awesome-malware-persistence

A curated list of awesome malware persistence tools and resources.
https://github.com/Karneades/awesome-malware-persistence

Last synced: 9 days ago
JSON representation

Collection
- Generic
  - osquery - Query persistence mechanisms on clients.
  - Awesome Forensics - Use the tools from this list which includes awesome free (mostly open source) forensic analysis tools and resources. They help collecting the persistence mechanisms at scale, e.g. by using remote forensics tools.
  - OSSEC - Use rules and logs from the HIDS to detection configuration changes.
  - osquery - Query persistence mechanisms on clients.
- Linux
  - Linux Security and Monitoring Scripts - Security and monitoring scripts you can use to monitor your Linux installation for security-related events or for an investigation. Among other finding systemd unit files used for malware persistence.
- macOS
  - KnockKnock - A tool to uncover persistently installed software in order to generically reveal such malware. See [GitHub repository too for the source code](https://github.com/objective-see/KnockKnock).
  - Dylib Hijack Scanner or DHS - A simple utility that will scan your computer for applications that are either susceptible to dylib hijacking or have been hijacked. See [GitHub repository too for the source code](https://github.com/objective-see/DylibHijackScanner).
- Windows
  - AutorunsToWinEventLog.ps1 - Instead of using CSV output and copy these file to the server, you can use the AutorunsToWinEventLog script to convert the Autoruns output to Windows event logs and rely on standard Windows event log forwarding.
  - RegRipper - Extracts various persistence mechanisms from the registry files directly.
  - KAPE - The tool allows collecting various predefined artifactgs using targets and modules, see [KapeFiles](https://github.com/EricZimmerman/KapeFiles) which include persistence mechanisms, among others there's a collection of [LNK files](https://github.com/EricZimmerman/KapeFiles/blob/master/Targets/Windows/LNKFilesAndJumpLists.tkape), [scheduled task files](https://github.com/EricZimmerman/KapeFiles/blob/master/Targets/Windows/ScheduledTasks.tkape) and [scheduled task listing](https://github.com/EricZimmerman/KapeFiles/blob/master/Modules/LiveResponse/schtasks.mkape) or a [WMI repository auditing](https://github.com/EricZimmerman/KapeFiles/blob/master/Modules/LiveResponse/WMI-Repository-Auditing.mkape) module.
  - PowerShell Autoruns - A PowerShell version of Autoruns.
  - PersistenceSniper - Powershell module to hunt for persistence implanted in Windows machines.
  - RECmd - Extract various persistence mechanisms, e.g. by using the config file [UserClassesASEPs](https://github.com/EricZimmerman/RECmd/blob/master/BatchExamples/UserClassesASEPs.reb) to extract user's CLSID information.
  - PyrsistenceSniper - A Python-based offline Windows persistence detection tool. Point it at a KAPE dump, a Velociraptor collection, or a mounted disk image and get offline Windows persistence detection. Runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS.
  - Autoruns - A powerful persistence collection tool on Windows is Autoruns. It collects different categories and persistence information from a live system and [in
Detection Testing
- Generic
  - Atomic Red Team - A red team attack techniques framework supporting also the MITRE ATT&CK persistence techniques, see e.g. [T1044 "File System Permissions Weakness"](https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/master/atomics/T1044/T1044.yaml).
- Linux
  - PANIX - A highly customizable Linux persistence tool. Perform various persistence techniques against Linux systems, among others Debian and RHEL.
  - Diamorphine - A loadable kernel module (LKM) rootkit for Linux Kernels (x86/x86_64 and ARM64).
- macOS
  - PoisonApple - Perform various persistence techniques on macOS.
- Windows
  - hasherezade persistence demos - Various (also non standard) persistence methods used by malware for testing own detection, among others COM hijacking demo is found in the repo.
Persistence Removal
- Generic
  - Awesome Incident Response - Use the tools and resources for security incident response, aimed to help security analysts and DFIR teams.
- Windows
  - Removing Backdoors – Powershell Empire Edition - Various blog posts handle the removal of WMI implants.
  - RegDelNull - Removal of registry keys with null bytes - used e.g. in run keys for evasion.
  - PowerSponse - A incident response tool covering various commands for cleanup of persistence mechanisms as well.
  - RegDelNull - Removal of registry keys with null bytes - used e.g. in run keys for evasion.
Prevention
- macOS
  - BlockBlock - A tool which provides continual protection by monitoring persistence locations and protects them accordingly. Similar to KnockKnock but for blocking.
Techniques
- Cloud
  - Shadow Linking: The Persistence Vector of SaaS Identity Threat - Abuse of additional identity providers to persist in an environment.
  - Persisting on Entra ID applications and User Managed Identities with Federated Credentials - Persist on Entra ID applications and User Managed Identities with Federated Credentials.
  - AWSDoor: Persistence on AWS - Access persistence tool for AWS. The [corresponding article](https://www.riskinsight-wavestone.com/en/2025/09/awsdoor-persistence-on-aws/) describes the techniques adversaries can use to hide themselves within a cloud environment and its AWSDoor implementation to simplify and automate the deployment of persistence techniques in AWS environments.
  - Shadow Linking: The Persistence Vector of SaaS Identity Threat - Abuse of additional identity providers to persist in an environment.
- Databases
  - Database Triggers as Persistence Mechanisms - An in-depth write up about database triggers providing persistence.
- Firmware
  - MoonBounce: the dark side of UEFI firmware - An in-depth write up about one particular UEFI bootkit.
