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Description

This search looks for PowerShell processes started with a base64 encoded command-line passed to it, with parameters to modify the execution policy for the process, and those that prevent the display of an interactive prompt to the user. This combination of command-line options is suspicious because it overrides the default PowerShell execution policy, attempts to hide itself from the user, and passes an encoded script to be run on the command-line. Deprecated because almost the same as Malicious PowerShell Process - Encoded Command

  • Type: TTP
  • Product: Splunk Enterprise, Splunk Enterprise Security, Splunk Cloud
  • Datamodel: Endpoint
  • Last Updated: 2021-01-19
  • Author: David Dorsey, Splunk
  • ID: 2cdb91d2-542c-497f-b252-be495e71f38c

ATT&CK

ID Technique Tactic
T1059.001 PowerShell Execution 
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| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count values(Processes.process) as process values(Processes.parent_process) as parent_process min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime from datamodel=Endpoint.Processes where Processes.process_name=powershell.exe by Processes.user Processes.process_name Processes.parent_process_name Processes.dest  
| `drop_dm_object_name(Processes)` 
| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
| search (process=*-EncodedCommand* OR process=*-enc*) process=*-Exec* 
| `malicious_powershell_process___multiple_suspicious_command_line_arguments_filter`

Macros

The SPL above uses the following Macros:

Note that malicious_powershell_process_-_multiple_suspicious_command-line_arguments_filter is a empty macro by default. It allows the user to filter out any results (false positives) without editing the SPL.

Required field

  • _time

How To Implement

You must be ingesting data that records process activity from your hosts to populate the Endpoint data model in the Processes node. You must also be ingesting logs with both the process name and command line from your endpoints. The command-line arguments are mapped to the “process” field in the Endpoint data model.

Known False Positives

Legitimate process can have this combination of command-line options, but it’s not common.

Associated Analytic story

Kill Chain Phase

  • Command & Control
  • Actions on Objectives

RBA

Risk Score Impact Confidence Message
25.0 50 50 tbd

Reference

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

source | version: 6