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Description

The following analytic identifies the use of PowerShell's Start-Service or Stop-Service cmdlets on an endpoint. It leverages PowerShell Script Block Logging to detect these commands. This activity is significant because attackers can manipulate services to disable or stop critical functions, causing system instability or disrupting business operations. If confirmed malicious, this behavior could allow attackers to disable security services, evade detection, or disrupt essential services, leading to potential system downtime and compromised security.

  • Type: Anomaly

  • Product: Splunk Enterprise, Splunk Enterprise Security, Splunk Cloud

  • Last Updated: 2024-05-18
  • Author: Michael Haag, Splunk
  • ID: 04207f8a-e08d-4ee6-be26-1e0c4488b04a

Annotations

ATT&CK

ATT&CK

ID Technique Tactic
T1059.001 PowerShell Execution
Kill Chain Phase
  • Installation
NIST
  • DE.AE
CIS20
  • CIS 10
CVE 


1
2
3
4
5



`powershell` EventCode=4104 ScriptBlockText IN ("*start-service*", "*stop-service*") 
| stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime by Computer EventCode ScriptBlockText 
| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` 
| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` 
| `powershell_start_or_stop_service_filter`

Macros

The SPL above uses the following Macros:

:information_source: powershell_start_or_stop_service_filter is a empty macro by default. It allows the user to filter out any results (false positives) without editing the SPL.

Required fields

List of fields required to use this analytic.

  • _time
  • EventCode
  • ScriptBlockText
  • Computer

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.

Known False Positives

This behavior may be noisy, as these cmdlets are commonly used by system administrators or other legitimate users to manage services. Therefore, it is recommended not to enable this analytic as a direct notable or TTP. Instead, it should be used as part of a broader set of security controls to detect and investigate potential threats.

Associated Analytic Story

RBA

Risk Score Impact Confidence Message
10.0 50 20 PowerShell was identified attempting to start or stop a service on $Computer$.

:information_source: The Risk Score is calculated by the following formula: Risk Score = (Impact * Confidence/100). Initial Confidence and Impact is set by the analytic author.

Reference

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

source | version: 2