Detection: Windows Bypass UAC via Pkgmgr Tool

Description

The following analytic detects the execution of the deprecated 'pkgmgr.exe' process with an XML input file, which is unusual and potentially suspicious. This detection leverages Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) telemetry, focusing on process execution details and command-line arguments. The significance lies in the deprecated status of 'pkgmgr.exe' and the use of XML files, which could indicate an attempt to bypass User Account Control (UAC). If confirmed malicious, this activity could allow an attacker to execute commands with elevated privileges, leading to potential system compromise and unauthorized changes.

Search

1
2| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime from datamodel=Endpoint.Processes where  Processes.process_name = pkgmgr.exe Processes.process = "*.xml*" NOT(Processes.parent_process_path IN("*:\\windows\\system32\\*", "*:\\windows\\syswow64\\*", "*:\\Program Files*")) by Processes.dest Processes.user Processes.parent_process_name Processes.parent_process_path Processes.process_name Processes.process Processes.process_id Processes.parent_process_id Processes.original_file_name 
3| `drop_dm_object_name(Processes)` 
4| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` 
5| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` 
6| `windows_bypass_uac_via_pkgmgr_tool_filter`

Data Source

Macros Used

Annotations

Default Configuration

This detection is configured by default in Splunk Enterprise Security to run with the following settings:

Implementation

The detection is based on data that originates from Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) agents. These agents are designed to provide security-related telemetry from the endpoints where the agent is installed. To implement this search, you must ingest logs that contain the process GUID, process name, and parent process. Additionally, you must ingest complete command-line executions. These logs must be processed using the appropriate Splunk Technology Add-ons that are specific to the EDR product. The logs must also be mapped to the Processes node of the Endpoint data model. Use the Splunk Common Information Model (CIM) to normalize the field names and speed up the data modeling process.

Known False Positives

False positives may be present on recent Windows Operating Systems. Filtering may be required based on process_name. In addition, look for non-standard, unsigned, module loads into LSASS. If query is too noisy, modify by adding Endpoint.processes process_name to query to identify the process making the modification.

Associated Analytic Story

• Warzone RAT

Risk Based Analytics (RBA)

References

• https://asec.ahnlab.com/en/17692/

• https://www.blackberry.com/us/en/solutions/endpoint-security/ransomware-protection/warzone#:~:text=Warzone%20RAT%20(AKA%20Ave%20Maria)%20is%20a%20remote%20access%20trojan,is%20as%20an%20information%20stealer.

Detection Testing

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