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Description

An attacker tries might try to use different version of a system command without overriding original, or they might try to avoid some detection running the process from a different folder. This detection checks that a list of system processes run inside C:\Windows\System32 or C:\Windows\SysWOW64 The list of system processes has been extracted from https://github.com/splunk/security_content/blob/develop/lookups/is_windows_system_file.csv and the original detection https://github.com/splunk/security_content/blob/develop/detections/system_processes_run_from_unexpected_locations.yml

  • Type: Anomaly
  • Product: Splunk Behavioral Analytics

  • Last Updated: 2022-03-24
  • Author: Jose Hernadnez, Ignacio Bermudez Corrales, Splunk
  • ID: 28179107-099a-464a-94d3-08301e6c055f

Annotations

ATT&CK

ATT&CK

ID Technique Tactic
T1036 Masquerading Defense Evasion
Kill Chain Phase
  • Exploitation
NIST
  • DE.AE
CIS20
  • CIS 10
CVE
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
 $main = from source  
| eval timestamp = time  
| eval metadata_uid = metadata.uid  
| eval process_pid = process.pid 
| eval process_file = process.file 
| eval process_file_path = process_file.path 
| eval process_file_name = lower(process_file.name) 
| eval process_cmd_line = process.cmd_line 
| eval actor_user = actor.user 
| eval actor_user_name = actor_user.name 
| eval actor_process = actor.process 
| eval actor_process_pid = actor_process.pid 
| eval actor_process_file = actor_process.file 
| eval actor_process_file_path = actor_process_file.path 
| eval actor_process_file_name = actor_process_file.name 
| eval device_hostname = device.hostname 
| where (process_file_name IN ("xwizard.exe", "xpsrchvw.exe", "xcopy.exe", "wusa.exe", "wuauclt.exe", "wuapp.exe", "wuapihost.exe", "wsqmcons.exe", "wsmprovhost.exe", "wscript.exe", "write.exe", "wpr.exe", "wpnpinst.exe", "wowreg32.exe", "wlrmdr.exe", "wlanext.exe", "wksprt.exe", "wkspbroker.exe", "wisptis.exe", "winver.exe", "winrshost.exe", "winrs.exe", "winresume.exe", "winlogon.exe", "winload.exe", "wininit.exe", "wimserv.exe", "wifitask.exe", "wiawow64.exe", "wiaacmgr.exe", "whoami.exe", "where.exe", "wextract.exe", "wevtutil.exe", "wermgr.exe", "wecutil.exe", "wbengine.exe", "wbadmin.exe", "waitfor.exe", "w32tm.exe", "vssadmin.exe", "vmicsvc.exe", "verifiergui.exe", "verifier.exe", "verclsid.exe", "vdsldr.exe", "vds.exe", "userinit.exe", "upnpcont.exe", "unregmp2.exe", "unlodctr.exe", "ucsvc.exe", "tzutil.exe", "tzsync.exe", "typeperf.exe", "tskill.exe", "tsdiscon.exe", "tscon.exe", "tracerpt.exe", "tpmvscmgrsvr.exe", "tpmvscmgr.exe", "timeout.exe", "tcmsetup.exe", "taskmgr.exe", "tasklist.exe", "taskkill.exe", "taskhostw.exe", "taskhost.exe", "taskeng.exe", "takeown.exe", "tabcal.exe", "systray.exe", "systemreset.exe", "systeminfo.exe", "syskey.exe", "sxstrace.exe", "svchost.exe", "subst.exe", "srdelayed.exe", "spreview.exe", "sppsvc.exe", "spoolsv.exe", "spinstall.exe", "sort.exe", "snmptrap.exe", "smss.exe", "slui.exe", "sihost.exe", "sigverif.exe", "shutdown