Rapid7

module

Windows WSL via Registry Persistence

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Disclosed
Jan 29, 2022
Created
Nov 20, 2025

Description

This module will install a payload in WSL and execute it at user
logon or system startup via the registry value in "CurrentVersion\Run"
or "RunOnce" (depending on privilege and selected method).
The payload will be installed completely in registry.

Staged payloads, like fetch payloads in linux X64 don't tend to work. The payload
will ask for the stage, then submit the HTTP fetch request
and when the payload is sent it doesn't execute.

`cmd/linux/http/x64/meterpreter_reverse_tcp` and unix cmd payloads tend to work.

Authors

Joe Helle
h00die

Platform

Linux,Unix

Architectures

cmd, x64

References

Module Options

To display the available options, load the module within the Metasploit console and run the commands 'show options' or 'show advanced':


    msf > use exploit/windows/persistence/wsl/registry
    msf exploit(registry) > show targets
        ...targets...
    msf exploit(registry) > set TARGET < target-id >
    msf exploit(registry) > show options
        ...show and set options...
    msf exploit(registry) > exploit
Title
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