Sensitive File Dump Via Wbadmin.EXE

Description

Detects the dump of highly sensitive files such as "NTDS.DIT" and "SECURITY" hive. Attackers can leverage the "wbadmin" utility in order to dump sensitive files that might contain credential or sensitive information.

Query · sigma

selection_img:
- Image|endswith: \wbadmin.exe
- OriginalFileName: WBADMIN.EXE
selection_backup:
  CommandLine|contains:
  - start
  - backup
selection_path:
  CommandLine|contains:
  - \config\SAM
  - \config\SECURITY
  - \config\SYSTEM
  - \Windows\NTDS\NTDS.dit
condition: all of selection_*

Known false positives

  • Legitimate backup operation by authorized administrators. Matches must be investigated and allowed on a case by case basis.
Raw source Sensitive File Dump Via Wbadmin.EXE · Sigma
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Published by SigmaHQ/sigma ↗, licensed under Detection Rule License 1.1 ↗. Reproduced here unmodified. 
title: Sensitive File Dump Via Wbadmin.EXE
id: 8b93a509-1cb8-42e1-97aa-ee24224cdc15
status: test
description: |
    Detects the dump of highly sensitive files such as "NTDS.DIT" and "SECURITY" hive.
    Attackers can leverage the "wbadmin" utility in order to dump sensitive files that might contain credential or sensitive information.
references:
    - https://github.com/LOLBAS-Project/LOLBAS/blob/2cc01b01132b5c304027a658c698ae09dd6a92bf/yml/OSBinaries/Wbadmin.yml
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Wbadmin/
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/wbadmin-start-recovery
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/wbadmin-start-backup
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), frack113
date: 2024-05-10
tags:
    - attack.credential-access
    - attack.t1003.003
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\wbadmin.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'WBADMIN.EXE'
    selection_backup:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - 'start'
            - 'backup'
    selection_path:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '\config\SAM'
            - '\config\SECURITY'
            - '\config\SYSTEM'
            - '\Windows\NTDS\NTDS.dit'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate backup operation by authorized administrators. Matches must be investigated and allowed on a case by case basis.
level: high

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