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66 lines
3.1 KiB
YAML
66 lines
3.1 KiB
YAML
name: Windows SQL Spawning CertUtil
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id: dfc18a5a-946e-44ee-a373-c0f60d06e676
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version: 7
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date: '2024-12-16'
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author: Michael Haag, Splunk
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status: experimental
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type: TTP
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data_source:
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- Sysmon EventID 1
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- Windows Event Log Security 4688
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- CrowdStrike ProcessRollup2
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description: The following analytic detects the use of certutil to download software,
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specifically when spawned by SQL-related processes. This detection leverages Endpoint
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Detection and Response (EDR) data, focusing on command-line executions involving
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certutil with parameters like *urlcache* and *split*. This activity is significant
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as it may indicate a compromise by threat actors, such as Flax Typhoon, who use
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certutil to establish persistent VPN connections. If confirmed malicious, this behavior
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could allow attackers to maintain access, monitor system availability, and potentially
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escalate to data theft or ransomware deployment.
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search: '| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time)
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as lastTime from datamodel=Endpoint.Processes where Processes.parent_process_name
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IN ("sqlservr.exe", "sqlagent.exe", "sqlps.exe", "launchpad.exe", "sqldumper.exe")
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`process_certutil` (Processes.process="*urlcache*" OR Processes.process="*verifyctl*")
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by Processes.dest Processes.user Processes.parent_process Processes.parent_process_name
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Processes.process_name Processes.process Processes.process_id Processes.original_file_name
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Processes.parent_process_id | `drop_dm_object_name(Processes)` | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
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| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` | `windows_sql_spawning_certutil_filter`'
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how_to_implement: The detection is based on data that originates from Endpoint Detection
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and Response (EDR) agents. These agents are designed to provide security-related
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telemetry from the endpoints where the agent is installed. To implement this search,
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you must ingest logs that contain the process GUID, process name, and parent process.
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Additionally, you must ingest complete command-line executions. These logs must
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be processed using the appropriate Splunk Technology Add-ons that are specific to
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the EDR product. The logs must also be mapped to the `Processes` node of the `Endpoint`
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data model. Use the Splunk Common Information Model (CIM) to normalize the field
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names and speed up the data modeling process.
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known_false_positives: The occurrence of false positives should be minimal, given
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that the SQL agent does not typically download software using CertUtil.
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references:
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- https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2023/08/24/flax-typhoon-using-legitimate-software-to-quietly-access-taiwanese-organizations/
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rba:
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message: $process_name$ was launched on $dest$ by $user$. This behavior is uncommon
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with the SQL process identified.
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risk_objects:
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- field: dest
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type: system
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score: 90
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- field: user
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type: user
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score: 90
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threat_objects:
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- field: process_name
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type: process_name
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tags:
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analytic_story:
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- Flax Typhoon
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asset_type: Endpoint
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atomic_guid: []
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mitre_attack_id:
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- T1105
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product:
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- Splunk Enterprise
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- Splunk Enterprise Security
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- Splunk Cloud
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security_domain: endpoint
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