Command Shell Activity Started via RunDLL32


Description

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

Query · eql

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
    not process.parent.command_line :
                    ("*:\\Windows\\System32\\SHELL32.dll,RunAsNewUser_RunDLL*",
                     "*zzzzInvokeManagedCustomActionOutOfProc*", 
                     "\"C:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\rundll32.exe\" C:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\PcaSvc.dll,PcaPatchSdbTask") and
    not (process.parent.args : "aepdu.dll,AePduRunUpdate" and process.args : "osloader" and process.args : "%windir%\\system32\\bcdedit") and
    not (process.parent.args : ("?:\\Windows\\System32\\LogiLDA.dll,LogiFetch", "?:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\PcaSvc.dll,PcaPatchSdbTask") and
         process.name : "powershell.exe" and process.command_line : "*install*") and
    not process.parent.args : "C:\\Program Files\\NVIDIA Corporation\\*\\NVI2.DLL,ResumeAsync" and
    not (process.args : "dellpointstick://Mainpage/*" and process.parent.args : "Vxd_launch_UI") and
    not (process.parent.args : "?:\\Windows\\system32\\davclnt.dll,DavSetCookie" and process.name : "powershell.exe") and
    not process.parent.args : "AppXDeploymentExtensions.OneCore.dll,ShellRefresh" and
    not (process.args : ("launchalpsdelltouchpad://Mainpage/path2?param=start", "alpsdelltouchpadsettings://Mainpage/path2?param=start") and
         process.parent.args : "?:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\main.cpl") and
    not (process.command_line : "*REG QUERY HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Cryptography*" and
         process.parent.args : "?:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\PcaSvc.dll,PcaPatchSdbTask") and
    not (process.args : "launchalpsdelltouchpad://Mainpage/path2?param=start" and process.parent.args : "Vxd_launch_UI") and 
    not (process.working_directory : "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Windows Kits\\*\\Assessment and Deployment Kit\\Windows Assessment Toolkit\\Energy\\" and 
         process.args : "axecore.dll,RunJob_RunDll") and
    not process.parent.command_line :  "rundll32.exe \"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Windows Shell\\fx_ws_main.dll\",ProcessDll s=hidedialog" and
    not (process.parent.command_line : "C:\\Windows\\system32\\rundll32.exe iernonce.dll,RunOnceExProcess" and
         process.working_directory : "C:\\Windows\\system32\\") and
    not (process.parent.command_line : "\"C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\rundll32.exe\" C:\\WINDOWS\\Lvgic10u.dll,Execute" and
         process.command_line : "cmd /c C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\rundll32.exe C:\\WINDOWS\\Lvgic10u.dll,ExecuteQuick")
Raw source Command Shell Activity Started via RunDLL32 · Elastic TOML
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Published by elastic/protections-artifacts ↗, licensed under Elastic License 2.0 ↗. Reproduced here unmodified.
[rule]
description = "Identifies command shell activity started via RunDLL32, which is commonly abused by attackers to host malicious code."
id = "b8a0a3aa-0345-4035-b41d-f758a6c59a78"
license = "Elastic License v2"
name = "Command Shell Activity Started via RunDLL32"
os_list = ["windows"]
reference = ["https://www.elastic.co/security-labs/spring-cleaning-with-latrodectus"]
version = "1.0.34"

query = '''
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
    not process.parent.command_line :
                    ("*:\\Windows\\System32\\SHELL32.dll,RunAsNewUser_RunDLL*",
                     "*zzzzInvokeManagedCustomActionOutOfProc*", 
                     "\"C:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\rundll32.exe\" C:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\PcaSvc.dll,PcaPatchSdbTask") and
    not (process.parent.args : "aepdu.dll,AePduRunUpdate" and process.args : "osloader" and process.args : "%windir%\\system32\\bcdedit") and
    not (process.parent.args : ("?:\\Windows\\System32\\LogiLDA.dll,LogiFetch", "?:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\PcaSvc.dll,PcaPatchSdbTask") and
         process.name : "powershell.exe" and process.command_line : "*install*") and
    not process.parent.args : "C:\\Program Files\\NVIDIA Corporation\\*\\NVI2.DLL,ResumeAsync" and
    not (process.args : "dellpointstick://Mainpage/*" and process.parent.args : "Vxd_launch_UI") and
    not (process.parent.args : "?:\\Windows\\system32\\davclnt.dll,DavSetCookie" and process.name : "powershell.exe") and
    not process.parent.args : "AppXDeploymentExtensions.OneCore.dll,ShellRefresh" and
    not (process.args : ("launchalpsdelltouchpad://Mainpage/path2?param=start", "alpsdelltouchpadsettings://Mainpage/path2?param=start") and
         process.parent.args : "?:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\main.cpl") and
    not (process.command_line : "*REG QUERY HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Cryptography*" and
         process.parent.args : "?:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\PcaSvc.dll,PcaPatchSdbTask") and
    not (process.args : "launchalpsdelltouchpad://Mainpage/path2?param=start" and process.parent.args : "Vxd_launch_UI") and 
    not (process.working_directory : "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Windows Kits\\*\\Assessment and Deployment Kit\\Windows Assessment Toolkit\\Energy\\" and 
         process.args : "axecore.dll,RunJob_RunDll") and
    not process.parent.command_line :  "rundll32.exe \"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Windows Shell\\fx_ws_main.dll\",ProcessDll s=hidedialog" and
    not (process.parent.command_line : "C:\\Windows\\system32\\rundll32.exe iernonce.dll,RunOnceExProcess" and
         process.working_directory : "C:\\Windows\\system32\\") and
    not (process.parent.command_line : "\"C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\rundll32.exe\" C:\\WINDOWS\\Lvgic10u.dll,Execute" and
         process.command_line : "cmd /c C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\rundll32.exe C:\\WINDOWS\\Lvgic10u.dll,ExecuteQuick")
'''

min_endpoint_version = "7.15.0"
optional_actions = []
[[actions]]
action = "kill_process"
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 = "T1059.001"
name = "PowerShell"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/001/"

[[threat.technique.subtechnique]]
id = "T1059.003"
name = "Windows Command Shell"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1059/003/"



[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.technique.subtechnique]]
id = "T1218.011"
name = "Rundll32"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218/011/"



[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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