FileFix (Explorer address bar)
FileFix is a social-engineering lure that coerces users to paste a crafted string into the File Explorer address bar. The visible portion looks like a file path, but the copied content contains a hidden command (e.g., PowerShell) which executes when submitted.
Demonstration only. Do not use real payloads. The goal is user education and detection validation. Use a harmless echo.
Open File Explorer
Copy this benign demo string:
powershell -nop -c echo DEMOClick the Explorer address bar, paste, and press Enter
Observe a harmless console window printing DEMO
Mitigations:
User education: never paste commands into Explorer address bar
Detect explorer.exe spawning powershell.exe/cmd.exe
The same address-bar behavior exists in Control Panel and many MMC shells. Use an ultra-safe demo (opens Notepad). For education only.
Open Control Panel (or an MMC console)
Click the address bar
Paste:
notepadand press EnterNotepad opens
Validate detections for FileFix + image parsing in PowerShell. This uses only benign inline data. Do not replace with live payloads.
Open File Explorer
Click the address bar
Paste the benign command and press Enter
Mitigations:
Educate users: never paste commands into Explorer’s address bar
Detect explorer.exe spawning powershell.exe with image APIs (System.Drawing)
Alert on PowerShell downloading images followed by decoding/MemoryStream usage