Detection: Windows InProcServer32 New Outlook Form

Updated Date: 2024-09-30 ID: fedb49c4-4bd7-4d42-8fd9-f8c8538c73c4 Author: Michael Haag, Splunk Type: Anomaly Product: Splunk Enterprise Security

Description

The following analytic detects the creation or modification of registry keys associated with new Outlook form installations, potentially indicating exploitation of CVE-2024-21378. It leverages data from the Endpoint.Registry datamodel, focusing on registry paths involving InProcServer32 keys linked to Outlook forms. This activity is significant as it may signify an attempt to achieve authenticated remote code execution via malicious form objects. If confirmed malicious, this could allow an attacker to create arbitrary files and registry keys, leading to remote code execution and potential full system compromise.

1
2| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count FROM datamodel=Endpoint.Registry where Registry.registry_path="*\\InProcServer32\\*" Registry.registry_value_data=*\\FORMS\\* by Registry.registry_path Registry.registry_key_name Registry.registry_value_name Registry.registry_value_data Registry.dest Registry.process_guid Registry.user 
3| `drop_dm_object_name(Registry)` 
4|`security_content_ctime(firstTime)` 
5| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` 
6| `windows_inprocserver32_new_outlook_form_filter`

Data Source

Name Platform Sourcetype Source
Sysmon EventID 13 Windows icon Windows 'xmlwineventlog' 'XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational'

Macros Used

Name Value
security_content_ctime convert timeformat="%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S" ctime($field$)
windows_inprocserver32_new_outlook_form_filter search *
windows_inprocserver32_new_outlook_form_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
T1566 Phishing Initial Access
T1112 Modify Registry Defense Evasion
KillChainPhase.DELIVERY
KillChainPhase.EXPLOITAITON
NistCategory.DE_AE
Cis18Value.CIS_10
Axiom
GOLD SOUTHFIELD
INC Ransom
APT19
APT32
APT38
APT41
Aquatic Panda
Blue Mockingbird
Dragonfly
Earth Lusca
Ember Bear
FIN8
Gamaredon Group
Gorgon Group
Indrik Spider
Kimsuky
LuminousMoth
Magic Hound
Patchwork
Saint Bear
Silence
TA505
Threat Group-3390
Turla
Volt Typhoon
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 True
This configuration file applies to all detections of type anomaly. These detections will use Risk Based Alerting.

Implementation

To successfully implement this search you need to be ingesting information on process that include the name of the process responsible for the changes from your endpoints into the Endpoint datamodel in the Registry node.

Known False Positives

False positives are possible if the organization adds new forms to Outlook via an automated method. Filter by name or path to reduce false positives.

Associated Analytic Story

Risk Based Analytics (RBA)

Risk Message Risk Score Impact Confidence
A registry key associated with a new Outlook form installation was created or modified. This could indicate exploitation of CVE-2024-21378 on $dest$. 49 70 70
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:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational XmlWinEventLog
Integration ✅ Passing Dataset XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational 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