqueNode;
        class ProcessCodeSegment ArtifactNode; click ProcessCodeSegment href "/dao/artifact/d3f:ProcessCodeSegment";
        click T1055 href "/offensive-technique/attack/T1055/"; click ProcessCodeSegment href "/dao/artifact/d3f:ProcessCodeSegment"; T1055["Process Injection"] --> |accesses| SharedLibraryFile["Shared Library File"]; class T1055 OffensiveTechniqueNode;
        class SharedLibraryFile ArtifactNode; click SharedLibraryFile href "/dao/artifact/d3f:SharedLibraryFile";
        click T1055 href "/offensive-technique/attack/T1055/"; click SharedLibraryFile href "/dao/artifact/d3f:SharedLibraryFile"; T1055["Process Injection"] --> |adds| SharedLibraryFile["Shared Library File"]; class T1055 OffensiveTechniqueNode;
        class SharedLibraryFile ArtifactNode; click SharedLibraryFile href "/dao/artifact/d3f:SharedLibraryFile";
        click T1055 href "/offensive-technique/attack/T1055/"; click SharedLibraryFile href "/dao/artifact/d3f:SharedLibraryFile"; T1055["Process Injection"] --> |loads| SharedLibraryFile["Shared Library File"]; class T1055 OffensiveTechniqueNode;
        class SharedLibraryFile ArtifactNode; click SharedLibraryFile href "/dao/artifact/d3f:SharedLibraryFile";
        click T1055 href "/offensive-technique/attack/T1055/"; click SharedLibraryFile href "/dao/artifact/d3f:SharedLibraryFile"; T1055["Process Injection"] --> |may-add| ExecutableBinary["Executable Binary"]; class T1055 OffensiveTechniqueNode;
        class ExecutableBinary ArtifactNode; click ExecutableBinary href "/dao/artifact/d3f:ExecutableBinary";
        click T1055 href "/offensive-technique/attack/T1055/"; click ExecutableBinary href "/dao/artifact/d3f:ExecutableBinary";                                                                                                                                               DecoyFile["Decoy File"] -->
          | spoofs | ExecutableBinary["Executable Binary"];

          DecoyFile["Decoy File"] -.->
            | May Deceive | T1055["Process Injection"] ;
          class DecoyFile DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class ExecutableBinary ArtifactNode;
          click DecoyFile href "/technique/d3f:DecoyFile"; DecoyFile["Decoy File"] -->
          | spoofs | ObjectFile["Object File"];

          
          class DecoyFile DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class ObjectFile ArtifactNode;
          click DecoyFile href "/technique/d3f:DecoyFile"; DecoyFile["Decoy File"] -->
          | spoofs | OperatingSystemFile["Operating System File"];

          
          class DecoyFile DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class OperatingSystemFile ArtifactNode;
          click DecoyFile href "/technique/d3f:DecoyFile";      DecoyFile["Decoy File"] -->
          | spoofs | SharedLibraryFile["Shared Library File"];

          
          class DecoyFile DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class SharedLibraryFile ArtifactNode;
          click DecoyFile href "/technique/d3f:DecoyFile";                                                                                          DynamicAnalysis["Dynamic Analysis"] -->
          | analyzes | ExecutableBinary["Executable Binary"];

          DynamicAnalysis["Dynamic Analysis"] -.->
            | May Detect | T1055["Process Injection"] ;
          class DynamicAnalysis DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class ExecutableBinary ArtifactNode;
          click DynamicAnalysis href "/technique/d3f:DynamicAnalysis";              EmulatedFileAnalysis["Emulated File Analysis"] -->
          | analyzes | ExecutableBinary["Executable Binary"];

          EmulatedFileAnalysis["Emulated File Analysis"] -.->
            | May Detect | T1055["Process Injection"] ;
          class EmulatedFileAnalysis DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class ExecutableBinary ArtifactNode;
          click EmulatedFileAnalysis href "/technique/d3f:EmulatedFileAnalysis";              SystemCallAnalysis["System Call Analysis"] -->
          | analyzes | CreateProcess["Create Process"];

