John Hammond Explores Convo C2: A Stealthy Command and Control Tool Using Microsoft Teams

In this video, John Hammond explores a recent command and control (C2) tool called Convo C2, which allows red teams to execute system commands on compromised hosts via Microsoft Teams. This tool, released in November 2024, uses advanced techniques to infiltrate and exfiltrate data stealthily, making detection difficult for traditional security solutions. Convo C2 works by embedding commands in hidden HTML tags within Microsoft Teams messages and exfiltrating command outputs through adaptive card images and URLs. These outgoing requests are sent to a command and control server, avoiding direct communication between the victim and the attacker. This method exploits the trust placed in Microsoft services, complicating detection by antivirus and other security solutions. John Hammond demonstrates the installation and configuration of Convo C2 in a test environment. He starts by setting up a Linux server on a Digital Ocean instance to host the C2 server. Then, he configures an agent on a compromised Windows host to execute commands received via Microsoft Teams. The video also details the creation of a Teams channel with an incoming webhook to receive command outputs. For Convo C2 to work, several technical steps are required, including intercepting HTTP requests via Burp Suite to obtain credentials and authentication tokens. John Hammond shows how to extract this information and use it to configure the C2 agent on the victim host. Once configured, the agent can execute commands sent via Microsoft Teams, demonstrating effective and stealthy C2 communication. The video highlights the practical implications of Convo C2 for penetration testing and post-exploitation operations. Although the tool requires complex initial configuration, it offers a powerful method for maintaining persistent access and executing remote commands undetected. This underscores the importance of monitoring communications via legitimate services like Microsoft Teams to detect malicious activities. In conclusion, Convo C2 is an innovative tool that uses Microsoft Teams as a command and control channel, making detection difficult for traditional security solutions. John Hammond's video provides a comprehensive demonstration of its installation and use, offering valuable insights for cybersecurity professionals.