Execution from Unusual Directory

Description

Identifies process execution from suspicious default Windows directories. This may be abused by adversaries to hide malware in trusted paths.

Query · eql

process where event.action == "start" and
  process.name : ("wscript.exe",
                  "rundll32.exe",
                  "regsvr32.exe",
                  "cmstp.exe",
                  "RegAsm.exe",
                  "installutil.exe",
                  "mshta.exe",
                  "RegSvcs.exe",
                  "msbuild.exe",
                  "msxsl.exe",
                  "xwizard.exe") and
  /* add suspicious execution paths here */
  process.args : ("?:\\PerfLogs\\*",
                  "?:\\Users\\*\\Pictures\\*",
                  "?:\\Users\\*\\Music\\*",
                  "?:\\Users\\Public\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Tasks\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\System32\\Tasks\\*",
                  "?:\\Intel\\*",
                  "?:\\AMD\\Temp\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\hp\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\AppReadiness\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\ServiceState\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\security\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\IdentityCRL\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Branding\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\csc\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\DigitalLocker\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\en-US\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\wlansvc\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Prefetch\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Fonts\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\diagnostics\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\TAPI\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\INF\\*",
                  "?:\\windows\\tracing\\*",
                  "?:\\windows\\IME\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Performance\\*",
                  "?:\\windows\\intel\\*",
                  "?:\\windows\\ms\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\dot3svc\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\ServiceProfiles\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\panther\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\RemotePackages\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\OCR\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\appcompat\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\apppatch\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\addins\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Setup\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Help\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\SKB\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Vss\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Web\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\servicing\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\CbsTemp\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Logs\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\WaaS\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\twain_32\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\ShellExperiences\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\ShellComponents\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\PLA\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Migration\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\debug\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Cursors\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Containers\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Boot\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\bcastdvr\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\TextInput\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\schemas\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\SchCache\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Resources\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\rescache\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Provisioning\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\PrintDialog\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\PolicyDefinitions\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\media\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Globalization\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\L2Schemas\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\LiveKernelReports\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\ModemLogs\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\ImmersiveControlPanel\\*",
                  "?:\\$Recycle.Bin\\*",
                  "?:\\Users\\*\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\Windows\\INetCache\\IE\\*"
) and not
    (process.name : "rundll32.exe" and
     process.command_line : ("*uxtheme.dll,#64*", "*PRINTUI.DLL,PrintUIEntry*", "*OpenAs_RunDLL*", "*ShowNotificationDialog*")) and not
    /* Issue #322 */
    (process.name : "rundll32.exe" and
     process.command_line : ("*cryptext.dll*",
                             "*:\\Users\\*\\Documents\\DocuShare\\*",
                             "*dfshim.dll*ShOpenVerb*",
                             "*dvpack.dll,LaunchINFSection*\\Windows\\INF\\*",
                             "*PhotoViewer.dll*ImageView_Fu*",
                             "*GeneralTel.dll,RunGeneralTelemetry*",
                             "*setupapi,InstallHinfSection*",
                             "*mshtml.dll*PrintHTML*",
                             "*setupapi.dll,InstallHinfSection*")) and not
    (process.name : "regsvr32.exe" and process.command_line : "*:\\WINDOWS\\Help\\*" and
     process.parent.executable : ("?:\\Program Files (x86)\\Hewlett-Packard\\*.exe",
                                  "?:\\Program Files\\Hewlett-Packard\\*.exe",
                                  "?:\\Program Files (x86)\\HP\\*.exe",
                                  "?:\\Program Files\\HP\\*.exe",
                                  "?:\\ProgramData\\Hewlett-Packard\\UninstallHPSA.exe",
                                  "?:\\*\\setup.exe")) and not
    (process.name : "rundll32.exe" and process.parent.name : "svchost.exe" and process.parent.args : "LocalServiceNoNetworkFirewall") and not
    (process.name : "cscript.exe" and process.args : "RemoveServerPeformanceLog" and process.args : "?:\\PerfLogs\\*" and
     process.args : "?:\\Windows\\system32\\calluxxprovider.vbs") and not

