Detection: AWS Defense Evasion Stop Logging Cloudtrail

Updated Date: 2025-02-10 ID: 8a2f3ca2-4eb5-4389-a549-14063882e537 Author: Bhavin Patel, Splunk Type: TTP Product: Splunk Enterprise Security

Description

The following analytic detects StopLogging events in AWS CloudTrail logs. It leverages CloudTrail event data to identify when logging is intentionally stopped, excluding console-based actions and focusing on successful attempts. This activity is significant because adversaries may stop logging to evade detection and operate stealthily within the compromised environment. If confirmed malicious, this action could allow attackers to perform further activities without being logged, hindering incident response and forensic investigations, and potentially leading to unauthorized access or data exfiltration.

1`cloudtrail` eventName = StopLogging eventSource = cloudtrail.amazonaws.com userAgent!=console.amazonaws.com errorCode = success 
2| rename user_name as user 
3| stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime by signature dest user user_agent src vendor_account vendor_region vendor_product 
4| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` 
5| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` 
6| `aws_defense_evasion_stop_logging_cloudtrail_filter`

Data Source

Name Platform Sourcetype Source
AWS CloudTrail StopLogging AWS icon AWS 'aws:cloudtrail' 'aws_cloudtrail'

Macros Used

Name Value
cloudtrail sourcetype=aws:cloudtrail
aws_defense_evasion_stop_logging_cloudtrail_filter search *
aws_defense_evasion_stop_logging_cloudtrail_filter is an empty macro by default. It allows the user to filter out any results (false positives) without editing the SPL.

Annotations

- MITRE ATT&CK
+ Kill Chain Phases
+ NIST
+ CIS
- Threat Actors
ID Technique Tactic
T1562.008 Disable or Modify Cloud Logs Defense Evasion
Exploitation
DE.CM
CIS 10

Default Configuration

This detection is configured by default in Splunk Enterprise Security to run with the following settings:

Setting Value
Disabled true
Cron Schedule 0 * * * *
Earliest Time -70m@m
Latest Time -10m@m
Schedule Window auto
Creates Notable Yes
Rule Title %name%
Rule Description %description%
Notable Event Fields user, dest
Creates Risk Event True
This configuration file applies to all detections of type TTP. These detections will use Risk Based Alerting and generate Notable Events.

Implementation

You must install Splunk AWS Add on and enable Cloudtrail logs in your AWS Environment.

Known False Positives

While this search has no known false positives, it is possible that an AWS admin has stopped cloudtrail logging. Please investigate this activity.

Associated Analytic Story

Risk Based Analytics (RBA)

Risk Message:

User $user$ has stopped Cloudtrail logging for account id $vendor_account$ from IP $src$

Risk Object Risk Object Type Risk Score Threat Objects
user user 90 src

References

Detection Testing

Test Type Status Dataset Source Sourcetype
Validation ✅ Passing N/A N/A N/A
Unit ✅ Passing Dataset aws_cloudtrail aws:cloudtrail
Integration ✅ Passing Dataset aws_cloudtrail aws:cloudtrail

Replay any dataset to Splunk Enterprise by using our replay.py tool or the UI. Alternatively you can replay a dataset into a Splunk Attack Range

Source: GitHub | Version: 6