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Description

Start-BitsTransfer is the PowerShell "version" of BitsAdmin.exe. Similar functionality is present. This technique variation is not as commonly used by adversaries, but has been abused in the past. Lesser known uses include the ability to set the -TransferType to Upload for exfiltration of files. In an instance where Upload is used, it is highly possible files will be archived. During triage, review parallel processes and process lineage. Capture any files on disk and review. For the remote domain or IP, what is the reputation?

  • Type: TTP

  • Product: Splunk Behavioral Analytics

  • Last Updated: 2022-02-16
  • Author: Michael Haag, Splunk
  • ID: 0bafd086-8f61-11ec-996e-acde48001122

Annotations

ATT&CK

ATT&CK

ID Technique Tactic
T1197 BITS Jobs Defense Evasion, Persistence
T1105 Ingress Tool Transfer Command And Control
Kill Chain Phase
  • Exploitation
  • Installation
  • Command and Control
NIST
  • DE.CM
CIS20
  • CIS 10
CVE 


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 $main = from source  
| eval timestamp = time  
| eval metadata_uid = metadata.uid  
| eval process_pid = process.pid 
| eval process_file = process.file 
| eval process_file_path = process_file.path 
| eval process_file_name = lower(process_file.name) 
| eval process_cmd_line = process.cmd_line 
| eval actor_user = actor.user 
| eval actor_user_name = actor_user.name 
| eval actor_process = actor.process 
| eval actor_process_pid = actor_process.pid 
| eval actor_process_file = actor_process.file 
| eval actor_process_file_path = actor_process_file.path 
| eval actor_process_file_name = actor_process_file.name 
| eval device_hostname = device.hostname 
| where (process_file_name IN ("powershell_ise.exe", "powershell.exe", "sqltoolsps.exe", "sqlps.exe", "pwsh.exe", "pwsh.exe")) AND match(process_cmd_line, /(?i)start-bitstransfer/)=true --finding_report--

Macros

The SPL above uses the following Macros:

:information_source: windows_powershell_start-bitstransfer_filter is a empty macro by default. It allows the user to filter out any results (false positives) without editing the SPL.

Required fields

List of fields required to use this analytic.

  • process.pid
  • process.file.path
  • process.file.name
  • process.cmd_line
  • actor.user.name
  • actor.process.pid
  • actor.process.file.path
  • actor.process.file.name
  • device.hostname

How To Implement

To successfully implement this search you need to be ingesting information on process that include the name of the process responsible for the changes from your endpoints into the Endpoint_Processess datamodel.

Known False Positives

Limited false positives. It is possible administrators will utilize Start-BitsTransfer for administrative tasks, otherwise filter based parent process or command-line arguments.

Associated Analytic Story

RBA

Risk Score Impact Confidence Message
49.0 70 70 An instance of $parent_process_name$ spawning $process_name$ was identified on endpoint $dest$ by user $dest_user_id$ attempting to download a file.

:information_source: The Risk Score is calculated by the following formula: Risk Score = (Impact * Confidence/100). Initial Confidence and Impact is set by the analytic author.

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: 2