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Description

The following analytic detects a process writing the dynwrapx.dll file to disk and registering it in the registry. It leverages data from the Endpoint datamodel, specifically monitoring process and filesystem events. This activity is significant because DynamicWrapperX is an ActiveX component often used in scripts to call Windows API functions, and its presence in non-standard locations is highly suspicious. If confirmed malicious, this could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code, escalate privileges, or maintain persistence within the environment. Immediate investigation of parallel processes and registry modifications is recommended.

  • Type: Hunting
  • Product: Splunk Enterprise, Splunk Enterprise Security, Splunk Cloud
  • Datamodel: Endpoint
  • Last Updated: 2024-08-15
  • Author: Michael Haag, Splunk
  • ID: b0a078e4-2601-11ec-9aec-acde48001122

Annotations

ATT&CK

ATT&CK

ID Technique Tactic
T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter Execution
T1559.001 Component Object Model Execution
Kill Chain Phase
  • Installation
NIST
  • DE.AE
CIS20
  • CIS 10
CVE 


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| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count FROM datamodel=Endpoint.Processes by _time Processes.process_id Processes.process_name Processes.dest Processes.process_guid Processes.user 
| `drop_dm_object_name(Processes)` 
| join process_guid [
| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count FROM datamodel=Endpoint.Filesystem where Filesystem.file_name="dynwrapx.dll" by _time Filesystem.dest Filesystem.file_create_time Filesystem.file_name Filesystem.file_path Filesystem.process_guid Filesystem.user 
| `drop_dm_object_name(Filesystem)` 
| fields _time process_guid file_path file_name file_create_time user dest process_name] 
| stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime by dest process_name process_guid file_name file_path file_create_time user 
| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` 
| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` 
| `process_writing_dynamicwrapperx_filter`

Macros

The SPL above uses the following Macros:

:information_source: process_writing_dynamicwrapperx_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
  • dest
  • process_name
  • process_guid
  • file_name
  • file_path
  • file_create_time user

How To Implement

To successfully implement this search you need to be ingesting information on process that include the name of the process responsible for the changes from your endpoints into the Endpoint datamodel in the Processes and Filesystem node. In addition, confirm the latest CIM App 4.20 or higher is installed and the latest TA for the endpoint product.

Known False Positives

False positives should be limited, however it is possible to filter by Processes.process_name and specific processes (ex. wscript.exe). Filter as needed. This may need modification based on EDR telemetry and how it brings in registry data. For example, removal of (Default).

Associated Analytic Story

RBA

Risk Score Impact Confidence Message
80.0 80 100 An instance of $process_name$ was identified on endpoint $dest$ downloading the DynamicWrapperX dll.

: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: 3