---
title: "Detect Regsvcs with Network Connection"
excerpt: "Signed Binary Proxy Execution, Regsvcs/Regasm"
categories:
  - Endpoint
last_modified_at: 2022-02-18
toc: true
toc_label: ""
tags:
  - Signed Binary Proxy Execution
  - Defense Evasion
  - Regsvcs/Regasm
  - Defense Evasion
  - Splunk Enterprise
  - Splunk Enterprise Security
  - Splunk Cloud
---



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#### Description

The following analytic identifies Regsvcs.exe with a network connection to a public IP address, exluding private IP space. This particular technique has been used in the wild to bypass application control products. Regasm.exe and Regsvcs.exe are signed by Microsoft. By contacting a remote command and control server, the adversary will have the ability to escalate privileges and complete the objectives. During investigation, identify and retrieve the content being loaded. Review parallel processes for additional suspicious behavior. Gather any other file modifications and review accordingly. Review the reputation of the remote IP or domain and block as needed. regsvcs.exe and regasm.exe are natively found in C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v*\regasm|regsvcs.exe and C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v*\regasm|regsvcs.exe.

- **Type**: [TTP](https://github.com/splunk/security_content/wiki/Detection-Analytic-Types)
- **Product**: Splunk Enterprise, Splunk Enterprise Security, Splunk Cloud
- **Datamodel**: 
- **Last Updated**: 2022-02-18
- **Author**: Michael Haag, Splunk
- **ID**: e3e7a1c0-f2b9-445c-8493-f30a63522d1a


#### [ATT&CK](https://attack.mitre.org/)

| ID             | Technique        |  Tactic             |
| -------------- | ---------------- |-------------------- |
| [T1218](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218/) | Signed Binary Proxy Execution | Defense Evasion |

| [T1218.009](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218/009/) | Regsvcs/Regasm | Defense Evasion |

#### Search

```
`sysmon` EventID=3 dest_ip!=10.0.0.0/12 dest_ip!=172.16.0.0/12 dest_ip!=192.168.0.0/16 process_name=regsvcs.exe 
| rename Computer as dest 
| stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime by dest, user, process_name, src_ip, dest_ip 
| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` 
| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` 
| `detect_regsvcs_with_network_connection_filter`
```

#### Macros
The SPL above uses the following Macros:
* [security_content_ctime](https://github.com/splunk/security_content/blob/develop/macros/security_content_ctime.yml)
* [sysmon](https://github.com/splunk/security_content/blob/develop/macros/sysmon.yml)

Note that `detect_regsvcs_with_network_connection_filter` is a empty macro by default. It allows the user to filter out any results (false positives) without editing the SPL.

#### Required field
* _time
* EventID
* dest_ip
* process_name
* Computer
* user
* src_ip
* dest_host


#### How To Implement
To successfully implement this search, you need to be ingesting logs with the process name, parent process, and command-line executions from your endpoints. If you are using Sysmon, you must have at least version 6.0.4 of the Sysmon TA.

#### Known False Positives
Although unlikely, limited instances of regsvcs.exe may cause a false positive. Filter based endpoint usage, command line arguments, or process lineage.

#### Associated Analytic story
* [Suspicious Regsvcs Regasm Activity](/stories/suspicious_regsvcs_regasm_activity)


#### Kill Chain Phase
* Actions on Objectives



#### RBA

| Risk Score  | Impact      | Confidence   | Message      |
| ----------- | ----------- |--------------|--------------|
| 80.0 | 80 | 100 | An instance of $process_name$ contacting a remote destination was identified on endpoint $Computer$ by user $user$. This behavior is not normal for $process_name$. |


Note that risk score is calculated base on the following formula: `(Impact * Confidence)/100`



#### Reference

* [https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218/009/](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218/009/)
* [https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/master/atomics/T1218.009/T1218.009.md](https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/master/atomics/T1218.009/T1218.009.md)
* [https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Regsvcs/](https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Regsvcs/)



#### Test Dataset
Replay any dataset to Splunk Enterprise by using our [`replay.py`](https://github.com/splunk/attack_data#using-replaypy) tool or the [UI](https://github.com/splunk/attack_data#using-ui).
Alternatively you can replay a dataset into a [Splunk Attack Range](https://github.com/splunk/attack_range#replay-dumps-into-attack-range-splunk-server)

* [https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1218.009/atomic_red_team/windows-sysmon.log](https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1218.009/atomic_red_team/windows-sysmon.log)



[*source*](https://github.com/splunk/security_content/tree/develop/detections/endpoint/detect_regsvcs_with_network_connection.yml) \| *version*: **2**