Execution of File Written or Modified by PDF Reader

Identifies a suspicious file that was written by a PDF reader application and subsequently executed. These processes are often launched via exploitation of PDF applications.

Rule type: eql

Rule indices:

logs-endpoint.events.*
winlogbeat-*
logs-windows.*

Severity: high

Risk score: 21

Runs every: 60m

Searches indices from: now-120m (Date Math format, see also Additional look-back time)

Maximum alerts per execution: 100

References: None

Tags:

Elastic
Host
Windows
Threat Detection
Execution

Version: 4

Rule authors:

Elastic

Rule license: Elastic License v2

Rule query

edit

sequence with maxspan=2h
  [file where event.type != "deletion" and file.extension : "exe" and
     (process.name : "AcroRd32.exe" or
      process.name : "rdrcef.exe" or
      process.name : "FoxitPhantomPDF.exe" or
      process.name : "FoxitReader.exe") and
     not (file.name : "FoxitPhantomPDF.exe" or
          file.name : "FoxitPhantomPDFUpdater.exe" or
          file.name : "FoxitReader.exe" or
          file.name : "FoxitReaderUpdater.exe" or
          file.name : "AcroRd32.exe" or
          file.name : "rdrcef.exe")
  ] by host.id, file.path
  [process where event.type in ("start", "process_started")] by host.id, process.executable

Framework: MITRE ATT&CK^TM

Tactic:
- Name: Execution
- ID: TA0002
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0002/
Tactic:
- Name: Initial Access
- ID: TA0001
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0001/
Technique:
- Name: Phishing
- ID: T1566
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566/
Sub-technique:
- Name: Spearphishing Attachment
- ID: T1566.001
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566/001/
Sub-technique:
- Name: Spearphishing Link
- ID: T1566.002
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566/002/

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