.exe", "shrpubw.exe", "shadow.exe", "setx.exe", "setupugc.exe", "setupcl.exe", "setspn.exe", "sethc.exe", "sessionmsg.exe", "services.exe", "secinit.exe", "sdiagnhost.exe", "sdclt.exe", "sdchange.exe", "sdbinst.exe", "schtasks.exe", "sc.exe", "sbunattend.exe", "rwinsta.exe", "runonce.exe", "rundll32.exe", "runas.exe", "rstrui.exe", "rrinstaller.exe", "rmttpmvscmgrsvr.exe", "resmon.exe", "reset.exe", "replace.exe", "repair-bde.exe", "relog.exe", "rekeywiz.exe", "regsvr32.exe", "regini.exe", "regedt32.exe", "reg.exe", "recover.exe", "recdisc.exe", "rdrleakdiag.exe", "rdpinput.exe", "rdpclip.exe", "rasphone.exe", "raserver.exe", "rasdial.exe", "rasautou.exe", "qwinsta.exe", "quser.exe", "query.exe", "qprocess.exe", "qappsrv.exe", "pwlauncher.exe", "psr.exe", "provtool.exe", "proquota.exe", "printui.exe", "printfilterpipelinesvc.exe", "print.exe", "prevhost.exe", "powercfg.exe", "poqexec.exe", "plasrv.exe", "phoneactivate.exe", "perfmon.exe", "pcwrun.exe", "pcawrk.exe", "pcaui.exe", "pcalua.exe", "p2phost.exe", "osk.exe", "openfiles.exe", "omadmprc.exe", "omadmclient.exe", "odbcconf.exe", "odbcad32.exe", "ocsetup.exe", "ntprint.exe", "ntoskrnl.exe", "nslookup.exe", "notepad.exe", "nltest.exe", "newdev.exe", "netsh.exe", "netiougc.exe", "netcfg.exe", "netbtugc.exe", "net1.exe", "net.exe", "ndadmin.exe", "nbtstat.exe", "mtstocom.exe", "mstsc.exe", "msra.exe", "mspaint.exe", "msinfo32.exe", "msiexec.exe", "mshta.exe", "msg.exe", "msfeedssync.exe", "msdtc.exe", "msdt.exe", "msconfig.exe", "mpnotify.exe", "mountvol.exe", "mobsync.exe", "mmc.exe", "mfpmp.exe", "mctadmin.exe", "mcbuilder.exe", "mblctr.exe", "manage-bde.exe", "makecab.exe", "lsm.exe", "lsass.exe", "lpremove.exe", "lpksetup.exe", "lpkinstall.exe", "logoff.exe", "logman.exe", "logagent.exe", "lodctr.exe", "licensingdiag.exe", "label.exe", "ktmutil.exe", "ksetup.exe", "klist.exe", "isoburn.exe", "iscsicpl.exe", "iscsicli.exe", "irftp.exe", "ipconfig.exe", "immersivetpmvscmgrsvr.exe", "iexpress.exe", "ieetwcollector.exe", "ieunatt.exe", "ie4uinit.exe", "icsunattend.exe", "icardagt.exe", "icacls.exe", "hwrreg.exe", "hwrcomp.exe", "help.exe", "hdwwiz.exe", "grpconv.exe", "gpupdate.exe", "gpscript.exe", "gpresult.exe", "getmac.exe", "fveprompt.exe", "fvenotify.exe", "ftp.exe", "fsutil.exe", "fsquirt.exe", "fsavailux.exe", "forfiles.exe", "fontview.exe", "fontdrvhost.exe", "fodhelper.exe", "fltmc.exe", "fixmapi.exe", "finger.exe", "findstr.exe", "find.exe", "fhmanagew.exe", "fc.exe", "extrac32.exe", "expand.exe", "eventvwr.exe", "eventcreate.exe", "eudcedit.exe", "esentutl.exe", "embeddedapplauncher.exe", "efsui.exe", "easinvoker.exe", "dxdiag.exe", "dwm.exe", "dvdupgrd.exe", "dvdplay.exe", "dstokenclean.exe", "dsregcmd.exe", "drvinst.exe", "drvcfg.exe", "driverquery.exe", "dpnsvr.exe", "dpapimig.exe", "doskey.exe", "dnscacheugc.exe", "dmclient.exe", "dmcfghost.exe", "dmcertinst.exe", "dllhst3g.exe", "dllhost.exe", "djoin.exe", "dispdiag.exe", "diskraid.exe", "diskperf.exe", "diskpart.exe", "dinotify.exe", "diantz.exe", "dialer.exe", "dfrgui.exe", "ddodiag.exe", "dcomcnfg.exe", "dccw.exe", "dashost.exe", "