spawn an invisible process

run.c

// To compile: gcc64.exe run.c -o run.exe
// To run:     run.exe cmd.exe "/c whoami"

#include <Windows.h>
#include <stdio.h>

int main(int argc, char **argv) {

    CHAR cDesktop[] = "hiddendesktop";
    HDESK hDesk = CreateDesktop(cDesktop, NULL, NULL, DF_ALLOWOTHERACCOUNTHOOK, GENERIC_ALL, NULL);

    printf("Desktop HANDLE 0x%08x\n", hDesk);

    CHAR *process = argv[0];
    CHAR *args = argv[1];

    STARTUPINFO si;
    PROCESS_INFORMATION pi;
    ZeroMemory(&si, sizeof(STARTUPINFO));
    
    si.cb = sizeof(STARTUPINFO);
    si.lpDesktop = cDesktop;

    // CREATE_NEW_CONSOLE is used on purpose to show that the process is not visible 
    if(CreateProcess(process, args, NULL, NULL, TRUE, CREATE_NEW_CONSOLE, NULL, NULL, &si, &pi)) {
        printf("Process spawned.\n");
    } else {
        printf("Failed to spawn. Error %d\n", GetLastError());
    }

    return 0;
}