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splunk-security_content/detections/endpoint/certutil_with_decode_argument.yml
2021-07-20 21:12:30 +00:00

87 lines
3.4 KiB
YAML

name: CertUtil With Decode Argument
id: bfe94226-8c10-11eb-a4b3-acde48001122
version: 1
date: '2021-03-23'
author: Michael Haag, Splunk
type: batch
datamodel:
- Endpoint
description: CertUtil.exe may be used to `encode` and `decode` a file, including PE
and script code. Encoding will convert a file to base64 with `-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----`
and `-----END CERTIFICATE-----` tags. Malicious usage will include decoding a encoded
file that was downloaded. Once decoded, it will be loaded by a parallel process.
Note that there are two additional command switches that may be used - `encodehex`
and `decodehex`. Similarly, the file will be encoded in HEX and later decoded for
further execution. During triage, identify the source of the file being decoded.
Review its contents or execution behavior for further analysis.
search: '| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time)
as lastTime from datamodel=Endpoint.Processes where Processes.process_name=certutil.exe
Processes.process=*decode* by Processes.dest Processes.user Processes.parent_process
Processes.process_name Processes.process Processes.process_id Processes.parent_process_id
| `drop_dm_object_name(Processes)` | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
| `certutil_with_decode_argument_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.
known_false_positives: Typically seen used to `encode` files, but it is possible to
see legitimate use of `decode`. Filter based on parent-child relationship, file
paths, endpoint or user.
references:
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1140/
- https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/master/atomics/T1140/T1140.md
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/certutil
- https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/certutilexe-could-allow-attackers-to-download-malware-while-bypassing-av/
tags:
analytic_story:
- Deobfuscate-Decode Files or Information
automated_detection_testing: passed
confidence: 80
context:
- Source:Endpoint
- Stage:Execution
dataset:
- https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1140/atomic_red_team/windows-sysmon.log
impact: 50
kill_chain_phases:
- Exploitation
message: An instance of $parent_process_name$ spawning $process_name$ was identified
on endpoint $dest$ by user $user$ attempting to decode a file.
mitre_attack_id:
- T1140
observable:
- name: user
type: User
role:
- Victim
- name: dest
type: Hostname
role:
- Victim
- name: parent_process_name
type: Parent 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: 40
security_domain: endpoint