Odbcconf.exe

[Yoshi Heffernan]

Adversaries may abuse odbcconf.exe to proxy execution of malicious payloads. Odbcconf.exe is a Windows utility that allows you to configure Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) drivers and data source names.[1] The Odbcconf.exe binary may be digitally signed by Microsoft.

Adversaries may abuse odbcconf.exe to bypass application control solutions that do not account for its potential abuse. Similar to Regsvr32, odbcconf.exe has a REGSVR flag that can be misused to execute DLLs (ex: odbcconf.exe /S /A {REGSVR "C:\Users\Public\file.dll"}). [2][3][4]

Use process monitoring to monitor the execution and arguments of odbcconf.exe. Compare recent invocations of odbcconf.exe with prior history of known good arguments and loaded DLLs to determine anomalous and potentially adversarial activity.

I launch a *.reg file with the information in it. Below is a sample for Windows 2000. It adds in the name and the ODBC entry of a SQL Database. I make my ODBC connections the same name as my database, but you do not have to. I placed an* where it is optional to use the database name as the ODBC name.

There is a command line utility in the System32 directory called odbcconf.exe. Typing odbcconf /h in a command window will popup the utilities options. An example to create a system DSN for a SQL Server database would be:

Here is the command that ended up working for me. I put it all on one line in bat file. I was even able to email it to a remote user and she ran it herself. I ran it with admin rights, but I do not know if it was required.

Adversaries may abuse odbcconf.exe to proxy execution of malicious payloads. Odbcconf.exe is a Windows utility that allows you to configure Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) drivers and data source names. Adversaries may abuse odbcconf.exe to bypass application control solutions that do not account for its potential abuse.

Since fall 2021, Red Canary Intelligence has been tracking a cluster of malicious activity we call Raspberry Robin. Raspberry Robin was the seventh most prevalent threat we observed in 2022, as reported our 2023 Threat Detection Report.

Read on for details on what Raspberry Robin is, high-fidelity opportunities to detect known behaviors, and background on how we decided to cluster this activity. Check out this video update for the latest developments and guidance on how to test your detection capabilities with Atomic Red Team.

Raspberry Robin is typically introduced via infected removable drives, often USB devices. The Raspberry Robin worm often appears as a shortcut .lnk file masquerading as a legitimate folder on the infected USB device.

Soon after the Raspberry Robin infected drive is connected to the system, the UserAssist registry entry is updated and records execution of a ROT13-ciphered value referencing a .lnk file when deciphered. In the example below, q:\erpbirel.yax deciphers to d:\recovery.lnk.

Raspberry Robin first uses cmd.exe to read and execute a file stored on the infected external drive. The command is consistent across Raspberry Robin detections we have seen so far, making it reliable early evidence of potential Raspberry Robin activity. Typically the command line includes cmd /R

Raspberry Robin extensively uses mixed-case letters in its commands. Adversaries sometimes use mixed-case syntax in an attempt to evade detection. Case-sensitive, string-based detections written to detect evil may not fire on eViL, but cmd.exe is case-insensitive and has the flexibility to read and process both commands the same way.

While msiexec.exe downloads and executes legitimate installer packages, adversaries also leverage it to deliver malware. Raspberry Robin uses msiexec.exe to attempt external network communication to a malicious domain for C2 purposes. The command line has several key features we have seen across multiple detections:

Next, msiexec.exe launches a legitimate Windows utility, fodhelper.exe, which in turn spawns rundll32.exe to execute a malicious command. Processes launched by fodhelper.exe run with elevated administrative privileges without requiring a User Account Control prompt. It is unusual for fodhelper.exe to spawn any processes as the parent, making this another useful detection opportunity.

The -A flag in odbcconf.exe specifies an action. configdriver loads the driver setup DLL, in this case VKIPDSE. SETFILEDSNDIR creates the registry location HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ODBC\ODBC.INI\ODBC File DSN\DefaultDSNDir, if it does not already exist, and specifies the default location used by the ODBC Data Source Administrator when creating a file-based data source. INSTALLDRIVER adds additional information about the driver.

We observed outbound C2 activity involving the processes regsvr32.exe, rundll32.exe, and dllhost.exe executing without any command-line parameters and making external network connections to IP addresses associated with TOR nodes. Additionally, some of the IP addresses in the connections host domains consisting of random alphanumeric characters. For example, hxxps[:]//www[.]ivuoq6si2a[.]com/.