cttunesvr.exe", "cttune.exe", "ctfmon.exe", "csrss.exe", "cscript.exe", "credwiz.exe", "convert.exe", "control.exe", "consent.exe", "conhost.exe", "compact.exe", "comp.exe", "colorcpl.exe", "cofire.exe", "cmstp.exe", "cmmon32.exe", "cmdl32.exe", "cmdkey.exe", "cmd.exe", "clip.exe", "cliconfg.exe", "cleanmgr.exe", "cipher.exe", "choice.exe", "chkntfs.exe", "chkdsk.exe", "chgusr.exe", "chgport.exe", "chglogon.exe", "charmap.exe", "changepk.exe", "change.exe", "certutil.exe", "certreq.exe", "cdpreference.exe", "calc.exe", "cacls.exe", "bthudtask.exe", "browser_broker.exe", "bridgeunattend.exe", "bootsect.exe", "bootim.exe", "bootcfg.exe", "bitsadmin.exe", "bdeunlock.exe", "bdechangepin.exe", "bcdedit.exe", "bcdboot.exe", "bcastdvr.exe", "backgroundtaskhost.exe", "baaupdate.exe", "autofmt.exe", "autoconv.exe", "autochk.exe", "auditpol.exe", "audiodg.exe", "attrib.exe", "at.exe", "appidpolicyconverter.exe", "appidcertstorecheck.exe", "alg.exe", "aitstatic.exe", "aitagent.exe", "acu.exe", "wpcmon.exe", "workfolders.exe", "windowsupdateelevatedinstaller.exe", "windowsanytimeupgradeui.exe", "windowsanytimeupgraderesults.exe", "windowsanytimeupgrade.exe", "windowsactiondialog.exe", "windows.media.backgroundplayback.exe", "winsat.exe", "werfaultsecure.exe", "werfault.exe", "webcache.exe", "wallpaperhost.exe", "wwahost.exe", "wudfhost.exe", "wsreset.exe", "wsmanhttpconfig.exe", "wscollect.exe", "wpdshextautoplay.exe", "wmpdmc.exe", "wfs.exe", "vaultsysui.exe", "vaultcmd.exe", "vssvc.exe", "utilman.exe", "usoclient.exe", "useraccountcontrolsettings.exe", "useraccountbroker.exe", "upgraderesultsui.exe", "ui0detect.exe", "tswpfwrp.exe", "tpminit.exe", "tokenbrokercookies.exe", "thumbnailextractionhost.exe", "taskmgr.exe", "tapiunattend.exe", "tswbprxy.exe", "tstheme.exe", "tracert.exe", "tcpsvcs.exe", "systemsettingsremovedevice.exe", "systemsettingsbroker.exe", "systemsettingsadminflows.exe", "systempropertiesremote.exe", "systempropertiesprotection.exe", "systempropertiesperformance.exe", "systempropertieshardware.exe", "systempropertiesdataexecutionprevention.exe", "systempropertiescomputername.exe", "systempropertiesadvanced.exe", "sysreseterr.exe", "synchost.exe", "stikynot.exe", "srtasks.exe", "sppextcomobj.exe", "spaceagent.exe", "soundrecorder.exe", "snippingtool.exe", "sndvol.exe", "smartscreensettings.exe", "slidetoshutdown.exe", "settingsynchost.exe", "setieinstalleddate.exe", "sensordataservice.exe", "secedit.exe", "searchprotocolhost.exe", "searchindexer.exe", "searchfilterhost.exe", "sihclient.exe", "runtimebroker.exe", "runlegacycplelevated.exe", "rpcping.exe", "rmclient.exe", "remoteposworker.exe", "relpost.exe", "registeriepkeys.exe", "register-cimprovider.exe", "recoverydrive.exe", "reagentc.exe", "rdpsauachelper.exe", "rdpsaproxy.exe", "rdpsa.exe", "route.exe", "rmactivate_ssp_isv.exe", "rmactivate_ssp.exe", "rmactivate_isv.exe", "rmactivate.exe", "rdspnf.exe", "proximityuxhost.exe", "printisolationhost.exe", "printdialoghost3d.exe", "printdialoghost.exe", "printbrmui.exe", "presentationsettings.exe", "presentationhost.exe", "pnputil.exe", "pnpunattend.exe", "pkgmgr.exe", "pickerhost.exe", "passwordonwakesettingflyout.exe", "ping.exe", "pathping.exe", "optionalfeatures.exe", "openwith.exe", "networkuxbroker.exe", "netplwiz.exe", "netproj.exe", "netevtfwdr.exe", "netcfgnotifyobjecthost.exe", "narrator.exe", "netstat.exe", "napstat.exe", "musnotificationux.exe", "musnotification.exe", "multidigimon.exe", "muiunattend.exe", "msspellcheckinghost.exe", "mpsigstub.exe", "migautoplay.exe", "mdsched.exe", "mdres.exe", "mbaeparsertask.exe", "magnify.exe", "mschedexe.exe", "mrt.exe", "mrinfo.exe", "mdmappinstaller.exe", "mdmagent.exe", "mdeserver.exe", "lsaiso.exe", "logonui.exe", "lockscreencontentserver.exe", "lockapphost.exe", "locator.exe", "locationnotifications.exe", "locationnotificationwindows.exe", "licensingui.exe", "licensemanagershellext.exe", "legacynetuxhost.exe", "launchwinapp.exe", "launchtm.exe", "languagecomponentsinstallercomhandler.exe", "installagent.exe", "infdefaultinstall.exe", "icsentitlementhost.exe", "hostname.exe", "gettingstarted.exe", "genvalobj.exe", "gamepanel.exe", "fondue.exe", "filehistory.exe", "fxsunatd.exe", "fxssvc.exe", "fxscover.exe", "ehstorauthn.exe", "easeofaccessdialog.exe", "easpoliciesbrokerhost.exe", "eap3host.exe", "eosnotify.exe", "edpcleanup.exe", "dxpserver.exe", "dsmusertask.exe", "dpiscaling.exe", "dmomacpmo.exe", "dmnotificationbroker.exe", "displayswitch.exe", "dism.exe", "disksnapshot.exe", "deviceproperties.exe", "devicepairingwizard.exe", "deviceenroller.exe", "deviceeject.exe", "devicedisplayobjectprovider.exe", "defrag.exe", "dataexchangehost.exe", "dwwin.exe", "dfdwiz.exe", "credentialuibroker.exe", "computerdefaults.exe", "compattelrunner.exe", "compmgmtlauncher.exe", "cloudstoragewizard.exe", "cloudnotifications.exe", "cloudexperiencehostbroker.exe", "clipup.exe", "checknetisolation.exe", "certenrollctrl.exe", "castsrv.exe", "camerasettingsuihost.exe", "bytecodegenerator.exe", "bitlockerwizardelev.exe", "bitlockerwizard.exe", "bitlockerdeviceencryption.exe", "bdeunlockwizard.exe", "bdeuisrv.exe", "bdehdcfg.exe", "backgroundtransferhost.exe", "axinstui.exe", "autoworkplace.exe", "authhost.exe", "atbroker.exe", "applicationframehost.exe", "adaptertroubleshooter.exe", "arp.exe")) AND (NOT match(process_file_path, /(?i)\\windows\\syswow64/)=true) AND (NOT match(process_file_path, /(?i)\\windows\\system32/)=true) --finding_report--

Macros

The SPL above uses the following Macros:

:information_source: system_process_running_from_unexpected_location_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.

  • process.pid
  • process.file.path
  • process.file.name
  • process.cmd_line
  • actor.user.name
  • actor.process.pid
  • actor.process.file.path
  • actor.process.file.name
  • device.hostname

How To Implement

Collect endpoint data such as sysmon or 4688 events.

Known False Positives

None

Associated Analytic Story

RBA

Risk Score Impact Confidence Message
56.0 70 80 A system process $process_name$ with commandline $process$ spawn in non-default folder path in host $dest_device_id$

: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: 8