mirror of
https://github.com/splunk/security_content
synced 2026-06-08 17:32:49 +00:00
Eric
90 lines
4.4 KiB
YAML
90 lines
4.4 KiB
YAML
name: Excel Spawning Windows Script Host
|
|
id: 57fe880a-9be3-11eb-9bf3-acde48001122
|
|
version: 10
|
|
date: '2025-02-10'
|
|
author: Michael Haag, Splunk
|
|
status: removed
|
|
type: TTP
|
|
description: The following analytic has been deprecated in favour of a more generic
|
|
approach. The following analytic identifies instances where Microsoft Excel spawns
|
|
Windows Script Host processes (`cscript.exe` or `wscript.exe`). This behavior is
|
|
detected using Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) telemetry, focusing on process
|
|
creation events where the parent process is `excel.exe`. This activity is significant
|
|
because it is uncommon and often associated with malicious actions, such as spearphishing
|
|
attacks. If confirmed malicious, this could allow an attacker to execute scripts,
|
|
potentially leading to code execution, data exfiltration, or further system compromise.
|
|
Immediate investigation and mitigation are recommended.
|
|
data_source:
|
|
- Sysmon EventID 1
|
|
- Windows Event Log Security 4688
|
|
- CrowdStrike ProcessRollup2
|
|
search: '| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count values(Processes.process)
|
|
min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime from datamodel=Endpoint.Processes
|
|
where Processes.parent_process_name="excel.exe" Processes.process_name IN ("cscript.exe",
|
|
"wscript.exe") by Processes.parent_process Processes.parent_process_name Processes.process_name
|
|
Processes.user Processes.dest | `drop_dm_object_name("Processes")` | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`|`security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
|
|
| `excel_spawning_windows_script_host_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: False positives should be limited, but if any are present,
|
|
filter as needed. In some instances, `cscript.exe` is used for legitimate business
|
|
practices.
|
|
references:
|
|
- https://app.any.run/tasks/8ecfbc29-03d0-421c-a5bf-3905d29192a2/
|
|
- https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566/001/
|
|
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: An instance of $parent_process_name$ spawning $process_name$ was identified
|
|
on endpoint $dest$ by user $user$, indicating potential suspicious macro execution.
|
|
risk_objects:
|
|
- field: user
|
|
type: user
|
|
score: 80
|
|
- field: dest
|
|
type: system
|
|
score: 80
|
|
threat_objects:
|
|
- field: parent_process_name
|
|
type: parent_process_name
|
|
- field: process_name
|
|
type: process_name
|
|
tags:
|
|
analytic_story:
|
|
- Spearphishing Attachments
|
|
- Compromised Windows Host
|
|
asset_type: Endpoint
|
|
mitre_attack_id:
|
|
- T1003.002
|
|
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/T1566.001/macro/windows-sysmon.log
|
|
source: XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational
|
|
sourcetype: XmlWinEventLog
|