     /* Issue #535 */
    (process.name : "rundll32.exe" and
     process.args : ("?:\\Windows\\system32\\themecpl.dll,OpenThemeAction",
                     "?:\\Users\\Public\\IBM\\ClientSolutions\\Start_Programs\\Windows_*\\acsnative.dll*",
                     "?:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\shimgvw.dll,*",
                     "C:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\dsquery.dll,OpenSavedDsQuery",
                     "?:\\Program Files\\Windows Photo Viewer\\PhotoViewer.dll*",
                     "?:\\Program Files\\CopyTrans HEIC for Windows\\CopyTransHEICforWindows.dll*",
                     "?:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\ieframe.dll,OpenURL",
                     "?:\\Program Files (x86)\\Common Files\\Microsoft Shared\\VSTO\\vstoee.dll,InstallVstoSolution",
                     "?:\\Program Files\\WIBU-SYSTEMS\\System\\WibuShellExt64.dll,OpenWbc",
                     "CopyTransHEICforWindows.dll,ConvertList",
                     "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Common Files\\ADInstruments\\ADILauncher64.dll,",
                     "C:\\Windows\\diagnostics\\system\\Printer\\UpdatePrinterDriver.dll,UpdatePrinterDriverEntry")) and not
     /* MS Visual Studio */
     process.executable : ("?:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Visual Studio\\*.exe", "?:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Visual Studio\\*.exe") and

     not (process.parent.executable : "?:\\Windows\\system32\\CompatTelRunner.exe" and process.parent.args : "-m:appraiser.dll") and
     not (process.name : "regsvr32.exe" and process.parent.name == "InstallHPSA.exe" and process.args : "?:\\Windows\\Help\\OEM\\scripts\\checkmui.dll") and
     not (process.name : "wscript.exe" and
          process.args : ("?:\\PerfLogs\\Admin\\New.PerfMon.Log.Analyzer*.vb",
                          "?:\\Program Files\\Autodesk\\HSMWorks 2023\\installpost.js",
                          "C:\\Windows\\Setup\\Scripts\\UnlockStartLayout.vbs")) and
     not (process.name : "regsvr32.exe" and process.args : ("?:\\Windows\\servicing\\LCU\\Package_for_RollupFix~*", "C:\\WINDOWS\\Twain_32\\Instrumentarium\\dsd.ocx")) and
     not (process.name : "wscript.exe" and
          process.args : ("?:\\Users\\Public\\PSAppDeployToolkit\\AppDeployToolkit_BlockAppExecutionMessage.vbs",
                          "?:\\Users\\Public\\Desktop\\*",
                          "C:\\Windows\\Setup\\Scripts\\UnlockStartLayout.vbs")) and
     not process.parent.executable : ("?:\\Program Files (x86)\\DesktopCentral_Agent\\EndpointDLP\\bin\\MEDLP.exe", 
                                      "?:\\Program Files (x86)\\Intuit\\QuickBooks *\\QBW*.EXE", 
                                      "?:\\Program Files (x86)\\pdf*\\res\\drivedir\\pdfsave.exe",
                                      "?:\\Program Files\\Beyond Compare ?\\BCompare.exe") and
     not process.executable : ("?:\\Program Files\\*\\msbuild.exe", "?:\\Program Files (x86)\\*\\MSBuild.exe") and
     not process.command_line : ("\"C:\\Windows\\System32\\wscript.exe\" C:\\Windows\\Setup\\Scripts\\ShowAllTrayIcons.vbs",  "\"C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\WScript.exe\" \"C:\\Users\\Public\\Desktop\\MapNetworkDrives.vbs\" ")
Raw source Execution from Unusual Directory · Elastic TOML
Esc
Published by elastic/protections-artifacts ↗, licensed under Elastic License 2.0 ↗. Reproduced here unmodified. 
[rule]
description = """
Identifies process execution from suspicious default Windows directories. This may be abused by adversaries to hide
malware in trusted paths.
"""
id = "16c84e67-e5e7-44ff-aefa-4d771bcafc0c"
license = "Elastic License v2"
name = "Execution from Unusual Directory"
os_list = ["windows"]
reference = [
    "https://www.elastic.co/security-labs/elastic-protects-against-data-wiper-malware-targeting-ukraine-hermeticwiper",
    "https://www.elastic.co/security-labs/hunting-for-lateral-movement-using-event-query-language",
    "https://www.elastic.co/security-labs/operation-bleeding-bear",
]
version = "1.0.48"

