Detection: Powershell COM Hijacking InprocServer32 Modification

Description

The following analytic detects attempts to modify or add a Component Object Model (COM) entry to the InProcServer32 path within the registry using PowerShell. It leverages PowerShell ScriptBlock Logging (EventCode 4104) to identify suspicious script blocks that target the InProcServer32 registry path. This activity is significant because modifying COM objects can be used for persistence or privilege escalation by attackers. If confirmed malicious, this could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code or maintain persistent access to the compromised system, posing a severe security risk.

1`powershell` EventCode=4104 ScriptBlockText = "*Software\\Classes\\CLSID\\*\\InProcServer32*" 
2| stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime by EventCode ScriptBlockText Computer UserID 
3| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` 
4| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` 
5| `powershell_com_hijacking_inprocserver32_modification_filter`

Data Source

Name Platform Sourcetype Source
Powershell Script Block Logging 4104 Windows icon Windows 'xmlwineventlog' 'XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-PowerShell/Operational'

Macros Used

Name Value
powershell (source=WinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-PowerShell/Operational OR source="XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-PowerShell/Operational")
powershell_com_hijacking_inprocserver32_modification_filter search *
powershell_com_hijacking_inprocserver32_modification_filter is an empty macro by default. It allows the user to filter out any results (false positives) without editing the SPL.

Annotations

- MITRE ATT&CK
+ Kill Chain Phases
+ NIST
+ CIS
- Threat Actors
ID Technique Tactic
T1546.015 Component Object Model Hijacking Persistence
T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter Privilege Escalation
T1059.001 PowerShell Execution
KillChainPhase.EXPLOITAITON
KillChainPhase.INSTALLATION
NistCategory.DE_CM
Cis18Value.CIS_10
APT28
APT19
APT32
APT37
APT39
Dragonfly
FIN5
FIN6
FIN7
Fox Kitten
Ke3chang
OilRig
Saint Bear
Stealth Falcon
Whitefly
Windigo
Winter Vivern
APT19
APT28
APT29
APT3
APT32
APT33
APT38
APT39
APT41
APT5
Aquatic Panda
BRONZE BUTLER
Blue Mockingbird
CURIUM
Chimera
Cinnamon Tempest
Cobalt Group
Confucius
CopyKittens
Daggerfly
DarkHydrus
DarkVishnya
Deep Panda
Dragonfly
Earth Lusca
Ember Bear
FIN10
FIN13
FIN6
FIN7
FIN8
Fox Kitten
GALLIUM
GOLD SOUTHFIELD
Gallmaker
Gamaredon Group
Gorgon Group
HAFNIUM
HEXANE
Inception
Indrik Spider
Kimsuky
Lazarus Group
LazyScripter
Leviathan
Magic Hound
Molerats
MoustachedBouncer
MuddyWater
Mustang Panda
Nomadic Octopus
OilRig
Patchwork
Play
Poseidon Group
RedCurl
Saint Bear
Sandworm Team
Sidewinder
Silence
Stealth Falcon
TA2541
TA459
TA505
TeamTNT
Threat Group-3390
Thrip
ToddyCat
Tonto Team
Turla
Volt Typhoon
WIRTE
Winter Vivern
Wizard Spider
menuPass

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
This configuration file applies to all detections of type TTP. These detections will use Risk Based Alerting and generate Notable Events.

Implementation

The following analytic requires PowerShell operational logs to be imported. Modify the PowerShell macro as needed to match the sourcetype or add index. This analytic is specific to 4104, or PowerShell Script Block Logging.

Known False Positives

False positives will be present if any scripts are adding to inprocserver32. Filter as needed.

Associated Analytic Story

Risk Based Analytics (RBA)

Risk Message Risk Score Impact Confidence
A PowerShell script has been identified with InProcServer32 within the script code on $Computer$. 64 80 80
The Risk Score is calculated by the following formula: Risk Score = (Impact * Confidence/100). Initial Confidence and Impact is set by the analytic author.

References

Detection Testing

Test Type Status Dataset Source Sourcetype
Validation Passing N/A N/A N/A
Unit Passing Dataset XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-PowerShell/Operational XmlWinEventLog
Integration ✅ Passing Dataset XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-PowerShell/Operational 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: 3