mirror of
https://github.com/splunk/security_content
synced 2026-06-08 17:32:49 +00:00
Eric
71 lines
3.5 KiB
YAML
71 lines
3.5 KiB
YAML
name: Windows SQL Spawning CertUtil
|
|
id: dfc18a5a-946e-44ee-a373-c0f60d06e676
|
|
version: 11
|
|
date: '2025-05-02'
|
|
author: Michael Haag, Splunk
|
|
status: experimental
|
|
type: TTP
|
|
data_source:
|
|
- Sysmon EventID 1
|
|
- Windows Event Log Security 4688
|
|
- CrowdStrike ProcessRollup2
|
|
description: The following analytic detects the use of certutil to download software,
|
|
specifically when spawned by SQL-related processes. This detection leverages Endpoint
|
|
Detection and Response (EDR) data, focusing on command-line executions involving
|
|
certutil with parameters like *urlcache* and *split*. This activity is significant
|
|
as it may indicate a compromise by threat actors, such as Flax Typhoon, who use
|
|
certutil to establish persistent VPN connections. If confirmed malicious, this behavior
|
|
could allow attackers to maintain access, monitor system availability, and potentially
|
|
escalate to data theft or ransomware deployment.
|
|
search: '| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time)
|
|
as lastTime from datamodel=Endpoint.Processes where Processes.parent_process_name
|
|
IN ("sqlservr.exe", "sqlagent.exe", "sqlps.exe", "launchpad.exe", "sqldumper.exe")
|
|
`process_certutil` (Processes.process="*urlcache*" OR Processes.process="*verifyctl*")
|
|
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)`
|
|
| `windows_sql_spawning_certutil_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: The occurrence of false positives should be minimal, given
|
|
that the SQL agent does not typically download software using CertUtil.
|
|
references:
|
|
- https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2023/08/24/flax-typhoon-using-legitimate-software-to-quietly-access-taiwanese-organizations/
|
|
rba:
|
|
message: $process_name$ was launched on $dest$ by $user$. This behavior is uncommon
|
|
with the SQL process identified.
|
|
risk_objects:
|
|
- field: dest
|
|
type: system
|
|
score: 90
|
|
- field: user
|
|
type: user
|
|
score: 90
|
|
threat_objects:
|
|
- field: process_name
|
|
type: process_name
|
|
tags:
|
|
analytic_story:
|
|
- SQL Server Abuse
|
|
- Flax Typhoon
|
|
- Storm-2460 CLFS Zero Day Exploitation
|
|
asset_type: Endpoint
|
|
atomic_guid: []
|
|
mitre_attack_id:
|
|
- T1105
|
|
product:
|
|
- Splunk Enterprise
|
|
- Splunk Enterprise Security
|
|
- Splunk Cloud
|
|
security_domain: endpoint
|