query = '''
process where event.action == "start" and
  process.name : ("wscript.exe",
                  "rundll32.exe",
                  "regsvr32.exe",
                  "cmstp.exe",
                  "RegAsm.exe",
                  "installutil.exe",
                  "mshta.exe",
                  "RegSvcs.exe",
                  "msbuild.exe",
                  "msxsl.exe",
                  "xwizard.exe") and
  /* add suspicious execution paths here */
  process.args : ("?:\\PerfLogs\\*",
                  "?:\\Users\\*\\Pictures\\*",
                  "?:\\Users\\*\\Music\\*",
                  "?:\\Users\\Public\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Tasks\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\System32\\Tasks\\*",
                  "?:\\Intel\\*",
                  "?:\\AMD\\Temp\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\hp\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\AppReadiness\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\ServiceState\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\security\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\IdentityCRL\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Branding\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\csc\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\DigitalLocker\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\en-US\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\wlansvc\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Prefetch\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Fonts\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\diagnostics\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\TAPI\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\INF\\*",
                  "?:\\windows\\tracing\\*",
                  "?:\\windows\\IME\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Performance\\*",
                  "?:\\windows\\intel\\*",
                  "?:\\windows\\ms\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\dot3svc\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\ServiceProfiles\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\panther\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\RemotePackages\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\OCR\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\appcompat\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\apppatch\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\addins\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Setup\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Help\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\SKB\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Vss\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Web\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\servicing\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\CbsTemp\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Logs\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\WaaS\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\twain_32\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\ShellExperiences\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\ShellComponents\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\PLA\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Migration\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\debug\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Cursors\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Containers\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Boot\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\bcastdvr\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\TextInput\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\schemas\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\SchCache\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Resources\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\rescache\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Provisioning\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\PrintDialog\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\PolicyDefinitions\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\media\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\Globalization\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\L2Schemas\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\LiveKernelReports\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\ModemLogs\\*",
                  "?:\\Windows\\ImmersiveControlPanel\\*",
                  "?:\\$Recycle.Bin\\*",
                  "?:\\Users\\*\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\Windows\\INetCache\\IE\\*"
) and not
    (process.name : "rundll32.exe" and
     process.command_line : ("*uxtheme.dll,#64*", "*PRINTUI.DLL,PrintUIEntry*", "*OpenAs_RunDLL*", "*ShowNotificationDialog*")) and not
    /* Issue #322 */
    (process.name : "rundll32.exe" and
     process.command_line : ("*cryptext.dll*",
                             "*:\\Users\\*\\Documents\\DocuShare\\*",
                             "*dfshim.dll*ShOpenVerb*",
                             "*dvpack.dll,LaunchINFSection*\\Windows\\INF\\*",
                             "*PhotoViewer.dll*ImageView_Fu*",
                             "*GeneralTel.dll,RunGeneralTelemetry*",
                             "*setupapi,InstallHinfSection*",
                             "*mshtml.dll*PrintHTML*",
                             "*setupapi.dll,InstallHinfSection*")) and not
    (process.name : "regsvr32.exe" and process.command_line : "*:\\WINDOWS\\Help\\*" and
     process.parent.executable : ("?:\\Program Files (x86)\\Hewlett-Packard\\*.exe",
                                  "?:\\Program Files\\Hewlett-Packard\\*.exe",
                                  "?:\\Program Files (x86)\\HP\\*.exe",
                                  "?:\\Program Files\\HP\\*.exe",
                                  "?:\\ProgramData\\Hewlett-Packard\\UninstallHPSA.exe",
                                  "?:\\*\\setup.exe")) and not
    (process.name : "rundll32.exe" and process.parent.name : "svchost.exe" and process.parent.args : "LocalServiceNoNetworkFirewall") and not
    (process.name : "cscript.exe" and process.args : "RemoveServerPeformanceLog" and process.args : "?:\\PerfLogs\\*" and
     process.args : "?:\\Windows\\system32\\calluxxprovider.vbs") and not