          SystemCallAnalysis["System Call Analysis"] -.->
            | May Detect | T1055["Process Injection"] ;
          class SystemCallAnalysis DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class CreateProcess ArtifactNode;
          click SystemCallAnalysis href "/technique/d3f:SystemCallAnalysis";          SystemCallAnalysis["System Call Analysis"] -->
          | analyzes | SystemCall["System Call"];

          
          class SystemCallAnalysis DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class SystemCall ArtifactNode;
          click SystemCallAnalysis href "/technique/d3f:SystemCallAnalysis";                           ProcessCodeSegmentVerification["Process Code Segment Verification"] -->
          | verifies | ProcessCodeSegment["Process Code Segment"];

          ProcessCodeSegmentVerification["Process Code Segment Verification"] -.->
            | May Detect | T1055["Process Injection"] ;
          class ProcessCodeSegmentVerification DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class ProcessCodeSegment ArtifactNode;
          click ProcessCodeSegmentVerification href "/technique/d3f:ProcessCodeSegmentVerification";                   ProcessSpawnAnalysis["Process Spawn Analysis"] -->
          | analyzes | CreateProcess["Create Process"];

          ProcessSpawnAnalysis["Process Spawn Analysis"] -.->
            | May Detect | T1055["Process Injection"] ;
          class ProcessSpawnAnalysis DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class CreateProcess ArtifactNode;
          click ProcessSpawnAnalysis href "/technique/d3f:ProcessSpawnAnalysis";                            FileIntegrityMonitoring["File Integrity Monitoring"] -->
          | analyzes | SharedLibraryFile["Shared Library File"];

          FileIntegrityMonitoring["File Integrity Monitoring"] -.->
            | May Detect | T1055["Process Injection"] ;
          class FileIntegrityMonitoring DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class SharedLibraryFile ArtifactNode;
          click FileIntegrityMonitoring href "/technique/d3f:FileIntegrityMonitoring"; FileIntegrityMonitoring["File Integrity Monitoring"] -->
          | analyzes | ObjectFile["Object File"];

          
          class FileIntegrityMonitoring DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class ObjectFile ArtifactNode;
          click FileIntegrityMonitoring href "/technique/d3f:FileIntegrityMonitoring";                                             FileIntegrityMonitoring["File Integrity Monitoring"] -->
          | analyzes | OperatingSystemFile["Operating System File"];

          
          class FileIntegrityMonitoring DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class OperatingSystemFile ArtifactNode;
          click FileIntegrityMonitoring href "/technique/d3f:FileIntegrityMonitoring";  FileIntegrityMonitoring["File Integrity Monitoring"] -->
          | analyzes | ExecutableBinary["Executable Binary"];

          
          class FileIntegrityMonitoring DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class ExecutableBinary ArtifactNode;
          click FileIntegrityMonitoring href "/technique/d3f:FileIntegrityMonitoring";                                                  FileEviction["File Eviction"] -->
          | deletes | ExecutableBinary["Executable Binary"];

          FileEviction["File Eviction"] -.->
            | May Evict | T1055["Process Injection"] ;
          class FileEviction DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class ExecutableBinary ArtifactNode;
          click FileEviction href "/technique/d3f:FileEviction"; FileEviction["File Eviction"] -->
          | deletes | SharedLibraryFile["Shared Library File"];

          
          class FileEviction DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class SharedLibraryFile ArtifactNode;
          click FileEviction href "/technique/d3f:FileEviction";                           FileEviction["File Eviction"] -->
          | deletes | OperatingSystemFile["Operating System File"];

          
          class FileEviction DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class OperatingSystemFile ArtifactNode;
          click FileEviction href "/technique/d3f:FileEviction";                                        FileEviction["File Eviction"] -->
          | deletes | ObjectFile["Object File"];

          
          class FileEviction DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class ObjectFile ArtifactNode;
          click FileEviction href "/technique/d3f:FileEviction";                              LocalFilePermissions["Local File Permissions"] -->
          | restricts | SharedLibraryFile["Shared Library File"];

          LocalFilePermissions["Local File Permissions"] -.->
            | May Harden | T1055["Process Injection"] ;
          class LocalFilePermissions DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class SharedLibraryFile ArtifactNode;
          click LocalFilePermissions href "/technique/d3f:LocalFilePermissions";   LocalFilePermissions["Local File Permissions"] -->
          | restricts | ExecutableBinary["Executable Binary"];

          
          class LocalFilePermissions DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class ExecutableBinary ArtifactNode;
          click LocalFilePermissions href "/technique/d3f:LocalFilePermissions";                     FileEncryption["File Encryption"] -->
          | encrypts | SharedLibraryFile["Shared Library File"];

