Detection: Windows Mustang Panda USB Tool Execution

Description

Detects known executables used for infection or DLL side loading by Mustang Panda being launched from a non-C:\ location. This can indicate a compromise via USB, or external storage device. You will have to adapt this detection if you do not use C:\ as the root device.

Search

 1
 2| tstats `security_content_summariesonly`
 3  count min(_time) as firstTime
 4        max(_time) as lastTime
 5
 6from datamodel=Endpoint.Processes where
 7
 8NOT Processes.process_path="C:\\*"
 9Processes.process_path IN (
10    "*atkexComSvcRes.exe",
11    "*AtlTraceTool8.exe",
12    "*browser.ex",
13    "*CefSub.exe",
14    "*dabs.ex",
15    "*FacialFeatureDemo.exe",
16    "*GoogleUpdate*.exe",
17    "*GUP.exe",
18    "*HPCustParticUI.exe",
19    "*install_.exe",
20    "*mcsync.ex",
21    "*melt_64.exe",
22    "*mscorsvw.exe",
23    "*OleView.exe",
24    "*piz.exe",
25    "*PlugInInstallerUtility2.exe",
26    "*rar330.exe",
27    "*Samvd.exe",
28    "*scx.exe",
29    "*spoololk.exe",
30    "*Symantec.exe",
31    "*SymantecHp.exe",
32    "*Symantecs.exe",
33    "*Symantecsy.exe",
34    "*upservice.exe",
35    "*vivaldi.exe",
36    "*wsc_proxy.exe",
37    "*ygfdt.exe"
38)
39
40by Processes.process Processes.vendor_product Processes.user_id Processes.process_hash
41   Processes.parent_process_name Processes.parent_process_exec Processes.action
42   Processes.dest Processes.process_current_directory Processes.process_path
43   Processes.process_integrity_level Processes.original_file_name Processes.parent_process
44   Processes.parent_process_path Processes.parent_process_guid Processes.parent_process_id
45   Processes.process_guid Processes.process_id Processes.user Processes.process_name
46
47
48| `drop_dm_object_name(Processes)`
49
50| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
51
52| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
53
54| `windows_mustang_panda_usb_tool_execution_filter`

Data Source

Name	Platform	Sourcetype	Source
CrowdStrike ProcessRollup2	Other	'crowdstrike:events:sensor'	'crowdstrike'
Sysmon EventID 1	Windows	'XmlWinEventLog'	'XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational'
Windows Event Log Security 4688	Windows	'XmlWinEventLog'	'XmlWinEventLog:Security'

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

Some legitimate tools may be run from external drives or non-C:\ locations for maintenance or portability. Adjust filters accordingly to avoid false alerts for approved usage scenarios.

Associated Analytic Story

• Compromised Windows Host

Risk Based Analytics (RBA)

Risk Message:

Mustang Panda-associated USB tool execution observed on $dest$ via $process$.

References

• https://decoded.avast.io/threatintel/apt-treasure-trove-avast-suspects-chinese-apt-group-mustang-panda-is-collecting-data-from-burmese-government-agencies-and-opposition-groups/

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: 1