name: Detect Renamed PSExec
id: 683e6196-b8e8-11eb-9a79-acde48001122
version: 4
date: '2022-04-07'
author: Michael Haag, Splunk
status: production
type: Hunting
description: The following analytic identifies renamed instances of `PsExec.exe` being
  utilized on an endpoint. Most instances, it is highly probable to capture `Psexec.exe`
  or other SysInternal utility usage with the command-line argument of `-accepteula`.
  During triage, validate this is the legitimate version of `PsExec` by reviewing
  the PE metadata. In addition, review parallel processes for further suspicious behavior.
data_source:
- Sysmon Event ID 1
search:
  selection1:
    OriginalFileName: psexec.c
    Image|endswith:
    - psexec64.exe
    - psexec.exe
  condition: selection1
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: Limited false positives should be present. It is possible some
  third party applications may use older versions of PsExec, filter as needed.
references:
- https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/master/atomics/T1569.002/T1569.002.yaml
- https://redcanary.com/blog/threat-hunting-psexec-lateral-movement/
tags:
  analytic_story:
  - SamSam Ransomware
  - DHS Report TA18-074A
  - HAFNIUM Group
  - DarkSide Ransomware
  - Active Directory Lateral Movement
  - CISA AA22-320A
  asset_type: Endpoint
  confidence: 90
  impact: 30
  message: The following $process_name$ has been identified as renamed, spawning from
    $parent_process_name$ on $dest$ by $user$.
  mitre_attack_id:
  - T1569
  - T1569.002
  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
  risk_score: 27
  security_domain: endpoint
tests:
- name: True Positive Test
  attack_data:
  - data: https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1569.002/atomic_red_team/windows-sysmon.log
    source: XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational
    sourcetype: xmlwineventlog