ID | Technique | Tactic |
---|---|---|
T1070 | Indicator Removal | Defense Evasion |
T1070.001 | Clear Windows Event Logs | Defense Evasion |
Detection: Windows Event Log Cleared
Description
The following analytic detects the clearing of Windows event logs by identifying Windows Security Event ID 1102 or System log event 104. This detection leverages Windows event logs to monitor for log clearing activities. Such behavior is significant as it may indicate an attempt to cover tracks after malicious activities. If confirmed malicious, this action could hinder forensic investigations and allow attackers to persist undetected, making it crucial to investigate further and correlate with other alerts and data sources.
Search
1(`wineventlog_security` EventCode=1102) OR (`wineventlog_system` EventCode=104)
2| stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime by dest object EventCode
3| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
4| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
5| `windows_event_log_cleared_filter`
Data Source
Name | Platform | Sourcetype | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Windows Event Log Security 1102 | Windows | 'xmlwineventlog' |
'XmlWinEventLog:Security' |
Macros Used
Name | Value |
---|---|
security_content_ctime | convert timeformat="%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S" ctime($field$) |
windows_event_log_cleared_filter | search * |
windows_event_log_cleared_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 Notable | Yes |
Rule Title | %name% |
Rule Description | %description% |
Notable Event Fields | user, dest |
Creates Risk Event | True |
Implementation
To successfully implement this search, you need to be ingesting Windows event logs from your hosts. In addition, the Splunk Windows TA is needed.
Known False Positives
It is possible that these logs may be legitimately cleared by Administrators. Filter as needed.
Associated Analytic Story
Risk Based Analytics (RBA)
Risk Message | Risk Score | Impact | Confidence |
---|---|---|---|
Windows $object$ cleared on $dest$ via EventCode $EventCode$ | 70 | 70 | 100 |
References
-
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/auditing/event-1102
-
https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/master/atomics/T1070.001/T1070.001.md
Detection Testing
Test Type | Status | Dataset | Source | Sourcetype |
---|---|---|---|---|
Validation | ✅ Passing | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Unit | ✅ Passing | Dataset | XmlWinEventLog:Security |
XmlWinEventLog |
Integration | ✅ Passing | Dataset | XmlWinEventLog:Security |
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: 10