Microsoft IIS Connection Strings Decryption

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Identifies use of aspnet_regiis to decrypt Microsoft IIS connection strings. An attacker with Microsoft IIS web server access via a webshell or alike can decrypt and dump any hardcoded connection strings, such as the MSSQL service account password using aspnet_regiis command.

Rule type: query

Rule indices:

  • winlogbeat-*
  • logs-endpoint.events.*

Severity: high

Risk score: 73

Runs every: 5 minutes

Searches indices from: now-9m (Date Math format, see also Additional look-back time)

Maximum alerts per execution: 33

References:

Tags:

  • Elastic
  • Host
  • Windows
  • Threat Detection
  • Credential Access

Version: 1

Added (Elastic Stack release): 7.10.0

Rule authors: Elastic

Rule license: Elastic License

Rule query

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event.category:process and event.type:(start or process_started) and
(process.name:aspnet_regiis.exe or
process.pe.original_file_name:aspnet_regiis.exe or
winlog.event_data.OriginalFileName:aspnet_regiis.exe) and
process.args:(connectionStrings and "-pdf")

Threat mapping

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Framework: MITRE ATT&CKTM