Shortcut Modification

Adversaries may create or modify shortcuts that can execute a program during system boot or user login. Shortcuts or symbolic links are used to reference other files or programs that will be opened or executed when the shortcut is clicked or executed by a system startup process. Adversaries may abuse shortcuts in the startup folder to execute their tools and achieve persistence.(Citation: Shortcut for Persistence ) Although often used as payloads in an infection chain (e.g. [Spearphishing Attachment](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566/001)), adversaries may also create a new shortcut as a means of indirection, while also abusing [Masquerading](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1036) to make the malicious shortcut appear as a legitimate program. Adversaries can also edit the target path or entirely replace an existing shortcut so their malware will be executed instead of the intended legitimate program. Shortcuts can also be abused to establish persistence by implementing other methods. For example, LNK browser extensions may be modified (e.g. [Browser Extensions](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1176/001)) to persistently launch malware.

Linked Issues

Issuelinks
Linktyp	Issue
is related to	Techniques
is blocked by	Detection Strategy for T1547.009 – Shortcut Modification (Windows)
is blocked by	User Account Management
is blocked by	Execution Prevention
is blocked by	Restrict File and Directory Permissions
is blocked by	Access Restriction For Change
is blocked by	Secure Baseline Configurations
is blocked by	Least Functionality
is blocked by	Continuous Monitoring
is blocked by	Malicious Code Protection (Anti-Malware)
is blocked by	Separation of Duties (SoD)
is blocked by	Identification & Authentication for Organizational Users
is blocked by	Account Management
is blocked by	Access Enforcement
is blocked by	Least Privilege
is blocked by	Remote Access

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