Creation of SettingContent-ms Files

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Identifies the suspicious creation of SettingContents-ms files, which have been used in attacks to achieve code execution while evading defenses.

Rule type: eql

Rule indices:

  • logs-endpoint.events.file-*
  • logs-windows.sysmon_operational-*
  • endgame-*
  • winlogbeat-*

Severity: low

Risk score: 21

Runs every: 5m

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

Maximum alerts per execution: 100

References:

Tags:

  • Domain: Endpoint
  • OS: Windows
  • Use Case: Threat Detection
  • Tactic: Execution
  • Data Source: Elastic Defend
  • Rule Type: BBR
  • Data Source: Sysmon
  • Data Source: Elastic Endgame

Version: 6

Rule authors:

  • Elastic

Rule license: Elastic License v2

Rule query

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file where host.os.type == "windows" and event.type == "creation" and
  file.extension : "settingcontent-ms" and
  not file.path : (
    "?:\\*\\AppData\\Local\\Packages\\windows.immersivecontrolpanel_*\\LocalState\\Indexed\\Settings\\*",
    "\\Device\\HarddiskVolume*\\Windows\\WinSxS\\amd64_microsoft-windows-s..*\\*.settingcontent-ms"
  )

Framework: MITRE ATT&CKTM