name: CMD Echo Pipe - Escalation
id: eb277ba0-b96b-11eb-b00e-acde48001122
version: 2
date: '2021-05-20'
author: Michael Haag, Splunk
type: TTP
datamodel:
- Endpoint
description: This analytic identifies a common behavior by Cobalt Strike and other
  frameworks where the adversary will escalate privileges, either via `jump` (Cobalt
  Strike PTH) or `getsystem`, using named-pipe impersonation. A suspicious event will
  look like `cmd.exe /c echo 4sgryt3436 > \\.\Pipe\5erg53`.
search: '| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time)
  as lastTime from datamodel=Endpoint.Processes where `process_cmd` OR Processes.process=*%comspec%*
  (Processes.process=*echo* AND Processes.process=*pipe*) by Processes.dest Processes.user
  Processes.parent_process Processes.process_name Processes.original_file_name Processes.process
  Processes.process_id Processes.parent_process_id | `drop_dm_object_name(Processes)`
  | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` | `cmd_echo_pipe___escalation_filter`'
how_to_implement: To successfully implement this search you need to be ingesting information
  on process that include the name of the process responsible for the changes from
  your endpoints into the `Endpoint` datamodel in the `Processes` node. In addition,
  confirm the latest CIM App 4.20 or higher is installed and the latest TA for the
  endpoint product.
known_false_positives: Unknown. It is possible filtering may be required to ensure
  fidelity.
references:
- https://redcanary.com/threat-detection-report/threats/cobalt-strike/
- https://github.com/rapid7/meterpreter/blob/master/source/extensions/priv/server/elevate/namedpipe.c
tags:
  analytic_story:
  - Cobalt Strike
  confidence: 80
  context:
  - Source:Endpoint
  - Stage:Privilege Escalation
  dataset:
  - https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1055/cobalt_strike/windows-sysmon.log
  impact: 80
  kill_chain_phases:
  - Exploitation
  message: An instance of $parent_process_name$ spawning $process_name$ was identified
    on endpoint $dest$ by user $user$ potentially performing privilege escalation
    using named pipes related to Cobalt Strike and other frameworks.
  mitre_attack_id:
  - T1059
  - T1059.003
  - T1543.003
  - T1543
  observable:
  - name: user
    type: User
    role:
    - Victim
  - name: dest
    type: Hostname
    role:
    - Victim
  - name: parent_process_name
    type: Process
    role:
    - Parent Process
  - name: process_name
    type: Process
    role:
    - Child Process
  product:
  - Splunk Enterprise
  - Splunk Enterprise Security
  - Splunk Cloud
  required_fields:
  - _time
  - Processes.dest
  - Processes.user
  - Processes.parent_process_name
  - Processes.parent_process
  - Processes.original_file_name
  - Processes.process_name
  - Processes.process
  - Processes.process_id
  - Processes.parent_process_path
  - Processes.process_path
  - Processes.parent_process_id
  risk_score: 64
  security_domain: endpoint
  supported_tas:
  - Splunk_TA_microsoft_sysmon
  asset_type: Endpoint