This activity presents us with a final detection opportunity. It is atypical for regsvr32.exe, rundll32.exe and dllhost.exe to execute with no command-line parameters and establish external network connections. This behavior is not inherently malicious, but is good to monitor.

The following atomic uses odbcconf.exe to load and execute a locally stored DLL. Note that the process will be odbcconf.exe and that the command line includes the /a and /s parameters that the pseudo detection analytic looks for.

The following analytic detects the execution of odbcconf.exe with the regsvr action to load a DLL. This is identified by monitoring command-line arguments in process creation logs from Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) agents. This activity is significant as it may indicate an attempt to execute arbitrary code via DLL loading, a common technique used in various attack vectors. If confirmed malicious, this could allow an attacker to execute code with the privileges of the odbcconf.exe process, potentially leading to system compromise or further lateral movement.

The detection is based on data that originates from Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) agents. These agents are designed to provide security-related telemetry from the endpoints where the agent is installed. To implement this search, you must ingest logs that contain the process GUID, process name, and parent process. Additionally, you must ingest complete command-line executions. These logs must be processed using the appropriate Splunk Technology Add-ons that are specific to the EDR product. The logs must also be mapped to the Processes node of the Endpoint data model. Use the Splunk Common Information Model (CIM) to normalize the field names and speed up the data modeling process.

In the realm of ODBC driver configuration and installation, errors can sometimes arise, causing frustration and hindering workflow. This article serves as a troubleshooting guide, addressing common ODBCCONF.EXE errors and offering step-by-step instructions to streamline the installation process.

ODBCCONF.EXE is a system binary proxy execution tool used in Windows operating systems, including Windows 7 and Windows 8. It is primarily used for managing ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) connections and data sources. ODBCCONF.EXE allows users to configure ODBC drivers and create or modify data source names (DSN) for various applications and databases.

However, errors with ODBCCONF.EXE can sometimes occur during installation or execution. To troubleshoot these errors, it is recommended to check the version of ODBCCONF.EXE, ensure the correct DLL files are installed, and verify the paths of the ODBCCONF.EXE file in the system directories: C:\Windows\System32\odbcconf.exe or C:\Windows\SysWOW64\odbcconf.exe.

To prevent abuse or unauthorized access, it is advisable to implement application control solutions and restrict privileges for ODBCCONF.EXE. Additionally, staying updated with the latest Microsoft patches and regularly testing ODBCCONF.EXE functionality can help maintain a secure system.

ODBCConf.exe is a system binary used for configuring ODBC connections in Windows. It is generally safe to use, but like any system binary, it can be abused by adversaries if proper precautions are not taken. To ensure the safety of using ODBCConf.exe, it is recommended to follow certain countermeasures.

Description: Odbcconf.exe is not essential for Windows and will often cause problems. The file odbcconf.exe is located in the C:\Windows folder.The file size on Windows 10/8/7/XP is 820,736 bytes.
Odbcconf.exe is a file with no information about its developer. It is located in the Windows folder, but it is not a Windows core file. The program has no visible window. It is not a Windows core file.Odbcconf.exe is able to record keyboard and mouse inputs, hide itself and monitor applications.Therefore the technical security rating is 77% dangerous.

If odbcconf.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\Windows\System32, the security rating is 96% dangerous. The file size is 11,776 bytes.The odbcconf.exe file is a file with no information about its developer. The file is an unknown file in the Windows folder. The program is not visible. The software starts when Windows starts (see Registry key: Run).The application listens for or sends data on open ports to a LAN or the Internet. It is not a Windows core file.

Important: You should check the odbcconf.exe process on your PC to see if it is a threat. We recommend Security Task Manager for verifying your computer's security. This was one of the Top Download Picks of The Washington Post and PC World.

The following programs have also been shown useful for a deeper analysis: Security Task Manager examines the active odbcconf process on your computer and clearly tells you what it is doing. Malwarebytes' well-known anti-malware tool tells you if the odbcconf.exe on your computer displays annoying ads, slowing it down. This type of unwanted adware program is not considered by some antivirus software to be a virus and is therefore not marked for cleanup.

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