WMI Recon Running Process Or Services

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Description

The following analytic identifies suspicious PowerShell script execution via EventCode 4104, where WMI is performing an event query looking for running processes or running services. This technique is commonly found in malware and APT events where the adversary will map all running security applications or services on the compromised machine. During triage, review parallel processes within the same timeframe. Review the full script block to identify other related artifacts.

• Type: Anomaly

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

• Last Updated: 2023-04-14
• Author: Teoderick Contreras, Splunk
• ID: b5cd5526-cce7-11eb-b3bd-acde48001122

Annotations

ATT&CK

ATT&CK

ID	Technique	Tactic
T1592	Gather Victim Host Information	Reconnaissance

Kill Chain Phase

• Reconnaissance

NIST

• DE.AE

CIS20

• CIS 10

CVE

Search

`powershell` EventCode=4104 ScriptBlockText= "*SELECT*" AND (ScriptBlockText="*Win32_Process*" OR ScriptBlockText="*Win32_Service*") 
| stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime by EventCode ScriptBlockText Computer UserID 
| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` 
| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` 
| `wmi_recon_running_process_or_services_filter`

Macros

The SPL above uses the following Macros:

• powershell
• security_content_ctime

wmi_recon_running_process_or_services_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
• ScriptBlockText
• Opcode
• Computer
• UserID
• EventCode

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

Network administrator may used this command for checking purposes

Associated Analytic Story

• Malicious PowerShell
• Hermetic Wiper
• Data Destruction

RBA

Risk Score	Impact	Confidence	Message
20.0	20	100	Suspicious powerShell script execution by $user$ on $Computer$ via EventCode 4104, where WMI is performing an event query looking for running processes or running services

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

• https://news.sophos.com/en-us/2020/05/12/maze-ransomware-1-year-counting/
• https://www.eideon.com/2018-03-02-THL03-WMIBackdoors/
• https://github.com/trustedsec/SysmonCommunityGuide/blob/master/chapters/WMI-events.md
• https://in.security/2019/04/03/an-intro-into-abusing-and-identifying-wmi-event-subscriptions-for-persistence/

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

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