          FileEncryption["File Encryption"] -.->
            | May Harden | T1055["Process Injection"] ;
          class FileEncryption DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class SharedLibraryFile ArtifactNode;
          click FileEncryption href "/technique/d3f:FileEncryption";                                 LocalFilePermissions["Local File Permissions"] -->
          | restricts | OperatingSystemFile["Operating System File"];

          
          class LocalFilePermissions DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class OperatingSystemFile ArtifactNode;
          click LocalFilePermissions href "/technique/d3f:LocalFilePermissions";             FileEncryption["File Encryption"] -->
          | encrypts | OperatingSystemFile["Operating System File"];

          
          class FileEncryption DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class OperatingSystemFile ArtifactNode;
          click FileEncryption href "/technique/d3f:FileEncryption";  FileEncryption["File Encryption"] -->
          | encrypts | ObjectFile["Object File"];

          
          class FileEncryption DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class ObjectFile ArtifactNode;
          click FileEncryption href "/technique/d3f:FileEncryption"; FileEncryption["File Encryption"] -->
          | encrypts | ExecutableBinary["Executable Binary"];

          
          class FileEncryption DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class ExecutableBinary ArtifactNode;
          click FileEncryption href "/technique/d3f:FileEncryption";                                                                         LocalFilePermissions["Local File Permissions"] -->
          | restricts | ObjectFile["Object File"];

          
          class LocalFilePermissions DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class ObjectFile ArtifactNode;
          click LocalFilePermissions href "/technique/d3f:LocalFilePermissions";                                                  ProcessSegmentExecutionPrevention["Process Segment Execution Prevention"] -->
          | neutralizes | ProcessCodeSegment["Process Code Segment"];

          ProcessSegmentExecutionPrevention["Process Segment Execution Prevention"] -.->
            | May Harden | T1055["Process Injection"] ;
          class ProcessSegmentExecutionPrevention DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class ProcessCodeSegment ArtifactNode;
          click ProcessSegmentExecutionPrevention href "/technique/d3f:ProcessSegmentExecutionPrevention"; SegmentAddressOffsetRandomization["Segment Address Offset Randomization"] -->
          | obfuscates | ProcessCodeSegment["Process Code Segment"];

          SegmentAddressOffsetRandomization["Segment Address Offset Randomization"] -.->
            | May Harden | T1055["Process Injection"] ;
          class SegmentAddressOffsetRandomization DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class ProcessCodeSegment ArtifactNode;
          click SegmentAddressOffsetRandomization href "/technique/d3f:SegmentAddressOffsetRandomization";     ExecutableAllowlisting["Executable Allowlisting"] -->
          | restricts | CreateProcess["Create Process"];

          ExecutableAllowlisting["Executable Allowlisting"] -.->
            | May Isolate | T1055["Process Injection"] ;
          class ExecutableAllowlisting DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class CreateProcess ArtifactNode;
          click ExecutableAllowlisting href "/technique/d3f:ExecutableAllowlisting";                                ExecutableDenylisting["Executable Denylisting"] -->
          | blocks | ExecutableBinary["Executable Binary"];

          ExecutableDenylisting["Executable Denylisting"] -.->
            | May Isolate | T1055["Process Injection"] ;
          class ExecutableDenylisting DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class ExecutableBinary ArtifactNode;
          click ExecutableDenylisting href "/technique/d3f:ExecutableDenylisting"; ExecutableDenylisting["Executable Denylisting"] -->
          | restricts | CreateProcess["Create Process"];

          
          class ExecutableDenylisting DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class CreateProcess ArtifactNode;
          click ExecutableDenylisting href "/technique/d3f:ExecutableDenylisting";  ExecutableAllowlisting["Executable Allowlisting"] -->
          | blocks | ExecutableBinary["Executable Binary"];

          
          class ExecutableAllowlisting DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class ExecutableBinary ArtifactNode;
          click ExecutableAllowlisting href "/technique/d3f:ExecutableAllowlisting";                 Hardware-basedProcessIsolation["Hardware-based Process Isolation"] -->
          | restricts | CreateProcess["Create Process"];

