Detection: Windows Special Privileged Logon On Multiple Hosts

Updated Date: 2024-05-24 ID: 4c461f5a-c2cc-4e86-b132-c262fc9edca7 Author: Mauricio Velazco, Splunk Type: TTP Product: Splunk Enterprise Security

Description

The following analytic detects a user authenticating with special privileges on 30 or more remote endpoints within a 5-minute window. It leverages Event ID 4672 from Windows Security logs to identify this behavior. This activity is significant as it may indicate lateral movement or remote code execution by an adversary. If confirmed malicious, the attacker could gain extensive control over the network, potentially leading to privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or further compromise of the environment. Security teams should adjust detection thresholds based on their specific environment.

1 `wineventlog_security` EventCode=4672 AND NOT(Caller_User_Name IN ("DWM-1","DWM-2","DWM-3","LOCAL SERVICE","NETWORK SERVICE","SYSTEM","*$")) 
2| bucket span=5m _time 
3| stats dc(Computer) AS unique_targets values(Computer) as dest values(PrivilegeList) as privileges by _time, Caller_User_Name 
4| rename Caller_User_Name as user
5| where unique_targets > 30 
6| `windows_special_privileged_logon_on_multiple_hosts_filter`

Data Source

Name Platform Sourcetype Source Supported App
Windows Event Log Security 4672 Windows icon Windows 'xmlwineventlog' 'XmlWinEventLog:Security' N/A

Macros Used

Name Value
wineventlog_security eventtype=wineventlog_security OR Channel=security OR source=XmlWinEventLog:Security
windows_special_privileged_logon_on_multiple_hosts_filter search *
windows_special_privileged_logon_on_multiple_hosts_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
T1087 Account Discovery Discovery
T1021.002 SMB/Windows Admin Shares Lateral Movement
T1135 Network Share Discovery Discovery
KillChainPhase.EXPLOITAITON
NistCategory.DE_CM
Cis18Value.CIS_10
FIN13
APT28
APT3
APT32
APT39
APT41
Blue Mockingbird
Chimera
Cinnamon Tempest
Deep Panda
FIN13
FIN8
Fox Kitten
Ke3chang
Lazarus Group
Moses Staff
Orangeworm
Sandworm Team
Threat Group-1314
ToddyCat
Turla
Wizard Spider
APT1
APT32
APT38
APT39
APT41
Chimera
DarkVishnya
Dragonfly
FIN13
Sowbug
Tonto Team
Tropic Trooper
Wizard Spider

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

To successfully implement this search, you need to be ingesting special logon events. The Advanced Security Audit policy setting Audit Special Logon within Logon/Logoff need to be enabled.

Known False Positives

Vulnerability scanners or system administration tools may also trigger this detection. Filter as needed.

Associated Analytic Story

Risk Based Analytics (RBA)

Risk Message Risk Score Impact Confidence
A user $user$ obtained special privileges on a large number of endpoints (Count: $unique_targets$) within 5 minutes. 64 80 80
The Risk Score is calculated by the following formula: Risk Score = (Impact * Confidence/100). Initial Confidence and Impact is set by the analytic author.

References

Detection Testing

Test Type Status Dataset Source Sourcetype
Validation ✅ Passing N/A N/A N/A
Unit ✅ Passing Dataset XmlWinEventLog:Security XmlWinEventLog
Integration ✅ Passing Dataset XmlWinEventLog:Security XmlWinEventLog

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: 3