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Description

The following analytic detects the execution of the Get-WmiObject cmdlet with the DS_User class parameter via PowerShell Script Block Logging (EventCode=4104). It leverages logs to identify attempts to query all domain users using WMI. This activity is significant as it may indicate an adversary or Red Team operation attempting to enumerate domain users for situational awareness and Active Directory discovery. If confirmed malicious, this behavior could lead to further reconnaissance, enabling attackers to map out the network and identify potential targets for privilege escalation or lateral movement.

  • Type: TTP

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

  • Last Updated: 2024-05-11
  • Author: Teoderick Contreras, Mauricio Velazco, Splunk
  • ID: fabd364e-04f3-11ec-b34b-acde48001122

Annotations

ATT&CK

ATT&CK

ID Technique Tactic
T1087.002 Domain Account Discovery
T1087 Account Discovery Discovery
Kill Chain Phase
  • Exploitation
NIST
  • DE.CM
CIS20
  • CIS 10
CVE 


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`powershell` EventCode=4104 ScriptBlockText = "*get-wmiobject*" ScriptBlockText = "*ds_user*" ScriptBlockText = "*-namespace*" ScriptBlockText = "*root\\directory\\ldap*" 
| stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime by Opcode Computer UserID EventCode ScriptBlockText 
| rename Computer as dest 
| rename UserID as user
| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` 
| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` 
| `getwmiobject_ds_user_with_powershell_script_block_filter`

Macros

The SPL above uses the following Macros:

:information_source: getwmiobject_ds_user_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
  • ScriptBlockText
  • Opcode
  • Computer
  • UserID
  • EventCode

How To Implement

The following Hunting analytic requires PowerShell operational logs to be imported. Modify the powershell macro as needed to match the sourcetype or add index. This analytic is specific to 4104, or PowerShell Script Block Logging.

Known False Positives

Administrators or power users may use this command for troubleshooting.

Associated Analytic Story

RBA

Risk Score Impact Confidence Message
25.0 50 50 powershell process having commandline for user enumeration detected on host - $dest$

: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: 4