          Hardware-basedProcessIsolation["Hardware-based Process Isolation"] -.->
            | May Isolate | T1055["Process Injection"] ;
          class Hardware-basedProcessIsolation DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class CreateProcess ArtifactNode;
          click Hardware-basedProcessIsolation href "/technique/d3f:Hardware-basedProcessIsolation";                                                                                  RestoreFile["Restore File"] -->
          | restores | SharedLibraryFile["Shared Library File"];

          RestoreFile["Restore File"] -.->
            | May Restore | T1055["Process Injection"] ;
          class RestoreFile DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class SharedLibraryFile ArtifactNode;
          click RestoreFile href "/technique/d3f:RestoreFile";   RestoreFile["Restore File"] -->
          | restores | ObjectFile["Object File"];

          
          class RestoreFile DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class ObjectFile ArtifactNode;
          click RestoreFile href "/technique/d3f:RestoreFile"; RestoreFile["Restore File"] -->
          | restores | OperatingSystemFile["Operating System File"];

          
          class RestoreFile DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class OperatingSystemFile ArtifactNode;
          click RestoreFile href "/technique/d3f:RestoreFile";                  RestoreFile["Restore File"] -->
          | restores | ExecutableBinary["Executable Binary"];

          
          class RestoreFile DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class ExecutableBinary ArtifactNode;
          click RestoreFile href "/technique/d3f:RestoreFile";                                                                            FileAnalysis["File Analysis"] -->
          | analyzes | ObjectFile["Object File"];

          FileAnalysis["File Analysis"] -.->
            | May Detect | T1055["Process Injection"] ;
          class FileAnalysis DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class ObjectFile ArtifactNode;
          click FileAnalysis href "/technique/d3f:FileAnalysis"; FileAnalysis["File Analysis"] -->
          | analyzes | OperatingSystemFile["Operating System File"];

          
          class FileAnalysis DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class OperatingSystemFile ArtifactNode;
          click FileAnalysis href "/technique/d3f:FileAnalysis";  FileAnalysis["File Analysis"] -->
          | analyzes | ExecutableBinary["Executable Binary"];

          
          class FileAnalysis DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class ExecutableBinary ArtifactNode;
          click FileAnalysis href "/technique/d3f:FileAnalysis"; FileAnalysis["File Analysis"] -->
          | analyzes | SharedLibraryFile["Shared Library File"];

          
          class FileAnalysis DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class SharedLibraryFile ArtifactNode;
          click FileAnalysis href "/technique/d3f:FileAnalysis";                                                                                              SystemFileAnalysis["System File Analysis"] -->
          | analyzes | OperatingSystemFile["Operating System File"];

          SystemFileAnalysis["System File Analysis"] -.->
            | May Detect | T1055["Process Injection"] ;
          class SystemFileAnalysis DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class OperatingSystemFile ArtifactNode;
          click SystemFileAnalysis href "/technique/d3f:SystemFileAnalysis";  MemoryBoundaryTracking["Memory Boundary Tracking"] -->
          | analyzes | ProcessCodeSegment["Process Code Segment"];

          MemoryBoundaryTracking["Memory Boundary Tracking"] -.->
            | May Detect | T1055["Process Injection"] ;
          class MemoryBoundaryTracking DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class ProcessCodeSegment ArtifactNode;
          click MemoryBoundaryTracking href "/technique/d3f:MemoryBoundaryTracking";                                        SystemCallFiltering["System Call Filtering"] -->
          | filters | CreateProcess["Create Process"];

          SystemCallFiltering["System Call Filtering"] -.->
            | May Isolate | T1055["Process Injection"] ;
          class SystemCallFiltering DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class CreateProcess ArtifactNode;
          click SystemCallFiltering href "/technique/d3f:SystemCallFiltering";  SystemCallFiltering["System Call Filtering"] -->
          | filters | SystemCall["System Call"];

          
          class SystemCallFiltering DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class SystemCall ArtifactNode;
          click SystemCallFiltering href "/technique/d3f:SystemCallFiltering";                                        MandatoryAccessControl["Mandatory Access Control"] -->
          | restricts | CreateProcess["Create Process"];

          MandatoryAccessControl["Mandatory Access Control"] -.->
            | May Isolate | T1055["Process Injection"] ;
          class MandatoryAccessControl DefensiveTechniqueNode;
          class CreateProcess ArtifactNode;
          click MandatoryAccessControl href "/technique/d3f:MandatoryAccessControl";
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