ID | Technique | Tactic |
---|---|---|
T1649 | Steal or Forge Authentication Certificates | Credential Access |
T1059 | Command and Scripting Interpreter | Execution |
T1059.001 | PowerShell | Execution |
Detection: Detect Certify With PowerShell Script Block Logging
Description
The following analytic detects the use of the Certify tool via an in-memory PowerShell function to enumerate Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) environments. It leverages PowerShell Script Block Logging (EventCode 4104) to identify specific command patterns associated with Certify's enumeration and exploitation functions. This activity is significant as it indicates potential reconnaissance or exploitation attempts against AD CS, which could lead to unauthorized certificate issuance. If confirmed malicious, attackers could leverage this to escalate privileges, persist in the environment, or access sensitive information by abusing AD CS.
Search
1`powershell` EventCode=4104 (ScriptBlockText IN ("*find *") AND ScriptBlockText IN ("* /vulnerable*","* -vulnerable*","* /enrolleeSuppliesSubject *","* /json /outfile*")) OR (ScriptBlockText IN (,"*auth *","*req *",) AND ScriptBlockText IN ("* -ca *","* -username *","* -u *")) OR (ScriptBlockText IN ("*request *","*download *") AND ScriptBlockText IN ("* /ca:*"))
2| stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime list(ScriptBlockText) as command Values(OpCode) as reason values(Path) as file_name values(UserID) as user by _time Computer EventCode
3| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
4| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
5| eval file_name = case(isnotnull(file_name),file_name,true(),"unknown")
6| eval signature = substr(command,0,256)
7| rename Computer as dest,EventCode as signature_id
8| `detect_certify_with_powershell_script_block_logging_filter`
Data Source
Name | Platform | Sourcetype | Source | Supported App |
---|---|---|---|---|
Powershell Script Block Logging 4104 | Windows | 'xmlwineventlog' |
'XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-PowerShell/Operational' |
N/A |
Macros Used
Name | Value |
---|---|
powershell | (source=WinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-PowerShell/Operational OR source="XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-PowerShell/Operational") |
detect_certify_with_powershell_script_block_logging_filter | search * |
detect_certify_with_powershell_script_block_logging_filter
is an empty macro by default. It allows the user to filter out any results (false positives) without editing the SPL.
Annotations
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 |
Implementation
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
Unknown, partial script block matches.
Associated Analytic Story
Risk Based Analytics (RBA)
Risk Message | Risk Score | Impact | Confidence |
---|---|---|---|
Certify arguments through PowerShell detected on $dest$. | 90 | 100 | 90 |
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: 2