splunk-security_content/detections/endpoint/ping_sleep_batch_command.yml

name: Ping Sleep Batch Command
id: ce058d6c-79f2-11ec-b476-acde48001122
version: 11
date: '2025-07-16'
author: Teoderick Contreras, Splunk
status: production
type: Anomaly
description: 'The following analytic identifies the execution of ping sleep batch
  commands.

  It leverages data from Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) agents, focusing on

  process and parent process command-line details. This activity is significant as

  it indicates an attempt to delay malicious code execution, potentially evading detection

  or sandbox analysis. If confirmed malicious, this technique allows attackers to

  bypass security measures, making it harder to detect and analyze their activities,

  thereby increasing the risk of prolonged unauthorized access and potential data

  exfiltration.

  '
data_source:
- Sysmon EventID 1
- CrowdStrike ProcessRollup2
search: '| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time)
  as lastTime from datamodel=Endpoint.Processes where 
      (
      Processes.parent_process= "*ping*" 
      Processes.parent_process = *-n* 
      Processes.parent_process="* Nul*"
      Processes.parent_process IN ("*>*", "*>*")
      Processes.parent_process IN ("*&*", "*& *")
      )
    OR (
      Processes.process = "*ping*"
      Processes.process = *-n* 
      Processes.process="* Nul*" 
      Processes.process IN ("*>*", "*>*")
      Processes.process IN ("*&*", "*& *")
      )
  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
  | `drop_dm_object_name("Processes")` | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` |`security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
  | `ping_sleep_batch_command_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.
known_false_positives: Administrator or network operator may execute this command.
  Please update the filter macros to remove false positives.
references:
- https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2022/01/15/destructive-malware-targeting-ukrainian-organizations/
drilldown_searches:
- name: View the detection results for - "$user$" and "$dest$"
  search: '%original_detection_search% | search  user = "$user$" dest = "$dest$"'
  earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
  latest_offset: $info_max_time$
- name: View risk events for the last 7 days for - "$user$" and "$dest$"
  search: '| from datamodel Risk.All_Risk | search normalized_risk_object IN ("$user$",
    "$dest$") 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: $info_max_time$
rba:
  message: suspicious $process$ commandline run on $dest$
  risk_objects:
  - field: user
    type: user
    score: 36
  - field: dest
    type: system
    score: 36
  threat_objects: []
tags:
  analytic_story:
  - Warzone RAT
  - Quasar RAT
  - Data Destruction
  - Meduza Stealer
  - WhisperGate
  - BlackByte Ransomware
  asset_type: Endpoint
  mitre_attack_id:
  - T1497.003
  product:
  - Splunk Enterprise
  - Splunk Enterprise Security
  - Splunk Cloud
  security_domain: endpoint
tests:
- name: True Positive Test
  attack_data:
  - data: https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1497.003/ping_sleep/sysmon.log
    source: XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational
    sourcetype: XmlWinEventLog