splunk-security_content/docs/_posts/2021-06-10-powershell_creating_thread_mutex.md

title, excerpt, categories, last_modified_at, toc, tags

title	excerpt	categories	last_modified_at	toc	tags
Powershell Creating Thread Mutex	Indicator Removal from Tools	Endpoint	2021-06-10	true	TTP T1027.005 Indicator Removal from Tools Defense Evasion Splunk Enterprise Splunk Enterprise Security Splunk Cloud Exploitation

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Description

The following analytic identifies suspicious PowerShell script execution via EventCode 4104 that is using the mutex function. This function is commonly seen in some obfuscated PowerShell scripts to make sure that only one instance of there process is running on a compromise machine. During triage, review parallel processes within the same timeframe. Review the full script block to identify other related artifacts.

• Type: TTP
• Product: Splunk Enterprise, Splunk Enterprise Security, Splunk Cloud
• Datamodel:
• Last Updated: 2021-06-10
• Author: Teoderick Contreras, Splunk
• ID: 637557ec-ca08-11eb-bd0a-acde48001122

ATT&CK

ID	Technique	Tactic
T1027.005	Indicator Removal from Tools	Defense Evasion

Search

`powershell` EventCode=4104 Message = "*Threading.Mutex*" 
| stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime by EventCode Message ComputerName User 
| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` 
| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` 
| `powershell_creating_thread_mutex_filter`

Associated Analytic Story

• Malicious PowerShell

How To Implement

To successfully implement this analytic, you will need to enable PowerShell Script Block Logging on some or all endpoints. Additional setup here https://docs.splunk.com/Documentation/UBA/5.0.4.1/GetDataIn/AddPowerShell#Configure_module_logging_for_PowerShell.

Required field

• _time
• EventCode
• Message
• ComputerName
• User

Kill Chain Phase

• Exploitation

Known False Positives

powershell developer may used this function in their script for instance checking too.

RBA

Risk Score	Impact	Confidence	Message
40.0	50	80	A suspicious powershell script contains Thread Mutex in Message with EventCode EventCode in host ComputerName

Reference

• https://isc.sans.edu/forums/diary/Some+Powershell+Malicious+Code/22988/
• https://docs.splunk.com/Documentation/UBA/5.0.4.1/GetDataIn/AddPowerShell#Configure_module_logging_for_PowerShell.
• https://blog.palantir.com/tampering-with-windows-event-tracing-background-offense-and-defense-4be7ac62ac63
• https://static1.squarespace.com/static/552092d5e4b0661088167e5c/t/59c1814829f18782e24f1fe2/1505853768977/Windows+PowerShell+Logging+Cheat+Sheet+ver+Sept+2017+v2.1.pdf
• https://www.crowdstrike.com/blog/investigating-powershell-command-and-script-logging/

Test Dataset

Replay any dataset to Splunk Enterprise by using our replay.py tool or the UI. Alternatively you can replay a dataset into a Splunk Attack Range

• https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/honeypots/pwsh/windows-powershell.log

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