splunk-security_content/detections/endpoint/detect_remote_access_software_usage_process.yml

name: Detect Remote Access Software Usage Process
id: ffd5e001-2e34-48f4-97a2-26dc4bb08178
version: 12
date: '2025-10-14'
author: Steven Dick, Sebastian Wurl, Splunk Community
status: production
type: Anomaly
description: The following analytic detects the execution of known remote access
  software within the environment. It leverages data from Endpoint Detection and
  Response (EDR) agents, focusing on process names and parent processes mapped 
  to the Endpoint data model. We then compare with with a list of known remote 
  access software shipped as a lookup file - remote_access_software. This 
  activity is significant as adversaries often use remote access tools like 
  AnyDesk, GoToMyPC, LogMeIn, and TeamViewer to maintain unauthorized access. If
  confirmed malicious, this could allow attackers to control systems remotely, 
  exfiltrate data, or deploy additional malware, posing a severe threat to the 
  organization's security.
data_source:
- Sysmon EventID 1
- Windows Event Log Security 4688
- CrowdStrike ProcessRollup2
search: |
  | tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime values(Processes.parent_process) as parent_process 
    from datamodel=Endpoint.Processes 
    where 
    [| inputlookup remote_access_software where isutility=TRUE
    | rename remote_utility AS Processes.process_name 
    | fields Processes.process_name] 
    AND Processes.dest!="unknown" 
    AND Processes.user!="unknown" 
    by Processes.action Processes.dest Processes.original_file_name Processes.parent_process Processes.parent_process_exec Processes.parent_process_guid Processes.parent_process_id Processes.parent_process_name Processes.parent_process_path Processes.process Processes.process_exec Processes.process_guid Processes.process_hash Processes.process_id Processes.process_integrity_level Processes.process_name Processes.process_path Processes.user Processes.user_id Processes.vendor_product
  | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` 
  | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` 
  | `drop_dm_object_name(Processes)` 
  | lookup remote_access_software remote_utility AS process_name OUTPUT isutility description AS signature comment_reference AS desc category
  | search isutility = TRUE
  | `remote_access_software_usage_exceptions`
  | `detect_remote_access_software_usage_process_filter`
how_to_implement: The detection is based on data that originates from Endpoint 
  Detection and Response (EDR) agents. These agents are designed to provide 
  security-related telemetry from the endpoints where the agent is installed. To
  implement this search, you must ingest logs that contain the process GUID, 
  process name, and parent process. Additionally, you must ingest complete 
  command-line executions. These logs must be processed using the appropriate 
  Splunk Technology Add-ons that are specific to the EDR product. The logs must 
  also be mapped to the `Processes` node of the `Endpoint` data model. Use the 
  Splunk Common Information Model (CIM) to normalize the field names and speed 
  up the data modeling process. The "exceptions" macro leverages both an Assets 
  and Identities lookup, as well as a KVStore collection called 
  "remote_software_exceptions" that lets you track and maintain device- based 
  exceptions for this set of detections.
known_false_positives: It is possible that legitimate remote access software is 
  used within the environment. Ensure that the lookup is reviewed and updated 
  with any additional remote access software that is used within the 
  environment. Known false positives can be added to the 
  remote_access_software_usage_exception.csv lookup to globally suppress these 
  situations across all remote access content
references:
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1219/
- https://thedfirreport.com/2022/08/08/bumblebee-roasts-its-way-to-domain-admin/
- https://thedfirreport.com/2022/11/28/emotet-strikes-again-lnk-file-leads-to-domain-wide-ransomware/
drilldown_searches:
- name: View the detection results for - "$dest$" and "$user$"
  search: '%original_detection_search% | search  dest = "$dest$" user = "$user$"'
  earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
  latest_offset: $info_max_time$
- name: View risk events for the last 7 days for - "$dest$" and "$user$"
  search: '| from datamodel Risk.All_Risk | search normalized_risk_object IN ("$dest$",
    "$user$") starthoursago=168  | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time)
    as lastTime values(search_name) as "Search Name" values(risk_message) as "Risk
    Message" values(analyticstories) as "Analytic Stories" values(annotations._all)
    as "Annotations" values(annotations.mitre_attack.mitre_tactic) as "ATT&CK Tactics"
    by normalized_risk_object | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`'
  earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
  latest_offset: $info_max_time$
- name: Investigate processes on $dest$
  search: '| from datamodel:Endpoint.Processes| search dest=$dest$ process_name=$process_name$'
  earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
  latest_offset: $info_max_time$
rba:
  message: A process for a known remote access software $process_name$ was 
    identified on $dest$.
  risk_objects:
  - field: dest
    type: system
    score: 25
  - field: user
    type: user
    score: 25
  threat_objects:
  - field: process_name
    type: process_name
  - field: signature
    type: signature
tags:
  analytic_story:
  - Insider Threat
  - Command And Control
  - Ransomware
  - Gozi Malware
  - CISA AA24-241A
  - Remote Monitoring and Management Software
  - Cactus Ransomware
  - Seashell Blizzard
  - Scattered Spider
  - Interlock Ransomware
  - GhostRedirector IIS Module and Rungan Backdoor
  - Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters
  asset_type: Endpoint
  mitre_attack_id:
  - T1219
  product:
  - Splunk Enterprise
  - Splunk Enterprise Security
  - Splunk Cloud
  security_domain: endpoint
  manual_test: This detection uses A&I lookups from Enterprise Security.
tests:
- name: True Positive Test
  attack_data:
  - data: 
      https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1219/screenconnect/screenconnect_sysmon.log
    source: XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational
    sourcetype: XmlWinEventLog
  - data: 
      https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1219/atomic_red_team/windows-sysmon.log
    source: XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational
    sourcetype: XmlWinEventLog