Command Shell Activity Started via RunDLL32

edit

Command Shell Activity Started via RunDLL32

edit

Identifies command shell activity started via RunDLL32, which is commonly abused by attackers to host malicious code.

Rule type: eql

Rule indices:

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

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: None

Tags:

Elastic
Host
Windows
Threat Detection
Execution
Elastic Endgame

Version: 102

Rule authors:

Elastic

Rule license: Elastic License v2

Investigation guide

edit

Rule query

edit

process where event.type == "start" and
 process.name : ("cmd.exe", "powershell.exe") and
  process.parent.name : "rundll32.exe" and process.parent.command_line != null and
  /* common FPs can be added here */
  not process.parent.args : ("C:\\Windows\\System32\\SHELL32.dll,RunAsNewUser_RunDLL",
                             "C:\\WINDOWS\\*.tmp,zzzzInvokeManagedCustomActionOutOfProc")

Framework: MITRE ATT&CK^TM

Tactic:
- Name: Execution
- ID: TA0002
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0002/
Technique:
- Name: Command and Scripting Interpreter
- ID: T1059
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/
Sub-technique:
- Name: PowerShell
- ID: T1059.001
- Reference URL: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/001/

« Unusual Parent Process for cmd.exe Enumeration Command Spawned via WMIPrvSE »