ID | Technique | Tactic |
---|---|---|
T1219 | Remote Access Software | Command And Control |
T1003 | OS Credential Dumping | Credential Access |
Detection: Windows Remote Access Software BRC4 Loaded Dll
Description
The following analytic identifies the loading of four specific Windows DLLs (credui.dll, dbghelp.dll, samcli.dll, winhttp.dll) by a non-standard process. This detection leverages Sysmon EventCode 7 to monitor DLL load events and flags when all four DLLs are loaded within a short time frame. This activity is significant as it may indicate the presence of Brute Ratel C4, a sophisticated remote access tool used for credential dumping and other malicious activities. If confirmed malicious, this behavior could lead to unauthorized access, credential theft, and further compromise of the affected system.
Search
1`sysmon` EventCode=7
2|bin _time span=30s
3| eval BRC4_AnomalyLoadedDll=case(OriginalFileName=="credui.dll", 1, OriginalFileName=="DBGHELP.DLL", 1, OriginalFileName=="SAMCLI.DLL", 1, OriginalFileName=="winhttp.dll", 1, 1=1, 0)
4| eval BRC4_LoadedDllPath=case(match(ImageLoaded, "credui.dll"), 1, match(ImageLoaded, "dbghelp.dll"), 1, match(ImageLoaded, "samcli.dll"), 1, match(ImageLoaded, "winhttp.dll"), 1, 1=1, 0)
5| stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime values(ImageLoaded) as ImageLoaded values(OriginalFileName) as OriginalFileName dc(ImageLoaded) as ImageLoadedCount by Image BRC4_LoadedDllPath BRC4_AnomalyLoadedDll dest EventCode Signed
6| where ImageLoadedCount == 4 AND (BRC4_LoadedDllPath == 1 OR BRC4_AnomalyLoadedDll == 1)
7| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
8| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
9| `windows_remote_access_software_brc4_loaded_dll_filter`
Data Source
Name | Platform | Sourcetype | Source | Supported App |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sysmon EventID 7 | Windows | 'xmlwineventlog' |
'XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational' |
N/A |
Macros Used
Name | Value |
---|---|
security_content_ctime | convert timeformat="%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S" ctime($field$) |
windows_remote_access_software_brc4_loaded_dll_filter | search * |
windows_remote_access_software_brc4_loaded_dll_filter
is an empty macro by default. It allows the user to filter out any results (false positives) without editing the SPL.
Annotations
Default Configuration
This detection is configured by default in Splunk Enterprise Security to run with the following settings:
Setting | Value |
---|---|
Disabled | true |
Cron Schedule | 0 * * * * |
Earliest Time | -70m@m |
Latest Time | -10m@m |
Schedule Window | auto |
Creates Risk Event | True |
Implementation
The latest Sysmon TA 3.0 https://splunkbase.splunk.com/app/5709 will add the ImageLoaded name to the process_name field, allowing this query to work. Use as an example and implement for other products.
Known False Positives
This module can be loaded by a third party application. Filter is needed.
Associated Analytic Story
Risk Based Analytics (RBA)
Risk Message | Risk Score | Impact | Confidence |
---|---|---|---|
a process $Image$ loaded several modules $ImageLoaded$ that might related to credential access on $dest$. | 9 | 30 | 30 |
References
-
https://www.mdsec.co.uk/2022/08/part-3-how-i-met-your-beacon-brute-ratel/
-
https://strontic.github.io/xcyclopedia/library/logoncli.dll-138871DBE68D0696D3D7FA91BC2873B1.html
-
https://strontic.github.io/xcyclopedia/library/credui.dll-A5BD797BBC2DD55231B9DE99837E5461.html
-
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/secauthn/credential-manager
-
https://strontic.github.io/xcyclopedia/library/samcli.dll-522D6D616EF142CDE965BD3A450A9E4C.html
-
https://strontic.github.io/xcyclopedia/library/dbghelp.dll-15A55EAB307EF8C190FE6135C0A86F7C.html
Detection Testing
Test Type | Status | Dataset | Source | Sourcetype |
---|---|---|---|---|
Validation | ✅ Passing | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Unit | ✅ Passing | Dataset | XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational |
xmlwineventlog |
Integration | ✅ Passing | Dataset | XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational |
xmlwineventlog |
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: GitHub | Version: 2