Try in Splunk Security Cloud

Description

The following analytic detects the execution of the Get-AdGroup PowerShell cmdlet using PowerShell Script Block Logging (EventCode=4104). This cmdlet is used to enumerate all domain groups, which adversaries may exploit for situational awareness and Active Directory discovery. Monitoring this activity is crucial as it can indicate reconnaissance efforts within the network. If confirmed malicious, this behavior could lead to further exploitation, such as privilege escalation or lateral movement, by providing attackers with detailed information about the domain's group structure.

  • Type: Hunting

  • Product: Splunk Enterprise, Splunk Enterprise Security, Splunk Cloud

  • Last Updated: 2024-05-22
  • Author: Mauricio Velazco, Splunk
  • ID: e4c73d68-794b-468d-b4d0-dac1772bbae7

Annotations

ATT&CK

ATT&CK

ID Technique Tactic
T1069 Permission Groups Discovery Discovery
T1069.002 Domain Groups Discovery
Kill Chain Phase
  • Exploitation
NIST
  • DE.AE
CIS20
  • CIS 10
CVE 


1
2
3
4
5
6



`powershell` EventCode=4104 ScriptBlockText = "*Get-ADGroup*" 
| stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime by EventCode ScriptBlockText Computer UserID 
| rename Computer as dest, UserID as user 
| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` 
| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` 
| `getadgroup_with_powershell_script_block_filter`

Macros

The SPL above uses the following Macros:

:information_source: getadgroup_with_powershell_script_block_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
  • EventCode
  • Message
  • Computer
  • UserID

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

Administrators or power users may use this PowerShell commandlet for troubleshooting.

Associated Analytic Story

RBA

Risk Score Impact Confidence Message
15.0 30 50 Domain group discovery enumeration using PowerShell on $dest$ by $user$

: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: 3