WMI Recon Running Process Or Services
Description
The following analytic identifies suspicious PowerShell script execution via EventCode 4104, where WMI performs an event query to list running processes or services. This detection leverages PowerShell Script Block Logging to capture and analyze script block text for specific WMI queries. This activity is significant as it is commonly used by malware and APT actors to map security applications or services on a compromised machine. If confirmed malicious, this could allow attackers to identify and potentially disable security defenses, facilitating further compromise and persistence within the environment.
- Type: Anomaly
-
Product: Splunk Enterprise, Splunk Enterprise Security, Splunk Cloud
- Last Updated: 2024-05-15
- Author: Teoderick Contreras, Splunk
- ID: b5cd5526-cce7-11eb-b3bd-acde48001122
Annotations
Kill Chain Phase
- Reconnaissance
NIST
- DE.AE
CIS20
- CIS 10
CVE
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`powershell` EventCode=4104 ScriptBlockText= "*SELECT*" AND (ScriptBlockText="*Win32_Process*" OR ScriptBlockText="*Win32_Service*")
| stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime by EventCode ScriptBlockText Computer UserID
| rename Computer as dest
| rename UserID as user
| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
| `wmi_recon_running_process_or_services_filter`
Macros
The SPL above uses the following Macros:
wmi_recon_running_process_or_services_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.
- _time
- ScriptBlockText
- Opcode
- Computer
- UserID
- EventCode
How To Implement
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
Network administrator may used this command for checking purposes
Associated Analytic Story
RBA
Risk Score | Impact | Confidence | Message |
---|---|---|---|
20.0 | 20 | 100 | Suspicious powerShell script execution by $user$ on $dest$ via EventCode 4104, where WMI is performing an event query looking for running processes or running services |
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
- https://news.sophos.com/en-us/2020/05/12/maze-ransomware-1-year-counting/
- https://www.eideon.com/2018-03-02-THL03-WMIBackdoors/
- https://github.com/trustedsec/SysmonCommunityGuide/blob/master/chapters/WMI-events.md
- https://in.security/2019/04/03/an-intro-into-abusing-and-identifying-wmi-event-subscriptions-for-persistence/
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: 4