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Windows TinyCC Shellcode Execution

Detects abuse of Tiny-C-Compiler (TinyCC) for shellcode execution, where tcc.exe is renamed to masquerade as svchost.exe and used to compile and execute C source files containing shellcode. This technique was observed in the Lotus Blossom Chrysalis backdoor campaign, where attackers renamed tcc.exe to svchost.exe and executed conf.c containing Metasploit block_api shellcode with the flags -nostdlib -run. TinyCC is a legitimate C compiler, but its ability to compile and execute code on-the-fly makes it attractive to attackers seeking to evade detection. The combination of a renamed compiler binary executing from non-standard locations with suspicious flags is a strong indicator of malicious activity.

ATT&CK coverage

Execution

T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter
- T1059.003Windows Command Shell 82 detections cover this technique

Stealth

Detection requirements

Log source category: sysmon_eventid_1 windows_event_log_security_4688

Detection logic

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