Files
splunk-security_content/detections/endpoint/certutil_with_decode_argument.yml
mhaag-spl af8a47c5c2 Added - Living Off The Land Story
Added - Living Off The Land Story
2022-03-15 14:44:54 -06:00

91 lines
3.5 KiB
YAML

name: CertUtil With Decode Argument
id: bfe94226-8c10-11eb-a4b3-acde48001122
version: 2
date: '2021-03-23'
author: Michael Haag, Splunk
type: TTP
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 `process_certutil` 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. In addition,
confirm the latest CIM App 4.20 or higher is installed and the latest TA for the
endpoint product.
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
- Living Off The Land
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: 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
supported_tas:
- Splunk_TA_microsoft_sysmon
asset_type: Endpoint