  - MoonBounce: the dark side of UEFI firmware - An in-depth write up about one particular UEFI bootkit.
- Generic
  - MITRE ATT&CK tactic "TA0003 - Persistence" - Persistence tactic information in the MITRE ATT&CK framework.
  - Sigma rules - Sigma rules which covers persistence techniques. You can even use filters such as `--filter tag=attack.persistence` or specifically for one technique `tag=attack.t1084`.
  - Forensic Artifact repository - A free, community-sourced, machine-readable knowledge base of digital forensic artifacts.
  - Sigma rules - Repository of detection rules, covering persistence techniques as well. You can even use filters such as `--filter tag=attack.persistence` or specifically for one technique `tag=attack.t1084`.
- Linux
  - Linux Persistence Techniques - List of persistence techniques.
  - Linux Red Team Persistence Techniques - List of persistence techniques.
  - ebpfkit - Rootkit leveraging eBPF.
  - TripleCross - Rootkit leveraging eBPF.
  - PANIX - Persistence Against *NIX - Features - List of persistence techniques.
  - Linux Detection Engineering - A primer on persistence mechanisms - List of Linux persistence mechanisms.
  - Linux LKM Persistence - Rootkit leveraging Linux loadable kernel module (LKM).
  - Linux Malware Persistence with Cron - Blog post about linux persistence using cron jobs.
  - Linux Malware Persistence with Cron - Blog post about Linux persistence using cron jobs.
- macOS
  - theevilbit's series "Beyond the good ol' LaunchAgents" - List of macOS persistence beyond just the LaunchDaemons or LaunchAgents.
  - KnockKnock - A persistence detection tool for macOS to scan for persistence mechanisms on macOS. Specific persistence locations are found in the [plugins](https://github.com/objective-see/KnockKnock/tree/main/Plugins) folder, e.g. [LaunchItems](https://github.com/objective-see/KnockKnock/blob/main/Plugins/LaunchItems.m#L21) or [StartupScripts](https://github.com/objective-see/KnockKnock/blob/main/Plugins/StartupScripts.m#L22).
  - PoisonApple - Learn about various macOS persistence techniques by looking at the source code of PoisonApple.
  - How malware persists on macOS - List of macOS persistence mechanisms.
  - KnockKnock - A persistence detection tool for macOS to scan for persistence mechanisms on macOS. Specific persistence locations are found in the [plugins](https://github.com/objective-see/KnockKnock/tree/main/Plugins) folder, e.g. [LaunchItems](https://github.com/objective-see/KnockKnock/blob/main/Plugins/LaunchItems.m#L21) or [StartupScripts](https://github.com/objective-see/KnockKnock/blob/main/Plugins/StartupScripts.m#L22).
- Windows
  - Hexacorn's blog - Hexacorn's blog category for persistence category including the series "Beyond good ol' Run key".
  - PowerShell implementation of Autoruns - Another way to find Windows persistence locations is to look at the source code of the PowerShell version of Autoruns. Bonus: A history of the covered persistence locations for each Autoruns version is found at the end of the module file too, which is so awesome!
  - Malware persistence techniques - Good summary of multiple persistence mechanisms, ranging from multiple registry keys to more advanced one, like COM hijacking.
  - Detecting & Removing an Attacker's WMI Persistence - Blog post about detecting and removing WMI persistence.
  - Windows Persistence using WinLogon - Blog post about abusing WinLogon.
  - Untangling Kovter's persistence methods - Blog post about Kovter's persistens methos, among others, hiding in registry. Another one is [Threat Spotlight: Kovter Malware Fileless Persistence Mechanism](https://threatvector.cylance.com/en_us/home/threat-spotlight-kovter-malware-fileless-persistence-mechanism.html).
  - Persistence using GlobalFlags in Image File Execution Options – Hidden from Autoruns.exe - Blog post about abusing GlobalFlag for process execution.
  - Uncovering a MyKings Variant With Bootloader Persistence via Managed Detection and Response - Blog post about bootloader persistence.
  - COM Object hijacking: the discreet way of persistence, 2014
  - Persistence – COM Hijacking, 2020
  - Abusing COM hijacking in combination with scheduled tasks, 2016
  - Hunting for persistence via Microsoft Exchange Server or Outlook - Blog post about Microsoft Exchange server persistence.
  - Common malware persistence mechanisms - Different persistence mechanisms for different vectors are described.
  - Hexacorn's blog - Blog series "Beyond good ol' Run key" covering a lot of Windows persistence mechanisms.
  - Common malware persistence mechanisms - Different persistence mechanisms for different vectors are described.
  - Malware persistence techniques - Good summary of multiple persistence mechanisms, ranging from multiple registry keys to more advanced one, like COM hijacking.
  - Uncovering a MyKings Variant With Bootloader Persistence via Managed Detection and Response - Blog post about bootloader persistence.
  - Untangling Kovter's persistence methods - Blog post about Kovter's persistens methos, among others, hiding in registry. Another one is [Threat Spotlight: Kovter Malware Fileless Persistence Mechanism](https://threatvector.cylance.com/en_us/home/threat-spotlight-kovter-malware-fileless-persistence-mechanism.html).
  - Borrowing Windows Hello keys for authentication and persistence - Ability to perform single-sign on with the backing cryptographic Windows Hello keys from a user session, without needing the PIN or other information/user presence.

Programming Languages

C 5 PowerShell 3 Python 3 Shell 2 Rebol 1 Objective-C 1 C++ 1

ecosyste.ms

Data

Tools

Indexes

Applications

Experiments

Awesome

awesome-malware-persistence

Collection

Generic

Linux

macOS

Windows

Detection Testing

Generic

Linux

macOS

Windows

Persistence Removal

Generic

Windows

Prevention

macOS

Techniques

Cloud

Databases

Firmware

Generic

Linux

macOS

Windows