Detection: Network Share Discovery Via Dir Command

Updated Date: 2024-05-19 ID: dc1457d0-1d9b-422e-b5a7-db46c184d9aa Author: Teoderick Contreras, Splunk Type: Hunting Product: Splunk Enterprise Security

Description

The following analytic detects access to Windows administrative SMB shares (Admin$, IPC$, C$) using the 'dir' command. It leverages Windows Security Event Logs with EventCode 5140 to identify this activity. This behavior is significant as it is commonly used by tools like PsExec/PaExec for staging binaries before creating and starting services on remote endpoints, a technique often employed by adversaries for lateral movement and remote code execution. If confirmed malicious, this activity could allow attackers to propagate malware, such as IcedID, across the network, leading to widespread infection and potential data breaches.

1`wineventlog_security` EventCode=5140 ShareName IN("\\\\*\\ADMIN$","\\\\*\\C$","*\\\\*\\IPC$") AccessMask= 0x1 
2| stats min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime count by ShareName IpAddress ObjectType SubjectUserName SubjectDomainName IpPort AccessMask Computer 
3| rename Computer as dest 
4| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` 
5| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` 
6| `network_share_discovery_via_dir_command_filter`

Data Source

Name Platform Sourcetype Source Supported App
Windows Event Log Security 5140 Windows icon Windows 'xmlwineventlog' 'XmlWinEventLog:Security' N/A

Macros Used

Name Value
security_content_ctime convert timeformat="%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S" ctime($field$)
network_share_discovery_via_dir_command_filter search *
network_share_discovery_via_dir_command_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
T1135 Network Share Discovery Discovery
KillChainPhase.EXPLOITAITON
NistCategory.DE_AE
Cis18Value.CIS_10
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 Risk Event False
This configuration file applies to all detections of type hunting.

Implementation

To successfully implement this search, you need to be ingesting Windows Security Event Logs with 5140 EventCode enabled. The Windows TA is also required. Also enable the object Audit access success/failure in your group policy.

Known False Positives

System Administrators may use looks like net.exe or "dir commandline" for troubleshooting or administrations tasks. However, this will typically come only from certain users and certain systems that can be added to an allow list.

Associated Analytic Story

Risk Based Analytics (RBA)

Risk Message Risk Score Impact Confidence
$user$ list executable files or directory in known sensitive SMB share. Share name=$ShareName$, Access mask=$AccessMask$ 25 50 50
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: 2