     /* Issue #535 */
    (process.name : "rundll32.exe" and
     process.args : ("?:\\Windows\\system32\\themecpl.dll,OpenThemeAction",
                     "?:\\Users\\Public\\IBM\\ClientSolutions\\Start_Programs\\Windows_*\\acsnative.dll*",
                     "?:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\shimgvw.dll,*",
                     "C:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\dsquery.dll,OpenSavedDsQuery",
                     "?:\\Program Files\\Windows Photo Viewer\\PhotoViewer.dll*",
                     "?:\\Program Files\\CopyTrans HEIC for Windows\\CopyTransHEICforWindows.dll*",
                     "?:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\ieframe.dll,OpenURL",
                     "?:\\Program Files (x86)\\Common Files\\Microsoft Shared\\VSTO\\vstoee.dll,InstallVstoSolution",
                     "?:\\Program Files\\WIBU-SYSTEMS\\System\\WibuShellExt64.dll,OpenWbc",
                     "CopyTransHEICforWindows.dll,ConvertList",
                     "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Common Files\\ADInstruments\\ADILauncher64.dll,",
                     "C:\\Windows\\diagnostics\\system\\Printer\\UpdatePrinterDriver.dll,UpdatePrinterDriverEntry")) and not
     /* MS Visual Studio */
     process.executable : ("?:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Visual Studio\\*.exe", "?:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Visual Studio\\*.exe") and

     not (process.parent.executable : "?:\\Windows\\system32\\CompatTelRunner.exe" and process.parent.args : "-m:appraiser.dll") and
     not (process.name : "regsvr32.exe" and process.parent.name == "InstallHPSA.exe" and process.args : "?:\\Windows\\Help\\OEM\\scripts\\checkmui.dll") and
     not (process.name : "wscript.exe" and
          process.args : ("?:\\PerfLogs\\Admin\\New.PerfMon.Log.Analyzer*.vb",
                          "?:\\Program Files\\Autodesk\\HSMWorks 2023\\installpost.js",
                          "C:\\Windows\\Setup\\Scripts\\UnlockStartLayout.vbs")) and
     not (process.name : "regsvr32.exe" and process.args : ("?:\\Windows\\servicing\\LCU\\Package_for_RollupFix~*", "C:\\WINDOWS\\Twain_32\\Instrumentarium\\dsd.ocx")) and
     not (process.name : "wscript.exe" and
          process.args : ("?:\\Users\\Public\\PSAppDeployToolkit\\AppDeployToolkit_BlockAppExecutionMessage.vbs",
                          "?:\\Users\\Public\\Desktop\\*",
                          "C:\\Windows\\Setup\\Scripts\\UnlockStartLayout.vbs")) and
     not process.parent.executable : ("?:\\Program Files (x86)\\DesktopCentral_Agent\\EndpointDLP\\bin\\MEDLP.exe", 
                                      "?:\\Program Files (x86)\\Intuit\\QuickBooks *\\QBW*.EXE", 
                                      "?:\\Program Files (x86)\\pdf*\\res\\drivedir\\pdfsave.exe",
                                      "?:\\Program Files\\Beyond Compare ?\\BCompare.exe") and
     not process.executable : ("?:\\Program Files\\*\\msbuild.exe", "?:\\Program Files (x86)\\*\\MSBuild.exe") and
     not process.command_line : ("\"C:\\Windows\\System32\\wscript.exe\" C:\\Windows\\Setup\\Scripts\\ShowAllTrayIcons.vbs",  "\"C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\WScript.exe\" \"C:\\Users\\Public\\Desktop\\MapNetworkDrives.vbs\" ")
'''

min_endpoint_version = "7.15.0"
[[actions]]
action = "kill_process"
field = "process.entity_id"
state = 0

[[optional_actions]]
action = "rollback"
field = "process.entity_id"
state = 0

[[threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"
[[threat.technique]]
id = "T1059"
name = "Command and Scripting Interpreter"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/"
[[threat.technique.subtechnique]]
id = "T1059.005"
name = "Visual Basic"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/005/"

[[threat.technique.subtechnique]]
id = "T1059.007"
name = "JavaScript"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/007/"



[threat.tactic]
id = "TA0002"
name = "Execution"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0002/"
[[threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"
[[threat.technique]]
id = "T1218"
name = "System Binary Proxy Execution"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218/"


[threat.tactic]
id = "TA0005"
name = "Defense Evasion"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0005/"

[internal]
min_endpoint_version = "7.15.0"

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